Gatlinburg

(sorry, long post)

I see the sunrise and sunset and am always in awe at how beautiful God made our world.  However, there is just something about seeing it from another perspective that just makes me really understand how GREAT He truly is. 

Gene and I wanted to take a quick trip somewhere during the last part of our Christmas break.  We started thinking about places to go, SOUTH where it was warmer, Snow Mountain where the kids could play, and ended up deciding on the mountains.  We searched and searched for cabins to stay in near Gatlinburg but got disappointed every time we checked the availability dates~ guess everyone wanted to celebrate New Years in the mountains.  I spent most of my Wednesday afternoon on VRBO and of course~ NOTHING.  Later that evening, I was trying just once more because I knew if I pushed this button just a little harder something will be available.  First three places, nope, then on my LAST attempt, YES, this cabin was open.  I got Gene to call to make sure because SURELY there was NO WAY this could have happened.  Guess what, YEP it was available, renters had cancelled 30 minutes prior to us calling…… GOD’s work~ Definitely!!!  So we booked the cabin and by 11:00 the next morning we were headed out.

After finding a grocery store and what felt like a really tight turn on ice and snow…… we finally  made it to our cabin.  Gabriel was super excited to get out of the truck and see snow.

Then next day, as I walked up stairs to look out the windows, this is what I saw…..

Just breath taking although these pictures don’t show the true beauty of God’s Handy Work. 

Here are two other creations!

A few shots along our route that morning.

Our first venture was to Cade’s Cove.  This was an 11 mile track that you were able to drive through but could get out and walk to different places or pull off to the side, should you see something you wanted to photo or look at, such as deer, Elk or bear, yep that is what the big black thing in the top of that tree.  Luckily he would rather sleep than worry about all the people below that would have made a delicious dinner! 

Here are a few other pictures from along the trail~

We also wanted to see a waterfall while we were there so we decided to hike the 2.5 mile trail to Abrams Falls.  Now if we could have all had Becky’s way of getting there…..

And back……

We wouldn’t have had those sore muscles the day after.  Here are a few pictures from the hike.

 

Finally, Abrams Falls……just amazing. 

 

And the trip back….

Gabriel wanted to make sure he made it to the top of the mountain.

Ok, so if you look toward the very center of the picture, you will see an eye shining.  Yes, that was another bear but no we were not one of those crazy people that got out of their vehicles to follow the bear so they could get a better shot.  When I say follow the bear I mean they were probably within 20 feet of it.  Not me, nope……not feeling bad at all that this is the only picture we got of that bear :0)

Pictures of the cabin~ Becky’s favorite spot was the hot tub!

Saturday was a pretty dreary day so we went to the Apple Barn in Pigeon Forge.  We played black light putt putt which was really fun. 

The ride home was interesting.  When we left the cabin, it was close to 50 degrees.  Well as we traveled, and headed up the mountain, it got colder and we drove through what we thought was fog until we reached this point to realize that it was clouds and not fog.  This was the first time I had been above the clouds other than in an airplane. 

 

Can you say FREEZING????!!!!!!!

Interesting stop on the way home~ Tallulah Falls.  

Luckily this hike down the mountains was guided by stairs, then a suspension bridge and more stairs to the bottom of the gorge.  These first pictures were taken from the first look out point.

From the bridge looking down~

In front of the falls~

Looking up to our first look out~

The way down wasn’t bad but man, the 400+ up took a toll on my already out of shape legs :0)  Gabriel however, sprinted up the stairs and then wanted to run the rest of the trail back to the truck.

 

Becky, well, she had to rest…..

Thank you GOD for allowing us the opportunity to witness your artwork in it’s truest form.  I am so blessed to call these people my family.  They are truly gifts from above!