Memories Not Money

Happy New Year!

I just got back this afternoon from spending time at my father’s home spending some time with him.

This year I determined to give my children and grandchildren “memories not money”! (My youngest daughter couldn’t go because her son was ill. – We missed her terribly.) I took them to visit my father – stay in his home, which they didn’t remember doing, see it all decorated for Christmas and sleep in the attic like I did. (It’s a nice attic.)

We drove up to Boone, NC to have lunch with Franklin and Jane and some of their family then got a tour of Samaritan’s Purse. They had never been there and it had been years since I was there. It has grown!! Very impressive.That evening we had dinner with Franklin’s eldest, Will, and enjoyed him.

The next day we toured The Biltmore House – all decorated for Christmas. It was a mob scene – you almost couldn’t see the house for all the people! It had been years since I was there. Lots of changes and new rooms open. I got a copy of “The Lady on the Hill” – all about the preservation efforts by the Cecil family to keep it going – and robustly. Interesting, to say the least.

We had an ice storm so the kids got snowed in at “Daddy Bill’s”. Fun.

They loved exploring around the house – seeing all the little cubby holes and “secret” places. A kid’s place for sure. They hiked the mountain – it’s different in the winter with a frozen pond and streams. They had so much fun discovering the place for themselves, and I know my mother was looking down enjoying them enjoying the place she built for her family.

My son took me out for a lovely lunch at a “ta da” restaurant in Asheville. Some of the best food I have ever put in my mouth. We had a really nice time.

We visited with our “Korean” cousins. One of the girls was hospitalized briefly in Asheville, so Noelle and I bombed in to see her and caught a glimpse of even more cousins.

My youngest brother and his wife flew in on the 31st. We hadn’t seen each other in years. And drat! we did not take a photo.

I saw a niece and nephew as well as a great nephew and his wife, celebrating their 3rd anniversary. And others…

So…mission accomplished. Memories not money!