Deployment Day spent at Biltmore Estate in Asheville

Man... It's been a tough week here! First... We spent last weekend with

the Ranger. Of course, spending any time with him is our favorite thing;

however, a visit this time of year means he's deploying. For the 4th time...

Honestly, these visits are the only thing we do over

and over that never get any easier with practice!

In fact, they only get more difficult... Even when I bring him my cookies!

Our visits are always too short and there is

always something to say that never gets said...

Except of course for...

We love you. We love you. We love you. Come back to us. Please.

Turns out, Spa Boy was also having a rough week so we weren't the

only ones looking for an escape from our four walls this weekend...

So when the Jeep dealership called me Friday morning to say

that Chrysler had approved a repair needed to correct a small

defect in the paint I found and, that they'd have a loaner ready

to go for me after work, I called SpaBoy and told him we were

going on a road trip! And, the best thing to lift our spirits was a

trip to Asheville and Biltmore estate! We began our day here...

At Cedric's Tavern. Our very favorite spot for lunch!

Seeing this was a little sad though...

Because on Tuesday, SpaBoy lost one of his sweeties when

his beloved Ollie, (seen right) passed away without warning!

It still doesn't seem real... And, losing Ollie has

made it quite difficult to leave Monty alone!

So we didn't! We brought him along to mingle

with the other poochies visiting Biltmore today!

Back at Cedric's we drowned our sorrows properly...

Everything on the menu there is so good...

And, just what a foursome of sad-sacks like us needed today!

I have to tell you... Although I miss them more than I could ever

describe, I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to bring my

mom and dad to Biltmore because everywhere I looked today...

I saw them and remembered that amazing weekend we spent here!

We spent their visit this year in Washington, DC but we all

agree that another visit to Asheville remains high on our list!

To me, Asheville is one of the best parts of living in North Carolina!

We love living in the middle and we enjoy the coast too...

But it is North Carolina's majestic mountains that constantly whisper our names!

We were barely through the first gift shop this afternoon before...

The three of us began planning our Biltmore Christmas visit!

There is nothing better than Biltmore at Christmas time!

Today, I was standing in this spot when the Ranger called...

I moved over to this quiet corner where I heard him say...

I'm headed to work now so I'll just say good-bye to

you guys now... I'll e-mail you from Germany, okay, mom?

As the tears rolled, I turned around and was reminded that...

It's going to be okay...

We spent the next hour before our estate tour quietly...

Just taking in the colorful autumn scenery and thinking about him...

And, remembering that because our Ranger, his battle buddies and so

many other sons and daughters are doing that... We're free to do this...

And, as hard as it is to remember sometimes...

It is nevertheless true, that enjoying our life is exactly what

all of them want and expect us to keep doing. By the way...

There's someone special in Ranger's life and a promise was made

while he was home recently that when he returns he'll bring her to

meet us. As we toured Biltmore today, I couldn't help but think

about how wonderful it will be to bring the two of them here...

Because I'm sure they will enjoy Biltmore as much as we always do!

Something to look forward to...

That's what I needed today...

Just a little something to look forward to!

And, on the thought of one day seeing Ranger and his girl

strolling through Biltmore hand in hand, we went inside...

Oh! One thing that occurred to us during our visit today...

Was that in all our visits, we've never once

heard the organ in the banquet hall play!

Everyone we asked about it said, the organ plays every twenty minutes...

Impossible! We've never heard it... But every twenty minutes when we didn't

hear the organ play, we'd ask again. And, every time, we were provided
with cheerful confirmation that, the organ plays every twenty minutes!

As we toured, we wondered if perhaps the walls were too thick to

hear the organ from other areas of the house. But surely we'd hear

it at least once during our two-hour tour? But no. The organ never

played. On our way out, we asked again. And, again we were told, the

organ plays every 20 minutes. Ha! So SpaBoy and I stood in this spot,

right under the organ for 30 minutes. And, after the organ failed to play,

we brought it to the attention of the guide who last insisted it would!

The guide was surprised too. In fact, he remarked that since we mentioned

it, he couldn't recall hearing the organ play all day. Immediately, he called to

someone over the mic, asking that the organ be checked. Then, he invited us back

into the house with assurance that someone would make it play. And, so they did!

Its glorious sound filled the banquet hall and, the organ
could even be heard all the way outside on the loggia!

It was worth the effort we made to hear the organ play... And, we left

Biltmore confident that the other visitors appreciated our efforts too!

Next time mom and dad visit Biltmore, we'll make sure they hear it!

It's said that it is good luck to see a bride and today made

the third time we encountered a bridal party at Biltmore!

On this deployment day for our family it was especially nice to see

this Marine Captain and his radiant new bride looking so happy!

Farewell, Biltmore Estate!

Until Christmas time!

Which cannot come soon enough because...

The quicker the days go by...

The quicker our Ranger will be back home!

And, the quicker we'll get to meet his someone-special!

In the meantime, there are care-packages to shop for...

Prayers to be said...

And, thanks to be given!

If you've got them at home...

Squeeze your kids a little tighter for us!

Thanks!