So often when we go on vacation, we return feeling more frazzled and stressed than when we left – with airport delays and “non-rev” travel, it can be even worse for airline families. This vacation wasn’t like that at all. Our cabin in North Carolina was perfect. It was furnished beautifully and had everything we could possibly need. It was even decorated for Christmas. 

    
We loved getting out and driving around and exploring Highlands and Asheville and Brevard, but we also loved coming home to “our” cabin and relaxing. The view was ever changing. Some days we had long range views of the mountains and others we were enveloped in clouds. We spent a lot of time of the deck outside, enjoying the outside fireplace and watching the changing views…the peek-a-boo views of mountains, the glimpses of waterfalls, the clouds that would rise up the mountain until we were ensconced in a thick layer of fog, the deer scampering through the trees….It rained a lot while we were there, but even that was kind of fun – listening to the sound of the rain while sitting in front of a fire sipping hot chocolate with your family is actually pretty awesome. 

   

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
 

   
    
    
 
Christmas morning the clouds cleared out out long enough for a glorious sunrise. Clay was happy because we had ham, and we had a very relaxing family day.  We ate, and opened gifts, and read, and talked, and watched the clouds, and sipped hot chocolate. Paige colored. Clay played with his new drone. We listened to Christmas carols. 

Some people might think it was kind of boring. 

We thought it was perfect. 

   
  

  
  
    
    
    
 
And…did you notice that I’m not in any of the photos? Someone decided to do something about that…

 
 
  
There I am!