Dreaming of Tennessee

Our summer is rapidly drawing to an end. August is here and that means alarm clocks and packing lunches will be here in no time at all. As much as I am excited for a new school year, I can't help but drag my feet a bit longing for more of these slow and easy summer days. 

I was talking to my mom at the beach yesterday about life. We were talking about the fast paced world that we live in. Even our drive to the beach was filled with traffic and angry drivers. How can that be, in one of the most beautiful settings possible? There is just a certain level of stress that is a commonly accepted thing around here. You see it on people's faces at the market or in a colleague's expression as they walk into work with you. And sadly, I am no more immune to it than the next person. 

I often wonder if it is that way everywhere. Visiting Tennessee made me wonder that even more. While we were there, I didn't encounter anyone with that familiar sense of exhaustion or stress. Every interaction with a local, whether it be our waitress, or a sales clerk was was slow, intentional, and all around pleasant. Our mornings were spent sipping coffee on the porch swing admiring the stillness around us. And while this inner calm, at least for me, was in big part due to vacation from the usual routine, there was something undeniably different about Tennessee. 

For better or worse, my parents put the Tennessee home up for sale just a few days after we all left and it sold quickly. Now, another sweet family is calling this porch their own and I know they will fall in love with it just as much as we all did. I am so thankful that my brother and I had a photographer come take these pictures of us at the house, before we left. These pictures are priceless to me and capture memories of an epic week with our family. 

And so another school year is about to begin. You can find me praying and practicing mindfulness to channel the calm, peaceful feelings that abounded in those Tennessee days. Until then turn up the Kenny Chesney and hand me a Corona, that seems to do the trick pretty well these days, too. 

TN Day 5- Bittersweet

On our last full day in Tennessee we woke up, got ourselves ready, and then drove out to cousin Trish's church, where her cemetery is right out back. 

The kids all picked a flower from Trish's garden to lay on her grave. 

We all gathered around and said a prayer feeling so grateful that it was Trish that brought us all together for this week of memory making. We wished that she could be there with us to enjoy it all. But her memories and presence sure were, regardless. 

After we left the cemetery, we went for a little drive around the area and then headed back home to relax. 

In the late afternoon, we had our much anticipated belated birthday for Laurel and Emmerson. We started with a great, big cupcake at the cupcake shop. 

Blowing out your candles never gets old. 

Everyone enjoyed their cupcakes. 

Even this red velvet fan, right here. 

Next up... the candy shop. 

At the old candy store, you could pick out a stuffed animal that was empty inside and stuff it with as much candy as you could fit. 

And boy did they ever! 

Happy, sugared up, grandkids. Thanks Oma and Grampie for the fun treats. 

And then it was time to head back to the house. 

We no sooner got the cars unloaded at home before Grampie was up and ready for the next adventure. This time Jonathan, Jill, Dustin, and I tagged along. Dad drove us wildly down all of the back roads in town. He amazes me at how well he knows his way around. 

The barns are what draws him here and there. One of the mornings while we were there, my Dad and I had a cup of coffee on the back porch before everyone else was up. He sat looking at the old barn in the distance and told me about how much he loves looking at these barns. He said, barns are one of the only types of buildings that are built to perfection and then left alone indefinitely, never updated, never changed until they literally fall to the ground. He loves photographing all of the barns in this part of the country. Each has its own story and his pictures capture them so beautifully. 

So this particular afternoon, he took us on a back road tour of some of his favorites. The funny thing was that while he confidently navigated the roads at high speed, the rest of us felt fairly close to tossing our cookies in the back seat. We were completely delirious. This video makes me laugh so hard now that we're back at home. So many good, hearty laughs on this trip. PS If you are legitimately from the south, please excuse our super lame fake southern accents. Those things are addicting once you start, I tell you. 

IMG_9198 from Meghan Hein on Vimeo.

On the way back from our Grampie adventure, we picked up some BBQ at the house down the road and brought it back for everyone to enjoy. In the evening our horses visited for the last time. It was so sad saying good-bye to these beauties. I am especially missing my little Nibbles this week. 

Everyone decided to head back into the house to pack up their things. Mom, Taylor, and I were the only ones that stayed out back when a bit of a sprinkling rain began to fall. I couldn't help but stay out and enjoy it... one last summer drizzle before we had to head back home. 

As I walked into the kitchen with all of the kids eating at the table, I told Jill that it was raining a little bit outside. She looked out the window and said, "Wow! It's pouring!" It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. The sun was glowing on the farm yard behind us and I could literally see a downpour of rain right in front of us before it got to us. It was so beautiful! Then, a moment later, it moved right in on top of us. More Tennessee magic that I'll never forget. 

In the evening, the boys and Clare headed to Elizabethton to watch a local baseball game while the rest of us stayed home together. Jill, Mom, and I had a drink together while we began to pack up our things and clean up the house. The ladies of Jonesborough. Laurel and Emme took a long bubble bath together and then watched a movie quietly waiting for everyone else to get home. 

We packed up our bags and did our 100th load of laundry before tucking the littles into bed for the night. The kids did so well snuggling together on their blow up beds in the back room. It was so sweet. 

The grown ups stayed up way too late once again, laughing so hard I could barely stand it. Maybe the hardest we'd laughed all week. My whole body was sore from the non-stop giggles. It was just the best!

Friday morning we woke up early. Jonathan, Jill, and the girls were the first to go. We all enjoyed a cup of coffee on the front porch, swinging on the porch swing and wishing the week didn't have to come to an end. 

When they left, Dustin and I helped clean up the house and before we knew it, it was time for us to leave, too. We said our good-byes to Oma and Grampie and thanked them continually for the gift of the week. And off we went back to Charlotte to fly back to Grammie's house in Sacramento. 

It was the longest, most stressful day. So hard after such a relaxing week. Taylor somehow spilled her whole cup of milk on herself as we were in line checking our bags, the kids were beyond tired. The airport was sooooo crowded, hot, and under major construction. There was nowhere for Taylor to walk to release her energy. Thankfully the flight was on time. We boarded and left at 6:30 ET time. Taylor was an absolute disaster on the flight. She is so fiercely independent but has no sense of my instruction at this point. So she wanted nothing to do with sitting on my lap but had no concept of needing to stay buckled, or quiet. She was screaming and crying and about as horrible as could be for about the first 4 hours of the flight. At one point I just wanted to cry... but then she finally fell asleep and all was okay with the world once again. I don't know how people travel with little ones all the time. It was one of the hardest days I can remember... but in hindsight it was all so worthwhile. 

It's hard to believe that this was all just the first week of summer. I couldn't dream up a better way to kick off our vacation. These memories will last a lifetime. And in the famous words of our anthem of the trip, "Rocky Top, you will always be... home sweet home to meeeee. Good ole' Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee." 

TN Day 4- The stuff dreams are made of

The 4th day of our vacation topped it all! Just looking at these pictures makes my heart ache wishing I could relive this day over and over and over again. Trish's dear friend Bettina owns a ranch in Jonesborough and she invited the whole crew to come out and meet her horses. I had no idea what to expect from the visit but everything about it exceeded my wildest dreams. 

We drove down scenic roads filled with country eye candy to get to her ranch. Then when we saw the sign for her ranch we turned down a long, paved drive with huge, mature trees that lined the path all the way up to her home. She met us at the top of the hill and gave the kids and overview of the ranch and what they would have to "help her with" that morning. 

Emmerson and Laurel quickly discovered some friends along the way. This was her kitty Clark. 

Our first task of the day was to walk back down the path to the pasture where all of the horses were grazing. 

These two lead us there. 

And here we found them. Bettina introduced us to each of her horses. She told us the story of how they found each one and why they were given their names. The kids got to pet them and then choose the horse that they wanted to ride for the day. 

I love this picture of Oma and Grampie. Pretty sure they felt the same way about the experience as I did. 

Once back to the stable, we found all sorts of treasures like this tiny hummingbird nest made out of horse hair. 

And Bettina's gorgeous peacock that stands over the chicken coop. 

The cousins chose Nemo as the special horse of the day. They got to brush him and clean out his hooves before they each got a turn to ride him. 

All the proud spectators watched the kids go about their ranch chores. 

 Taylor wished she could be a part of the work, but alas, she was too little to participate. 

 Which ended up being just fine because she found all sorts of friends to play with at the ranch. 

She had a riveting conversation with Clark until he jumped on her and scratched her under the eye... oops. 

Next she tried to befriend Stella who was a little kinder to her than Clark. 

 And then it was time for riding. Nemo was so patient and so was Mrs. Bettina. She walked each cousin through the process of getting on Nemo and how to make her go and stop. Emmerson was first. She was a bit shy at first, but was so excited!

 Next up, Laurel, who was our resident expert. She seemed very much at home riding in her red cow girl boots and all. 

Donovan surprised me with his confidence. Usually my most cautious kiddo, he was exceptionally brave. He took Bettina's cues and tried riding with his eyes closed, feeling the movement of Nemo and when he was brave enough, letting go. 

And finally it was Clare's turn. Clare took the riding to a whole new level where she actually got to ride Nemo as he trotted and galloped. She was all smiles the whole time. 

 And because one ride wasn't enough, of course, Emmerson insisted on riding little Chip, too. As the smallest of the big cousins she was the only one that Chip could hold. Emmerson was so excited! 

After our riding lessons, the kids got to take the horses back to the stable. They got to meet all of Bettina's chickens and then conclude the morning with a walk to her other pasture that housed 2 adorable llamas. Everything about the experience was just pure magic. The scenery was picturesque. That morning is one I don't think I will ever, ever forget. 

As if the already perfect day could possibly get better than it started, the one thing I had been crossing my fingers for since we arrived was a nice, big summer storm. And that afternoon we got it. I had been sitting out on the front porch devouring the book I had bought the day before. Jonathan, Jill, and Dustin came out to join me with an icy cold beer. We could feel the breeze picking up and then sure enough the thunder began. And then all of the sudden the clouds parted and down came the rain!

The kids ran outside and Jill and I couldn't resist our child like urge to run right into it. And that we did, sprinting all around the front yard with 4 little ones chasing and laughing behind us. My heart was full of joy as we sat sopping wet on the bottom of these steps together. 

When the lighting started and the thunder cracked right above us we all ran underneath the safety of the front porch. 

 The grands that were awake (Still not sure how Taylor slept through the excitement) posed with Oma and Grampie on the porch swing. 

 It didn't take long for the storm to pass on by. But gosh, it was perfect! Soon the sun came out and so did the humidity. The kids and I carried bowls of fresh watermelon slices out to the lawn.

In the evening, the boys picked up pizzas for us while the girls did the cousin baths. Then, Jonathan and I had hired a local photographer to come and snap some pictures of the family together in this magical spot so that we could always remember Trish's house and the memories we were blessed to make here together. 

In true form, the horses came out at the end of the photography session to put on their best show and pose for the camera with us. I can't wait to see how the pictures turned out. 

Like I said, this day was one for the books. The cousins stayed up late watching another movie in the back room while the grown ups chatted in the family room. We talked about ideas and dreams of keeping the house and how we could ever make it work, mixed in with more belly laughs that made my abs sore. The next day would be the last full day of our trip... there was still more fun and laughs to be had together before we said good-bye.