After another short weekend with my husband, I’m feeling thankful for those that we have had where we enjoy every moment together.

Although I am the absolute worst to admit it, sometimes you need a time out just for the two of you to be alone. No distractions, no children, no housework– just you, your spouse, and your undivided attention. A time to recharge, reconnect, and to sincerely enjoy one another. A time for a nice meal for the two of you without the hassle of cooking, making the kids plates first, and the clean up afterwards. A time to date. A time to remember how things used to be when you first fell in love.

Today I’m sharing our favorite weekend away.

On Friday, April 28, 2017 we arrived at our favorite hotel in Sevierville. Every time we visit the area, we stay at the same Hampton Inn.

We didn’t leave until Jordan got off work that afternoon so we didn’t arrive at the hotel until 5:30. We got the room key and dropped off our bags then went shopping at the Tanger Outlets. We didn’t buy anything except candy for the kids and some sweet treats from The Fudgery. When we visit the area, we are always on a mission to find chocolate dipped rice krispy treats. Although none compare to the ones at the Russell Stover outlet, the one we got from The Fudgery that night made it a close race.

By the time we were finished window shopping it was after 8 o’clock so we decided to have dinner at The Chop House located in the center of the outlets. In 2013, when I was pregnant with Klara we went to dinner at the same Chop House so it brought back those happy memories. What I remember the most about this time around was how amazing the food was and how Jordan and I shared the same seat in the booth. We couldn’t stop smiling, kissing, and whispering to one another. Right there, in that restauraunt, I wished that time would stand still.

After dinner we done another thing we had done on our 2013 trip. We love Ripley’s Old MacDonald’s Farm mini golf. We laughed, held hands, and enjoyed every minute of that night. I don’t even remember who won the game, but it got pretty competitive. That’s what makes it so fun though, right?!

The next morning is one that I will never forget. We had breakfast in the hotel lobby then went back to the room with our coffee and read our bibles, prayed fiercely together, and listened to a T.D. Jakes sermon. There were tears streaming down our faces and an overpowering feeling of love and complete submission to God that morning. Together we experienced Him in our marriage like never before.

We decided to spend the whole day in Gatlinburg. We made dinner reservations at The Melting Pot for 7 o’clock that evening and enjoyed the ride through the mountains from our hotel to Gatlinburg.

When we got to Gatlinburg we walked the sidewalks, went into bakeries, candy stores, and gift shops. I loved going into the little shops that had homemade candles and jams. We sat on a bench next to a beautiful water fountain and talked about how richly God had blessed us.

We went to Ripley’s Moving Theater

You can’t go to Gatlinburg without a buying a foot long corn dog and a lemonade

We decided to go back towards Sevierville to shop for swimsuits so we could swim at the hotel. We ended up finding a blue dress that Jordan fell in love with once I tried it on. I am so glad I kept these dressing room pictures because Jordan had never made me feel as beautiful as he did that night. When I showed him these pictures after I left the dressing room, his jaw dropped. He told me that we were buying the dress, no questions asked. That would be the dress that I would wear to our dinner reservation later that night. Seeing his face when I put it on in the hotel room as we were getting ready was breathtaking. It was the same look he gave me when my papaw was walking me down to him on our wedding day.

The Melting Pot was incredible

That night when we got back to the hotel we popped popcorn and talked. We had such vigorous conversation that weekend– I don’t recall the television being on at all the entire time we were there.

The next morning was check out so after breakfast in the lobby we packed up our things.

Another thing that has became a tradition when we visit the area is eating at Cici’s Pizza, so we stopped for lunch before the drive back home.

When I think about some of my favorite memories with Jordan over the years, so many of them are from that trip. Today I am praising God for my husband, the love and forgiveness between us, and the opportunities we have had– especially the ones that leave us breathless because of His presence.