Mary's Kids

I took this picture last Saturday at Gary's sister, Sue's birthday party and came straight home and worked on this page...I knew how I wanted it but it took several efforts until I decided this was it. It was so great that all the brothers and sisters could be there. I think we are all trying to make that extra effort and cancel other things to make it a point that the family gets together. The last two years have been hard on "Mary's Kids". Losing LeeRoy year before last and Dennis last year...we never know how much longer any of us will have.


Background is from Kyra's "Skyhigh" kit.

Pigeon Forge Devastation

I thought about posting pics, but decided against it. They are heartbreaking. I'm sure you all have heard of the tremendous fire in Pigeon Forge that obliterated 35 or more cabins, and if you've ever been in one of those cabins...well let's just say they are all breathtaking. I feel so sorry for the property owners, some who lived there year round and some who rented them out.
So...would you believe that exactly one week before the fire, we made reservations for a cabin in Black Bear Ridge (where the fire started). We received confirmation that the beautiful cabin we had reserved was one of the ones destroyed by the fire.  Daughter-in-law Dawn and I spent weeks looking at pics of cabins and had finally decided this was the one for us!! We picked this one because it was off Wears Valley Rd, which leads into Cades Cove (my favorite place to spend time). When making the reservation, which by the way, isn't until May 19th, we paid half down. Received conformation today that we have been relocated and upgraded to a luxury cabin at no extra charge. They told us the web site to go to see pics of the cabin and location to see if it met with our approval...It definitely does and we can not wait for May to get here. Spending a week in this beautiful area is really something we are looking forward to.