15 years....a few days late

Patrick and I weren't together for our 15th anniversary.  I was up in Cleveland with the kids and he was back working and getting ready to head on his mission trip to Bolivia.  Seeing as he is the thoughtful, romantic in our relationship, and I generally think of beer as a great gift for him, I decided to surprise him with a getaway trip when we returned.  I planned a trip to the mountains for us, and once I had childcare arranged and things packed up, I headed up to Boone, NC to pick him up from his day at the office up there.  We then hit an Indian food restaurant for lunch (what a treat), and then headed to Linville Falls for some hiking.  It was a lovely day with plenty of sun, which is rare here this summer (unfortunately).  A long, romantic, hand-held hike, it was not.  We had people chuckling along the path, as we raced from lookout-point to lookout-point.  Some box-jumps on stumps and racing led to a sweaty hike, but it was really a fun time.  Then we headed to Asheville, via a long-cut and some repeated sights, but we got there eventually.  We spent the night at the Grand Bohemian hotel which was really eclectic and fun.  We walked to a great dinner, had a great breakfast the next morning, and then hit the Vanderbilt Mansion.  It was beautiful and amazing, and gigantic.  Our tour through the home resembled the hike the day before.  We were running through the home and passing people on all sides.  (Patrick wasn't nearly as amazed at the home as I was...."yeah, yeah, another bedroom...") We made to the Basilica of St. Lawrence for noon Mass and then headed to downtown Asheville for some lunch.  We arrived home to one sick child (everyone else had been sick before we left).  And then Lucy proceeded to flood the bathroom at bath time and water made its way to the basement.  But we remained remarkably calm through it all.  It is blessing what a little quiet, relaxing, alone time can do!