My mama actually shared the chance to win the opportunity as one of the chosen few who get to witness this beautiful breath taking display with me and my sister. We all entered. As a matter of fact, I forgot to enter and my sister reminded me hours before the entry closed. The next thing I knew, I was being emailed that I won! I was allowed a total of 7 people including myself which allowed me and my sister and our children to attend together! Woop woop! Party with the Clardy mamas! I only wish all 11 of us could have gone, especially since my mama was the one to share the opportunity with us in the first place. But her goal was for us to be able to take the kids. She is awesome.
But of course, y'all, we made a day of it. And I do mean a big, long, full day of it. We left my sister's house where I had spent the night at 6:30 A.M. We drove to Tennessee. Two mamas, 5 kids. Coffee. Adventure. We began the day in Cades Cove. My sister has never been but Eric took me there for my 30th birthday back in September and I was so happy to return because it is so incredible. While there, we saw 8 bears. 2 mama bears and 6 cubs. We were so close one time; it was wild...literally. We toured all the historical cabins and churches, viewed the mountain landscapes, wild turkeys, and splashed in the creek.
The kids also did the steps to become Junior Rangers and get a GSM Junior Ranger badge. They raised their right hands and took the oath and then were rewarded with free ice cream!! Woohoo!
After our time there, we drove to Elkmont Campground to see the fireflies woop wooppppp!!! I really hope to camp there one day. You have to reserve well in advance and it is obvious why. Wow what a place!! Besides it's grand beauty, (Praise God!), there used to be a club there. Members of the club built cabins there where they vacationed with their families. It was known as Daisy Town. These cabins began being built in the 1800s. They were lived in for fun family memories up until 1992 when the government forced them out to take over the land...which I actually hate. Yes, it gives us something beautiful to see and protect....however; I hate that the government can just take away one's beloved property because of imminent domain. When you walk into the cabins that are open to viewing, you enter into a time decades and decades ago (or much more) as you view the cabins: the walls, the floors, the details... they all open the heart and mind to a picture of wives and mothers preparing meals for families, muddy grinning laughing children back from fishing in the river, husbands stoking a fire, reading, cuddling, board games, family time. On the doorframes you find measurements taken over the years. I saw them legibly dating back to the 50s all the way to '92 - the last year these families could gather here before being kicked out. It was something out of a movie. So mysteriously nostalgic and charming, yet at night walking back in the pitch black by red light (as that was the only light allowed) it was a bit eerie. The mood shifted and it was dark and ghostly and so cool. The whole place was incredibly interesting and you can only see it if you camp there because they do not allow day use visitors. I am so happy I got the chance to see this. I also shared a really sweet time with my oldest nephew as he and I walked through the cabins together. (Ellie and the other 3 babes were walking through with my sister). He is so into architecture and I got to hear his 11.5 year old mind and wheels turning about his thoughts on each building and talking about his future family and we laughed and made fun of each other as we always have. Jayden is more like my brother than my nephew and it was great to take a step back in time with him both to this town and to when he was our only baby. (Because he will always be my baby). He and I used to go on dates every weekend. I would drive to him every weekend after clocking out at work and so it was really awesome to have these moments with him.
Ok - now it was time for the main event! We walked to the site where the rangers told us viewing would be best. I do wish I had more foresight about it all because people packed chairs, pic-nics, blankets...we...well, we had our red flashlights! Haha! These are the details my husband would have thought of and just didn't occur to me! But we sat on the ground. Kelsey and I talked and had sister time while the kids built things with sticks, foliage, rocks, and dirt. By 9:30, we saw the lightening bugs...and it was just like someone flipped a switch. The forest got silent and it exploded with lights dancing all around. It was so bright there were reflections dancing on the trees! Impossible to photograph...at least with my iphone 6...haha! But so so so mesmerizing and I just stood there and praised God for the beauty of His creation and for allowing me to witness this moment!
When we left...we fed the ravenous children...and Emmay...and then Kelsey drove back to GA while the 6 others of us slept. I got in bed by 3:30 A.M. - I was on this adventure for almost 24 hours and it was wildly worth it. We laughed so hard, we screamed with excitement, and we were silent in awe.
Thank You, God for these incredible gifts and moments!
Oh- and the day before, after experiencing the Van Gogh Immersive Experience, we went hiking and tubing in the waterfalls! It is always a fun time with my family!
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