Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Jay and I have been married for 10 years.  Some things in life you can count on.  You expect them to remain constant, unmoved and unchanged.  Let me properly introduce you to the Riverside Motor Lodge, of Gatlinburg, TN.

The backdrop:

Jay is the youth pastor at Briarwood Presbyterian Church and has been for the past nine years.  Prior to that he and I were partners for Briarwood's then outreach ministry, Student Stampede.  Stampede started a winter conference nearly 30 years ago, taking 250-300 students to the Riverside Motor Lodge.  The entire hotel is rented out and becomes our home for the week.  Jay has gone for the past 19 consecutive years, and I the past 10 out of 12. 

A little over a week ago Jay called me.  "Allison, I've got tragic news.  Are you sitting down?  The Riverside is shutting down."

Gasp.

What in the world?!  This place is the oldest running hotel in the tourist mecca of Gatlinburg!  I was truly in shock and a little embarrassed to admit I cried.  After Jay and I had been dating nine months, I went on this conference as a volunteer counselor.  Up until that particular conference, when Jay and I were together I was at large his focus.  This was the first time I didn't really matter and I got to see what he was like in his element.  I saw his heart for students, for the Lord, and for ministry.  I can honestly say it's when I realized I was in love with him.  The next year when I went I was on Stampede Staff and Jay and I were engaged, the following married, and the last time I had a young Elle and was pregnant with Caroline.  

How could the Riverside be closing?!  More importantly, what are we going to do for our winter conference?!

Jay and I quickly arrange a getaway, which I am so thankful I got to be a part of, in pursuit of a new hotel to host our event. 

We arrived around 4:00 to this jewel.

Oh wait, it's changed a tidge.

I mean, I have spent countless hours in these rockers.

We were appropriately welcomed and headed to our room.

Only to find this.

Poor place is just having a hard time keeping up.  

We spent hours on the way up calling hotels and finding which ones were prospects.   By 11:00 at night I had literally 12 pages of hotel listings in my lap with giant sharpie X's through them.  The Riverside suddenly looked a little fancy.  Jay and I were then brainstorming about possible other destinations.  We were beat and went to bed knowing tomorrow we wouldn't have much left to see.

We started the day properly.

Dunkin Donuts really is my new favorite coffee.  I drink my coffee black but decided to add blueberry to it.  It was ah.mazing!

After running poor Caroline through the mud, we found a place.  It was literally the last place on our list to look.  We didn't even think it was an option for this year and were looking at it for a 2014 option.  We will have to change the dates and as my sweet friend Amy B says "think outside the box," but I think it will be perfect!!!

When we left, I questioned my hormonal stability because I again teared up.  Farewell my sweet Riverside.  You have seen many a laughs and tears and we will miss you!!