Tuesday, September 29

Mountaintop retreat



George Vanderbilt's mountaintop retreat, that is.

Have you been to the Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina? If not, you should plan a trip there. Really. You'll be amazed.

Here I am in front of the house. See the red-headed woman in the foreground in the orange top? Yep, that's me. That photo was taken this past Friday, on a weekend trip that my husband and I took. Asheville is about three and a half hours from here, so it's a great place to go for a long weekend.



As we planned this trip, my husband and I realized that it had been nearly two years since we'd spent the night alone together anywhere--unless you count the hospital. We'd spent several nights alone together at Duke Hospital. Incredible room service, I must say, but otherwise not quite what I prefer in a romantic getaway.

This weekend, though--everything about this weekend was just exactly what I prefer in a romantic getaway. Most of all, I have my husband to get away WITH. Believe me, those nights spent in the hospital will make you think. As I reflect upon our journey, I am grateful for a husband who is alive and healthy and who, after 24 years of marriage, still wants to share a romantic weekend with me.

I have been to the mountaintop.

Gratefully Unwrapped with Emily at Chatting at the Sky

22 comments:

  1. Here by way of Chatting at the Sky and I'm so glad you got to enjoy time away with your Hubby. I love the Biltmore House. My Hubby and I went for our first anniversary in June. Such a beautiful place!

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  2. beautiful, beautiful! feeling like you've been to the mountaintop with your husband... especailly when you feel like you were walking in the valley for a while. i am so thankful that you had this time to play & love, richella!

    (and i have never been to the biltmore, but my kids went this summer with their grandparents!)

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  3. It looks beautiful! Glad you were able to get away for some alone time.
    pk @ room remix

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  4. I've always heard that it's a wonderful place. Pictures are beautiful.

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  5. Absolutely beautiful~it looks like a perfect getaway!

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  6. My dream is to make it to the Biltmore!! I've studied the Vanderbilts, and the place just fascinates me. Glad you had a satisfying trip with your hubby!

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  7. That looks like an amazing getaway! I keep hearing about the Biltmore... maybe it's a sign ;)

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  8. Each day that passes reminds me what a wonderful man God blessed me with. He is so good! They also remind me that it's been over two years since we have spent time away, just the two of us. We've had weekends without Kiddo, but not without the regular demands of life. I'm so glad you got to go to such a beautiful place together! I've been to Ashville, but didn't get to go the Biltmore. Too spendy for a college student. You can tell this was just last year. HA!!!

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  9. Hi there! Thanks so much for stopping by last week...I have been out of town and am just now returning visits. :) I had to smile at this post b/c we took an unplanned "detour" on the way back to VA from the Nashville MOPS Conference over the weekend, and almost ended up in Asheville. ;)

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  10. It seems several of us are writing about our hubbies or marriages for today's unwrapping. Must be something in the air. A weekend away with your hubby sounds like a wonderful gift!!

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  11. Love getaways, and so glad you were able to do this.
    It renews and strengthens our spirits. Especially in such a breathtaking place as that looks to be.

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  12. Oh, lucky you! (And your hubby.) The Biltmore AND time together!?! So glad you got to go.

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  13. I LOVE it! What fun...thanks for sharing!
    Amy

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  14. Sounds like a wonderful weekend! It has been much too long since my husband and I have gotten away. We are working on changing that...have some reservations coming up.

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  15. So fun! What a great gift to get away with your husband to such a beautiful place!

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  16. Yes, yes, yes, I would recommend it (though I secretly would LOVE to go to Italy as well)! And Normandy would be a must, as would the Chateau we stayed in! Keep my little blog tucked in the back of your mind, and if you go, contact me and I will tell you some of my favorites!
    Thanks for popping over to playing sublimely :)

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  17. a night away with hubby...aaaaaah. we just had one over labor day weekend. SO good to have the space to focus on each other.

    The Biltmore looks amazing. Too bad it's such a long way from Colorado. :)

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  18. I've been to Newport, RI, when I used to live on the east coast...but never the Biltmore House. Looks stunning! Sounds like the perfect weekend...I need a dose of that!

    Thanks for visiting Graceful via Chatting at the Sky.

    Michelle

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  19. I love Asheville and Biltmore all decked out for Christmas and The Grove Park Inn and the art museums! We spent our 1st anniversary there. 12 years ago.

    What a wonderful thing to get away with your sweetheart. Especially when it has more meaning attached to it like it did for you this past weekend.

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  20. Oh, this looks fabulous - you sure do one-on-one time in style! You've been to the mountaintop, indeed. :)

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  21. Hi Richella:

    Love Biltmore and Ashville -- could totally live in that town... Thanks for sharing, reminding me how much I would really love to go back...

    Glad you had the get away, and believe me, with 10 of our 22 grandchildren around most of the time I can identify with not remembering the last time alone a husband!! :-)

    (Was checking through "Graphically Designs Portfolio" and found you. Nice to meet you.)

    Blessings,
    Rosalind

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  22. Love Biltmore.My husband and I spent part of our honeymoon there. One of my favorite places .

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