by toogie 11 Nov 2018

Hello Cuties! I am home! I hope all of you are well, sewing or embroidering. This was a trip I will always remember and maybe, most of our travelers will too.

We had just arrived the night before in Tennessee. The first day of excursions over into North Carolina, my niece received an urgent call from home.
I had to walk and walk to help locate all the group and get each one to go back to the bus early.We had to cut the day short and go back to our hotel, to arrange a flight home for her. She didn't want people to know about the details of the situation, but she had to tell them something, so just apologized and said it was an emergency and urgent that she fly home.
Thank goodness all but about five, were our regular people and they knew something had to be terribly wrong for her to leave them, as she had never done that before. She told them she was leaving them in capable hands (mine!) and thank goodness we requested Tracy our driver.
Tracy has driven us before, on the Florida and Missouri trips. Our husbands said, the first time they saw Tracy arrive at our pickup, if she could drive half as good forward, as she could backing the bus, we had nothing to worry about.
Well it's a good thing I pay attention to how Eraine handles things or without that knowledge and God's help, I never could have done it.
This is the first trip I ever remember that she did not do a detailed itinerary, so I had to figure all the timing of each place and where we went, during the day. She had told me where to go, but not when or what order, just so long as we were back for our dinner and show times each night.
Then on way home and calling hotel, making sure all rooms were ready and all cards were named for the rooms, call telling restaurants I was coming in and estimate time of arrival, with 45 people and a driver, and asking could they handle us. Not to mention, finding exits off the interstate to stop for bathroom breaks. Whew!
The travelers bought a card and all signed it thanking me for taking over, but I told them I couldn't have done it without our good driver and their help.
You know God has a hand in all our lives but I really felt Him working here.
My niece was so upset, there was no asking me to take over, I just assumed responsibility. There was no question if I could do it, I had to do it with God's help.
Also, when we had to go back that day early, our people went to their rooms while the driver Tracy, Eraine my niece, hotel manager Michelle and myself sat down at a table together to make plans for Eraine's flight.
Our group later took up a collection to give in a card for the manager because of her help.
When Eraine went to her room to get some paperwork the manager asked me if it was a death in our family. I said no, but I told her the circumstance.
Michelle said she had to welcome another bus group coming in, but after a split second,she said she was going to assign another clerk to welcome them. She said Eraine was not paying a Uber or renting a car to drive in the shape she was in. Michelle would drive her to the airport in Knoxville, which I believe was 35 miles away. Wasn't that extremely nice of her?
So when I told my travelers, Michelle would take no pay or even gas money, they decided to give her a card and a hefty donation for going above and beyond her duty. I told you we had good people traveling with us!
Eraine called me and said if I needed ANYTHING to just let Michelle know and she would help me. Thank goodness I didn't have to ask.
The morning we left the Black Fox Lodge, Michelle asked about Eraine and her family, then gave me a huge goodbye hug. Said she would be calling Eraine to check on her. Now how many hotel staff do you know that does what Michelle did? I told her to show her boss the card we gave her and tell him why. She was a godsend, as it cost Eraine a pretty price, for a one way flight home and she was in no shape to drive herself. I couldn't drive her, as I had to see about escorting the group. Our driver couldn't take her, because she was driving us to our destinations. Michelle was an angel.
Well, like I said earlier, I am home and so are the 45 others. Most all hugged me by and thank me for taking over, as they knew I had never done this alone before. They said Eraine could not have done better which did make me feel good but I'm sure they were mostly being nice.
So, I don't have any photos yet, but when I do, I want to show you the Christmas show at the Smoky Mountain Opry. It was AWESOME ! That's their words but I totally agreed.
Toogie

ps-Mrs Lillian now you know why I didn't call you a second time. I was BUSY-lol

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Comments (12)

by maleah 12 Nov 2018

So glad you made it home safely.

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by toogie 12 Nov 2018

Thank you! I am too and that I came back with the SAME people-lol

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by cfidl 11 Nov 2018

Wonderful adventure and you were the shining star. Good job!

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by toogie 12 Nov 2018

The One above was the star, giving praise and thanks always. You are right tho, a memorable trip for sure!

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by jrob Moderator 11 Nov 2018

I am praying for y’all.

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by toogie 11 Nov 2018

And lovin' you for it.

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by pennifold 11 Nov 2018

Wasn't this a trip to remember Toogie? I'm so glad everything worked out in the end and that your were able to continue taking those ladies to the destinations already mapped out.
I do pray that Eraine is now comfortably back at home with the family too and that things are sorting themselves out. Our families are such complex things aren't they?
On a lighter note, I hope you got to buy some more fabric at least whilst you were away or came back with some new ideas. Love to you all, Chris

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by toogie 11 Nov 2018

This wasn't a fabric trip, not a fabric store in sight, or I would have came home with more-lol- Yes I won't forget this trip anytime soon. We also had more men than usual and some stepped up to load luggage. Really kind and helpful, they all were.

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by graceandham 11 Nov 2018

Toogie, just when you thought you retired, another job raises its head and roars! Can't believe what all you took on and accomplished! God prepares us and helps us through and prepares others to step forward and help, like the lady at the hotel desk, so all works out. So, now, try to take a few days of ease.

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by toogie 11 Nov 2018

You of course, are right Betsey. His timing is perfect as I don't know if I could have handled the last trip. The people were so different....

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by shirley124 11 Nov 2018

Glad you all made it home safe after such an eventful trip. I am sure you did a great job in taking over from your niece. Hope all is well with her and her family. Hugs

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by toogie 11 Nov 2018

I am hopeful it will all work out and I am glad to be home.

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by airyfairy 11 Nov 2018

What a journey it turned into. You will never forget this trip. Looking forward to seeing photographer. Pleased to have you back here on Cute

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by toogie 11 Nov 2018

Thank you Sarah. I am glad to be back and I have a lot of catching up to do here.
I have to say, the Holy Spirit revealed something to me in Sunday school class this morning, how even a few months back when we were remodeling Eraine's kitchen God plan was unfolding.
Eraine has always done her own paperwork, made hotel, show and dinner reservations. However, back then she asked me to go over everything and help her, making sure all was in order. Neither of us realized how God was preparing me to lead this group. I am weak sometimes and I have asked Him to reveal His presence in my life and He has convicted me of His guidance here. To Him I give all the glory. For not only touching me but who knows who else needed His touch. Maybe someone on our bus, or the other bus, or at the hotel or maybe all of us need to see God doesn't forsake us when we truly seek and need Him. He doesn't promise everything will work out to our satisfaction, but He does promise to lead us, be with us through it all. To God be the Glory! I know I am nothing and can do nothing, without Him. Love Toogie

by pennifold 11 Nov 2018

Amen and Amen! Love Chris

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by dragonflyer 11 Nov 2018

Sorry your trip took such an expected turn. I hope all is well in your family and that you are recovering from your trip....

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by toogie 11 Nov 2018

I thought I could relax now but last night was first night home and I still couldn't sleep. I guess everything was replaying in my mind and it wouldn't shut down. I joked and said when we get home I might have to be rebooted like we do our computers!-lol
The family will be ok but a long recovery process, I'm sure.

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by lbrow 11 Nov 2018

I must say all were in capable hands. I am blessed you even thought of me with all you had to do... God Bless you Toogie . You will never know how it thrilled me to hear your voice on the answering machine. Hope all is well now with your niece. Why you may have your own Tour Bus one day..

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by lbrow edited 11 Nov 2018

Toogie I have been in the Gatlinburg area during Christmas time long ago. We use to go up to the Gatlinburg Christmas Parade and spend a few days.and see some of the shows. I know how exciting it can be. I am so glad you got to do it. It really gets yo

by toogie 11 Nov 2018

Oh I bet Gatlinburg was spectacular at Christmastime. However, this time we didn't go there. I do recommend going to the Smoky Mountain Opry Christmas show, though. Everyone talked about it for 2 days.
Yes and No to your questions.
Yes family is mending and NO I don't want my own tour company!-lol-Several on the bus asked if I was going to start hosting/leading now and I said No, it was a short lived promotion-lol
I do want to call you again, but church today and I haven't seen my kids, so it will be a surprise to you again when I do get a chance. Love ya' in the meantime-Toogie

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by sebsews 11 Nov 2018

Wow! Through it all you had one above guiding you. Certainly a trip to remember. Hugs, Suzanna

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by toogie 11 Nov 2018

You are very correct Suzanne and yes, I forget a lot sometimes, but not this one! When I talked to my daughter from home she said, "Mamma, Eraine has all the faith in the world that you can handle it". Then I told my daughter I knew Eraine was in bad shape when she left, but her mind was worse than I thought to trust my mind.-lol
I was sick at heart with the family situation, but I knew she had to go, it was closer to her than me. We both cried when we parted and then I got on the bus. We had prayer right then for Eraine a safe flight and her family to be ok. We have a cordless microphone and when we had prayer, we found out the next day, that it came over another bus's microphone and that bus prayed too. I don't even know if I found out where that bus was from. So yes, He was guiding all of us and I give Him thanks for everything, amen.

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by mrskiki 11 Nov 2018

Sounds like a fantastic trip. Hope all is well with you niece's issue. Does she plan these trips and take care of all the details? That is a huge job. Glad you are home safe and enjoying your memories. Hugs. Nan

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by toogie 11 Nov 2018

Yes, she plans everything from home and sometimes she calls me to her house, to help with paperwork, so I am familiar with the who, what and where, thank goodness.It is a huge job, like you said. I tell her all the time it's not worth the headache and I sure wouldn't do it (famous last words! lol), but she loves it.
She tries to stay at better hotels sometimes than the tour company puts us in and take us to really good shows. I had to pay over a $1,000. one night for us to eat dinner/supper. She tries to make the trip as affordable as possible for each person, without going in the hole. She says she doesn't care so much for profit and she gets a trip too-lol Although this time, her airline ticket may have her in the red. I hope not.
I told everyone to bear with me I was taking baby steps, giving them just enough information at a time for each stop. They said for me to feel like I had a promotion and then my friend Kathy took my previous job over on the bus. Thank goodness it all worked out and I came back with the same 45 people!-lol

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by vickiannette 11 Nov 2018

Guessing you are having a well-earned rest Toogie. Hopefully your family is all good now.

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by toogie 11 Nov 2018

The family is getting ok and yes, I told my friends I didn't know who I wanted to see more, my husband or Eraine!-lol

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