A Little Jump Forward in Our Journey

To jump ahead in our relocation story for a moment—this week has been extra special. My mom came to visit us here in East Tennessee! Since we only get to see her about once a year, we always try to make the most of every moment when she’s here.

When she visits, there are two things at the top of her list: shopping and soaking up the sunshine. And honestly, I can’t blame her—East Tennessee has plenty of both!

We popped into a few estate sales over the weekend and came away with some great finds!

We kicked off yesterday with some shopping and made a stop at Bass Pro Shop (a must-visit for my son, who could stay there for hours). We grabbed coffee at Dunkin’ to keep us going and swung by Jersey Mike’s for a quick and easy lunch.

Shopping was, of course, a success—my mom found the cutest Levi’s and definitely got her retail fix. I picked up a few things for myself and my son, too (still on the lookout for the perfect pair of shoes though!).

After our busy shopping day, we made our way to Warriors Path State Park for some fresh air and downtime. My husband and son love to fish, so it’s one of their favorite places to unwind. Our dog had the best time splashing around in the water!    And my mom? She was soaking up the sun and just enjoying the peacefulness of it all.

It was one of those days that reminded me exactly why we made this move. Even after the stress and uncertainty that comes with relocating, days like this make it all feel worth it. There’s something special about being able to blend everyday moments with the beauty of your surroundings—and I’m grateful we get to do that here.

More of our story is still unfolding, and I can’t wait to share what changed our minds from our original plan of moving to Pigeon Forge, and how we ended up right where we’re meant to be.

Until next time,
Amanda 💛