April 7th – April 14th

My family and I spent the whole day out of the house this Saturday. We left at 8 a.m. and drove the hour to Dollywood, where we spent a few hours riding rides and visiting shops. It was my first time ever going to Dollywood and the whole layout was very confusing to me, but it was beautiful. Our day would have been way more enjoyable if it wasn’t raining, but we still had a fun time. The only rides we all went on was the Lightning Rod and the Tennessee Tornado because we were a little short on time, but they were both super fun. After we ate at a BBQ place in Craftsman’s Valley for lunch, we found a place called Grist Mill, where my mom and grandma got a roll of cinnamon bread and I got the biggest chocolate chip cookie I’ve ever seen. It smelled amazing in that place though, and I definitely think we’ll be going back there. We all have season passes, so we weren’t too mad that we didn’t get to explore more.

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I fell asleep on the ride home from Dollywood because I was so exhausted, and woke up right when we got in the driveway of our house. We were only home for about an hour and a half to get ready for the Water Lantern Festival that was in Knoxville that day. The only reason we stopped by the house at all was because our clothes were soaked from the rain earlier. After redoing my hair and putting a different outfit on, we left the house once again. We arrived at Chilhowee Park at 6 and set up our chairs and blankets right by the lake. Where we sat, a bank of rocks was separating us from the edge of the water, and it was so gorgeous.

The whole activity here was about making your own lantern, and then lighting a candle inside it and setting it out over the water when it was completely dark outside. Most people used it as a remembrance for a loved one that had passed. I took this route and made a tribute for my two friends from home who passed away a few weeks ago. I wrote their names on the paper that was provided and then a few quotes on making peace. Since I couldn’t attend their funeral in Florida, I really felt like this was my own funeral for them. It was emotional, but a very powerful and beautiful moment. A lot of people around me had the same idea and I saw them peacefully sitting and looking out over the water, where I also was until my mom told me it was time to go.

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I’m very grateful I was able to attend the Water Lantern Festival with my family. It was for sure the highlight of my day on Saturday.

April 15th is the day I go to Nashville! Next week’s blogpost will be all about my adventures there. I’m so excited to go to the Olivia O’Brien concert with my sister then! It will definitely be the best day I’ve experienced since I moved up here.