Thank you for 2013

I'm sorry we've been 'absent' for the past few days.  We've been traveling and expected to have good Internet access.  Alas, it was not to be.

But as we are now just three days away from a new year, we want to take this opportunity to thank ALL of the folks who have been a part of our Gatlinburg experience in 2013.

First, a huge 'thank you' to our daughters, Marcia and Angie.  Marcia has faithfully answered every inquiry for Smoky Mountain Tower and All Decked Out - no small task, considering we've received more than 700.  She has also kept track of all the reservations, communicated with our guests, and followed up with each one.  Angie is our 'webmaster,' keeping both www.SmokiesRentDirect.com and www.SmokyMountainTower.com up and running.  Both have provided valuable advice and encouragement throughout the year.  Also, Marcia's son, Nathan, has jumped in to perform research and check our advertising sites for accuracy.  So we truly are a 'family affair.'  Here's a photo of the group, with Nathan, Marcia, and Angie standing behind Dave.

Our Gatlinburg team makes it all work.  Ingrid and Bob Nelson and their daughters have done a fantastic job of cleaning our cabins after each stay, as well as taking care of small maintenance needs, changing the key codes, and making sure everything is in good working order.  Ingrid is an amazing person - she even answers guests' phone calls 24/7!

For larger maintenance jobs, Ingrid introduced us this year to Gary Stipes - who has done everything from installing new thermostats to replacing a toilet to fixing a ceiling leak.  There isn't anything he can't do.  And, for emergencies, we can always call on Darren Phillips, who lives right next door to All Decked Out.  What a blessing!

Of course, none of this would be of any importance if it weren't for YOU - our wonderful guests.  In 2013, we had almost 100 sets of guests, almost evenly split between our two cabins.  THANK YOU for all your great notes in the guest books, and for your care of our cabins.

Now, as we approach 2014, there are some changes in the wind.  We are working hard to confirm some things, and will let you know the news as soon as we can after January 1.  For now, though, we thank you for staying with us in 2013, and hope to see you again next year.

2013 is finished, but 2014 is getting started

It's December 20, 2013 - only 11 more days left in this year.  For us in Gatlinburg, the year is technically over.  We have no more available dates for the rest of the year.  Actually, we're full until after New Year's Day.

We want to thank all of you who have stayed with us in 2013.  In the past, Smoky Mountain Tower has rented quite a bit more than All Decked Out.  But that changed in 2013.  The two cabins were almost even.  In fact, we had one more set of guests at All Decked Out this year than we did at Smoky Mountain Tower.

Now, we're looking forward to 2014 - and there are some VERY big changes in store for us next year.  It's just a few days too early to tell you about them.  But very soon after January 1, we will have a special announcement to make.

Meanwhile, as you get together with your family in the next week or so, you may be making vacation plans.  We hope we will fit into those plans.  We will actually be traveling for the next 6 days, and Marcia will be with us.  But we will be checking email - so please let us know if you have any questions about staying with us in 2014.

Because of our travels, our next post will probably be after Christmas.  So Phyllis and I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas.  We hope you enjoy the time with family and friends - and please also remember the Reason for the Season - the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

A confession...

Remember our posts last month about the mistletoe growing in the woods behind Smoky Mountain Tower?  This picture will remind you.

In my post, I promised to hang some real mistletoe inside All Decked Out and Smoky Mountain Tower for you to enjoy.

Well, I'm sorry - but I have failed!  We have looked in a dozen stores to try to buy mistletoe, but we just can't find it anywhere.  So I apologize to those of you who will be staying with us for the rest of this year.  If you will write to me at Dave@SmokiesRentDirect.com, I'll still try to find mistletoe and mail it to you.

I guess you can always print out this picture and hang it up, but it's not the same.  But what IS real is your opportunity to stay at either Smoky Mountain Tower or All Decked Out.  Would you believe, this week is still open - but just until next Sunday morning, December 22.  So if you want to make a REAL last-minute trip to Gatlinburg, you can register online right now.

Here are the links:
   All Decked Out - www.SmokiesRentDirect.Com/All-Decked-Out/availability
   Smoky Mountain Tower - www.SmokyMountainTower.com/availability

Just remember, every minute you wait to make your reservation, the chance goes up that somebody else will book - or time will run out.  Starting next Sunday afternoon, both cabins are booked until next year!

If you can't make it this week, please pass this along to your friends.  SOMEBODY needs a quick trip for a little rest and some last-minute Christmas shopping at the outlet malls!

The answer to "What" and "Where"

In our last post, we asked you to identify the plant in the picture, as well as the location of the plant.  One person got the "where" part of the answer, but not the "what" part.  So here are the correct answers.

The plant is a Nandina bush - a member of the bamboo family.  It looks similar to holly because it is an "evergreen," but it's not part of the holly family.

As you can see, this particular bush is located between the front door and the garage door at Smoky Mountain Tower.  It is starting to get the red berries right about now.  So if you make a quick trip to Smoky Mountain Tower before Christmas, you can enjoy our Nandina bushes "live and in person."  There are actually a couple more bushes just to the left of the front door.

We only have a few dates open at Smoky Mountain Tower or All Decked Out for the rest of this year - but we have plenty of dates in 2014.  Now is the best time to be making your Gatlinburg plans - before the rush.  Just visit our websites for more information (you can always access both cabins at www.SmokiesRentDirect.com).   See you in Gatlinburg!

What am I, and Where am I?

Here's another guessing game.  What is the name of this plant, and where is this specific plant located?

It shows the colors of Christmas, but is it holly?

Maybe the background will give you a clue about the location.

Please be as specific as possible, and we will give you the answer in a few days (unless somebody guesses correctly right away).

CYBER MONDAY

It will come as no surprise that today is "Cyber Monday."  I'm sure you've already received dozens of emails, announcing this deal or that discount.

So I supposed you want a Cyber Monday deal for Smoky Mountain Tower or All Decked Out, right?  Marcia and I actually talked about it last night.  And I've thought more about it this morning.

Here's what I think:  You are already overwhelmed with Cyber Monday deals.  So we're not going to add to all the confusion.

However, we DO have some great nights still open this month at both All Decked Out and Smoky Mountain Tower - including Christmas at All Decked Out.  You already know our prices are among the lowest in Gatlinburg, and you already know we don't have ANY extra charges, like cleaning fees or extra person fees.

So, if you are just aching for another Cyber Monday deal, write to me at Dave@SmokiesRentDirect.com and make up your own deal for any open nights this month (remember, there's a two-night minimum).  I'll do my best to give you the deal, as long as it's reasonable and I won't lose too much money!

This is probably the ONLY Cyber Monday deal where you control the offer!  Please pass this along, so your friends can also take advantage of this unique opportunity.  And here's even better news - I'll be glad to get your offers anytime this month, as long as we still have open nights.

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is a day when we all (hopefully) spend a little time considering the things we are thankful for.  It’s a good exercise.  But instead of asking you for a list of those “thankful things,” I want to take a little different approach.

In addition to all we do in connection with our Gatlinburg cabins, All Decked Out and Smoky Mountain Tower, I am now the Executive Director of a small leadership institute (www.DeltaOneLeadership.org).  That gives me a great opportunity to continue working with people I first met at ServiceMaster, especially the former Chairman, Bill Pollard.  So I want to share a quote about ‘thanksgiving’ from Bill’s book, “Serving Two Masters?  Reflections on God and Profit.”  In the book, there’s a whole chapter on Prayer. 

Think about all the drawings you have seen of that first Thanksgiving, almost 400 years ago.  Many of them show pilgrims who are praying.  So, today, please think about this quote from Bill Pollard in his book: 

“When I pray, I should be ready to act to accomplish the things I am praying for. As I pray, I should not be anxious, but have a spirit of THANKSGIVING. I can worship God in my prayers and bring delight to Him as I seek His way and His will.”

Prayer is definitely more than just asking God.  It’s also a time for thanking God.  That’s something we should probably do more often – especially today.