There was no line dancing�

But there was beauty, everywhere you looked:

The Opryland Hotel is seriously one of the most magnificent places I have ever stayed. Absolutely gorgeous. And just like last year, I didn�t have nearly enough time to look around!

I only got night shots, and they�re still amazing:

There was plenty of goofing off:

I�m trying to bring Traci to the dark side�that would be giving up the sweet nectar that is soda. It�s not happening. But that�s why I love her! :)

We even fit in some thrifting:

Kate and Chris�s faces are the BEST. (We weren�t too sure about those chairs.) And no, that is not a beer in my hand, it�s a root beer. ;)

I got to meet the man who inspired us to change our lives, and our family tree:

Thanks SO MUCH to Jen for having me along!! (More on that soon!)

But more than anything, there was a lot of smiling:

(Chris and me)

TONS of hugging:

(Marian and me)

Bonding:

(Lorie and me)

A LOT of laughter:

(Myra, Chris, Richella, me, Traci and Rhoda)

Making new friends:

(Shauna and Ashley, new friends; me and Layla, an �old� friend)

And generally having an absolutely fantastic time!!:

I reconnected with the friends I�ve already met over the past year, and I finally got to meet so many bloggers I knew were friends but I had never met in real life. It never ceases to amaze me how I can meet someone for the first time, yet it�s as if I�ve known them for years and YEARS.

It�s instant friendship and love and understanding, and I am so fortunate to call all of these women friends and coworkers. It overwhelms me. What a blessing blogging is.

To say we had a blast would be an understatement. :)

Cheers to all of you � bloggers who were friends before we knew we were. :)

(If we met and I didn�t mention you, I mean YOU too!!)

A special shout out to my roomies � Chris, Rhoda and Beth:

I already miss our late night talks!! :) You are a few of the loveliest, funniest, best women I know.

I got home from Nashville just in time for the storm of the century (echo, echo, echo)�ice, snow and wind for the next couple of days. This was our bedroom window one hour into it tonight:

That would be a sheet of ice. Thankyouverymuch.

We are warming up, hunkering down and planning on staying in for the next 24 hours, at least. I hope to get some projects started and a few finished since we�ll be stuck inside. Stay safe if you are facing the same!!

**Some photos borrowed from Beth and Kate! :)