We ended up leaving MUCH later in the day than we'd planned last Friday, I think it was around 4:30. We had to pick up the rental car and stop by Busch Gardens to upgrade our passes to Platinum, then come home and pack the car up. This was after I'd worked all night at my summer job at Super Target. I slept for awhile as Jerry drove, and we switched back and forth and made pretty good time, arriving in West Virginia around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. We slept a bit and hung out most of the day with Jerry's mom and grandma.
Saturday evening we went to Jerry's class reunion and had a pretty good time. He ran into several friends he hung out with in high school, so I got to meet them. We also saw Bryan, who used to go to his home church, and it was great to see him again. He actually came and sang (I Will Be Here by Steven Curtis Chapman) in our wedding almost 13 years ago. We also ran into Christy, who ended up going to our college, she's now married and they are missionaries to South Africa with Word Of Life. It was great seeing them both.
Sunday we went to Jerry's home church with his mom. We ended up talking to the pastor and he asked Jerry to speak that night, just to update everyone on our current ministry, he agreed. Thatt afternoon we went to the Reunion picnic at Coonskin Park, it was a nice casual day, hanging out, good food, Jupiter Jump, and beautiful weather. We ended up talking more to Christy about the WOL camp that is near us, sounds like something good to look into for our youth, we'll see. That evening at church, Jerry shared with them about our new church plant ministry and expressed appreciation for the faithfulness of that church's people for helping him in his spiritual walk as a kid. He saw several of his Sunday School teachers in the congregation and that humbled him, to see they're still faithful and serving God and that they were used to reach him as a kid too.
Monday we left for VA. We crossed the James River on a ferry, then drove to the State Park and found our campsite and pitched our tent in the dark.
Tuesday we went to Busch Gardens, we rode all of the roller coasters and the weather was perfect. It was overcast and cool, and no humidity! (You don't get that in FL in the summertime, that's for sure!)
Wednesday we went to Colonial Williamsburg. It was really hot, but we had a good day. Elisabeth got a mob hat and Nick picked out a replica old coin from Virginia. They learned some cool stuff and had lots of fun. We ate supper at one of the Taverns, that was really neat too. We ended out the day making s'mores and roasting marshmalows.
Thursday we took our time getting home. We decided to check out the oldest church in the US, but they were closed and filming something there. Everyone was dressed in period clothing. Then we decided to drive to Chesapeake to check out the area "we almost moved to" 5 years ago instead of coming to FL, I think we like FL much better. LOL After that we headed South. Around supper time we found "Pedroland". If you're ever driving on I-95 near the NC/SC line, you must check out Pedroland!!! There are signs for it all of the way down I-95 through all of NC. It's a big tourist trap, but so corny it's totally cool! We ended up getting home early Friday morning.
It was a good vacation. I felt refreshed and rested, not only physically, but also spiritually. I had time to reflect on God and my relationship with him. I had the experience of listening to my husband, and really being appreciative of our calling, even though we've had some really rough times. Vacations like that are truly rare, and this was a good one!
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Fun in the Summertime...
The youth trip to the beach was awesome. We had a great time, and the girls from Minnesota had a blast finding sand dollars. Josh (our church's worship leader) and I swam out to the buoys and were "orange flagged" by the lifeguards for doing it. LOL It was a blast though, and I'd do it again! (Said in my defiant voice.) It made me realize how much I miss having a pool at my daily disposal...need to take care of that soon.... Anyway, Jerry did this cool little devotional where you close your eyes and think about God while he's talking and just at the time he was saying something about imagining you're a seagull...flying wherever you want to... a huge flock of seagulls came up to the pavillion and started squawking because Elisabeth was feeding them a hamburger bun! It was quite funny, but also made the point a little stronger. (They all had their eyes closed, so they didn't see "why" all of the birds were there all of a sudden..., but I was watching Elisabeth because she'd been mischevious most of the afternoon.) It's so good to do youth ministry. I absolutely love it, and even though this is totally different since we're starting with a brand new church, it's still great.
Tomorrow we leave for "vacation". We're heading northward for a class reunion for two days, and on the way back we're going to be camping at a state park and taking in some area attractions. It will be so nice to actually do something as a family that is not centered around visiting family (though we will be seeing some for the first couple of days), and having a vacation together doing some fun stuff. We need to plan family vacations more often, even if it is just camping. Maybe we can take off this Fall and camp some, once it cools off here...and the alligators aren't quite so active. We enjoy canoeing, but not here, not in the summer at least! Of course, once it cools off, the mosquitoes won't be as likely to carry someone off either!
Hopefully I'll have some great photos to post when we return! We'll have a couple of days of vacation left when we get home (we're renting a car, but only for a week), so we'll probably head to the beach or something around here too. After that, it's only a week until school starts and life will get back to "normal" with our schedules....which is usually crazy/busy, especially with cheer and football getting into full swing by then.
Tomorrow we leave for "vacation". We're heading northward for a class reunion for two days, and on the way back we're going to be camping at a state park and taking in some area attractions. It will be so nice to actually do something as a family that is not centered around visiting family (though we will be seeing some for the first couple of days), and having a vacation together doing some fun stuff. We need to plan family vacations more often, even if it is just camping. Maybe we can take off this Fall and camp some, once it cools off here...and the alligators aren't quite so active. We enjoy canoeing, but not here, not in the summer at least! Of course, once it cools off, the mosquitoes won't be as likely to carry someone off either!
Hopefully I'll have some great photos to post when we return! We'll have a couple of days of vacation left when we get home (we're renting a car, but only for a week), so we'll probably head to the beach or something around here too. After that, it's only a week until school starts and life will get back to "normal" with our schedules....which is usually crazy/busy, especially with cheer and football getting into full swing by then.
Friday, July 14, 2006
My, my, how time flies!!!
Okay, I sooo love summer vacation (usually), but this one has gone by WAY TOO FAST!!! In less than 3 weeks, school will be in session, and summer will be a distant memory. This summer has not been bad, it's been "normal". Nothing major has happened, which is the way I like it. No major stress, no major move, no major changes...."sigh" (of relief and contentment). BUT, on the other hand, I haven't done all of the things I'd hoped to do. My two main "projects" were to make a slipcover for the sofa and to re-do my dining table and chairs that I found behind the Post Office. Neither of which have been accomplished. I've been working overnights at Target and coming home and sleeping the days away for the most part. We've been to the beach, I managed to take the kids to Adventure Island once, and we've been to Busch Gardens a few times, but not as much "fun" as I'd imagined. We are planning a trip to West Virginia next weekend for Jerry's 20th class reunion (yes, he's MUCH older than he looks!!!). We'll pop in to see his 'rents for a couple of days, head to Busch Gardens Williamsburg, camp a couple of nights along the way and be home sometime about a week later.
I think summer is overly romanticized in the minds of people, they're a nice break, but they're never as great as you think they're going to be. I was discussing this with Nick a couple of weeks ago, as I was apologizing for him having such a sucky summer. But then when we started thinking about it, there haven't been any "fun and carefree" summers. Sure, there are some fun aspects and some high points for summer memories, but not nearly as rosey as you'd like to think and remember them being.
On the other hand, I'm looking forward to summer ending too. We can be back in a normal routine of waking up in the morning and going to bed at a decent hour (except for the couple of nights, half shifts, I plan to continue at Target...just for a little extra money for this or that). I really miss that, more than you can imagine. It's not just staying up all night, it's standing on your feet for 100% of the time you're working and about 50% of that time you're climbing up and down ladders and lugging boxes around. (I work in the backroom and on the floor, much more work involved in the stockroom!)
Cheerleading and football practices are starting up, I'm running into students and co-workers from school, and you can almost feel "Fall" coming. (No, not in the weather, it doesn't cool off until January around here.) That excitement that comes with a new school year and football season. The anticipation of the unexpected...what will the teachers be like? who will be in my class? will our team be great? I haven't heard much about it yet, but I'm sure Bucs training camp is just around the corner...football games, hot wings, cold beer and good company, along with an occasional Sunday afternoon spent at Beef O'Brady's watching it on the big screen. Yep, I'm looking forward to Fall, it just seems as if the time flies way too fast. My kids keep growing and time doesn't want to slow down even a little for me to watch them slowly growing up. Nick's entering middle school, Elisabeth's cheering, it all just seems so surreal to see them grow up so quickly right in front of me!
Okay, so working hasn't been all bad. I do have to say that I LOVE my discount! I stopped by Target today and got a new swimsuit for about $8 and that was for two separate pieces. I also got two beach chairs for $3 each. All just in time for our youth beach trip to Ft. Desoto on Sunday. I think it will be a great time. We have 4 families coming, plus maybe a few other youth. There will also be the 3 girls on the mission team joining us. For a chuch and youth group that is less than 6 months old, it's a good crowd. So many exciting things going on there, it's been a great experience.
I'm rambling now, and I think it's because I've had less than an hour sleep since yesterday so I'll shut up now and let you get back to doing something more productive than reading my blog! :)
I think summer is overly romanticized in the minds of people, they're a nice break, but they're never as great as you think they're going to be. I was discussing this with Nick a couple of weeks ago, as I was apologizing for him having such a sucky summer. But then when we started thinking about it, there haven't been any "fun and carefree" summers. Sure, there are some fun aspects and some high points for summer memories, but not nearly as rosey as you'd like to think and remember them being.
On the other hand, I'm looking forward to summer ending too. We can be back in a normal routine of waking up in the morning and going to bed at a decent hour (except for the couple of nights, half shifts, I plan to continue at Target...just for a little extra money for this or that). I really miss that, more than you can imagine. It's not just staying up all night, it's standing on your feet for 100% of the time you're working and about 50% of that time you're climbing up and down ladders and lugging boxes around. (I work in the backroom and on the floor, much more work involved in the stockroom!)
Cheerleading and football practices are starting up, I'm running into students and co-workers from school, and you can almost feel "Fall" coming. (No, not in the weather, it doesn't cool off until January around here.) That excitement that comes with a new school year and football season. The anticipation of the unexpected...what will the teachers be like? who will be in my class? will our team be great? I haven't heard much about it yet, but I'm sure Bucs training camp is just around the corner...football games, hot wings, cold beer and good company, along with an occasional Sunday afternoon spent at Beef O'Brady's watching it on the big screen. Yep, I'm looking forward to Fall, it just seems as if the time flies way too fast. My kids keep growing and time doesn't want to slow down even a little for me to watch them slowly growing up. Nick's entering middle school, Elisabeth's cheering, it all just seems so surreal to see them grow up so quickly right in front of me!
Okay, so working hasn't been all bad. I do have to say that I LOVE my discount! I stopped by Target today and got a new swimsuit for about $8 and that was for two separate pieces. I also got two beach chairs for $3 each. All just in time for our youth beach trip to Ft. Desoto on Sunday. I think it will be a great time. We have 4 families coming, plus maybe a few other youth. There will also be the 3 girls on the mission team joining us. For a chuch and youth group that is less than 6 months old, it's a good crowd. So many exciting things going on there, it's been a great experience.
I'm rambling now, and I think it's because I've had less than an hour sleep since yesterday so I'll shut up now and let you get back to doing something more productive than reading my blog! :)
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Summertime and Traveling Pants?
I just recently heard (in the middle of the night when I woke up to hear this song because I'd left the TV on) one of the best voices ever, I LOVE her sound. Corinne Bailey Rae, check out my profile song, just love it! Anyway, as I was reading the lyrics I thought of the movie "Sisterhood of the Travling Pants". I just saw it a few weeks ago, and call me corny, but I loved the movie. (Yes, I'll admit it, I even cried!) Anyway, as I was at work the other night (3rd shift at Target, my summer job) I was working in the book section and saw the set of books and want to read them all. Maybe I'll find time someday...
Until then, check out these lyrics. They are awesome!
Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae
Three little birds, sat on my window.
And they told me I don't need to worry.
Summer came like cinnamon
So sweet,
Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.
Maybe sometimes, we got it wrong, but it's alright
The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same
Oh, don't you hesitate.
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.
Blue as the sky, sombre and lonely,
Sipping tea in the bar by the road side,
(just relax, just relax)
Don't you let those other boys fool you,
Gotta love that afro hairdo.
Maybe sometimes, we feel afraid, but it's alright
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change.
Don't you think it's strange?
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.
Just more than I could take, pity for pity's sake
Some nights kept me awake, I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realise, that you don't even have to try any longer.
Do what you want to.
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
Oh, You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
Until then, check out these lyrics. They are awesome!
Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae
Three little birds, sat on my window.
And they told me I don't need to worry.
Summer came like cinnamon
So sweet,
Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.
Maybe sometimes, we got it wrong, but it's alright
The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same
Oh, don't you hesitate.
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.
Blue as the sky, sombre and lonely,
Sipping tea in the bar by the road side,
(just relax, just relax)
Don't you let those other boys fool you,
Gotta love that afro hairdo.
Maybe sometimes, we feel afraid, but it's alright
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change.
Don't you think it's strange?
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.
Just more than I could take, pity for pity's sake
Some nights kept me awake, I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realise, that you don't even have to try any longer.
Do what you want to.
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.
Oh, You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow
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