We made "camping eggs" and muffins, sliced up a few of our Florida oranges, brewed some Starbucks and brought breakfast in to the Montgomery's. It was a wonderful way to end our very special visit with them. Later Gary went out to get the bbow ready to go and there was Mike and Taryn washing it. That was a wonderful gift to him!
On the road we were heading to nearby Jamestown Virginia. In May of 1607 one hundred four English men and boys landed here and Jamestown became America's first permanent English colony.
There are actually two Jamestowns: Historical Jamestown - located on the actual sight with actual ruins and artifacts. It is a National Historic Park, and Jamestown Settlement - just down the road it is a recreation of the Virginia colony and the Powhatan Indian Village. It is owned by the state of Virginia.
The Montgomery's pointed this out to us, and since we went to Jamestown Settlement in '92, and since it is the 400th anniversary celebration we decided this time to see the real thing. We really enjoyed our visit there.
We then drove to Yorktown where the decisive battle of the American Revolutionary was fought and won by General George Washington. We have never been here before and really enjoyed learning about its significance. The residential Main Street and warfside Water Street located on the York River are most charming and worth seeing.
What an amazing day of history we enjoyed!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
The Sound of Freedom
And yes, we did wake up to the "sound of freedom" as Gary put it. Those fighter jets were relentless in their practice of "touch and go" maneuvers. It kinda got funny after a while. We were trying to use our morning to make some catch up phone calls, and whether you were inside or outside the bbow you had to stop talking cause the jet noise was louder than you were able to talk over. Gary told Taryn that was the sound of freedom and we should be proud of it.
When we left our "resort" we parked over near the naval runways and watched our guys practice, and it was truly amazing. The first group finished and landed. Meanwhile eight more fighter jets lined up and we watched them take off...and then we took off for Poquoson, Virginia.
Poquoson is a very interesting place located between the Chesapeake Bay and the James River as part of the Virginia Peninsula. Most of Poquoson sits on low, swampy ground. But we were headed for what is known as Mount Poquoson - sitting a whole nine FEET above sea level! And here on Mount Poquoson in a beautiful rural neighborhood live our friends Mike and Linda Montgomery.
Mike and Linda are an amazing couple who serve on staff with Campus Crusade's Military Ministry. A military family themselves, they now minister to military marriages. The Virginia Peninsula is home to five key military installations and has one of the largest military populations in the world. They are perfectly poised for impact and God is greatly using them here.
Have you ever considered the very unique stress on a military marriage? Mike and Linda faithfully minister to and mentor military husbands and wives sharing with them the wonderful truths of Gods blueprint for marriage. We are so honored to have met them last fall and believe so strongly in the work God has called them to. We spent a wonderful evening in their home and our fellowship was sweet.
Taryn loved catching fireflies in their yard. They graciously allowed us to park our bbow in their driveway so we could enjoy breakfast together in the morning before we have to leave.
When we left our "resort" we parked over near the naval runways and watched our guys practice, and it was truly amazing. The first group finished and landed. Meanwhile eight more fighter jets lined up and we watched them take off...and then we took off for Poquoson, Virginia.
Poquoson is a very interesting place located between the Chesapeake Bay and the James River as part of the Virginia Peninsula. Most of Poquoson sits on low, swampy ground. But we were headed for what is known as Mount Poquoson - sitting a whole nine FEET above sea level! And here on Mount Poquoson in a beautiful rural neighborhood live our friends Mike and Linda Montgomery.
Mike and Linda are an amazing couple who serve on staff with Campus Crusade's Military Ministry. A military family themselves, they now minister to military marriages. The Virginia Peninsula is home to five key military installations and has one of the largest military populations in the world. They are perfectly poised for impact and God is greatly using them here.
Have you ever considered the very unique stress on a military marriage? Mike and Linda faithfully minister to and mentor military husbands and wives sharing with them the wonderful truths of Gods blueprint for marriage. We are so honored to have met them last fall and believe so strongly in the work God has called them to. We spent a wonderful evening in their home and our fellowship was sweet.
Taryn loved catching fireflies in their yard. They graciously allowed us to park our bbow in their driveway so we could enjoy breakfast together in the morning before we have to leave.
It's Brandon's Birthday - Happy Birthday Son!
It is Brandon's birthday today and I am missing him a lot! Where have twenty-three years gone? My youngest son [who always reminds me that he use to be the baby of the family] has and will reach some major milestones in his life in this year: he graduated from college, officially began his career, and will soon marry the young woman he loves! Is this a significant year or what.
My prayer for you Brandon is that you will press on to know Christ. You will never regret any obedience to His Word or surrender to His will. You can trust Him completely. Have a wonderful birthday my son. Know that you are thot of, missed, and deaply loved on this your twenty-third birthday.
Love ~ me
My prayer for you Brandon is that you will press on to know Christ. You will never regret any obedience to His Word or surrender to His will. You can trust Him completely. Have a wonderful birthday my son. Know that you are thot of, missed, and deaply loved on this your twenty-third birthday.
Love ~ me
Thursday, June 28, 2007
The "Wright" Flight
The reason we drove so late last nite was in hopes of spending a few hours today at the Wright Brothers national Memorial on North Carolina's Outer Banks. There is an outstanding visitors center here where their story is told thru exhibits and a full scale reproduction of their 1902 glider and 1903 flyer. We had to work pretty quickly thru all the exhibits but it was fascinating. Gary really enjoyed how they pondered and solved the complex problems they encountered. It was all so well documented by the brothers.
Leaving we just had to stop at the ocean. Wonderful waves were beating against the shore and we couldn't wait to get our feet in the water....but it was oh so very cold! What a difference one state makes.
Catching a quick dinner we had to keep driving to our "resort" in Virginia Beach, Virginia. As we located it we were seemingly being buzzed by F-15 fighter jets. We weren't exactly sure where they were coming from. Once we were settled we realized we must be very, very near an air force base. We heard those planes all thru the night. Sure enough we were right next to Oceana Naval Air Station, where day and night they practice touch and go carrier landings.
Leaving we just had to stop at the ocean. Wonderful waves were beating against the shore and we couldn't wait to get our feet in the water....but it was oh so very cold! What a difference one state makes.
Catching a quick dinner we had to keep driving to our "resort" in Virginia Beach, Virginia. As we located it we were seemingly being buzzed by F-15 fighter jets. We weren't exactly sure where they were coming from. Once we were settled we realized we must be very, very near an air force base. We heard those planes all thru the night. Sure enough we were right next to Oceana Naval Air Station, where day and night they practice touch and go carrier landings.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Where the Civil War Began
On the advice of a fellow "resorter" we decided to make our one stop in Charleston South Carolina at Fort Sumter where the opening shot of the Civil War was fired. We drove to Patriots Point and boarded a boat that took us out to the fort. During our half hour boat ride we learned as much as we could about its history.
Fort Sumter sits at the entrance of Charleston Harbor and is one of a series of coastal fortifications built by the US after the War of 1812. In the early years of the republic slavery became entrenched and vital to the southern economy. The is issue of slavery was dividing the nation and on December 20, 1860, South Carolina delegates to a special secession convention voted unanimously to secede from the Federal Union. The day after Christmas Major Robert Anderson moved his 85 man garrison to Fort Sumter.
The South demanded that Fort Sumter be vacated. The North refused so on April 12, 1861 the South Carolina troops of the Confederacy fired on the fort. This began a two day bombardment that resulted in the surrender of Fort Sumter by Union Troops.
The South held the Fort and endured one of the longest sieges in modern warfare - for almost two years 46,00 shells [over 7 million lbs of metal] were fired on the fort. It was the arrival of General Sherman's troops from Savannah that caused the Confederates to finally evacuate Fort Sumter on February 17, 1865.
On April 14, 1865, with Charleston now in Union hands, the U.S. flag that was lowered in 1861 was once again raised over Fort Sumters battered ramparts. We saw that flag in Fort Sumter's Museum. You can also still see civil war artillery shells embedded in the fort walls. It was all a most impressive tour that we enjoyed very much.
Leaving Charleston we continued to make our way up the coast towards Myrtle Beach. Because we had such an abbreviated time at Daytona Beach we had promised Taryn some time at a South Carolina beach. Gary had one in mind - Huntington Beach State Park - and it was a winner. It is also a nature preserve and we crosses over a rather large alligator swamp but didn't see any. We enjoyed about 3 hrs of sun, sand and surf. The water was incredibly warm and Taryn had such fun with her board. She's getting quite good at this.
On our way out of the park we checked for alligators and were treated to seeing at least 11 of them ranging in size from 4 to about 10 feet. They came out when the heat of the day was past. Some were swimming, some were sitting on a sand bar, and Gary watched one enjoying a crab for dinner. What fun to see them.
Leaving there at 7:30 pm and knew we had a long drive ahead of us. Our goal was to get as far up the coast of North Carolina as possible. Taking Hwy 17 we drove late into the nite. On our way we passed thru Wilmington NC and it was a most incredible city with grand southern homes and wonderful architecture. We put put it on our "want to explore this more" list. Our next trip! In Jackson we drove next to the Marine Corp Base Camp LeJeune.
New Bern was our stop for the night at 1 AM.
Fort Sumter sits at the entrance of Charleston Harbor and is one of a series of coastal fortifications built by the US after the War of 1812. In the early years of the republic slavery became entrenched and vital to the southern economy. The is issue of slavery was dividing the nation and on December 20, 1860, South Carolina delegates to a special secession convention voted unanimously to secede from the Federal Union. The day after Christmas Major Robert Anderson moved his 85 man garrison to Fort Sumter.
The South demanded that Fort Sumter be vacated. The North refused so on April 12, 1861 the South Carolina troops of the Confederacy fired on the fort. This began a two day bombardment that resulted in the surrender of Fort Sumter by Union Troops.
The South held the Fort and endured one of the longest sieges in modern warfare - for almost two years 46,00 shells [over 7 million lbs of metal] were fired on the fort. It was the arrival of General Sherman's troops from Savannah that caused the Confederates to finally evacuate Fort Sumter on February 17, 1865.
On April 14, 1865, with Charleston now in Union hands, the U.S. flag that was lowered in 1861 was once again raised over Fort Sumters battered ramparts. We saw that flag in Fort Sumter's Museum. You can also still see civil war artillery shells embedded in the fort walls. It was all a most impressive tour that we enjoyed very much.
Leaving Charleston we continued to make our way up the coast towards Myrtle Beach. Because we had such an abbreviated time at Daytona Beach we had promised Taryn some time at a South Carolina beach. Gary had one in mind - Huntington Beach State Park - and it was a winner. It is also a nature preserve and we crosses over a rather large alligator swamp but didn't see any. We enjoyed about 3 hrs of sun, sand and surf. The water was incredibly warm and Taryn had such fun with her board. She's getting quite good at this.
On our way out of the park we checked for alligators and were treated to seeing at least 11 of them ranging in size from 4 to about 10 feet. They came out when the heat of the day was past. Some were swimming, some were sitting on a sand bar, and Gary watched one enjoying a crab for dinner. What fun to see them.
Leaving there at 7:30 pm and knew we had a long drive ahead of us. Our goal was to get as far up the coast of North Carolina as possible. Taking Hwy 17 we drove late into the nite. On our way we passed thru Wilmington NC and it was a most incredible city with grand southern homes and wonderful architecture. We put put it on our "want to explore this more" list. Our next trip! In Jackson we drove next to the Marine Corp Base Camp LeJeune.
New Bern was our stop for the night at 1 AM.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Gotcha Taryn!
Thot I'd share (with permission) one humorous story from our Savannah day. One place Gary wanted us to see was the old cemetery in one of the Savannah squares. It is actually right next to their dueling field - for convenience we were told.
We ended up tramping thru the cemetery at the most insanely hot and humid time of day. It was not very pleasant. To top it off we had to walk off the path in some longer grasses.
My concern was about ticks. At our "resort" they had posted some precautions. It said to avoid grasses like that, and to be sure to check yourself if you did walk thru some. As we returned to the path I was telling Taryn about this.
Gary came up and joined the conversation. I told him that ticks can hide in men's leg hair. Then I said to Taryn "and on women they like to hide in their arm pits". She screamed and in a second her arm shot up in the air as she tried to check for ticks. She then came running to me with her pit in the air desperately asking "Do you see any on me??" I burst out laughing and told her I was just kidding.
It took a minute for that to sink in but then she had to laugh and admit that was a good one and she had fallen for it bad. Later she said "go ahead and put it on the blog Mom. It was kinda funny". So I thot since she gave permission I would. We needed some humor in that humidity. She's a good sport.
We ended up tramping thru the cemetery at the most insanely hot and humid time of day. It was not very pleasant. To top it off we had to walk off the path in some longer grasses.
My concern was about ticks. At our "resort" they had posted some precautions. It said to avoid grasses like that, and to be sure to check yourself if you did walk thru some. As we returned to the path I was telling Taryn about this.
Gary came up and joined the conversation. I told him that ticks can hide in men's leg hair. Then I said to Taryn "and on women they like to hide in their arm pits". She screamed and in a second her arm shot up in the air as she tried to check for ticks. She then came running to me with her pit in the air desperately asking "Do you see any on me??" I burst out laughing and told her I was just kidding.
It took a minute for that to sink in but then she had to laugh and admit that was a good one and she had fallen for it bad. Later she said "go ahead and put it on the blog Mom. It was kinda funny". So I thot since she gave permission I would. We needed some humor in that humidity. She's a good sport.
Enchanting Savannah
We spent the day in Savannah. Gary loves Savannah and has been wanting to show it to us for quite a while. It is a wonderful city full of Southern grace and charm - with a generous helping of humidity.
We drove to the visitors center and from there took a 90 minute trolley tour which gave us a great overview of the city and its amazing place in history. After the tour we could hop on and off the trolley at whatever area of the city we wanted to spend time in.
Founded in 1733 Savannah is Georgia's first city. History is all over this city...Founding Fathers...Revolutionary War...Civil War...
We saw where all the people of Savannah gathered to hear the Declaration of Independence read to them for the first time.
John Wesley started the first Sunday School here.
I really enjoyed the city squares - unique little tree and shrub lined park-like blocks that grace the streets of Savannah's historical district. These squares were designed to be bordered by homes and public buildings. They have been likened to "outdoor living rooms" where people would gather in the evenings to visit, stroll and share the news of the day. They are still so beautiful and inviting. I love the concept and have never seen anything like it.
This city really does capture you and I know that one day here is just a fragment of all there is to do and see. Sadly for us that will have to be left for another trip. We must press on...heading North.
We drove to the visitors center and from there took a 90 minute trolley tour which gave us a great overview of the city and its amazing place in history. After the tour we could hop on and off the trolley at whatever area of the city we wanted to spend time in.
Founded in 1733 Savannah is Georgia's first city. History is all over this city...Founding Fathers...Revolutionary War...Civil War...
We saw where all the people of Savannah gathered to hear the Declaration of Independence read to them for the first time.
John Wesley started the first Sunday School here.
I really enjoyed the city squares - unique little tree and shrub lined park-like blocks that grace the streets of Savannah's historical district. These squares were designed to be bordered by homes and public buildings. They have been likened to "outdoor living rooms" where people would gather in the evenings to visit, stroll and share the news of the day. They are still so beautiful and inviting. I love the concept and have never seen anything like it.
This city really does capture you and I know that one day here is just a fragment of all there is to do and see. Sadly for us that will have to be left for another trip. We must press on...heading North.
Playing Catch Up
OK, I am several days behind and just need to catch you all up to where we are now.
We did spend one more day in Disney and went to Typhoon Lagoon, their huge water park. By then we knew our schedule was just too aggressive and we had to really push thru and go for it or be willing to cut something.
The next day we stayed in Orlando and had a huge regrouping day. We cleaned everything, sorted everything and you will never know what a wonderful feeling that was after the Disney blitz. We also had time to decide what to do about our schedule.
We chose to cut driving down to the Keys. This was a hard decision but two things made it a bit easier - the Everglades tour we hoped to take was in a drought and was not worth the time it would take to get there, and Ross and Taya were going to be in Tampa for Family Life and we could potentially spend a bit more time with them.
So the following day we drove to Tampa, met Ross, Taya and Isaiah at their hotel and then took Taya and Isaiah with us to the beach. It was so fun being together even for a few hours. We left Tampa and drove to the Port St. John area for the night.
We spent the next day at the Kennedy Space Center. They have an amazing visitors facility there and we found a lot more to do than we had time for - and we spent five hours there! That evening we drove into Daytona Beach and went to Bubba Gumps for dinner. Please don't ask Gary about parking the bbow in Daytona Beach.
The next morning we went to Daytona Speedway. There have also been a lot of changes here since '92. They have a huge new visitor facility and it is incredible. We spent way more time there than we thot, and barely had any time left for the beach, which was what Taryn was waiting for.
By the time we got to the water the tide was in far enough that they were no longer allowing vehicles on the beach which is what Taryn was looking forward to. We drove on to the next town, Ormond Beach, and let her get in the ocean. It was quite cloudy and the water is much darker colored than it is on the Gulf, but the water was so very warm. And the waves were quite good too. She got out her little board and was working hard to catch some waves. Once Gary and I had put our feet in we were wishing we had our suits on too. We only had a half hour there and that was most regrettable. Leaving the beach and Florida we drove on to Georgia staying at the edge of Savannah.
We did spend one more day in Disney and went to Typhoon Lagoon, their huge water park. By then we knew our schedule was just too aggressive and we had to really push thru and go for it or be willing to cut something.
The next day we stayed in Orlando and had a huge regrouping day. We cleaned everything, sorted everything and you will never know what a wonderful feeling that was after the Disney blitz. We also had time to decide what to do about our schedule.
We chose to cut driving down to the Keys. This was a hard decision but two things made it a bit easier - the Everglades tour we hoped to take was in a drought and was not worth the time it would take to get there, and Ross and Taya were going to be in Tampa for Family Life and we could potentially spend a bit more time with them.
So the following day we drove to Tampa, met Ross, Taya and Isaiah at their hotel and then took Taya and Isaiah with us to the beach. It was so fun being together even for a few hours. We left Tampa and drove to the Port St. John area for the night.
We spent the next day at the Kennedy Space Center. They have an amazing visitors facility there and we found a lot more to do than we had time for - and we spent five hours there! That evening we drove into Daytona Beach and went to Bubba Gumps for dinner. Please don't ask Gary about parking the bbow in Daytona Beach.
The next morning we went to Daytona Speedway. There have also been a lot of changes here since '92. They have a huge new visitor facility and it is incredible. We spent way more time there than we thot, and barely had any time left for the beach, which was what Taryn was waiting for.
By the time we got to the water the tide was in far enough that they were no longer allowing vehicles on the beach which is what Taryn was looking forward to. We drove on to the next town, Ormond Beach, and let her get in the ocean. It was quite cloudy and the water is much darker colored than it is on the Gulf, but the water was so very warm. And the waves were quite good too. She got out her little board and was working hard to catch some waves. Once Gary and I had put our feet in we were wishing we had our suits on too. We only had a half hour there and that was most regrettable. Leaving the beach and Florida we drove on to Georgia staying at the edge of Savannah.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Disney MGM Studios & O Canada!
This park was our absolute favorite. Learning from our EPCOT experience we immediately split up to secure fast passes for the Tower of Terror and a lunch reservation at 50's Prime Time Cafe. With those secured we could wander around.
We were on the Backlot Tour when we heard and saw cars burning out making lots of smoke and noise. Gary figured they were warming up for something...and they were. Lights, Motors, Action! is a great show of extreme stuntdriving using cars, motorcycles, guns and fire. We busted right over to see the show and it was great.
Tower of Terror was Gary's favorite ride. It has a Twilight Zone theme where you are taken into a mysterious hotel by creepy bellman and placed on a service elevator where the terror begins. You are basically lifted and dropped 13 floors repeatedly and very rapidly. My stomach was not too fond of this one but I did it two more times. Taryn however loved it enough to go on it 6 times.
But the greatest ride in all of Disney - in my humble opinion - was Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. Oh my goodness, this was amazing fun! Somehow we were not paying much attention as they loaded us up, so going from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 SECONDS [magnetic exceleration] was a total shock. It was so shocking I laughing outloud the whole ride. Our picture was hysterical. It is snapped right after you take off, and the looks on our faces say it all. I could not wait to do this ride again.
As it ended up we were not able to use our evening fast pass because Gary snagged us tickets to the Hoop Dee Doo dinner show back at Fort Wilderness. We got back just in time to change and get to the 9:30 show. Now that's a bit late for dinner but what a great time we had. It was very fun and family friendly. The lead singer actually came to our table, asked where we were from and then made a verse of their song about us coming from Washington state. Taryn laughed so hard thru the whole show. It was great.
The next night we blitzed back to MGM to do that coaster again. We were so dissappointed that by the time we got there all the fast passes for that day were gone. We opted to wait an hour in line and try to go on as single riders. We were in that very, very long line watching all the fast pass people running by when four young people stopped beside us and asked if we wanted to join them - they had extra fast passes. We jumped at the chance thanking them profusely and followed them right to the front of the line. They were from Canada working at Epcot, and as Disney employees had extra fast passes. They seemed just as excited to share them with us as we were to get them. They even made sure we got the front row. What a blast! ...and this time we did get the picture.
When we got off they were waiting to see how we enjoyed the ride, and then they gave us fast passes for our other fav - Tower of Terror. How great was that?? We enjoyed another series of drops on that ride all thanks to our new friends from Canada!
We were on the Backlot Tour when we heard and saw cars burning out making lots of smoke and noise. Gary figured they were warming up for something...and they were. Lights, Motors, Action! is a great show of extreme stuntdriving using cars, motorcycles, guns and fire. We busted right over to see the show and it was great.
Tower of Terror was Gary's favorite ride. It has a Twilight Zone theme where you are taken into a mysterious hotel by creepy bellman and placed on a service elevator where the terror begins. You are basically lifted and dropped 13 floors repeatedly and very rapidly. My stomach was not too fond of this one but I did it two more times. Taryn however loved it enough to go on it 6 times.
But the greatest ride in all of Disney - in my humble opinion - was Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. Oh my goodness, this was amazing fun! Somehow we were not paying much attention as they loaded us up, so going from zero to 60 mph in 2.8 SECONDS [magnetic exceleration] was a total shock. It was so shocking I laughing outloud the whole ride. Our picture was hysterical. It is snapped right after you take off, and the looks on our faces say it all. I could not wait to do this ride again.
As it ended up we were not able to use our evening fast pass because Gary snagged us tickets to the Hoop Dee Doo dinner show back at Fort Wilderness. We got back just in time to change and get to the 9:30 show. Now that's a bit late for dinner but what a great time we had. It was very fun and family friendly. The lead singer actually came to our table, asked where we were from and then made a verse of their song about us coming from Washington state. Taryn laughed so hard thru the whole show. It was great.
The next night we blitzed back to MGM to do that coaster again. We were so dissappointed that by the time we got there all the fast passes for that day were gone. We opted to wait an hour in line and try to go on as single riders. We were in that very, very long line watching all the fast pass people running by when four young people stopped beside us and asked if we wanted to join them - they had extra fast passes. We jumped at the chance thanking them profusely and followed them right to the front of the line. They were from Canada working at Epcot, and as Disney employees had extra fast passes. They seemed just as excited to share them with us as we were to get them. They even made sure we got the front row. What a blast! ...and this time we did get the picture.
When we got off they were waiting to see how we enjoyed the ride, and then they gave us fast passes for our other fav - Tower of Terror. How great was that?? We enjoyed another series of drops on that ride all thanks to our new friends from Canada!
Magic Kingdom - Seven Lands of Timeless Fun!
Ya gotta love the Magic Kingdom! I always have a good time there.
We have this tradition of making a mad dash entry to get to all our favs first: Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion. Taryn has an adventuresome nature and we could enjoy it all together.
Pirates has been redone to include Jack Sparrow. It seemed like they cut out a lot and I liked the original better.
Now, I don't do water rides (for an obvious reason - my hair) but Gary, Taryn and the humidity talked me into going with them on Splash Mountain and that was a blast.
Once again I was not successful in getting Gary on It's a Small World, so Taryn and I enjoyed it together.
New for us was the 3-D Mickey's PhilharMagic which we did enjoyed, and Monsters Inc Laugh Floor which was great. In the "new but not so great" category I would put Stitch's Great Escape - definitely avoid.
Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy a Pineapple soda or Dole Whip in Adventure Land.
This was the busiest park by far but there is so much to see and do it was still a ton of fun, and we went back there twice.
We have this tradition of making a mad dash entry to get to all our favs first: Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion. Taryn has an adventuresome nature and we could enjoy it all together.
Pirates has been redone to include Jack Sparrow. It seemed like they cut out a lot and I liked the original better.
Now, I don't do water rides (for an obvious reason - my hair) but Gary, Taryn and the humidity talked me into going with them on Splash Mountain and that was a blast.
Once again I was not successful in getting Gary on It's a Small World, so Taryn and I enjoyed it together.
New for us was the 3-D Mickey's PhilharMagic which we did enjoyed, and Monsters Inc Laugh Floor which was great. In the "new but not so great" category I would put Stitch's Great Escape - definitely avoid.
Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy a Pineapple soda or Dole Whip in Adventure Land.
This was the busiest park by far but there is so much to see and do it was still a ton of fun, and we went back there twice.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Epcot - What does that word mean??
Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Wow, did Gary and Taryn ever correct me quickly on that one. Excuse me! I guess I wasn't listening when Walt explained that to us. In '92 this was our highlight and we couldn't wait to explore it again.
Oh my word, Gary had us busting thru the gate to get to the Test Track ride. Basically you get into a six-seater prototype sports car and put thru a series of road tests - braking, hills, curves etc. The best part is the outside lap of the ride that takes you on a raised roadway outside of the building at speeds of 66 mph. He actually got us on this one twice and it was a blast.
We did Spaceship Earth, saw Figment again in Imagination!, enjoyed Living with the Land, and the new Nemo and Friends "clamobile" ride (ok, I did not make that word up - they did) and laughed at Turtle Talk with Crush - "later dude". We had to miss Mission:SPACE after being warned that our weak stomach's likely could not handle it. Don't even want to go there.
I was so looking forward to World Showcase and had big plans: dinner in Italy and dessert in France! We wandered our way around till dinner and then discovered Italy was completely booked for the evening. What a bummer that was. So we ate in France and then treated ourselves to extra sympathy desserts there. They were wonderful!
Leaving France we encountered a distressing weather change - an indignant thunder and lightening storm caught us only half way to the UK, and by the time we ducked in a shop there we were completely soaked. The shop we harbored in was overrun by soaking, distressed travelers such as ourselves. It was also significantly air conditioned which nearly did me in. I was desperately freezing. Gary, sensing crisis, allowed me to purchase a Mickey Slicker. Covered in plastic I was able to complete our day in EPCOT
The only bummer of EPCOT was American Adventure in the USA was closed for renovations. It reopens in less than a week...but long after we'll be gone. I really looked forward to seeing it with Taryn and so this was disappointing. They did have their singing group performing and Taryn made her way to the front row and really enjoyed them. What a smile on her face as they sang with amazing range and harmony.
Oh my word, Gary had us busting thru the gate to get to the Test Track ride. Basically you get into a six-seater prototype sports car and put thru a series of road tests - braking, hills, curves etc. The best part is the outside lap of the ride that takes you on a raised roadway outside of the building at speeds of 66 mph. He actually got us on this one twice and it was a blast.
We did Spaceship Earth, saw Figment again in Imagination!, enjoyed Living with the Land, and the new Nemo and Friends "clamobile" ride (ok, I did not make that word up - they did) and laughed at Turtle Talk with Crush - "later dude". We had to miss Mission:SPACE after being warned that our weak stomach's likely could not handle it. Don't even want to go there.
I was so looking forward to World Showcase and had big plans: dinner in Italy and dessert in France! We wandered our way around till dinner and then discovered Italy was completely booked for the evening. What a bummer that was. So we ate in France and then treated ourselves to extra sympathy desserts there. They were wonderful!
Leaving France we encountered a distressing weather change - an indignant thunder and lightening storm caught us only half way to the UK, and by the time we ducked in a shop there we were completely soaked. The shop we harbored in was overrun by soaking, distressed travelers such as ourselves. It was also significantly air conditioned which nearly did me in. I was desperately freezing. Gary, sensing crisis, allowed me to purchase a Mickey Slicker. Covered in plastic I was able to complete our day in EPCOT
The only bummer of EPCOT was American Adventure in the USA was closed for renovations. It reopens in less than a week...but long after we'll be gone. I really looked forward to seeing it with Taryn and so this was disappointing. They did have their singing group performing and Taryn made her way to the front row and really enjoyed them. What a smile on her face as they sang with amazing range and harmony.
The Adventure Begins ...at Disney's Animal Kingdom
Taryn described this park as "amazing". It is the largest of the four theme parks - five times the size of the Magic Kingdom. The space is divided into seven unique "lands".
Our favorites:
Expedition Everest - a high speed roller coaster train ride. Ever gone backwards on a roller coaster before? It's a kick!
Flights of Wonder - where exceedingly beautiful birds fly unbelievably close to your head...but don't duck cause they'll just fly lower. Wow! BTW Dave Black has a twin who is a comedic character in this show, and we can prove it!
Festival of the Lion King - a very fine live action show. It features great music, elaborate sets, color costuming and it's just plain fun to watch and sing along with - if you saw the movie.
Kilimanjaro Safari - traveling in a busmobile thing you journey across 110 acres of rolling savanna filled with seemingly freely roaming animals. The ride was great but we all agreed the story line they attempt to weave thru the 20 minute tour was hokey and unnecessary.
It's Tough to be a Bug and Flights of Wonder are two rides taken from Disneyland and given new names here in Florida. We did enjoy them again.
We skipped all the environmental wacko stuff we could identify. Our one disappointment was that the Finding Nemo Musical experienced technical difficulties and closed before we could see it.
This was the most humid day I have experienced in my life. It was cruelly uncomfortable and I was never more thankful for the luxury of a shower, dry clothes and the air conditioning of our bbow!
Our favorites:
Expedition Everest - a high speed roller coaster train ride. Ever gone backwards on a roller coaster before? It's a kick!
Flights of Wonder - where exceedingly beautiful birds fly unbelievably close to your head...but don't duck cause they'll just fly lower. Wow! BTW Dave Black has a twin who is a comedic character in this show, and we can prove it!
Festival of the Lion King - a very fine live action show. It features great music, elaborate sets, color costuming and it's just plain fun to watch and sing along with - if you saw the movie.
Kilimanjaro Safari - traveling in a busmobile thing you journey across 110 acres of rolling savanna filled with seemingly freely roaming animals. The ride was great but we all agreed the story line they attempt to weave thru the 20 minute tour was hokey and unnecessary.
It's Tough to be a Bug and Flights of Wonder are two rides taken from Disneyland and given new names here in Florida. We did enjoy them again.
We skipped all the environmental wacko stuff we could identify. Our one disappointment was that the Finding Nemo Musical experienced technical difficulties and closed before we could see it.
This was the most humid day I have experienced in my life. It was cruelly uncomfortable and I was never more thankful for the luxury of a shower, dry clothes and the air conditioning of our bbow!
Thots on Humidity
Gary: wet sweat... more wet sweat. The bbow jack is rusting
Cindy: sick and wrong
Taryn: really, really nasty
Cindy: sick and wrong
Taryn: really, really nasty
The Amazing Race...thru Disney
I feel like we have just completed the Amazing Race! We spent five intense days on a madcap romp thru Disney World. Any of you who have traveled with someone whose initials are GDH will know exactly what I mean. :-)
After we purchased our passes we sat down to put a gameplan together how to best "conquer" Disney. There is strategy to this. Our first obstacle was agreeing where we would go. Can you believe all three of us had different ideas about what was important to see and do?
Disney World is the largest entertainment complex in the world. Sprawled out across its 47 square miles are 4 theme parks, two water parks and Downtown Disney for shopping. With a combination of practicality and compromise we did come up with a plan.
We are staying at Disney's Fort Wilderness - the only on-site "resort". Now this truly deserves the title of "resort". It has more than 750 shaded campsites, over 400 cabins, horses, pools, general stores complete with overturned barrels topped with checkers ready to be played, an amazing network of path and a transportation system that includes a most convenient boat option. We loved it here in '92 and it still is an amazing place to stay.
I am going to blog the parks separately. Time has been a major issue as you can tell by my absence.
After we purchased our passes we sat down to put a gameplan together how to best "conquer" Disney. There is strategy to this. Our first obstacle was agreeing where we would go. Can you believe all three of us had different ideas about what was important to see and do?
Disney World is the largest entertainment complex in the world. Sprawled out across its 47 square miles are 4 theme parks, two water parks and Downtown Disney for shopping. With a combination of practicality and compromise we did come up with a plan.
We are staying at Disney's Fort Wilderness - the only on-site "resort". Now this truly deserves the title of "resort". It has more than 750 shaded campsites, over 400 cabins, horses, pools, general stores complete with overturned barrels topped with checkers ready to be played, an amazing network of path and a transportation system that includes a most convenient boat option. We loved it here in '92 and it still is an amazing place to stay.
I am going to blog the parks separately. Time has been a major issue as you can tell by my absence.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Florida Hair.....It's Baaaack!
This is something only my daughter and sister will understand and sympathize with, but I have officially entered the Florida Hair Zone.
Yesterday was all spent at the beach. Taryn was out there by 10 AM. The water was so warm and we all had a blast. Gary came back from his morning run with a Starbucks latte for me and steaks to "grill" for dinner. It was so nice to know we didn't have to move....except when we wanted to turn our beach chairs a bit more towards the sun.
In the evening Taryn went to movie & popcorn at the "resort". Gary and I did the laundry - we needed to get all the sand and salt water out of our clothes and towels so we're ready to blitz Disney World.
Saturday morning Gary got up and started driving by 7 AM. We had a big drive so we were glad to get a good start. A pick up pulling large 30' travel trailer blew past us at one point and shortly after traffic slowed to a stop. The driver had lost control, jackknifed and there lay his travel trailer on it's side across both lanes of traffic. Everyone ran out to help and thankfully no one was injured. God was very gracious to them and to all of us who could have been involved.
We made a stop to stock up on all things needed for Disney World, and then later we made a latte' stop to secure a "resort" for the night, our DW passes, and directions to everywhere we needed to maneuver to in the bbow. This is a vital step when you have the big box with you where ever you go. We do have four nites at Disney's Fort Wilderness but that starts Sunday nite. It is the only Camping inside Disney World and we love staying there. From there we take this sweet little Disney boat to all the different Disney Parks.
We did get a sight at the KOA, but before we went there we went to Downtown Disney for our passes and some dinner. Gary dropped us off while he attempted parking. He was chased by a Disney security call - lights flashing - which told him he needed to be in another area. He was shown where and headed there. Suddenly there were flashing lights again and another Disney security told him he needed to be somewhere else. He asked that guy to call his buddy who had just directed him there and figure out where they wanted him. They finally agreed on a spot and Gary and the bbow got an escort - lights still flashing - to their spot. It was closer so that was great.
The KOA's pool was open 24 hrs. so Taryn hopped right in and that was a wonderful way to end a long drive day.
Tomorrow Disney!
Yesterday was all spent at the beach. Taryn was out there by 10 AM. The water was so warm and we all had a blast. Gary came back from his morning run with a Starbucks latte for me and steaks to "grill" for dinner. It was so nice to know we didn't have to move....except when we wanted to turn our beach chairs a bit more towards the sun.
In the evening Taryn went to movie & popcorn at the "resort". Gary and I did the laundry - we needed to get all the sand and salt water out of our clothes and towels so we're ready to blitz Disney World.
Saturday morning Gary got up and started driving by 7 AM. We had a big drive so we were glad to get a good start. A pick up pulling large 30' travel trailer blew past us at one point and shortly after traffic slowed to a stop. The driver had lost control, jackknifed and there lay his travel trailer on it's side across both lanes of traffic. Everyone ran out to help and thankfully no one was injured. God was very gracious to them and to all of us who could have been involved.
We made a stop to stock up on all things needed for Disney World, and then later we made a latte' stop to secure a "resort" for the night, our DW passes, and directions to everywhere we needed to maneuver to in the bbow. This is a vital step when you have the big box with you where ever you go. We do have four nites at Disney's Fort Wilderness but that starts Sunday nite. It is the only Camping inside Disney World and we love staying there. From there we take this sweet little Disney boat to all the different Disney Parks.
We did get a sight at the KOA, but before we went there we went to Downtown Disney for our passes and some dinner. Gary dropped us off while he attempted parking. He was chased by a Disney security call - lights flashing - which told him he needed to be in another area. He was shown where and headed there. Suddenly there were flashing lights again and another Disney security told him he needed to be somewhere else. He asked that guy to call his buddy who had just directed him there and figure out where they wanted him. They finally agreed on a spot and Gary and the bbow got an escort - lights still flashing - to their spot. It was closer so that was great.
The KOA's pool was open 24 hrs. so Taryn hopped right in and that was a wonderful way to end a long drive day.
Tomorrow Disney!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
It's all in how you define it!
We woke and found ourselves in a most beautiful "resort". Investigating we discovered we were at a the edge of a most beautiful white sand beach. Grabbing our morning coffee we went down to enjoy this bit of ocean. We are actually in Santa Rosa Sound so the water is quiet and calm.
Our goal today is to find a resort on the outer bay so we can play in some wave. "Resorts" are filling faster and we are going to have to make a move to find one. First stop - a beach store to get some appropriate beach wear. Gary and Taryn both got new board shorts. There is an amazingly number of large beach stores here and it's quite easy and inexpensive to purchase needed items.
We called ahead to a "resort" in Destin FL which is right on the open ocean and offers ocean camping. Perfect!. We paid big bucks and took a "beach site". As it turned out we were no where near the actual beach. It seems the translation of "beach site" is "on the way towards the beach" The sites on the beach are called "beach front" sites and are even more expensive....but worse, all taken. Gary was not exactly happy about this.
We spent the rest of the day at the beach. Taryn loved the water and in a short time had made friends with some girls her age from Mississippi. By the end of the day Gary decided we would stay here tomorrow too and just relax at the beach and it was a good decision.
That evening campers gathered outside for Karaoke and this time Taryn was able to sing. She did a great job singing Rascal Flatts "My Wish" and Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel".
Our goal today is to find a resort on the outer bay so we can play in some wave. "Resorts" are filling faster and we are going to have to make a move to find one. First stop - a beach store to get some appropriate beach wear. Gary and Taryn both got new board shorts. There is an amazingly number of large beach stores here and it's quite easy and inexpensive to purchase needed items.
We called ahead to a "resort" in Destin FL which is right on the open ocean and offers ocean camping. Perfect!. We paid big bucks and took a "beach site". As it turned out we were no where near the actual beach. It seems the translation of "beach site" is "on the way towards the beach" The sites on the beach are called "beach front" sites and are even more expensive....but worse, all taken. Gary was not exactly happy about this.
We spent the rest of the day at the beach. Taryn loved the water and in a short time had made friends with some girls her age from Mississippi. By the end of the day Gary decided we would stay here tomorrow too and just relax at the beach and it was a good decision.
That evening campers gathered outside for Karaoke and this time Taryn was able to sing. She did a great job singing Rascal Flatts "My Wish" and Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel".
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Take me to the River
We were able to actually see our "resort" this morning. It was aptly named Cajun Country. How true! Gary and Taryn noticed a field full of some beautiful low growing flowers and went to investigate. It wasn't long before they noticed the flowers moving and their feet sinking. These flowers were actually floating in a pond of water. What a surprise that was. Directly across the road from our "resort" were fields of sugar cane - the "white gold" of the South.
We traveled "The River Road to New Orleans" because "Everything in Louisiana is just around the bend". Well, that's what our travel brochure "Take me to the River" said. You can check it out at http://www.takemetotheriver.com/ . The river does wind gracefully around and it is a most pleasant drive to wander and discover as you go. We were on our way to see some plantation homes. In '92 we toured two - the Nottoway and Oak Alley. I had really enjoyed the Nottoway tour and wanted Taryn to enjoy that. Since we only had time for one tour we headed there.
Nottoway was completed in 1859 for Mr. & Mrs. John Randolph and their eleven children. It took 10 years to plan and build. Mr. Randolph acquired thousands of acres of land making his fortune in sugar cane and his plantation home boasts 53,000 square feet of grandeur and Southern hospitality. The tour was enjoyable, but we had a young lady lead the tour who was obviously new to her job and didn't add the detail of our previous tour. A more "mature" woman led the next tour and we tagged along for a portion of hers which was far more interesting.
Our next stop was The Cabin, a restaurant set in one of ten original slave dwellings of the Monroe Plantation. The structure is over 180 years old and its original cypress roof is still visible from the inside. There are also areas of the cabin with ancient newspaper still fixed to the walls as insulation. It is an amazing place to see...and an amazing place to eat. We enjoyed real Southern fare - gumbo, jambalaya, black-eyed peas, red beans and rice, sausage, po-boys and a piece of buttermilk pie to share.
We did a quick stop at the lovely Houmas House Plantation and all agreed we should have toured that instead. That is now on the "must do" list for our next U.S. Tour.
Gary suggested we still drive into New Orleans. We had decided that was something we had to cut but we went for it anyway and got there about 5 pm. He dropped Taryn and I off by Cafe Du Monde and went to park the bbow. That was quite a trick in this town. We had a delightful dinner of beignets and cafe' au lait. This has been a spectacular eating day! Took some time to walk the area and then back to the bbow.
Driving out we were able to see the Katrina damage. There are some significant areas of destruction to see. Both homes and businesses still uninhabitable. There are still blue tarped roofs you will see as you drive around. It is hard to imagine the force of the wind and water that could do such damage and destruction. It was amazing to see.
Our big debate was how far to drive tonite. We want to get as close to Florida as possible so we can spend as much time as possible by the beach before hitting Disney World this weekend. We decided to go for it and I am writing this from somewhere near Fort Walton Beach Florida. That means we've been in four states today. Cool! ...and tomorrow we hit the beach. Way cool!!
We traveled "The River Road to New Orleans" because "Everything in Louisiana is just around the bend". Well, that's what our travel brochure "Take me to the River" said. You can check it out at http://www.takemetotheriver.com/ . The river does wind gracefully around and it is a most pleasant drive to wander and discover as you go. We were on our way to see some plantation homes. In '92 we toured two - the Nottoway and Oak Alley. I had really enjoyed the Nottoway tour and wanted Taryn to enjoy that. Since we only had time for one tour we headed there.
Nottoway was completed in 1859 for Mr. & Mrs. John Randolph and their eleven children. It took 10 years to plan and build. Mr. Randolph acquired thousands of acres of land making his fortune in sugar cane and his plantation home boasts 53,000 square feet of grandeur and Southern hospitality. The tour was enjoyable, but we had a young lady lead the tour who was obviously new to her job and didn't add the detail of our previous tour. A more "mature" woman led the next tour and we tagged along for a portion of hers which was far more interesting.
Our next stop was The Cabin, a restaurant set in one of ten original slave dwellings of the Monroe Plantation. The structure is over 180 years old and its original cypress roof is still visible from the inside. There are also areas of the cabin with ancient newspaper still fixed to the walls as insulation. It is an amazing place to see...and an amazing place to eat. We enjoyed real Southern fare - gumbo, jambalaya, black-eyed peas, red beans and rice, sausage, po-boys and a piece of buttermilk pie to share.
We did a quick stop at the lovely Houmas House Plantation and all agreed we should have toured that instead. That is now on the "must do" list for our next U.S. Tour.
Gary suggested we still drive into New Orleans. We had decided that was something we had to cut but we went for it anyway and got there about 5 pm. He dropped Taryn and I off by Cafe Du Monde and went to park the bbow. That was quite a trick in this town. We had a delightful dinner of beignets and cafe' au lait. This has been a spectacular eating day! Took some time to walk the area and then back to the bbow.
Driving out we were able to see the Katrina damage. There are some significant areas of destruction to see. Both homes and businesses still uninhabitable. There are still blue tarped roofs you will see as you drive around. It is hard to imagine the force of the wind and water that could do such damage and destruction. It was amazing to see.
Our big debate was how far to drive tonite. We want to get as close to Florida as possible so we can spend as much time as possible by the beach before hitting Disney World this weekend. We decided to go for it and I am writing this from somewhere near Fort Walton Beach Florida. That means we've been in four states today. Cool! ...and tomorrow we hit the beach. Way cool!!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Bluffs and Bayous
We enjoyed an absolutely beautiful drive thru rural Southern Arkansas on Hwy 65. We cracked up seeing a sign that read "Warning: Entering Salene County, jail space available" Arkansas has a lot of personality! It is a beautiful state and we enjoyed this opportunity to explore another part of it. It is a beautiful sunny, hot day. The road was good and the land flat. There were crops along the road that we could not identify. We did see several man -made ponds we assumed to hold catfish, and after a while we did pass a catfish processing plant.
Now Gary had left Little Rock with a secret plan of making a side trip into Vicksburg Mississippi. He sprang this plan on me after we had driven several hours towards "that" end of Arkansas and since we were "practically there " "we" decided to go for it. Guess what? Hwy 65 just happens to bump right into I 20 which takes you right into Vicksburg.
Crossing the mighty Mississippi River and entering Vicksburg we saw the visitors center on our left safely guarded by several Civil War cannons. Quite an impressive sight. We got there around 3:30 and it was just about as hot as it could be. It had to be over 100 degrees outside, and it was up to 92 in the bbow so we ran the generator and air for a bit to get it to a livable 82. We stopped in the visitors center and immediately enjoyed the Southern charm and elaborate decor. Gathering some information quickly we headed out.
The reason Gary wanted to come here is that a significant civil war battle took place here for Vicksburg. The North successfully forced a surrender that gained them undisputed control of the Mississippi River. This is considered to be the most strategic campaign of the Civil War. There is a wonderful National Military Park to visit. We got there in time to see its Visitors Center and then to take a driving tour of the battle line bluffs which are dotted with over 1,330 markers in tribute to the different battalion positions along them. It's hard to imagine how an army could successfully maneuver over such terrain.
There were some portions of these bluffs completely overtaken by a large ivy type vine. It covered everything: every tree, every branch, everything. It looked as if someone placed a huge vine cloth over everything. One valley we passed was entirely covered with this vine.We tried to get a good picture but I haven't seen if it turned out. I really want to know what it is, so if anyone knows please tell me.
Leaving Vicksburg after 6 pm we knew we had a good three hour drive ahead of us. It continued to be a beautiful evening drive and we enjoyed seeing the scenery change as we now entered bayou country. We pulled in to a "resort" in Baton Rouge Louisiana after 10 pm and it was so good to be there. Then I freaked out when I noticed the size and quantity of bugs enjoying the lights around the "resort". One of the worst memories I have of our '92 trip happened right here with the stealth attack of the "noseeums". I began spraying repellent everywhere , keeping lights off and guarding the door like a hawk till we were safely set up and snug in our bbow.
Now Gary had left Little Rock with a secret plan of making a side trip into Vicksburg Mississippi. He sprang this plan on me after we had driven several hours towards "that" end of Arkansas and since we were "practically there " "we" decided to go for it. Guess what? Hwy 65 just happens to bump right into I 20 which takes you right into Vicksburg.
Crossing the mighty Mississippi River and entering Vicksburg we saw the visitors center on our left safely guarded by several Civil War cannons. Quite an impressive sight. We got there around 3:30 and it was just about as hot as it could be. It had to be over 100 degrees outside, and it was up to 92 in the bbow so we ran the generator and air for a bit to get it to a livable 82. We stopped in the visitors center and immediately enjoyed the Southern charm and elaborate decor. Gathering some information quickly we headed out.
The reason Gary wanted to come here is that a significant civil war battle took place here for Vicksburg. The North successfully forced a surrender that gained them undisputed control of the Mississippi River. This is considered to be the most strategic campaign of the Civil War. There is a wonderful National Military Park to visit. We got there in time to see its Visitors Center and then to take a driving tour of the battle line bluffs which are dotted with over 1,330 markers in tribute to the different battalion positions along them. It's hard to imagine how an army could successfully maneuver over such terrain.
There were some portions of these bluffs completely overtaken by a large ivy type vine. It covered everything: every tree, every branch, everything. It looked as if someone placed a huge vine cloth over everything. One valley we passed was entirely covered with this vine.We tried to get a good picture but I haven't seen if it turned out. I really want to know what it is, so if anyone knows please tell me.
Leaving Vicksburg after 6 pm we knew we had a good three hour drive ahead of us. It continued to be a beautiful evening drive and we enjoyed seeing the scenery change as we now entered bayou country. We pulled in to a "resort" in Baton Rouge Louisiana after 10 pm and it was so good to be there. Then I freaked out when I noticed the size and quantity of bugs enjoying the lights around the "resort". One of the worst memories I have of our '92 trip happened right here with the stealth attack of the "noseeums". I began spraying repellent everywhere , keeping lights off and guarding the door like a hawk till we were safely set up and snug in our bbow.
Partings Sweet Sorrow
It has been such joy to spend nearly a week with Taya, Ross and Isaiah! We even spent an extra day with them. What fun! Isaiah was thrilled to have the bbow right outside his bedroom window. He calls it "the big ol' motor home".
Their home is so beautiful. Neither Gary or Taryn has been here since they moved last June. Taryn couldn't wait to move right in to her sisters spare room and be right next to Isaiah. She got to meet her very special pen pal Madeline and got to spend lots of "girl time" with her and her two sisters Mallory and Alexis. Just what she needed after 3 weeks on the road with Mom and Dad.
I'll just try to hit the highlights of our week here:
Thursday Ross worked, Gary did some work on the bbow, I sorted and organized....and just enjoyed Taya and Isaiah. We went swimming at the pool which was so nice since it was hot and muggy. We "grilled" on the patio and Taryn had a sleepover with Madeline.
Friday Ross took off work and we went to Memphis. Our first stop was the Peabody Hotel which is famous for their ducks. Each day a trainer escorts five ducks from their "palace" on the hotel roof down the elevator to the lobby where they march down a red carpet and hop into the fountain located at the center of the lobby. There is usually a crowd that lines the carpet path and fountain to cheer them on. It is quite cute and Isaiah loved it - all 10 seconds of it.
We then walked down the street and into an alley to find our bbq destination - the famous Memphis Rendezvous. Wow, this was the real thing! It had the atmosphere, it had the people, and it had authentic Memphis bbq. We did ribs again and it's a completely different taste experience from our Texas bbq. They used a serious dry rub, and sauce is on the side, completely different beans, slaw and rice too. What fun! It was there that a serious thunderstorm descended on the city. Poor Ross made a run for umbrellas. We all slogged thru the city streets in our flip flops - except for Gary. It was a comedy just trying to keep them on our feet.
We were walking to the Cotton Exchange Museum, a small but well done museum where we learned the history of the cotton industry in Memphis which was very interesting. We even had the place to ourselves. There is an amazing music history here as well - blues and jazz.
There is so much to do and see in Memphis but it felt like we only had time for a glimpse before we had to head back to Little Rock. We were meeting friends at Larry's for dinner. Larry's is a pizza experience every Thursday nite - an all-you-can-eat experience! They make every kind of pizza you can imagine - from the ordinary to the unique - and they bring them out to you calling out what they're carrying and you just let them know if you'd like a piece. What fun! We all ate way too much.
Saturday we all split up: Girls went shopping and guys went to the Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour 2007 Finale. Little Rock was the final stop of their six city tour.
Sunday we went with Ross and Taya to their church - Fellowship Bible Church. This is always so exciting for me b/cause this is one of the churches I pray for every Sunday. Their teaching Pastor Tim Lundy is a wonderful teacher of the Word. We were there for part two of a three week series on spiritual warfare from Ephesians 6. I would highly recommend listening or viewing this series online at www.fbclr.org We can't wait to hear the final message next week.
After Isaiah's nap we drove around Little Rock together and were able to check Fellowship's new facility which is under construction. It is an amazing building and will be a wonderful, welcoming place for them to relocate.
Meanwhile, there was a major thunder and lightening storm back at the house. It was right over us when we got back there. It poured - and I mean nearly 2" of rain poured out of the sky. Taryn even set out a soup can and it was unbelievable how much fell in a relatively short amount of time. We watched their back yard fill up with water surrounding Isaiah sand/rock box, which appropriately is a tug boat. It nearly floated!
Gary's friend Scott and his wife drove over two hours to visit with us that evening. Imagine every growing up/high school story - the good, the bad and the ugly - being told...and oh so many laughs. All I can say is God's grace towards us was and is indeed very, very great!
Monday we were scheduled to leave but decided to stay and enjoy one more day together. I really dreaded the Tuesday good-bye. It's never any fun to leave them, but we were so blessed by our time together. To see their lives and ministry close up, to spend time with them, love on Isaiah, see the sights of the area or just enjoying the ordinary everyday things of life together is really a rich blessing and we are so thankful. They were most gracious and giving towards us and we had a wonderful time.
We left as we came...with Taya and Isaiah standing in the driveway waving and blowing us kisses as we drove off in our bbow.
Their home is so beautiful. Neither Gary or Taryn has been here since they moved last June. Taryn couldn't wait to move right in to her sisters spare room and be right next to Isaiah. She got to meet her very special pen pal Madeline and got to spend lots of "girl time" with her and her two sisters Mallory and Alexis. Just what she needed after 3 weeks on the road with Mom and Dad.
I'll just try to hit the highlights of our week here:
Thursday Ross worked, Gary did some work on the bbow, I sorted and organized....and just enjoyed Taya and Isaiah. We went swimming at the pool which was so nice since it was hot and muggy. We "grilled" on the patio and Taryn had a sleepover with Madeline.
Friday Ross took off work and we went to Memphis. Our first stop was the Peabody Hotel which is famous for their ducks. Each day a trainer escorts five ducks from their "palace" on the hotel roof down the elevator to the lobby where they march down a red carpet and hop into the fountain located at the center of the lobby. There is usually a crowd that lines the carpet path and fountain to cheer them on. It is quite cute and Isaiah loved it - all 10 seconds of it.
We then walked down the street and into an alley to find our bbq destination - the famous Memphis Rendezvous. Wow, this was the real thing! It had the atmosphere, it had the people, and it had authentic Memphis bbq. We did ribs again and it's a completely different taste experience from our Texas bbq. They used a serious dry rub, and sauce is on the side, completely different beans, slaw and rice too. What fun! It was there that a serious thunderstorm descended on the city. Poor Ross made a run for umbrellas. We all slogged thru the city streets in our flip flops - except for Gary. It was a comedy just trying to keep them on our feet.
We were walking to the Cotton Exchange Museum, a small but well done museum where we learned the history of the cotton industry in Memphis which was very interesting. We even had the place to ourselves. There is an amazing music history here as well - blues and jazz.
There is so much to do and see in Memphis but it felt like we only had time for a glimpse before we had to head back to Little Rock. We were meeting friends at Larry's for dinner. Larry's is a pizza experience every Thursday nite - an all-you-can-eat experience! They make every kind of pizza you can imagine - from the ordinary to the unique - and they bring them out to you calling out what they're carrying and you just let them know if you'd like a piece. What fun! We all ate way too much.
Saturday we all split up: Girls went shopping and guys went to the Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour 2007 Finale. Little Rock was the final stop of their six city tour.
Sunday we went with Ross and Taya to their church - Fellowship Bible Church. This is always so exciting for me b/cause this is one of the churches I pray for every Sunday. Their teaching Pastor Tim Lundy is a wonderful teacher of the Word. We were there for part two of a three week series on spiritual warfare from Ephesians 6. I would highly recommend listening or viewing this series online at www.fbclr.org We can't wait to hear the final message next week.
After Isaiah's nap we drove around Little Rock together and were able to check Fellowship's new facility which is under construction. It is an amazing building and will be a wonderful, welcoming place for them to relocate.
Meanwhile, there was a major thunder and lightening storm back at the house. It was right over us when we got back there. It poured - and I mean nearly 2" of rain poured out of the sky. Taryn even set out a soup can and it was unbelievable how much fell in a relatively short amount of time. We watched their back yard fill up with water surrounding Isaiah sand/rock box, which appropriately is a tug boat. It nearly floated!
Gary's friend Scott and his wife drove over two hours to visit with us that evening. Imagine every growing up/high school story - the good, the bad and the ugly - being told...and oh so many laughs. All I can say is God's grace towards us was and is indeed very, very great!
Monday we were scheduled to leave but decided to stay and enjoy one more day together. I really dreaded the Tuesday good-bye. It's never any fun to leave them, but we were so blessed by our time together. To see their lives and ministry close up, to spend time with them, love on Isaiah, see the sights of the area or just enjoying the ordinary everyday things of life together is really a rich blessing and we are so thankful. They were most gracious and giving towards us and we had a wonderful time.
We left as we came...with Taya and Isaiah standing in the driveway waving and blowing us kisses as we drove off in our bbow.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
You know you're in Arkansas when....
1 - you wake up to the traffic reporter on the radio saying "cars are stacked up on the freeway like a cord of firewood".
2 - your husband goes for his three mile run in the morning and comes home with a 8" turtle in his hands.
3 - your daughter swimming in the local country/golf club pool shouts "Mom, there's a tarantula in the pool! ....and there really is! [I have pictures]
We made it to Little Rock, and we're so glad to be here! Yesterday was all about getting here to see Taya, Ross and Isaiah. We made the seven hour drive from Texas with as few stops as possible, and were rewarded at 5 pm by driving up to see Taya and Isaiah waiting outside to welcome us! Oh this is so very wonderful. We miss them so much and could not wait to get here. How good it is to be together! Their home is a refreshing oasis for us in so many ways.
Taryn has finally met her pen pal Madeline. They are having a sleep-over tonite in Taya's spare room. We "grilled" this evening on the patio. In Arkansas you never say you're going to bbq - that means something completely different.
Tomorrow we are making a day trip to Memphis together - a two hour drive from here - and there we will have bbq!
2 - your husband goes for his three mile run in the morning and comes home with a 8" turtle in his hands.
3 - your daughter swimming in the local country/golf club pool shouts "Mom, there's a tarantula in the pool! ....and there really is! [I have pictures]
We made it to Little Rock, and we're so glad to be here! Yesterday was all about getting here to see Taya, Ross and Isaiah. We made the seven hour drive from Texas with as few stops as possible, and were rewarded at 5 pm by driving up to see Taya and Isaiah waiting outside to welcome us! Oh this is so very wonderful. We miss them so much and could not wait to get here. How good it is to be together! Their home is a refreshing oasis for us in so many ways.
Taryn has finally met her pen pal Madeline. They are having a sleep-over tonite in Taya's spare room. We "grilled" this evening on the patio. In Arkansas you never say you're going to bbq - that means something completely different.
Tomorrow we are making a day trip to Memphis together - a two hour drive from here - and there we will have bbq!
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Hurricane Harbor
This is our Texas play day, so we packed up our swimsuits, sunscreen and bug spray and headed to the Six Flags water park Hurricane Harbor. We spent the entire day there and never even did all the slides which really bummed Gary out. It was a great place to be. The temperature was over 100 degrees and it was very humid, but we didn't notice in the water.
As we drove out of the water park at nearly 7 pm we saw a time and temp sign which said it was still 102 degrees. We found a Tex Mex place for dinner and then went back to the resort. Want to be ready to leave early tomorrow for Little Rock. Can't wait to see Taya, Ross & Isaiah!
Tomorrow, Lord willing, we will be having dinner with them. Yea!
As we drove out of the water park at nearly 7 pm we saw a time and temp sign which said it was still 102 degrees. We found a Tex Mex place for dinner and then went back to the resort. Want to be ready to leave early tomorrow for Little Rock. Can't wait to see Taya, Ross & Isaiah!
Tomorrow, Lord willing, we will be having dinner with them. Yea!
Monday, June 4, 2007
A Herd of Camels....in Texas!
Our day started with the stem of Taryn's glasses breaking off in her hand. We went to Waffle House for breakfast and then to Wal Mart to see what we could do about her glasses. They looked them up and said they didn't have that frame in stock, but Taryn walked over and found one. That was a total God-thing and we were so thankful!
Next stop was the Post Office to mail Sam's birthday package and get stamps. Taryn and I were next in line and a fire alarm went off and we were ordered to evacuate the Post Office. I did not have time for this! We were in the parking lot for a bit and then suddenly allowed to go back in, so we were able to do what we needed.
Finally on the road we went thru some interesting Texas towns like Claude, Goodnight and Memphis - the cotton capitol of the Texas pan handle! Hwy 287 is a long straight stretch of road. Gary noticed some trees that were all eaten off evenly way up high and wondered what could have done than when suddenly he spotted a camel, of all things. There was a whole herd of them out there in the field. It was a very strange sight and we had to stop for a picture.
We got into Fort Worth around 5:30 and parked near the old stockyards. This historic district is so interesting. We read about it on-line and then took off to explore. All the stores were closed for the day but it was fun to walk around and get a feel for the place. We had dinner at the H-3 Ranch and it was the best bbq we have ever had. Highly recommended!
It was dark and quite late when we headed to Arlington to our "resort" There must have been quite a rain because a small river was running across the pavement at the resort. It ran right over your feet and Taryn had a blast watching her flip flops float. Biting bugs everywhere and we soon fled inside. Found a site to tuck in till morning and fell into bed.
Next stop was the Post Office to mail Sam's birthday package and get stamps. Taryn and I were next in line and a fire alarm went off and we were ordered to evacuate the Post Office. I did not have time for this! We were in the parking lot for a bit and then suddenly allowed to go back in, so we were able to do what we needed.
Finally on the road we went thru some interesting Texas towns like Claude, Goodnight and Memphis - the cotton capitol of the Texas pan handle! Hwy 287 is a long straight stretch of road. Gary noticed some trees that were all eaten off evenly way up high and wondered what could have done than when suddenly he spotted a camel, of all things. There was a whole herd of them out there in the field. It was a very strange sight and we had to stop for a picture.
We got into Fort Worth around 5:30 and parked near the old stockyards. This historic district is so interesting. We read about it on-line and then took off to explore. All the stores were closed for the day but it was fun to walk around and get a feel for the place. We had dinner at the H-3 Ranch and it was the best bbq we have ever had. Highly recommended!
It was dark and quite late when we headed to Arlington to our "resort" There must have been quite a rain because a small river was running across the pavement at the resort. It ran right over your feet and Taryn had a blast watching her flip flops float. Biting bugs everywhere and we soon fled inside. Found a site to tuck in till morning and fell into bed.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
I'm sorry, I just don't get it!
Dallas is in the midst of a storm - a sixty mph gust was just recorded - so we are staying one more day in Amarillo. There are two places Gary has his heart set on seeing yet- Cadillac Ranch and Route 66 historical district.
Our first stop was Cadillac Ranch, and I'm sorry...I just don't get it. Ten old Cadillac cars half buried nose first in the ground next to grazing cattle. They are covered with graffiti - which is encouraged. And there went Gary and Taryn, sharpies in hand, to join the hundred or so people out their expressing themselves on the cars
It's suppose to be art that makes a statement, but Gary really couldn't tell me what the statement is [and I'll keep to myself what I think it is]. I finally had to look it up for myself and this is what I found out about it's statement: "The piece is a statement about the paradoxical simultaneous American fascinations with both a "sense of place" and the mobility and freedom of the automobile." There you have it!
Some people that were leaving gave Gary and Taryn their half used can of gold spray paint...and then the fun really began. They spent a lot of time out there and lets just say I got some needed bbow cleaning done.
After that thrill we went to Cavenders Boot City. Gary's '92 cowboy boots have long been gone and he could hardly wait to get another pair in Texas. Taryn has been dreaming of a pair herself so they had a blast trying on boots and making this big decision. Now I'm not much for cowboy boots but Gary insisted we all get a pair so I ended up with some very nice boots too.
We then cruised down in the historic district of Route 66. Way cool retro buildings and signs to see there. We found a fifties joint to eat at but they were just closing so we went on to the next place. There were a bunch of bikers there and it looked a bit iffy but wanted to eat somewhere on Route 66 and there weren't many options left. The closer we got the less comfortable we were with this decision. There were a lot of beer bottles on the bikers tables. We hesitated a moment and just as we turned to leave a friendly biker walked up to us and invited us in saying it was a family friendly place that served great food.
Not wanting to be rude we thanked him, walked in and took an outside table as far on the edge as we could. I think every biker there was smoking and sipping a brew. We were so very uncomfortable but then the friendly biker pulled up a chair to join us. A waitress with a cleavage issue took our burger order as we visited with our smokin', drinkin' biker friend.
It seems we were just as fascinating to them as they were to us. They were quite curious about us and our bbow. All thru our lunch we received these friendly visitors at our table to find out where we were from and where we were headed. We got a friendly send off as we departed in our bbow.
Back at our "resort" we prepared for leaving in the morning. We were just ready to head out to the hot tub when another storm hit and it was big one. For more than an hour and a half there was pounding rain, wind, thunder, lightning and even hail. But when it's over it's over, so we were off to the hot tub. It was there that I was terrorized by several monster lizards. It's a frightening story but unfortunately am out of room on this post.
Our first stop was Cadillac Ranch, and I'm sorry...I just don't get it. Ten old Cadillac cars half buried nose first in the ground next to grazing cattle. They are covered with graffiti - which is encouraged. And there went Gary and Taryn, sharpies in hand, to join the hundred or so people out their expressing themselves on the cars
It's suppose to be art that makes a statement, but Gary really couldn't tell me what the statement is [and I'll keep to myself what I think it is]. I finally had to look it up for myself and this is what I found out about it's statement: "The piece is a statement about the paradoxical simultaneous American fascinations with both a "sense of place" and the mobility and freedom of the automobile." There you have it!
Some people that were leaving gave Gary and Taryn their half used can of gold spray paint...and then the fun really began. They spent a lot of time out there and lets just say I got some needed bbow cleaning done.
After that thrill we went to Cavenders Boot City. Gary's '92 cowboy boots have long been gone and he could hardly wait to get another pair in Texas. Taryn has been dreaming of a pair herself so they had a blast trying on boots and making this big decision. Now I'm not much for cowboy boots but Gary insisted we all get a pair so I ended up with some very nice boots too.
We then cruised down in the historic district of Route 66. Way cool retro buildings and signs to see there. We found a fifties joint to eat at but they were just closing so we went on to the next place. There were a bunch of bikers there and it looked a bit iffy but wanted to eat somewhere on Route 66 and there weren't many options left. The closer we got the less comfortable we were with this decision. There were a lot of beer bottles on the bikers tables. We hesitated a moment and just as we turned to leave a friendly biker walked up to us and invited us in saying it was a family friendly place that served great food.
Not wanting to be rude we thanked him, walked in and took an outside table as far on the edge as we could. I think every biker there was smoking and sipping a brew. We were so very uncomfortable but then the friendly biker pulled up a chair to join us. A waitress with a cleavage issue took our burger order as we visited with our smokin', drinkin' biker friend.
It seems we were just as fascinating to them as they were to us. They were quite curious about us and our bbow. All thru our lunch we received these friendly visitors at our table to find out where we were from and where we were headed. We got a friendly send off as we departed in our bbow.
Back at our "resort" we prepared for leaving in the morning. We were just ready to head out to the hot tub when another storm hit and it was big one. For more than an hour and a half there was pounding rain, wind, thunder, lightning and even hail. But when it's over it's over, so we were off to the hot tub. It was there that I was terrorized by several monster lizards. It's a frightening story but unfortunately am out of room on this post.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Ten States in Two Weeks!
Two weeks ago today we began our journey across the U.S. It's hard to believe all the places we've been and all the things we've seen in just two weeks. Today we traveled to two new states and even entered a new time zone.
We packed up quickly this morning so we could go down to the KOA camp breakfast. The green chili omelet was wonderful, but I had the very best buttermilk pancake I have ever eaten. It was amazing and such a treat.
After fueling and a shop at Safeway we headed on down the road. After two nites in the shadow of Pikes Peak we were suddenly on very flat ground. Passing by some old historic towns Gary could not resist driving thru one. We had quite a drive ahead of us so really kept to the road.
We drove thru a corner of New Mexico and enjoyed the incredible ranches thru there. We'd like to know more about T.O. Ranch. It went on for at least 50 miles and even had its own air strip. The cattle herds had guest herds of some type of deer among them which was interesting to see.
Our goal today was Amarillo Texas. We got there about 5 pm and first took some time to map out places we wanted to go in our navigation system. We ended up for dinner at a kick-in-the-pants steak house. I'm really not sure how to even describe it - it just made me laugh. We enjoyed a steak dinner with some roving cowboy musicians. Yep, we're in Texas y'all!
We didn't have a "resort" reservation but had one selected to call. Very strange, when I finally called they were full but they gave me three other "resorts" to try. We ended up at an amazing new resort and it was truly a gift from God! It's huge and just recently opened. The two owners went out of their way to accommodate us. Gary was fretting about needing to get the bug guts off of the bbow and before he knew it the owner unloaded his own pressure washer at our site for Gary to use. Now he was one happy boy! They offered us use of their new laundry facility for free. They even have an amazing club house with a full kitchen, incredible leather sofas and chairs, a projection screen in a huge great room, a pool, and two hot tubs.
So as we were getting settled and enjoying this incredible place we noticed a significant storm brewing around us. I found the weather channel and yes indeed we are right in the severe storm warning area. We first thot it was going around us but it is now on us. We have wind, heavy rain and lightning all around as I'm writing this. The wind was lifting our bbow slide so we have pulled it in for the nite.
We did get storm instructions and do have a shelter very close to us in the unlikely event we would need it. Looks like it will be a rainy drive to Dallas tomorrow as well. I reminded Gary that we had rain like this in Texas in '92 also. Is it the time of year??
We packed up quickly this morning so we could go down to the KOA camp breakfast. The green chili omelet was wonderful, but I had the very best buttermilk pancake I have ever eaten. It was amazing and such a treat.
After fueling and a shop at Safeway we headed on down the road. After two nites in the shadow of Pikes Peak we were suddenly on very flat ground. Passing by some old historic towns Gary could not resist driving thru one. We had quite a drive ahead of us so really kept to the road.
We drove thru a corner of New Mexico and enjoyed the incredible ranches thru there. We'd like to know more about T.O. Ranch. It went on for at least 50 miles and even had its own air strip. The cattle herds had guest herds of some type of deer among them which was interesting to see.
Our goal today was Amarillo Texas. We got there about 5 pm and first took some time to map out places we wanted to go in our navigation system. We ended up for dinner at a kick-in-the-pants steak house. I'm really not sure how to even describe it - it just made me laugh. We enjoyed a steak dinner with some roving cowboy musicians. Yep, we're in Texas y'all!
We didn't have a "resort" reservation but had one selected to call. Very strange, when I finally called they were full but they gave me three other "resorts" to try. We ended up at an amazing new resort and it was truly a gift from God! It's huge and just recently opened. The two owners went out of their way to accommodate us. Gary was fretting about needing to get the bug guts off of the bbow and before he knew it the owner unloaded his own pressure washer at our site for Gary to use. Now he was one happy boy! They offered us use of their new laundry facility for free. They even have an amazing club house with a full kitchen, incredible leather sofas and chairs, a projection screen in a huge great room, a pool, and two hot tubs.
So as we were getting settled and enjoying this incredible place we noticed a significant storm brewing around us. I found the weather channel and yes indeed we are right in the severe storm warning area. We first thot it was going around us but it is now on us. We have wind, heavy rain and lightning all around as I'm writing this. The wind was lifting our bbow slide so we have pulled it in for the nite.
We did get storm instructions and do have a shelter very close to us in the unlikely event we would need it. Looks like it will be a rainy drive to Dallas tomorrow as well. I reminded Gary that we had rain like this in Texas in '92 also. Is it the time of year??
Friday, June 1, 2007
Taryn's Adventure in Odyssey!
Our first stop this morning was Focus on the Family. We were so blessed by our visit there. Focus has three very impressive buildings that sit on 81 magnificent acres of prime land. Hearing the full story of the ministry from it's beginning in 1977 to now was a wonderful testimony to God's grace and blessing. It is also a testimony to a man who dared to say "yes" to God. What would happen if there were more men and women willing to do the same?
Focus employs 1300 people and enjoys the service of 300 volunteers. Every part of the facility is top notch. The spirit there is so positive and encouraging - they just want to be servants. They see great need and brokenness in families and in our culture and step up to provide hope and help to thousands each day.
I was greatly moved by the tribute given to Dr. Dobson's father James Dobson Sr. They say he was known for having no leather on the toes of his shoes. He spent so much time in prayer on his knees that the toes of his shoes were regularly worn down to nothing. What a legacy.
A great highlight of our time there was seeing Taryn enjoy finally seeing Whit's End. She loves Adventures in Odyssey and that is why Colorado Springs was on our travel agenda. She went thru every inch of this place and enjoyed it all. She could relate everything she saw and did there to the characters and episodes she has listened to.
But the best part was she could "act" in a recorded episode, and don't be shocked but she jumped at the opportunity. She was given a time slot and a script and had to report to a real recording studio at 1 pm. While we ate lunch in Whit's End she reviewed her script and practiced her lines.
It was such fun to watch her sitting in that studio in front of a studio mic completely into her role. She actually did really well. The technician and production assistant said she is an obvious natural. She was so pleased and is now sure she has a grasp on her calling in life. We celebrated back at Whit's End with ice cream sundaes all around. Oh, and she received a cd of her performance with her name on it! How cool is that? I'm sure she'll let you hear it.
I did squeeze in about 20 minutes at their amazing book store. Gary's only comfort was that I put back at least ten items for every one I bought.
We then made the short drive to the United States Air Force Academy. The bbow had to be searched to enter and I was glad the beds were all made. We spent time in the visitors center and then took the 1/3 mile walk to the Cadet Chapel. There was a wedding inside so we were not able to enter and that was disappointing. We walked around it and could hear the organ playing. Quite an impressive structure.
We got back in time to enjoy a real outdoor country bbq at our "resort". What fun. They had quite a menu and it was delicious. They also serve a breakfast in the morning and Gary instantly decided we were going there for their green chili omelets in the morning before we pull out.
Focus employs 1300 people and enjoys the service of 300 volunteers. Every part of the facility is top notch. The spirit there is so positive and encouraging - they just want to be servants. They see great need and brokenness in families and in our culture and step up to provide hope and help to thousands each day.
I was greatly moved by the tribute given to Dr. Dobson's father James Dobson Sr. They say he was known for having no leather on the toes of his shoes. He spent so much time in prayer on his knees that the toes of his shoes were regularly worn down to nothing. What a legacy.
A great highlight of our time there was seeing Taryn enjoy finally seeing Whit's End. She loves Adventures in Odyssey and that is why Colorado Springs was on our travel agenda. She went thru every inch of this place and enjoyed it all. She could relate everything she saw and did there to the characters and episodes she has listened to.
But the best part was she could "act" in a recorded episode, and don't be shocked but she jumped at the opportunity. She was given a time slot and a script and had to report to a real recording studio at 1 pm. While we ate lunch in Whit's End she reviewed her script and practiced her lines.
It was such fun to watch her sitting in that studio in front of a studio mic completely into her role. She actually did really well. The technician and production assistant said she is an obvious natural. She was so pleased and is now sure she has a grasp on her calling in life. We celebrated back at Whit's End with ice cream sundaes all around. Oh, and she received a cd of her performance with her name on it! How cool is that? I'm sure she'll let you hear it.
I did squeeze in about 20 minutes at their amazing book store. Gary's only comfort was that I put back at least ten items for every one I bought.
We then made the short drive to the United States Air Force Academy. The bbow had to be searched to enter and I was glad the beds were all made. We spent time in the visitors center and then took the 1/3 mile walk to the Cadet Chapel. There was a wedding inside so we were not able to enter and that was disappointing. We walked around it and could hear the organ playing. Quite an impressive structure.
We got back in time to enjoy a real outdoor country bbq at our "resort". What fun. They had quite a menu and it was delicious. They also serve a breakfast in the morning and Gary instantly decided we were going there for their green chili omelets in the morning before we pull out.
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