We just got back today from a big trip Pete planned in the spring! He said if he sold the little blue house (where we lived while building the big house), he wanted to take us on a cruise. We did sell the house and checked on different dates. Christmas seemed to be the best time to go! We celebrated Christmas with our families early this year; and on Andrew's 17th birthday, we took off!
We stopped at Chuck E Cheese in Winston to have a late lunch after the boys got out of school. Meg met us there with sweet Sarah and precious Alice. Sam loves Chuck E Cheese ~ it was his request when he was in the hospital so sick last year. So there was meaning behind going there to have a little fun and eat pizza! We are so thankful he is doing well.
We spent the night in Greensboro before flying out the next morning to Florida! We had no trouble with security and Sam's diabetes stuff ~ just some sympathetic looks. We drove to Cape Canaveral and spent the night before boarding a ship for the Bahamas and Cocoa Cay. It was cold, but we knew it would warm up on the cruise! We boarded the ship on Christmas Eve.
We had a fun time on the ship even though it was cold, and Cocoa Cay was canceled due to rough waters! It was too cold to be on the beach anyway! We did get off at Nassau on Christmas Day and walked around a bit. The boys bought some dvd's from a street vendor, and Pete got me a new pocket book that reminded me of the one I bought in England over 18 years ago when I visited Cindy for two weeks! We walked a lot ~ from the second floor to the 11th where we spent a lot of time. We certainly did not gain the pounds a lot of people do on cruises! He also bought me a new necklace with our ship "credit card", so we had fun doing those things that we never do!
After coming back to Florida, we went to Disney ~ something I had always wanted to do with the boys. The older boys loved it until it got crowded. It was in the low 30's, and Sam had a great time ~ even riding some of the big rides with the boys. Watching my boys at Disney, I realized once again that it does not take much to make them happy. And I am thankful for that! Our neighbors know they can take a small plastic sled and have more fun for hours than doing something elaborate!
The boys played in the pool at the hotel and then got in the hot tub ~ there don't seem to be many indoor pools in Florida! They played arcade games and cards with Daddy.
And we shopped! Well, Andrew and Pete went to a movie. Will and Peter checked out Bass Pro Shops. So Sam and I went to a few outlets ~ and yes, we were able to fit five pairs of shoes (unreal deals) in our suitcases!
We flew back this morning and were surprised to see the snow on the ground from the air - in Greensboro! We were happy to get back home!
We had a special time as a family and were so thankful and fortunate to enjoy such a vacation together. Andrew is going to be a senior next year, and Peter is right behind him! Time is flying by too quickly!
In the time away, we were able to put away some of the day to day worries of being home. I know I am not supposed to worry, but the change of scenery did us all good.
We all loved watching Sam on the plane ~ no big deal to him at all! He loved it; but I see that even though he may not want to be near Santa or a Disney character, he still loves to do fun things that I would think he would be hesitant about. Watching him do brave things is not lost on me. It will serve him well as he goes through life and its challenges.
We are looking forward to a great 2011 ~ one filled with great, encouraging things. The more I read and pray, the more I find that I may not be looking for the right things. I hope this time away will be a reminder to me that God is indeed in control and has blessed us with such a wonderful family. He will walk through anything and everything with us. And we already know that from experience. But reminders are always welcome! And I am not going to be too hard on myself if I am scared, frustrated, exasperated, or all of the above. I need to keep turning it over to Him.
Today is our anniversary ~ 22 years! We got married on a rainy Friday night, on the 30th. We were juniors in college and wanted to make it easier for our guests and participants and also not ruin everyone's New Year's plans. The church was decorated for Christmas, and I wore my sister's dress. I remember eating chocolate ice cream that afternoon and my brother asking me if I should. I told him I had just tried on the dress a few days before and had plenty of room! Pete and I were so excited just to get married and be together! We went to Ocean Isle on our honeymoon and saw snow plows (borrowed from another county!) returning from an unexpected snow! We have had ups and downs and know God has truly blessed us by keeping us together and giving us our boys. We thank Him for that ~ and give Him all of the credit and glory.
Happy New Year from our family! We wish for you a wonderful and blessed 2011 where you also look for the special blessings and plans God has just for YOU!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment