Escapades with Granddaughter

I couldn’t resist writing about our wonderful week with our granddaughter; my memory ain’t what it used to be and I want to remember all the fun we had. Writing it down definitely helps with that and I need all the help I can get. Before I go any further, I just want to thank our good Lord for the gift of grandchildren and having this focused time with our granddaughter.

As you can imagine, after not seeing her for a year, she looked so much older and so beautiful. How can this be, she’s only eleven? We had a wonderful first night together at her dad’s place. I love hanging out with an eleven year old. I got to ride bikes, go for ice cream, color, play Legos, and laugh a lot over some silly electronic game called Flash Pad. We let the adults sit out on the patio and catch up.

Monday we spent at the beach. We wanted to be sure to get that in as the forecast was looking pretty cool later in the week. Once again, I had a blast playing catch, building sand castles, and digging a water pit for our granddaughter to sit in and let the waves wash up over her. That was an ongoing project and we had so much fun doing it. Poopa as he is affectionately called by her got in a quick nap in his chair while we played. There was quite a breeze so the waves were strong enough to knock you (me) over, so I let Poopa go out and jump waves with her while I just relaxed and watched them have a good time. That evening we taught her a new card game (to her): Five Crowns & she loved it. I also got to color some more with her.

Tuesday was an exceptionally wonderful day. We had promised to take her shopping  for her Christmas gift (It’s a lot more fun for all of us that way. Instead of trying to guess what she’d like, mailing it to her, and then never really knowing if she’s enjoying whatever it is we sent, she agreed last December that this was a good idea.) So she was pretty excited to go shopping and, bless her, all she wanted was more Legos. Makes this Nana happy! More fun times with her. Wal-Mart here we come. She picked out: Minecraft – Nether Railway (and had it all put together within 24 hours).

You’d think after she found what she wanted, we’d be on our way out the door. But no-o-o-o, we decided to quick look at some different handlebars for my bike. The bike I had was an after show EAA find but the bike didn’t “fit” me after adjusting everything we could adjust. So Bill was trying to adapt it to make it a better ride for me. As a side note, we had stopped at some bike shops over the weekend and found the accessories and bikes were way more money than we wanted to spend, even for used. So-o-o-o back to looking for different handlebars at Wal-Mart. Across the aisle from the handlebars was a bright & beautiful magenta colored bike that actually benefits breast cancer. It was the exact style I was looking for but without any of the bells and whistles that a similar bike at one of the bike shops had for over $300 less!!! After riding it around the store for about ten minutes, we were all convinced that I had to get this bike. To our granddaughter’s delight this meant she could have my old bike. With that in mind, we decided to give her an early birthday present and bought a bell, a basket, a gel seat cover, and some blue spray paint to make her “new” bike more her style. Everybody’s happy!!!  Needless to say, we’ve done a lot of bike riding all over Wickham Park. FYI: This park is almost 400 acres and has lots of trails and roads for riding and walking.

On Wednesday the big deal was going to Andretti Thrill Park, one of our granddaughter’s favorite places to go. Me not so much. My stomach and head can’t take most of the rides there, but she loves it. Popop (his official grandpa name) went go-karting several times with her and I loved watching. We all played lazer tag and I did manage to go on the Family Coaster. It spins but isn’t very high, so I managed it a few times (she likes to hear me scream); I didn’t feel all that great when it was over but she was happy. The things we do for our grandchildren. J

Thursday was a VERY full day. Up early so we could arrive at the Kennedy Space Center by 9 a.m. opening. Our granddaughter was very excited about going and, if you’ve read past blogs, you know that we loved going to the Johnson Space Museum in Houston; this was bigger and better for the simple reason is this is where the launches actually happen. Once again, hard to put into (a few) words. Experiencing it with an eleven year old is different but still very wonderful. We stayed until closing which was 6 p.m. so we were all pretty tired and hungry on the drive home. I haven’t mentioned many of the places that we‘ve eaten and we’ve had a lot of good experiences. But this one is noteworthy. We stopped at a place called Gator’s Dockside. At first, I wasn’t happy as I could tell it was a very loud sports bar, but the menu was most enticing and we could sit on the patio. Bill had a Five Alarm Burger, our granddaughter had a Mac&Cheese Burger, and I had a Shrimp PoBoy (lightly breaded in a Cajun sauce). There was so much scrumptious shrimp that I ate it all with a fork and left the bun. Our granddaughter was still pretty wound up when we got home (she got a brief nap in the car on the way home) and begged to play another round of Five Crowns. That was one way of keeping Nana and Popop awake. The things you do for your grandchildren! J

 

On Friday we officially celebrated our granddaughter’s birthday (which isn’t until June but we don’t get to see her in June and we all know how well the delayed Christmas present worked out so why not do an early birthday too). She loved it especially when I picked up a Cookie Cake. There’s a huge ongoing joke between my granddaughter and me and it has to do with cooooooooookies. It’s one of those times where you’d have to be present to appreciate it. Just know that the Cookie Cake was an even bigger hit because of our ongoing joke. We took a birthday bike ride as well and our granddaughter came upon a rather large unspooked turtle eating grass very near our motorhome. We watched him for several minutes; something I can honestly say I have never done before. Seems a simple thing but it was real exciting for me. Doesn’t take much, does it? For those of you who don’t know, I lived a very indoor life before meeting Bill, so experiencing things like this is oftentimes a new experience for me. Praise the Lord!

Our granddaughter spent Friday evening and all day Saturday with her dad and we were thrilled for them to have some one-on-one time together. We had a wonderful relaxing day. Took a really long bike ride and saw areas of the park we had never seen before. So many trails and lots of vegetation, one could easily get lost if they had my sense of direction. You’d never know that you were in the middle of a city. We rode almost five miles. So grateful for my new bike as this ride never would have happened otherwise. Early in our ride we stopped by the equestrian facility where it appeared they were having horse and buggy training. Another first see for me.

We had one more main event before pulling out tomorrow (Sunday 3/19) morning. We met up with our son and granddaughter to watch the Atlas V rocket and missile warning satellite launch off Cape Canaveral, literally on Cocoa Beach which is about five miles from the launch site. What a great spot. Lots of people scattered along the beach but not at all crowded. Such an awesome sight to see and hear (not real loud but very bright) and to think we were just there two days ago. Love this life! Thank you Jesus! Until next time, be blessed & be a blessing!

This is crazy!

This is crazy. It still boggles my mind that I can get up in the morning from a great night’s sleep in my own bed in one city and be sitting outside my home on our patio relaxing with a good book in another city miles away just a few hours later. Who does this? I would have never imagined that it would be me!!! J Thank you Lord for this amazing journey.  

I don’t think I’ve mentioned lately about the wonderful job Bill does in maneuvering our 40 foot home and car dolly in some very tight spaces. We stayed at a very nice RV resort; the corner turns were a bit tight but Bill did a great job. I’m getting better with the anxiety (PTL) when it comes to traveling and parking our home; Bill’s expertise is helping a lot. I remember what our niece said after we only had our motor home for a short while. “So, Share, how’s Bill been doing so far?” Great, I would say. “So why should it be any different this time or the next?” Thanks, Jenna! I hear you in my head more than I’d like to admit. (Lord, forgive me for not trusting You and him more!)

Look close...swimming pigs.

So we did the Florida Strawberry Festival thing and it was a lot of fun (but to be honest we had to work at having fun as we got some really devastating and sad news from some very dear friends of ours while at the festival and we were extremely sad that we couldn’t be with them during this time). The festival reminded me of a really  really  big fair; lots of vendors selling all sorts of merchandise, services, and lots and lots of food.  There was also a midway with rides and things but we didn’t even venture in that direction. No, that would have distracted me from watching my first ever pig race. Seriously, these people said they’ve been racing pigs at the Strawberry Festival for 30 years. So now I’ve seen it once…it was cute but once is enough. So on to the main event (for me anyway) of the festival. Scotty McCreery puts on a great show. He had great stage presence and interacted with the audience just enough. He shared why he wrote certain songs and how grateful he was for the American Idol ride and all those who voted for him. It had been six years since he won, and I could definitely see how he had matured. Funny how we think we know someone we have never met. We both thoroughly enjoyed the concert. On our way out, we bought some kettle corn which tasted so delicious and reminded me of art fairs in Oshkosh. Yes, I still think of “home” sometimes, but not in a homesick sort of way; more of a very fond memory.

I must correct myself. In my last blog I said we were going to be at Grove Ridge RV Resort in Dade City for two nights…nope, it was three which means we had a whole day after the concert to see what Dade City had to offer. Oh boy, I was excited! “Dade City’s Wild Things” here we come. For those of you who have been reading my blog all along, you know I love zoos. Well this is a very different, very unique  sort of zoo. It is done by tour only and we were the only ones on our particular tour. The zoo is on the property of the Zoo Director’s home and he even has some of the baby animals living in the house with him. Would have loved to have seen them! Anyway, we did the walking tour so we got to see the animals pretty close (sorry no pictures allowed) and hear lots of interesting, “I never knew that” facts. There was an option to have some interaction with many of the different baby animals for an additional charge, but we passed on that. We may go back so I can get some one on one time (ten minutes) with a griffin monkey all for the low price of $19.99. Oh yah, we’re also thinking of taking our granddaughter there when we’re parked near her mom’s home (later this month) as it’s only an hour away and our granddaughter loves  animals. (And then I get to go again!)

So here we are, just hours after leaving “home” in Grove Ridge, we find ourselves at Wickham Park in Melbourne FL settling in for a few days before we get to see our son and granddaughter. It was last year right around this time, we first came to this park; we loved it then, we love it now. And, it’s the first time since we started this journey that we have come full circle. It may sound crazy but for me it’s a wonderful feeling to actually know the park we’re heading towards.  We’re even getting to know the area quite a bit. We had all day yesterday (Sat. 3/11) to bum around and that’s exactly what we did. We went to a bike shop, a music shop, a hardware store, a used book store, a thrift shop, an ice cream shop, a grocery store, and, of course, we spent a couple hours on the beach. This morning we found a wonderful vibrant church to attend (that meets in a movie theatre – reminiscent of times gone by) and this afternoon while we wait for the call to hop in the car and drive to Palm Bay (about 20 minutes away) to see our son and granddaughter, we’re getting a long overdue project completed.  Bill stained and taped off, and I’m painting a game “board” that his brother made for us last fall from a picture I sent him. It’s a game that a lot of the ViMMers play called Jokers & Pegs. It’s great fun and I’m anxious to have one of our own. The “board” comes in pieces and can be put together for four to six players; very easy to store in a motor home. 

Not sure how much blogging I’ll be doing in the next couple of weeks as we’ll be focusing on our granddaughter, so until next time…be blessed & be a blessing.

Thank God for new friends

THANK YOU, LORD for the gift of new friends, great hospitality, wonderful fellowship, a beautiful setting, and some great fun with trains. We arrived on Wednesday (Feb 28^th) at the home of fellow ViMMers (Dave & Roberta) who we had not met prior to pulling our rig onto their property and we’re immediately told we could stay as long as we’d like. So, here we are almost a week later; still here and we’re lovin’ it. We are in Florida, but not by much as we are only about seven miles from the Georgia state line where we have gone to shop and eat a few times. It has been truly a wonderful relaxing time on this beautiful woodsy property, but the best part has been getting to know our new friends and learning about God’s creation in this area. I swear (but I won’t) they know every kind of tree and flower on their property and along the road ways. They have given me a new appreciation for even the smallest of flowers. They truly take time to smell the flowers. 

This place is not only beautiful but also very quiet unless the boys are splitting wood or the trains are running. But not the kind of trains you may be thinking of. Instead of trying to tell you about this…let me show you.

Notice our home in the background.

Isn't this an amazing set up!?!?!?!? And beautiful? It takes the train approximately 15 minutes to run amongst the trees, past the ponds, through the tunnel, past the church and country homes, over the bridges, along the cliffs, past the farm, and through the village. Whew...I think I got most of it covered. Absolutely loved watching this run and Bill even got to be engineer for awhile. So fun!

Bill and I managed to tear ourselves away and take one side trip to the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park located on the Suwannee River. This isn’t your run of the mill state park; nope, not at all. Besides all the interesting Stephen Foster stuff, it had a craft village where various arts and crafts were demonstrated including a skilled dulcimer player who offered to give me a few pointers if and when I could come back. Had I known, I would have taken my dulcimer with me. I think it absolutely amazing that God keeps putting dulcimer players in my path. He’s awesome! We also visited what’s left of the White Sulphur Springs House; in its day people flocked there to get healed of all sorts of ailments and diseases. 

Another thing I loved about this past week is the slow moving mornings. We had no place we had to be (thankfully, the bookkeeping work that I still do for His House Christian Fellowship can be done, for the most part, on my timetable) so I could take my time getting up in the morning. I just love being able to have a cup or two of coffee in bed as I leisurely spend time with God. I read a few devotions, write in my journal, pray, and often reflect on whatever it is God lays on my heart that day. Ohhhhh, how I love these mornings…the slower the better. I’m finally learning how to slow down and this is one of my favorite ways of practicing; for this I am very grateful.

Tomorrow (Mar 7) will not be a leisurely morning as we will be packing up and heading to Dade City about four hours south by motor home. We will be staying at an RV park there for two nights so we can go to the Florida Strawberry Festival. Truthfully, strawberries are not the draw. Not even close. We have tickets on the 8^th to go see Scotty McCreery (tenth season winner of American Idol which was the first time we ever watched the show and I liked Scotty from the very beginning). I’m not real big on concerts, but we thought this might be a fun thing to do on our way to see our granddaughter and son which starts this coming weekend. HalleluJAH!

Until then, be blessed and be a blessing!

Unbelievable! Amazing! Wonderful!

Unbelievable! Amazing! Wonderful! It can’t be. Oh but it is, it truly is. What’s this you say? ONE YEAR ago today (actually it was Feb 29^th J), we purchased our new home and began this God designed journey.  We are so very grateful to be part of Volunteer Mobile Missionaries and the places it has taken us and for the friends we have made through this organization. We bought our beautiful home from a couple who is part of this great organization. And last night we arrived at the home of new friends, a couple we hadn’t even met yet but have been part of this organization for years as well. They put out an invitation to any ViMMers traveling through Florida to swing by and hookup on their property for whatever length of stay desired for some great fellowship. God's timing is so perfect.  It will be an absolute delight to celebrate our one year anniversary with this couple. We praise God every day for this unbelievable, amazing, wonderful journey that He has us on.