Vacation Posts

My computer decided to take a vacation while we were gone. Though I typed posts, I could not add them to my blog. So, here are several posts in one describing our trip.

The porch of Miss Molly’s Inn-Could have stayed here forever!

The Atlantic Ocean-Asseteague Island National Seashore

A new friend

Going under Chesapeake Bay

Virginia Beach

Williamsburg

The bride

Saying their vows

Wednesday:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Wednesday of our vacation was a rest day. We hung out at the bed and breakfast in the morning. I did some laundry and sat on the porch rereading the Misty books while husband messed with my computer which took advantage of our vacation to go on vacation itself. I got to spend some time talking to our young innkeeper and learn some tricks of the bed and breakfast industry like how to hang sheets so that they don’t get wadded up and wrinkled. We walked down Main Street looking in all the shops. I bought some Christmas gifts and even found copies of Misty of Chincoteague autographed by Maureen Beebe, one of the characters in the book. I found a quilt shop with some gorgeous fabric that I haven’t seen at the stores at home. I made two trips there. One with husband where the owner of the shop pointed out a sign that said, “Shopping with your husband is like hunting with the game warden.” I had to laugh, but after lunch snuck back down to do more shopping without worrying about husband’s patience or watchful eye on the check book. The clerk helped me find a new pattern for a lap quilt and measure out enough fabric to make it. We ate delicious crab “balls” for lunch at Captain Zack’s and visited the Island Creamery for the third time in three days. I couldn’t get enough of the butterscotch-vanilla and coconut ice cream flavors and was happy that I could get a half scoop of each kind. It was homemade and tasted so good! In the late afternoon, we went back to Assateague where the wildlife loop hiking trail is opened to vehicle traffic after three o’clock. The mosquitoes were just too bad to do much hiking, but I wanted to see what was along the loop. The birds were starting to migrate so we had lots to see though I don’t claim to know what kinds they were. The ponies were right up to the beach road, but I hadn’t brought my nice camera and my cell phone couldn’t zoom clearly so I just spend some time studying them and trying to ingrain them on my memory. Then, we walked the beach before setting up our chairs and just watching the waves, the surfers and the birds. And breathing in the salt air for a while. I felt what tension remained in my body slip away. Husband was ready to go before I was. I confessed that I didn’t want to leave at all. I knew that it was our last day in Chincoteague. After dinner, we walked Main Street one more time before packing up. We really enjoyed our stay on this island that claims to be the friendliest beach town in the country. The ocean, ponies, historic buildings, kind people and great food . There are some places on this earth that are a taste of heaven. I think Chincoteague is one of them.

Thursday:

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13 (NLT)

Thursday of our vacation was a travel day, a day to transition from the quiet of Chincoteague with no responsibilities or schedule to a few days of visiting with family and old friends. We said good bye to our Innkeeper, Maria, promising to stay in touch and stopped in a couple of shops for a few last minute gifts on our way out of town before driving off the island and heading to Virginia Beach. As we drove along the narrow spit of land called Virginia’s Eastern Shore that protects the mainland from the Atlantic we were surprised to see so much farmland. Soy beans, corn, millet and grapes grow in abundance. Billboards advertising seafood shops and restaurants are also prevalent. There is much good eating on the Eastern Shore! To cross the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay, a distance of seventeen miles, we travelled through a series of bridges and tunnels that give access to the bay to the deepwater ships and military vessels. It is a little eerie to know that the tunnels go under the water. They are so long that you cannot see the opposite end for much of the time that you are driving in them. Then, you pop out into the bright sunlight and onto another bridge above the water once again. We stopped on Seagull Island for lunch and to take in the view looking down into the water that covers the tunnels imagining our car driving along the floor of the bay under the channel where the ships travel. The area is the home for several military bases, Air Force and Navy. We watched hovercrafts undergo testing and were thrilled to see the Blue Angels practicing and other aircraft doing maneuvers. Navy helicopters flew at eye level to our sixth floor hotel room on the beach. They went south and then, a little while later, came back. At dusk, we could see lights like a city out at sea and assume we were looking at an aircraft carrier or some other large vessel. We visited with our friend at the high school where she works and caught up on forty years of time. Then, we returned to our hotel for a walk on the beach. We tested the cold water of the Atlantic and traipsed through the very thick sand that sucks at your feet like quicksand. After exploring the Boardwalk and public art along the walking trail, we ate dinner in a fine, fancy restaurant with delicious food and excellent service. Dessert was chocolate ganache with pistachio ice cream and butterscotch crème brulee with caramel corn. We staggered back to our hotel room for a restful night’s sleep with the sound of the ocean roaring in our ears. We live in a beautiful country and are blessed to have the freedom to travel freely about it. In Virginia Beach, we were reminded that men and women stand at watch every day to guard that freedom. We are grateful.

Friday:

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

In 1968, my parents planned a family vacation to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. We were there during the first moon landing. I clearly remember my dad waking us up in the middle of the night urging us to stay awake and watch history being made on the grainy hotel television. It did not escape him that we were in one of the oldest cities in the United States watching men walk on the moon. My sister and I just wanted to go back to bed. I embraced everything else about Colonial Williamsburg, however. Every sense was awakened in that town. The smell of boxwood remains one of my favorite scents. I cannot describe but still recognize the fruity smell of the replica parchment Declaration of Independence that my parents bought me. The sound of horses’ hooves striking the cobblestone streets and fiddlers playing a jig. The taste of sugar cookies and chicken pot pie. The touch of chilled pewter mugs filled with fruit juice upon my lips. The sight of the restored historic buildings, people working at traditional crafts in colonial costumes, the gardens, the tents that replicated the ones troops used during the time that they fought for our freedom. The awakening awareness that the church benches I sat upon and the streets on which we walked were shared by such illustrious leaders as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. History came alive for me for the first time in Williamsburg. It is no wonder I am still in awe of that great historic preservation site. So, as husband and I travelled from a night spend in Virginia Beach, Virginia getting reacquainted with a childhood friend to Manassas, Virginia for our daughter of the heart’s wedding, when I saw a sign for Williamsburg, we abandoned other plans and made a detour to that colonial town. We only had two hours to spare before wedding responsibilities would call us back to the road, but I hoped to at least walk the streets for a short time and have lunch in one of the taverns. What I did not count on was that walking across the bridge from the Visitors Center to the town would not only take me back into the colonial past, but into my own. Though a lot about Williamsburg has changed in 46 years, including that some of the streets are now covered in asphalt, the workers no longer are required to pretend that they do not know of anything that has happened since 1776, sodas are sold in the gift shops, cookies are wrapped in cellophane and some of the workers and volunteers do not wear colonial costumes, as I walked into the colonial town, I was suddenly ten years old again. Everything thrilled me and reminded me of my childhood experiences. We had to take a horse and buggy ride, we had to get cookies at the bakery and I had to buy soap. We went a different tavern than one I visited as a child that served root beer in a glass instead of fruit punch in a pewter mug, but the fiddler still played as the costumed waitress brought our food. Best intentions were set aside as I travelled in time. We stayed much longer than planned as I described to husband all that I remembered from childhood. We had a nerve-wracking journey back into the present as we barely made the wedding rehearsal on time, but I would not change our half day in Williamsburg for anything. It was as though I stepped from one decade to another and rediscovered the child that still lives within me.

Saturday:

As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Ephesians 5:31

We call the girl who lived with us while she was in High School and college, the daughter of our hearts. Though not ours by birth, we claim her as ours. We didn’t have a hand in shaping her character or personality, but think we made an impact on her life. We know she made an impact on ours. She moved to Virginia a few years ago to be closer to her dad and his family and go to graduate school. We see each other about once a year and keep in close contact though facebook and texts have replaced the letters we once exchanged. We were very pleased that she found a young man who is a perfect match for her a few years ago. She met him in church after giving up a futile search for a spouse via Internet matchmaking sites. She visited a church for the first time and there he was sitting next to her in a pew singing his heart out in worship. She says she fell in love with him in that instant, before she even knew his name. He feels the same. Last year, he proposed in an elaborate plan that required the help of many friends, clues and puzzle pieces. He gave her a ring pop but quickly substituted it for an engagement ring. They have spent the last year putting as much planning into their wedding ceremony and reception. The whole purpose for our trip to Virginia was to be a part of their wedding. She asked husband to help walk her down the aisle along with her dad. Though we enjoyed all the things we got to do and the places we visited, we came to celebrate their marriage. Husband was nervous about his role, but felt more comfortable after the rehearsal. The morning of the wedding, we drove to the chapel. He looked very dashing in his suit and tie and patiently endured prewedding photographs giving both the bride and the groom lighthearted advice. I sniffled my way through the bride’s entrance knowing how proud husband was to walk with her and how pleased we both are to see what a lovely confident bride she was. As they paused in front of the large stained glass window to exchange their vows, we were reminded that marriage is for better or for worse, in sickness and in health as they promised to love, honor and cherish each other for the rest of their lives. It wasn’t all serious though. The groom had a pin with the image of the genie from Aladdin in his lapel and they exited the church to one of the songs from the movie. The minister wore a ring pop on his finger and quoted from the Princess Bride. The bride got so tickled that she laughed out loud and the rest of us celebrated with them. Marriage will be an adventure for them. But, isn’t that the way it is meant to be?

Sunday:

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

When we left Manassas, Virginia at 5:00 on Saturday afternoon, we faced a fourteen hour drive. In our younger days, fourteen hours in the car would have been nothing. Now, with age, fatigue creeps in. Our muscles ache and our legs cramp. We cannot do a fourteen hour drive anymore. So, even on days when we leave earlier than 5:00 PM, we stop for the night on the road. That is one reason we decided to take the train to Virginia. Had we not been concerned about the timing for the wedding and reception, we likely would have booked a return ticket. Instead, we planned to drive. Never again. Though the traffic was lighter than we have experienced in the Washington, DC area, we quickly realized that we would not be able to go until midnight like we usually do. About 7:00 PM, I started searching for a hotel to make reservations. It was Saturday night and college football season so we had some difficulty in finding a place. Finally, I made a reservation in Lumberton, North Carolina, twenty miles north of the South Carolina line. We planned to take a dinner break and then, drive until 11:00 PM. We staggered into the hotel, slept late and didn’t leave Lumberton until almost 10:00 AM with nine and a half hours of driving ahead of us. Surprisingly, husband did not object to a stop to buy pecans and honey or for lunch, but it seemed like South Carolina would never end! We travelled through the tip of Georgia after stopping for peaches and more honey, and then, crossed the St. Mary’s River into Florida. Though in our home state, we still had a long way to go. We drove towards the house where no one makes the beds in the morning. Or fixes breakfast. Where there is no lovely stretch of beach and rushing waves right out the back door. Where dogs bark to wake us up at 6:30 AM and laundry lies in piles in front of the washer. Finally, with only one more break, for dinner, we pulled in the gate about 10:00 PM and still had to unload the car. We were really tired. Next time, we travel both ways by train! I was thinking about the long trip home and the wedding that we had just witnessed and recognized how marriage is so much like a journey. It is not always pleasant but has to be done. I heard this song by Casting Crowns a while ago. It is called Broken Together. It talks about how we think our spouse will make us complete, but in reality, we both bring brokenness into the relationship. Only Christ can make us whole. Married life is not a fairy tale. It is hard work, long hours and lots of aggravation, traffic, boredom, but still there are joys, good memories and times to share and build the relationship. If you resolve to survive the journey, you are stronger in the end.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=broken+together+casting+crowns&FORM=VIRE2#view=detail&mid=B5981456D7AB90CB57DEB5981456D7AB90CB57DE

Broken Together by Casting Crowns

What do you think about when you look at me
I know we’re not the fairytale you dreamed we’d be
You wore the veil, you walked the aisle, you took my hand
And we dove into a mystery

How I wish we could go back to simpler times
Before all our scars and all our secrets were in the light
Now on this hallowed ground, we’ve drawn the battle lines
Will we make it through the night

It’s going to take much more than promises this time
Only God can change our minds

Maybe you and I we’re never meant to be complete
Could we just be broken together
If you can bring your shattered dreams and I’ll bring mine
Could healing still be spoken and save us
The only way we’ll last forever is broken together

How it must have been so lonely by my side
We were building kingdoms and chasing dreams and left love behind
I’m praying God will help our broken hearts align
And we won’t give up the fight

Comments

Susan Humeston says

September 25, 2014 at 5:34 am

I really enjoyed reading your vacation descriptions. I'm glad you had a great time, revisited your childhood and now you are home and back to "normal". You have lots of great memories to recall as you snuggle into bed at night and welcome sleep.

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