remote.....vacation destination

    Remote:  a thing you have to have these days to watch t.v.
                   a place FAR FAR away from anything that makes life fun, easy, and entertaining

   Recently,  Mr. G and I headed out to our favorite place for vacation for a few days of R & R.  While there, we took a side trip to a destination we had researched (a little) heard about (from several) and had very much wanted to visit and take the whole gang with us (kids and grandkids) to see some sea turtle eggs, and have fun on a beach without the crowds.

  It was rather adventurous with our maps, water bottles, snacks, sunglasses, flip flops and a tank full of gas.  Off we go.  and go.  and go.  and go some more.  This place was REALLY remote.  Much farther than it looked on the map.  Much more REMOTE than I had pictured.

  My brother-in-law kindly told me the previous day when he learned we were vacationing there with our family this summer, that it was very remote.  VERY REMOTE.  "I don't know if you will like it.  There's nothing there to do, " he said.


  "Well, sounds kinda nice to me!  No traffic, not red lights, no noise.  Just the sound of the ocean waves and the kids playing.  I can't wait!"  I replied.


  "Did you know that place is know for sharks?"  he very bluntly said.


  "Sharks? as in big teeth and 'du du du du, du du du du' " I said making the shark two note melody from "Jaws".

   "Yes, those kinds.  In fact, some really big ones.  Did you know the water was rough and it gets deep really quick there?"  he added.


  "No, no one mentioned that....."  I was slowly beginning to wilt.  Maybe this place wasn't so grand for a family of creature comfort folks.


  But, on we went, headed to see this beautiful beach, sea turtles, and lots of ocean life.  Now the meaning of 'ocean life' was coming into view.


   After one and a half hours of driving away from civilization, we came upon our vacation destination.  Not much there.  Two gas stations.  Bait shop.  Another bait shop.  A gas station, bait shop and convenient store all in one.  Not a restaurant in site.  No McD's no BK, not even a Whataburger! Not a hint of a Bonefish Grill, Olive Garden, or any wonderful seafood place.


   I didn't even see a hotel or motel......  Humm.....

   I DID see a sign, 'Bear crossing'  with a big bear, and a small bear on it.  Sharks, now bears.  Deep in the recesses of my mind, I recalled the talk of alligators in the swampy places of Florida, as well as those slithery, slinky things, I won't name.  Sharks, bears, alligators, and s.....

  As we approached this 'most beautiful beach in Florida' the narrowness of the island is very apparent. One side of the road was the bay, the other side, large large rocks, and on the other side of those rocks the ocean loomed  higher than the top of the car.  My stomach lurched.  I was almost to the point of hyperventilating.  But, I put my happy face on, and looked at the map.


   "We must be close, very close, watch those road signs."  I said, trying to sound brave.


   We drove a little farther, and found the house we had looked at online.  It was a bit worn looking--sand lot, with lots of sea grass, weeds, bugs, and other such things I tried hard not to think about.  Some of the railings were off of the three story deck.  Humm... with a one year old, that is a huge red flag.  I walked up the steps to search out the 'beautiful view of the bay and the ocean',  as stated on the info about the house.  I could catch a glimpse of the ocean and lots of the bay.  Not too bad.  But, I am still wondering what we will do with four kids, no pool, and no ice cream shop in site.  (Where's Walmart, for Pete's sake?)

   We walked down to the beach, which was absolutely beautiful.  Quiet.  No one around.  It would be a wonderful beach to lay on, watch the kiddies, and read a book~if I wasn't panicking over worrying that the kids would be swept away on the current to Cuba.  Or eaten by a shark.  Or chased by a big sea turtle.  Or bitten by a s..... Or, or, or, hunted by an alligator.

   We hopped back in the car and headed back to civilization-that long, long, long road with nothing on it.  Mr. G. and I talked, discussed, bantered, argued a little, sighed a lot, and finally decided we would rather vacation where there were lots of places to eat, more than enough places to entertain four little ones, and where we saw NO SIGNS of bears, alligators, or other creepy wildlife, or sharks swimming near the shore.  We needed the assurance that those red, yellow or green warning flags would go up each day to warn us of any thing we needed to know about the things going on in the ocean.

lots of fun and things to do!

cousin fun

   I must add, that when I returned home,  I was flipping channels on t.v.  I happened upon a show on one of the nature channels about wild boars in FL that were eating the sea turtle eggs.  The locals were hunting them down to save the turtles.


   WILD BOARS.  I never saw that sign.  They were probably hiding behind the bears.

The Royals and other royals

  Well, the wedding is in the morning.  By the time I post this, it will be over.  Sigh.  All that planning, all that work.  It's over in a few hours.

  The word 'royal' brings to mind several different things:

   When I was a teenager and very much into soap operas, Port Royal was a town on one of my favorite shows.  I found out years later, Port Royal really was really a town, several towns, in fact.

   A very close friend  of ours sports the name 'Royal'.  When the girls were younger, and this couple would come over for dinner, the girls called it a royal dinner.  Royal made the best angel biscuits you could slide down your southern throat, and thus we named them 'royal' biscuits.

   There is a community and road named Port Royal near here, but I am sorry to say, I don't have a clue as to where it ends: Port Royal or Buckingham Drive.  Westminster Lane, maybe? 

             UPDATE:

    I did not get up at three for the Royal Wedding, but I did make it up by five-thirty, just in time for the bride to walk down the isle.  Or was it the vows?  I am not sure why I thought we had to jump out of a comfy bed this morning, when the visions I wanted to see were replayed all morning.  So, I cooked up some royal  bacon and scrambled some  princess eggs for Mr. G and myself.  

    I must tell you, the gown was lovely, the veil was posh, and Kate, the princess herself, looked smashing!  I had a jolly old good time watching the events as I cleaned house this morning.  I was rather weary of all the waffle by the media, but all in all it was ace.

   I have NO clue if any of what was said above was in the right context of English slang talk!  Just trying out a few words thrown around over the past few weeks...

   Well, cherrio, my dear bloggies!

  

     


    
  Photo credits: AP Photo/Martin Meissner; Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images; Chris Furlong/Getty Images
   

A First

A Paisley Pink Birthday

I have tried to post this two times over the past month, but it keeps getting lost in cyberspace.....  So, I'll try again.

   Paisley turned one, not long ago.  What a wonderful year it has been!  She has been such a darling to all of us, and we ALL claim she looks just like us.  Too FUNNY.  But, she really does.

  Robin planned a wonderful birthday party, with lots of eye candy.  Paisley wrapping paper made a runner down the table.  A local lady made paisley and personalized decorated cookies that turned out so pretty.

I made strawberry cupcakes using pink paisley cupcake sleeves Robin found on the internet.  (What did we do before internet?)

  Pasiley had been sick, and still wasn't feeling great. After the cake, the presents, and the fun she crawled under Holly's coffee table and went to sleep. 

 Awwww.........

That is enough

    The past few months have been full of stress and trials. Life is that way.  This afternoon I had some time to reflect on things for which I am truly grateful.

    Amazing grace and mercy.

    A Savior who loves me and makes a path for me.

    A warm home.

    A wonderful family.

    A loving husband and two caring daughters.

    Four darling grandchildren.

    Food on the table.

    My mother is improving and having some good days!

    I could list a hundred more, but I will stop there.  I remember once hearing someone say, even in the worst days, filled with sorrow, pain, regret, burdens, worry, anger, injustice, and heartache, those who know the Lord, and put their faith in Him, have the promise of eternity in heaven.  That is enough.

  I ponder much over suffering.  I do not understand it.  I cannot wrap my brain around children who have pain, or are hungry, or who have lost their mothers.  I can get mad when I hear of a small child abused and or murdered, or view the tragedy of war and the slaughter of young men and women who will never live a full life.  I am grieving at the loss of thousands in Japan due to the earthquake and tsunami. I want to stand before the Most High and ask why can this happen?

   This side of heaven we will not get a satisfactory answer.  Our God is sovereign and His ways are not our ways.  I know in my head that this is a fallen, sinful world.  Suffering will take place here.  Disasters will happen.  Heartache will touch each and every one of us whose feet touch the soil of the earth.  Pain, whether physical or emotional, will enter our lives at some time while our days are cast on this earth.  No one, no not one, is spared from trials and sorrow.  For many of those who have given their lives to Christ, through these circumstances our faith is strengthened as we learn to rely on God.  For some others, they find Christ.  And, others, they blame God or turn from Him.

   But, at the end of our lives, we can, if we have chosen to follow the One and Only Jesus Christ, repent of our sins,  spend eternity in a place that is far more wonderful and glorious than the here and now.  It will last forever.  FOREVER. That, my friends, is enough.  I am more grateful for that, than all other things.

    Amazing Grace.  How sweet the sound.

~~~

...When we've been here (heaven) ten thousand years

   Bright shining as the sun.

  

   We've no less days to sing God's praise

    Than when we've first begun.

  

Babies, babies, babies!

Paisley 

This picture takes my breath away!  Robin took this after our last pretty snowfall.  Paisley has on a white fleece coat. Adorable. 

  Oh my goodness!  Babies are just happening everywhere.

 ~ My nephew and his wife are the proud parents of a precious baby girl, Olivia Jane.  She arrived on Saturday.

~ My son-in-law's cousin is in Korea getting their adopted little girl, Ella Marie. 

~AND, a special friend just learned the news that a baby is coming soon for her to adopt!  I am thrilled.

  These events are blessings beyond measure.  Thank you, Lord, for your pouring out on these families.  May you keep them all in your care.

  I have been absent from blogging for a while.  Blogger's block, busy days, worries and concerns about my mother.  It keeps me from writing.  But, I plan to get back in the swing of things.

  Paisley had her first birthday and her party, so I need to get some pics posted--SOON!

    SPEAKING OF BABIES...

    Take a look at this old old picture...

        Now take a look at Paisley's picture, above...

             This old picture just happens to be Nonnie as a bouncing babe of about seven to eight months.  The picture of Paisley was taken close to her first birthday.  Honestly, I think she looks like moi, me! Not bragging, just facts....