Our vehicle has been restored to health and we are on the road again...(Thank you, Joe and Sheri, for your generous hospitality! We had a wonderful time in Mt. Dora and would love to visit again.)
The core of our trip this year has been to reconnect with each other, our family and both old and new friends. We have experienced gracious hospitality, tear-rendering laughter, much needed rest, exhausting fun and, as always, abundant blessings from God above!
We had to travel almost 1,600 miles to find time to have dinner with friends from the UP! But it was well worth the trip! We truly enjoyed our personal tour of St. Augustine and our dinner at Chianti. In fact, St. Augustine has been moved to the "list" of places we would revisit.
Day five of Disney World took us on a return trip to the Magic Kingdom for one last day to be a Princess, visit Princesses, getting that special "Buzz" and, of course, SHOPPING! Saving the best for last...and not wanting to carry all those gifts all over Florida!
Karsten had the opportunity to meet her Uncle Russell and we met the rest of his family for the first time. An evening of reminiscing, getting reacquainted, laughter and new memories.
We returned to Belleair Shores, Florida after 14 years. It was good to see the Gulf Coast and this beautiful white heron sitting along the rail of the balcony of our hotel. We had a great time at the Palm Pavilion, having dinner right on the beach, in this unique venue that was established in 1926. Karsten suggested the restaurant. It was a place she visited with Ella on their Florida trip. She has had so many incredible experiences already, we cannot wait to see what her future holds!
In our journey north we stopped in Ocalla for a short visit with a retiree from the Porcupine Mountains. How fun to catch up. It must be nice to spend your days lazing around the pool:)
On December 13, we decided to do one long day of driving and made it all the way to Dalton, Georgia. Good planning as we found an outlet mall to shop and even got in early enough to go to see New Year's Eve.
Today we visited the Mammoth Caves. The caves are 392 miles long! No we didn't walk the whole thing, only about 3/4 of a mile and that took 2 hours! The Frozen Niagara is beautiful. Then on to dinner with our niece and nephew, Amanda and Nick. During his teenage years, Nick came up for the summer to help out at Mountain View. We haven't seen Amanda in many years. It was great to spend some time with them. You know how you always remember people at the age you last saw them? It was so odd to have dinner with them as adults. My how grown up they are.
Tomorrow we make the journey back to Illinois for another quick visit with Julie and her family and to pick up Rick's Black Friday purchases:) and pick up Mom before heading back to the UP.
Thanks for reading the blog and thank you for keeping us in your prayers.
We arrived in Wyoming, Ohio on the rainy afternoon of December 27. We were able to visit with my cousin Laurie and her family. Then a treat...she and four others have opened Hank, A Yarn Boutique, and we got to go visit and shop. The car is slowly filling with yarn!
Then on to Florence, Kentucky. We were able to visit the Creation Museum. It was interesting and the planetarium shows were facinating. Dinner with Rick's sister and her husband and some old friends from Fort Wayne that have relocated to that area. This trip has been filled with visiting and catching up with old and new friends and family! What a treat!
On Tuesday, we began our journey to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Karsten really liked going through the town. We visited Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum. Dinner at Loco Burro Mexican Restaurant and then the Trolley Tour of Christmas Lights.
Wednesday we snaked our way through the Smokey Mountains. It began as an overcast snowy day and Karsten built her first snowman in Newfoundland Gap, on the Tennessee/North Carolina Stateline. But by the time we made our way down the weather greatly improved and we saw, for the first time in many days, blue skies and sunshine! We spent the night in Lexington, South Carolina...a nice relaxing evening.
Thursday we were on the road again. Thankful for another sunny day we headed to Hilton Head Island and took some time to play on the beach. Then on to Savannah, Georgia and lunch at Five Guys Hamburgers and Fries. They do make great burgers!!
As we headed on south we made our way to St. Augustine, the oldest city in the USA. We met some friends from White Pine for dinner! Small world!! What a treat. Their family showed us around St. Augustine and St. George Street. We enjoyed it so much we did the same thing again today! We also visited the Fountain of Youth...We may come home so young no one will recognize us! In the pic with the yucca plants, see if you can find Karsten! This was what was used to defend their perimeters! Placed inside the palm tree wall so intruders could not get in. It was very reliable!
In our explorations, we found a shop called Body Junkie. You chose your scents and they create your own personal body lotions, salts, etc. Rick was a great sport while we picked out what we wanted! Then we watched a carver create a silver ring with Kar's name in it.
Tomorrow we begin our journey to Orlando and a few days with one famous Mouse!
The first few weeks of our trip have brought to mind so many blessings in our lives. As we began our trip we became visitors in our own backyard.
We wove our way through Michigan's Upper Peninsula and were again amazed at all the beauty of the area. The never ending forests thick and dense, the roaming wildlife and the crystal clear waters are what keep us longing for home.
It also intrigues me to see used car dealers with cars 20-30 years old looking bright and shiny just waiting for their new owner to stumble upon them.
And, of course, it is always breathtaking to cross the Mighty Mackinac Bridge. To think of the forward think minds that created this path into a land that still, in many parts, remains unexplored.
It was our first experience traveling the eastern coast of lower Michigan. Lake Huron is also a beautiful sight, although it becomes obvious early that it does not command the same power as Lake Superior.
We had the pleasure of staying at the Huron House in the Moon Shadow room located in Oscoda, Michigan. What a wonderful view. From that cozy space you find out why the room is called "Moon Shadow". You will have to experience that for yourself. If you have a crafter with on your journey, you will want to be sure to visit the Tawas Bay Yarn Company, a real treat for the needle worker!
On the Michigan/Ohio line you will not be far from Mancy's Steakhouse. What a treat! Fine dining at its best! And we thank our wonderful friends for this great experience and their hospitality!
Then on to a week at "home" in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It is always so much fun to catch up with those who we only get to see once a year (if we are lucky) and it is a blessing to have each of them as our friends. To spend time revisiting the "fun" spots, learning of the new additions in the families and sometimes even seeing those we haven't seen in decades! And what a blessing to see Dad, 84 years old and going strong!
Then on to Chicago. For the first time in many, many years, we were able to visit the Museum of Science and Industry for the World of Trees display with friends we don't get to spend time with often enough. They spent the month of October treating our daughter to the sights and culture of the "big city". She not only visited the Field Museum, MSI, the Shedd and the architectural boat tour, but she also road the bus, train and cabs! Our thankfulness for their hospitality is beyond words.
Then on to celebrate Thanksgiving with our family. And by this time next year our family will have grown by at least one! How wonderful that we have grown children who have the gift of hospitality and freely open their home to us, feed us and make us feel welcome. Thank you!
And the rest of the journey continues tomorrow as we head to Ohio/Kentucky! Watch for more posts!
Day five of Disney World took us on a return trip to the Magic Kingdom for one last day to be a Princess, visit Princesses, getting that special "Buzz" and, of course, SHOPPING! Saving the best for last...and not wanting to carry all those gifts all over Florida!
Karsten had the opportunity to meet her Uncle Russell and we met the rest of his family for the first time. An evening of reminiscing, getting reacquainted, laughter and new memories. 
We returned to Belleair Shores, Florida after 14 years. It was good to see the Gulf Coast and this beautiful white heron sitting along the rail of the balcony of our hotel. We had a great time at the Palm Pavilion, having dinner right on the beach, in this unique venue that was established in 1926. Karsten suggested the restaurant. It was a place she visited with Ella on their Florida trip. She has had so many incredible experiences already, we cannot wait to see what her future holds!
