I said yesterday we had a GREAT time in Florida! I'm still enjoying just sorting through all the photos. I had become a little too relaxed about taking pictures and made a conscious effort to capture lots of different moments on this trip and in our lives in general. And I'm pretty happy with my efforts. I thought I would just share a little at a time as I sort through them.
So, this part 1 (of how many parts, I don't know - I just go with what comes to me) is highlights of the road trip down. The trip down is always more pleasant than the trip back home, because we're all looking forward to seeing family and friends and relaxing. The trip home.....not so much. Mostly in bad moods cause we have to go back to "normal" life :)
So we started the trip off like we do each and every trip to Florida - a stop at Zaxby's. Oh how I wish they would take up residence in Missouri! Mmmmm.....I can still taste that crunchy chicken, that Zax sauce, and of course the crinkle fries. Everyone in my family knows that we stop at Zaxby's for lunch (often as soon as we hit the closest one to us, which is in Clarksville, TN if anyone wants to know) or I will not be a happy camper!
I love this leg of the trip. A little northwest of Chattanooga. You travel through a small amount of mountains and it's beautiful. Especially in the spring or fall. We were able to catch some glimpses of pink this time and also some low lying clouds tucked into the valleys. So pretty.
This is my friend Joannie.
We taught next to each other for about 5 years when I worked in Georgia. I can't remember the last time I saw her, but we are pretty sure it's been at least 6 years. I loved teaching next to her. She is so good at balancing work and family and was definitely my mentor for that. And what a great friend! I used to go house hunting with her, I would hang out at her house with her boys before I had any boys of my own, she came and helped me when I did have boys. She's the one that first told me "little boys love their mamas". And recently I got a surprise package in the mail from her....
It was a t-shirt from her school's Relay for Life. She had added my name along with her sister's onto the list of fellow fighters and survivors on the back and had walked for us. What a humbling gesture. I love her!
And can you tell that our boys instantly became good friends? They had a blast! Wish we lived closer. Wish we could have seen her oldest (who is driving now - I taught him when he was in kindergarten - where does the time go?) and her husband, too. We missed you guys!
We usually spend one night in a hotel during the entire trip, and the boys were super excited about getting to swim. Imagine how disappointed they were to find out the pool was outside and closed for the season :(
Bonus for me, though, cause that meant there was time to walk across the parking lot to one of my favorite ice cream places ever - Bruster's. The status of the clientele was a bit questionable as they were apparently celebrating St. Patty's Day a night early, so we ordered and took it back to the room to avoid having to dance a jig or something. I have to say that I got the chocolate raspberry truffle and highly recommend it if you are an Atlantan. But don't tell me if you get it cause I'll be extremely jealous.
And that ended our day. Watching the NCAA tourney and eating Bruster's. It was actually my birthday, and I was pretty happy with all that I had been blessed with just in this one day. Definitely a reminder to myself that God gives us way more than we deserve!
No comments:
Post a Comment