The Beach at Tybee Island (Traveling North Photo Series)

The beach at Tybee Island, 

near Savannah, Georgia

Day 1, Part 2 of Traveling North

As we drove toward Savannah on Monday, I asked the kids what they wanted to do when we got there.  We've driven past the area many times on trips to see my parents in Maryland, but never stopped.  And since I am the solo driver (for the most part) on this trip, I decided to take our time and spread it out over three days.  I had scouted out some activities on the web, but wanted to give them the choice, while still encouraging some educational "field trippy" sort of ideas.  

We decided that since Ft. Pulaski was near the beaches at Tybee Island, we'd do both that afternoon and evening, and save historic Savannah for the morning before hitting the road again. 

The beach trip was pretty spontaneous.  I had thought ahead to bring some towels and swim suits since we thought we might go to the beach near my brother's house in New Jersey later in vacation, but otherwise, we were unprepared.  We had to dash into some beach-side stores to get boogie boards, sand pail & bucket, and sun screen.  We also had to deal with the wet, sandy clothes and towels.  Fortunately, I had a cheap tarp in the van which we cut up to cover the seats for our trip back to the hotel.

Anyway, the kids and I had a blast playing in the warm waves, building sand castles, and chasing the sea gulls away from our bag of Arby's roast beef sandwiches.  We buddied up for safety and I kept an eye on kids in the water.    The tide was coming in, so the waves got more adventurous, and as you can see in the pictures above, gradually claimed one of our sand fortresses.  Such is life.

Blessings,
Virginia

Ft. Pulaski (Traveling North Photo Series)

Monday: Day 1 of traveling with 6 kids in our Grand Cherryvan, packed to overflowing.

First major stop: Ft. Pulaski, just outside Savannah, Georgia.  Yes, that's where Monday's mystery photo was taken, a spiderweb on a centuries old door...

From the Ft. Pulaski web site: "For much of the 19th century, masonry fortifications were the United States’ main defense against overseas enemies. However, during the Civil War, new technology proved its superiority to these forts. The Union army used rifled cannon and compelled the Confederate garrison inside Fort Pulaski to surrender. The siege was a landmark experiment in the history of military science and invention."

Ft. Pulaski is a national monument, with an admission fee of $5 for anyone over age 16.    No one was at the pay booth on the way in or out, and the lady at the gift shop says that means we get in free.  Sweet.  That will offset the $35 parking ticket I got at the beach later that day.

Coming up in this mostly photo series: the beach at Tybee Island, Historic Savannah, a visit with my cousins in Chapel Hill (NC), Luray Caverns, the D.C. Smithsonian museums and zoo (will start going sometime this week?), maybe a jaunt to coastal New Jersey, and best of all, family in Maryland!  Seventeen days of fun and mayhem.  So far, so good.  

We'll bump up the photo quality a notch with the Canon camera we bought yesterday before we went to Luray Caverns.  All of the ones here were taken with an iPod camera.

For those who are wondering, my mom is still in the hospital, 24th day with complications from back surgery.  I'll be going to see her in a little bit, but the kids have to wait because she has two infections.

Blessings,

Virginia Knowles

www.VirginiaKnowles.blogspot.com

Mystery Picture

What is it?
Where is it?
You tell me!

Hint: I'm on vacation with six kids in Savannah.  It is something fresh and fragile on something old and sturdy.

I'll post more photos and an explanation on another blog, www.watchtheshepherd.blogspot.com, soon.  The hymn of the week will be "A Mighty Fortress is Our God."

Does that give you something to guess?

Virginia

Linking here: Sweet Shot Tuesday 

Off to Bolivia They Go!

My daughter Julia and her husband Alex 

are about to get on a plane for Bolivia at 1 AM.  

It is her fifth trip, and his third.

She once spent nearly three months there, 

returning the day before she turned 20.

She loves the people there.

And she loves Jesus.

As a mom, I couldn't ask for more.

Prayers

They are leading a team of 23 teens and adults to Entre Rios, a remote village in southern Bolivia.  They will take half of the team hiking around to minister in other villages, while the other half works on a construction project.  The travel can be quite hazardous, and your prayers are appreciated!  Just getting to Entre Rios will take the next 31 hours!

You can keep posted on the team at their blog here: Global Impact Bolivia 2013.

Vaya con Dios!

And Jesus came and said to them, 

“All authority in heaven 

and on earth has been given to me.  

Go therefore and 

make disciples of all nations, 

baptizing them in the name 

of the Father and of the Son 

and of the Holy Spirit, 

teaching them to observe 

all that I have commanded you. 

And behold, I am with you always, 

to the end of the age.”  

Matthew 28:18-20

See posts about previous trips here: 

• To Bolivia with Love poem
• And They Are Strong and Bold... (Girls and the Grand Adventure)
• A Ship in Harbour is Safe...
• A is for Angela
• B is for Bolivia
• Come With Me Here

A Bouquet for My Mommy

My mom is in the hospital with complications two weeks after back surgery.  She has been pretty sick with who-knows-what but seems to be perking up today.  My aunt kindly donated her travel rewards miles so I could fly up here today.  It's not often that my brother and sister and parents and I are all in the same picture.  Next time, I hope it is under more pleasant circumstances!  Actually, I was already scheduled to drive up here next week with six of my kids, and we're still planning that.  Of course, we'll take over all the housework for her!  She may or may not be out of rehab by then.

Anyway, I've been here at the hospital with her this afternoon and evening feeding her and helping with other (ahem) needs.  Since my mom loves flowers and is an avid gardener, I decided to "pick" a (digital) bouquet for her by taking pictures of the flowers at the hospital entrance.

[Note: In a later post on another blog, I took pictures of Mom's own garden to go along with her favorite hymn, "In the Garden" and some reflections on when the caregiver needs care.]

Enjoy!

And, from earlier in the day...

Prop plane -- connecting flight from Philly to Baltimore

Props just outside my window!

21st century monk

One last shot for the evening, just outside the hospital window.  Moms says, "The glory of God!" Now I've closed the shades again and Mom is resting.  Good night!

Virginia Knowles
www.VirginiaKnowles.blogspot.com

P.S. I asked Mom what her favorite was of these pictures. "The family!"  Of course!

P.P.S. Kudos to my husband for holding the fort back in Orlando.  :-)  I'll be home in a few days.

P.P.P.S. See more flower pictures here: In the Garden: When the Caregiver Needs Care.

Linking here:

Sweet Shot Tuesday 

Still Saturday

The Sunday Community

Domestically Divine on Tuesday

Raising Homemakers on Wednesday

Whole-Hearted Home on Wednesday

Wise Woman Link Up on Wednesday

Walking Redeemed on Wednesday