Year of First Visit – 2007
Point of Entry – I-90 near Coeur d’Alene
If you’ve ever been set up on a blind date and found yourself thinking about marriage within the first few moments of meeting her then you know my feelings about Idaho.
I had two thoughts in mind before going there: 1.) endless barren land covering potatoes, and 2.) towns dominated by Neo-Nazi encampments. I knew the speed limit was 75 and planned to fully leverage it on my way to Montana and Wyoming.
Then on that sunny July afternoon I crossed the border by Coeur d’Alene and found myself enamored by the shocking beauty. I had to slow my speed to gaze at the wonders. I started updating my resume and looking for a realtor, at least in my mind.
Later on the same trip, after two weeks of roughing it at various national parks, we arrived in Idaho Falls. It was as if they knew us when we arrived, for the motel’s pool was set to the perfect temperature and one of my family’s favorite restaurants was right next door. The sensual delights of swimming and delicious dining, combined with the wonders of a private shower and good mattresses, made me love Idaho even more.
Alas, the relationship didn’t work out. Though the summer was great, I knew winter would come again. And my tolerance for things like cold, snow, and ice was more than this relationship could handle.
So farewell my summer love. I long for another July when I can sneak away with you for a while.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
A Real Christmas
Do yourself a favor and listen to my favorite Christmas story by following this link. It'll be the best 10 minutes you spend this Christmas.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Georgia
Year of First Visit – 1998
Point of Entry – I-59 near Trenton
Most of the time, Georgia has been a “Through State” for me.
My first time there I cut through the tiniest corner of the state on I-59. Later, I made
several trips through on my way to and from Florida on I-95. I’ve crossed the state on I-85 as well.
Like millions of others each year, I’ve traveled through Hartsfield-Jackson as well. Though normally just a bland time to change planes, I recall one time with my friend Suzy.
We were walking through the terminal together when she discretely pointed at a woman walking in front of us. She turned to me and said, “We need to pray for her right now.”
Suzy’s prayer asked God to change the course of this stranger’s life to have it better
align with His will. The instant she whispered “Amen,” I kid you not, one of the wheels fell off the prayer recipient’s bag and her course was changed, both literally and immediately.
(I won’t dissect that theologically today. That’s a whole other entry on a whole other blog.)
I did stop once at the Okefenokee Swamp taking a boat ride through it. I also participated in a fellowship service with friends in the Rome/Cartersville area when we were going through.
Someday perhaps Georgia will be my destination. Until then, I’ll continue to enjoy the hospitality of the state as I continue to go through it.
Point of Entry – I-59 near Trenton
Most of the time, Georgia has been a “Through State” for me.
My first time there I cut through the tiniest corner of the state on I-59. Later, I made
several trips through on my way to and from Florida on I-95. I’ve crossed the state on I-85 as well.Like millions of others each year, I’ve traveled through Hartsfield-Jackson as well. Though normally just a bland time to change planes, I recall one time with my friend Suzy.
We were walking through the terminal together when she discretely pointed at a woman walking in front of us. She turned to me and said, “We need to pray for her right now.”
Suzy’s prayer asked God to change the course of this stranger’s life to have it better
align with His will. The instant she whispered “Amen,” I kid you not, one of the wheels fell off the prayer recipient’s bag and her course was changed, both literally and immediately.(I won’t dissect that theologically today. That’s a whole other entry on a whole other blog.)
I did stop once at the Okefenokee Swamp taking a boat ride through it. I also participated in a fellowship service with friends in the Rome/Cartersville area when we were going through.
Someday perhaps Georgia will be my destination. Until then, I’ll continue to enjoy the hospitality of the state as I continue to go through it.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Florida
Year of First Visit – 1989
Point of Entry – Orlando International Airport
Even before visiting any of the Disney parks, she cam up from under water in the 80s pool at the Pop Century resort and peacefully declared, “Florida is a great place.”
That’s what I thought, too, the first time I landed there. It was between my freshman and sophomore year of college and it was the first vacation I’d ever taken that didn’t involve visiting family at least someplace along the way.
When the Northwest Orient jet touched down at Orlando I was amazed. It was the first time I’d seen palm trees other than in shopping malls. Everything was completely exotic. Even the setup of trams at the airport seemed like a warm-up to the rides at Disney.
That trip to Disney World with my parents was one of the best weeks of my life. The adventure of Disney was beyond what I could have imagined. A favorite thing was Illuminations at Epcot Center.
More wonderful memories came later with my kids. We took my family on vacation in the Daytona area several times in the early 2000s. We stayed with our friends at their home in Ormond Beach. With it’s screened in pool area and spacious accommodations it was like having a private resort.
From there we went out to see many places. This included a couple of trips to the Kennedy Space Center, Silver Springs, and Marineland.
Naturally, we hit the beaches of Daytona several times. On one trip there I was wading up to my knees when a wave hit and wiped my prescription sunglasses clean off my face. We never found them.
I also had one of the 10 best days of my life on one of those trips when my five-year-old son and I spent the day together at the Magic Kingdom. My wife was pregnant at the time so she stayed in Ormond Beach to sew maternity clothes. I didn’t have any particular agenda there and thought we’d just go until he got tired then go back to Daytona.
He did a great job and we were still in the park when the electric light parade came by. Once it was over he was ready to go but there was no way we could get out from our perch by Cinderella’s Palace until the after the fireworks. With his finger raised, he declared, “I’ll watch ONE firework then I’m going home!” Of course, he stood mesmerized until the fireworks finale faded.
We were riding a ways in the dark in the van on the way home when I noticed he was still awake. I said, “You can go to sleep.” He said, “OK,” turned his head, and immediately fell into exhaustion.
Not all of my memories of Florida are from the central part of the state. We drove one Christmas from Baltimore to Miami. That’s when I discovered that the Everglades are among my favorite places in the world. We also visited Biscayne National Park and Key West on that trip.
Another Christmas, we spent the week at Sea World in Orlando. Most people can cover that park in a day but we spent nearly 4 days there thoroughly absorbing the place. We even splurged and did the Hawaiian Luau dinner one night. On the penultimate day there, my daughter said to my wife, “Have you ever been someplace that you never wanted to leave?” She cried when we had to leave the last day, something that didn’t even happen at Disney World.
And, yes, we did have an amazing week in Florida at Disney World. Though record breaking heat, we thoroughly loved every minute of it. We found ourselves in line at the bus each morning with the same family from Texas. We were taking time off from our national parks trips to go to Disney. They were annual Disney vacationers who were looking to do a national parks tour the next year so we swapped notes and plans.
So much in Florida ---- and I haven’t even talked about our time in Pensacola or all the places that are still on my list to go. I hope to update this portion of my states journal many, many more times.
Point of Entry – Orlando International Airport
Even before visiting any of the Disney parks, she cam up from under water in the 80s pool at the Pop Century resort and peacefully declared, “Florida is a great place.”
That’s what I thought, too, the first time I landed there. It was between my freshman and sophomore year of college and it was the first vacation I’d ever taken that didn’t involve visiting family at least someplace along the way.
When the Northwest Orient jet touched down at Orlando I was amazed. It was the first time I’d seen palm trees other than in shopping malls. Everything was completely exotic. Even the setup of trams at the airport seemed like a warm-up to the rides at Disney.
That trip to Disney World with my parents was one of the best weeks of my life. The adventure of Disney was beyond what I could have imagined. A favorite thing was Illuminations at Epcot Center.
More wonderful memories came later with my kids. We took my family on vacation in the Daytona area several times in the early 2000s. We stayed with our friends at their home in Ormond Beach. With it’s screened in pool area and spacious accommodations it was like having a private resort.
From there we went out to see many places. This included a couple of trips to the Kennedy Space Center, Silver Springs, and Marineland.
Naturally, we hit the beaches of Daytona several times. On one trip there I was wading up to my knees when a wave hit and wiped my prescription sunglasses clean off my face. We never found them.
I also had one of the 10 best days of my life on one of those trips when my five-year-old son and I spent the day together at the Magic Kingdom. My wife was pregnant at the time so she stayed in Ormond Beach to sew maternity clothes. I didn’t have any particular agenda there and thought we’d just go until he got tired then go back to Daytona.
He did a great job and we were still in the park when the electric light parade came by. Once it was over he was ready to go but there was no way we could get out from our perch by Cinderella’s Palace until the after the fireworks. With his finger raised, he declared, “I’ll watch ONE firework then I’m going home!” Of course, he stood mesmerized until the fireworks finale faded.
We were riding a ways in the dark in the van on the way home when I noticed he was still awake. I said, “You can go to sleep.” He said, “OK,” turned his head, and immediately fell into exhaustion.
Not all of my memories of Florida are from the central part of the state. We drove one Christmas from Baltimore to Miami. That’s when I discovered that the Everglades are among my favorite places in the world. We also visited Biscayne National Park and Key West on that trip.
Another Christmas, we spent the week at Sea World in Orlando. Most people can cover that park in a day but we spent nearly 4 days there thoroughly absorbing the place. We even splurged and did the Hawaiian Luau dinner one night. On the penultimate day there, my daughter said to my wife, “Have you ever been someplace that you never wanted to leave?” She cried when we had to leave the last day, something that didn’t even happen at Disney World.
And, yes, we did have an amazing week in Florida at Disney World. Though record breaking heat, we thoroughly loved every minute of it. We found ourselves in line at the bus each morning with the same family from Texas. We were taking time off from our national parks trips to go to Disney. They were annual Disney vacationers who were looking to do a national parks tour the next year so we swapped notes and plans.
So much in Florida ---- and I haven’t even talked about our time in Pensacola or all the places that are still on my list to go. I hope to update this portion of my states journal many, many more times.
Friday, December 9, 2011
District of Columbia
Year of First Visit – 1998
Point of Entry – I-66 Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge
I first saw DC from a Continental flight as it banked on approach to BWI in January of 1998. I looked out the window and was looking directly down on the Washington Monument shining bright in the night. Planes don’t fly that way any more.
The first time I actually set foot in DC was the Sunday of Memorial Day that year. We’d been driving since Houston and were on our way to our new home in Baltimore. We decided to drive through to see the sites.
We crossed the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge arriving near the Lincoln Memorial. Unfortunately, this was in the middle of the annual Rolling Thunder. The motorcycles were so thick on the road and parked along the mall that I quite literally couldn’t even tell for sure where the road was. Fortunately, our purple Plymouth Voyager was high enough to see over all the bikes. My wife navigated and we hit the road again.
Living so close to Washington, we’ve made many trips there over the years. We’ve taken my parents, my in-laws, my sister and her family, visiting church leaders, interns, friends, and many others. We've now got a pretty good attack plan for taking people on tour of the city.
We’ve taken the kids there several times, too. It’s a good day trip/escape for us.
Though we’ve been there many times we’ve only begun to see the many sites in DC. Plus, with new things opening all the time, like the new MLK memorial, there are always more reasons to hop the Metro and go down into our nation’s capital and bring more memories back home.
Point of Entry – I-66 Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge
I first saw DC from a Continental flight as it banked on approach to BWI in January of 1998. I looked out the window and was looking directly down on the Washington Monument shining bright in the night. Planes don’t fly that way any more.
The first time I actually set foot in DC was the Sunday of Memorial Day that year. We’d been driving since Houston and were on our way to our new home in Baltimore. We decided to drive through to see the sites.
We crossed the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge arriving near the Lincoln Memorial. Unfortunately, this was in the middle of the annual Rolling Thunder. The motorcycles were so thick on the road and parked along the mall that I quite literally couldn’t even tell for sure where the road was. Fortunately, our purple Plymouth Voyager was high enough to see over all the bikes. My wife navigated and we hit the road again.
Living so close to Washington, we’ve made many trips there over the years. We’ve taken my parents, my in-laws, my sister and her family, visiting church leaders, interns, friends, and many others. We've now got a pretty good attack plan for taking people on tour of the city.
We’ve taken the kids there several times, too. It’s a good day trip/escape for us.
Though we’ve been there many times we’ve only begun to see the many sites in DC. Plus, with new things opening all the time, like the new MLK memorial, there are always more reasons to hop the Metro and go down into our nation’s capital and bring more memories back home.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Delaware
Year of First Visit – 1998
Point of Entry – I-95 near Newark
I was surprised to find myself Delaware that day. I was on a “Press the Flesh” tour in Maryland for my new job. We learned upon arrival at BWI that the boss’s boss’s boss would be in Philadelphia the next day and that an appearance was required.
I hopped in the passenger seat in the morning not really thinking about the route to Phili other than that it was up I-95. An hour later I was able to mark The First State as my 23rd state.
Thought I get frustrated every time Delaware charges me an entrance or exit fee (East Coast drivers know exactly what I mean!) I have to say that when I’ve actually stopped the car in the state it’s been worth the price.
The Hagley Museum is a favorite place. It’s a great place to learn industrial history and enjoy some stunning outdoor settings at the same time.
We also have made several trips to the Rehoboth outlets for shopping right after Christmas. Clearance racks with no sales tax make a Happy New Year.
It’s small. It’s close to where I live. It’s a place I know I’ll be again. I just need to remember to stop the car someplace in Delaware other than at the toll booth.
Point of Entry – I-95 near Newark
I was surprised to find myself Delaware that day. I was on a “Press the Flesh” tour in Maryland for my new job. We learned upon arrival at BWI that the boss’s boss’s boss would be in Philadelphia the next day and that an appearance was required.
I hopped in the passenger seat in the morning not really thinking about the route to Phili other than that it was up I-95. An hour later I was able to mark The First State as my 23rd state.
Thought I get frustrated every time Delaware charges me an entrance or exit fee (East Coast drivers know exactly what I mean!) I have to say that when I’ve actually stopped the car in the state it’s been worth the price.
The Hagley Museum is a favorite place. It’s a great place to learn industrial history and enjoy some stunning outdoor settings at the same time.
We also have made several trips to the Rehoboth outlets for shopping right after Christmas. Clearance racks with no sales tax make a Happy New Year.
It’s small. It’s close to where I live. It’s a place I know I’ll be again. I just need to remember to stop the car someplace in Delaware other than at the toll booth.
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