Vacation Musings

I just got back from my first real family vacation with my kids. I call it my first real one because we did not fly we drove 2304 km's one way to Ontario CA USA to see some friends of ours. It brought back several memories of mine from my childhood and driving with my family to all sorts of places. I remember the heat, because we did not have air conditioning and I remember being stuck in the middle seat in a Pontiac 6000 for hundreds of km's with my sisters complaining that my legs were touching theirs. Oh what fun! These drives were well worth it in the end with the destination being Grandma's house or my Uncle's house in Pennsylvania. I did think that my kids had it good though, each having their own seat in a spacious mini-van with air conditoning. It would have been heavenly to have that as a kid. Well I have a better character because of my trips and I have a great relationship with my sisters, but I would not want to get in the back of a Pontiac 6000 with them today!

While on vacation we went to the happiest place on earth, Disney Land. I would have to say that this was one of the best days I have ever spent with my family. Even though there were crowds and lines, you could not help but get caught up in the feeling of being a kid again. It is alright to skip around and do all sorts of kid things at Disney. It is alright to want to get on every ride as many times as possible in one short 14 hour day. Once we figured out how to fast pass it got a whole lot better and we hit all the main rides and I rode them with my kids, screamed like a little girl and hugged Goofy and did all the things at Disney that one can do. It was well worth the money to hear my son Spencer say to me that it was the best day of his life! He said it with such passion and contentment that I almost cried. Thank you Mickey Mouse! The star wars ride and play helped a whole lot too!

It was sooo neat to see my other son Aiden. He was very bummed out about our first line up and wait of 45 minutes to get on Peter Pan's ride. His eyes were so wide during the ride and he kept on saying, "look look look at that!" After that ride he was perfectly fine to wait in line, he knew a good thing was coming. His four hour nap in the afternoon was perfect and we were able to ride until midnight with him smiling and happy while all the other parents kids were melting down. I don't think I will ever get It's a small world after all, out of my head.

Vacation would not be complete for the women in my life if I did not include the amazing shopping that we accomplished. The outdoor mall in Ontario CA is amazing and I recommend, if you are a guy, getting a Starbucks coffee and hitting the playground with the little ones and letting your wife shop, shop away while you sit in luxury in the shade. Emily loved the Justice store and Christy Crate and Barrel. Actually she could not narrow it down, so I picked for her! I will say that Montana is a good place to shop because they have no sales tax!!

Also, because I love to try new restaurants, Claim Jumper is one place you have to try. What an awesome place. The salads were so big I could not finish them, and that is saying a lot. Plus they have a 9 buck piece of cake that I cannot describe, it is so big!

The other thing that was great about our vacation was being with our friends. Just being able to sit and chat and drink coffee for hours was awesome. Worshiping with them on Sunday at Harvest Church was great. Friends and family are what vacation is all about, we had both and are truly blessed, relaxed, refreshed and ready to tackle another year in ministry.

Blessings to all: Pastor Ed