Let's go fly a kite - even if it is December!

 Monday was December 4.  But because this is Chicago and you just never know what the weather will be, it was a really wild weather day!  It had been very unseasonably warm during the week before.  Like weather in the 50's - where you didn't even need a jacket.  But then on Sunday night we had a really odd weather shift.  The winter weather literally BLEW in!  The wind was just ridiculous!
Ken texted me very early on Monday morning (like 5:35am) to warn me to be careful driving up to Gwen's house because of the high winds.

But when you are a six year year old boy and you hear the wind blowing, what is the first thing on your mind?  Flying a kite!  So, even though it was December, we dragged out the kites from the garage and did some assembly.  Zeke's tractor kite did not come with a tail, and my years of (attempting) kite flying, I knew we had to find some way to add a tail.  So we tied two winter scarfs together and tied them to the kite and stepped out into the wind tunnel (back yard)!  Now when I say wind tunnel, I am not really exaggerating very much.  There were 50 mile an hour winds with even higher gusts.  I warned Zeke that it just might be too much wind.  He was determined to see that kite fly!

I just had to include this cropped close up of Zeke's face in this picture.  What a look of shear joy and wonder at that kite actually flying!   And boy did it ever fly!  Ellie found a much smaller plastic kite that came with very long tails attached.  This kite also managed to fly - at least for a little while!

By the end of two hours of mostly watching the kites dive bomb into the grass, the kids and the kites were pretty well done in.  And so was this grandma! We retreated into the house with somewhat crumpled kites, plastic pieces that were bent and frayed from the wind and lots of tangled kite string.  But also three very happy, smiling kids and one grandma (who looked like she had been standing in a wind tunnel for a couple of hours)!

It was a wonderful way to spend two hours on a Monday morning - when you are blessed enough to be home schooled so you are not sitting in a classroom, stuck in a desk.  This is especially true given the fact that by Tuesday morning, snow was blanketing the ground.  There will not be another chance to fly kites for several months.

You can sure learn a lot from a determined six year old boy (and equally determined 8 and 11 year old girls).  The rational adult in me said "It is too windy to fly a kite." and "It is December so we should not be flying kites."  These determined kids found the kites, got them assembled, figured out a tail for Zeke's kite, untangled some kite string, and then worked together to get these kites up in the air and flying.  What an accomplishment!

I have to confess that it is not only the adult thing that would have kept me from flying those kites.  I would have been very sure that it just would not work.  I like to think of myself as a realist, but actually I am more of a pessimist.  Thinking that things will never work.  And I am often so fearful, that I would not even try something.  What a blessing it is that I have been given the opportunity to be with my grandchildren.  They push me into situations that bring me so much joy and wonder.  Things that I would have missed out on, if I wasn't around them.

To recap some lessons that I learned from this....
*It is never too windy to fly kites!
*It is good to fly kites when you also have winter scarfs (for kite tails) and winter gloves (to keep that kite string from burning your hands) readily available!
*Never pass up an opportunity to do something slightly "out of season".  (That may mean running through the sprinkler when it is 70 in October OR flying kites when it is December)
*Don't be afraid to take chances.  You just might actually succeed!

Looking at Zeke's face in that picture gives me a little insight into why God so often used children to accomplish his plans.  When David was facing Goliath, he didn't think about the difference in their size.  He just knew that if God had told him to do it, he could do it.  The little boy with the loaves and fish didn't look at his lunch and think it was worthless.  He took a chance and brought it to Jesus.  I want to approach life with that same attitude - no matter how windy or stormy it is - no matter how impossible the situation might seem. I want that "Can Do" attitude! Yes, I will be remembering this kite-flying day in the future.

Jesus, thank you for giving us the chance to learn from children.  Keep our eyes and ears and hearts open to all that you have to teach us.  Holy Spirit, help us all to move when you give us that prompting to go and give us more courage to step outside of "normal" into your perfect plan for us.  Thank you for kids and kites and very windy days in December.  Amen

Vacation memories...and thoughts

 We have had a fabulous time away from our "normal" routine. It was a cold, windy start to our time away but the weather cooperated and we have had days of sun, sand and waves.  Just what I really needed.  I have always said that sitting by the water, listening to the waves and watching the rise and fall of the water somehow "resets" my spirit.   We were sad when we left the beach this morning, but it is always good to think about being home.  There really is "no place like home!" Here is a shot of our last sunrise and the beach, as I waved goodbye.

We did do a few interesting things on this trip. We got to check something off of our "want to do" list.  We watched the Blue Angels during their homecoming practice at the Naval Air Base. I believe that 90% of the other people vacationing in this area ALSO decided to attend.  The web site actually says that only 1,000 people can get into the viewing area, but today they did not stop the crush of people entering through the gates.  I can not imagine just how many people crammed into that area.  Ken and I waited in a line to get in for over an hour.  Then I waited in line for about 40 minutes to buy water!  It was HOT and SUNNY - but we saw the show!  I actually missed the take off (while waiting in line) but I can assure you that I heard and felt it!  The dollar we paid for ear plugs was certainly worth it!  Ken has actually seen the Angels several times at the Air and Water show.  I had never seen them before.  It was special to see them at their home base.  We also got to see the 2017 show for the first time ever.  Ken took lots of pictures. We walked through the museum but didn't spend much time there.  We had visited it on a previous trip to this area.  We did stop for a photo op with this Blue Angels plane!

We also visited the Fort Pickens National Park and the Gulf Shores National Seashore.  It was really amazing to drive miles and miles and see only white sand dunes and see water on both sides of the road (the bay on one side and the gulf on the other).  It was so peaceful and just the opposite of the busy, touristy area right around the hotel and the pier.  There were lots of big birds and I saw more than a couple bald eagles.  The only really negative thing about the National Seashore is that you can not stop along the route - only in designated parking areas.  So we couldn't get pictures of some of the really amazing things we saw.  But, it was still a wonderful way to spend several hours.

We had a couple of interesting things happen during this trip.  There is a toll bridge to get out to the outer island that we were staying on.  We made several trips back and forth over that bridge - in spite of the toll.  Let's face it - we live in Chicago and pay tolls ALL THE TIME!  So a buck to go for ice cream seemed well worth it.  On Sunday (following our ice cream run) we were told by the friendly toll taker that someone else had paid our toll!  While it was only a dollar, it was a reminder that there are kind and caring people out there, spreading good cheer to others.  Such a simple thing, but it sure made us smile!

The hotel was very busy, as you might expect at this time of year.  We had several families with small children in rooms near to ours, but we never had any noise at all!  We figured that swimming and the sun and the beach must have tired them out.  It was all quiet on our floor after 10pm!  We have stayed in some very noisy hotels before, so we were especially thankful for the quiet on this trip.  Again, it might seem like a small thing, but we sure appreciated the nights of good sleep.

The last time we visited this beach was in 2007.  There had been really bad Hurricane damage in the fall of 2004 from Hurricane Ivan.  There was very little rebuilt around the hotel and there was no access to Fort Pickens.  The National Seashore did not exist.  They had started to build two more hotels just down from the hotel we stayed at.  It was interesting to see the development that had happened in 10 years.  So many more places to eat.  And the pier and public beaches are so nice.  It really puts into perspective just how quickly material things can be "blown in the wind".  I love the reminder that no matter how much destruction seems to be in our life, Jesus is in the reconstructing business!

As always, this time away has filled my mind and my spirit with so many thoughts and images and things to ponder.  The fierce  winds that started our trip reminded me to pray that the wind of the Holy Spirit would surround me and fill me with all that Jesus has for me.  Several nights, as I went to sleep with roar of the wind in my ears (instead of the lapping of the waves), I prayed for more insight and wisdom and direction.   And Jesus was faithful to speak to me in my dreams!  As I walked in the water while searching for shells, I was reminded that Jesus doesn't just look at "perfect" people.  I was seeking that perfect shell, but more often than not, the shells were broken and chipped from the intense waves caused by the strong winds.  I have certainly felt pushed around and tossed in the waves of life over the last few years.  And I know that I have broken and chipped places in my heart and spirit.  I am so thankful that Jesus looks ESPECIALLY for us broken ones.  In His hands, held by his heart, we are whole and perfect in his sight.  Yes, I will treasure those broken, chipped shells more than the few "perfect" shells that I did find.

On the last day of our trip, I found out via Facebook, that an old friend, Dave, had passed away.  Ken and I had spent many, many hours with Dave and his wife Marie in the years right before and after our marriage.  As a matter of fact, I was the Matron of Honor in their wedding.  Shortly after their wedding they moved to Wisconsin.  We kept in touch with Christmas Cards prior to Facebook.  In the last few months we realized that one of their daughters lives just blocks away from Gwen and her family.  What are the odds of that?  We were hopeful that we could connect with them when they visited their daughter.  Sadly, the last time they were in town was the weekend that our new little Grace was born.  So we were otherwise occupied and couldn't connect with them.    It has been a reminder to me that it is important to make time to see people that are important to you.  You just never know when it will be too late.   It certainly makes me appreciate all of my great friends - those that I see often and those that I  only connect with via Facebook!  Every contact, every picture or post helps me stay close with friends and relatives - in spite of distance!  Today I am thinking about Marie and just how broken she must be right now.  I am praying that Jesus will hold her and her daughters close during this difficult time.  And thanks to those broken shells, I am sure that He will.

Jesus, thank you for a wonderful time away.  Holy Spirit, help us keep our eyes on all of those little simple things that happen each day and remind us to share your love with others - even in small ways.  Thank you for winds that help clear away the clutter in our mind.  Thank you Jesus for holding close all those who grieve.  Thank you for your healing touch.  Amen

Where the wind blows.........

We have been having a really good time on this trip, doing a bit of relaxing.  We have also been exploring this area, which is a new one for us!  The weather has been less than wonderful, very chilly and WINDY!  And I mean really WINDY!  It has been "red flagged" every day that we have been here, so sadly I have not gotten to swim - at all.  Sigh.  We have had lots of beach time and it has been fun to watch the waves, but this is right up there with "be careful what you wish for" things!  Remember I said I wanted waves?  Well, I got them.  Ten foot waves (very unusual for here).  So yesterday we went to a nearby state park pier.

Not only was it a RED flag day, it was also a purple flag day!  And what, you might ask, is a purple flag?  Well, I was glad for this sign....

You can't quite read it, but purple says "dangerous marine life"!  What?????  I was surprised by that!  We walked along the shore and got some great pictures of the waves, the pier, and then we spotted this....

I should have taken a picture with my foot in it to show the size of this Jellyfish.  It was bigger than a large dinner plate.... more than a foot across,  So, yes, this was the dangerous marine life that caused the purple flag!  Suddenly I was glad to not be swimming in these waters!

Today was another high surf day, so we headed off to Mobile to see the USS Alabama  Museum.  

I was surprised to find out that we could wander this battleship on our own with just a paper "tour guide".  I was amazed by so many things about this ship.  First of all.... the size!  It is really, really big!  Until you see that there were 2,300 men on this ship!  WHAT????  Suddenly it seemed very small.  And there were lots of places that were so narrow and had really no railings.  I imagined the ship rocking on the waves and wondered how the men kept from falling off.  We walked on so many "ladders" (they are so steep that you can't call them stairs.  And there were so many of them, Again I couldn't imagine running up and down them while the ship was moving - let alone in a battle!) We got down into the "bowels" of the ship and saw where the enlisted men slept. Stacked up four high on cots suspended from the ceilings.  We saw the officers quarters and the NCO rooms.  The kitchens and mess areas where interesting.  These were also converted to sleeping quarters at night.  The tables where stowed and beds where suspended from the ceilings.   All I could think about was my dad and Ken's dad.  Both served in the Navy during the time period that this ship was in use.  My dad was one of those enlisted men on the lowest decks.  Ken's dad was one of those officers.  I walked those decks and thought about the battles and the men that were lost.  All of the sacrifices made for the freedoms we have today.  This ship was near to Japan when the bombs were dropped, ending the war in the Pacific.  Honestly, I got quite claustrophobic when we were so far down in the ship.  I just wanted to get up into the fresh air.  And I got very queasy more than once, up on a high place with very little railings around.  I can't imagine the conditions during a war time.  Yes, I have a new respect for all of our veterans and those currently serving in the military.  And I so wish that our dads were still around to talk about their experiences.  There is so much I would like to ask them!  

Isn't that always the way?  We think about all of the things that we would like to say or ask of someone who is now dead.  It is a good reminder to pay attention to people around us.  I am sure that there are people that I know that have served in one of the more recent "military conflicts" that have stories to share.  Ken and I were discussing that most WWII veterans have already died.  Soon it will be hard to find any veterans of the Korean conflict.  I am so thankful for the preservation of this ship and others like it, that keep this history from just being a page in a book.  

So, once again, it is back to the importance of a testimony.  The telling of your story.  Our story - the United States of America - is a story that is grounded on God.  Founded on the principle that God has ordained and blessed this land.  Even now, when things look so.....well "ungodly"... our testimony is that God has called us and blessed us.  No matter what is happening right now in the government, in our schools, in our families..... we are a blessed people.  And every one of our testimonies needs to begin there.  We are a blessed people, who know Jesus and trust in His saving work on the cross.  

Jesus, thank you for this day, for who you are and all that you have done for me.  Thank you for museums that preserve our past and leave a testimony for the future.  Thank you for veterans and those in active service in the military.  Holy Spirit, remind us all to listen to the stories of those around us.  Give us nudges to seek out people who have life experiences to share.  Give us all courage and boldness to share our own stories.  Thank you for HIS story!  Amen