Our Grand Adventure - Days 9 - 13

Day 9 - We woke up bright and early, had a good breakfast, and headed on our way.  Our first stop was in Lawrenceville to meet one of our soap providers, Linda and Ed from lyesoap.com, and pick up some soap.  We also had the opportunity to visit a bit and learn about the soap making process.  Angelica is quite interested in the whole process.  Then we continued driving, and driving, and driving... until 7:30 when we finally arrived at our campsite in Fort Clinch, Florida.  We set up our tent, partially in the daylight and partially in the dark, but not until we were warned to avoid the bobcats, alligators, and overly aggressive raccoons!!  We showered and settled down for the night, knowing we had an early morning ahead of us.  

Day 10 - We set an alarm for 5:00 am so that we could watch the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean.  It was truly remarkable.  Miracle and I were quite tired so we went back to the campsite and napped a bit before tearing down the tent.  As soon as that was done, we went to the beach to enjoy some time playing in the ocean.  Miracle struggled to push me in a beach wheelchair.  I struggled to let her, knowing that if I didn't, I wouldn't be strong enough to handle the rest of the trip.  When we had spent enough time in the waves and gathered our fair share of shells, we headed to Orlando.  We arrived at an amazing resort that we have the opportunity of spending two weeks in thanks to the generosity of a friend.  We got settled into our suite and headed to bed, anticipating the next day's adventure.

Day 11 - We headed out early to Blizzard Beach, but it seemed like things kept slowing us down so we didn't arrive at the park until 10:30.  I traded my wheelchair for one of theirs so that the water wouldn't ruin mine.  We enjoyed the day thoroughly, much more than anticipated.  

We also became more aware of people's misconceptions about wheelchair accessibility.  There are truly only two rides that are completely accessible.  There are a few more that are moderately accessible, mostly because the staff are so accommodating and go out of their way to make the Disney experience enjoyable for everyone.  People wrongly assumed that we went to the front of the line when often we had to wait longer for things that were accessible, like the gondola necessary to transport wheelchairs to the top of the mountain.  We learned firsthand that a route that is accessible to wheelchairs often covers more distance and time than the more direct route designed for everyone else.  Enough of the rant.  

Day 12 - The first day of Nationals - we slept in a bit before heading to the Convention Center and registering the girls for the festival and turning in their artwork.  Miracle entered three categories: Short Sermon, 3-D art, and Digital Photography.  Angelica entered Digital Photography.  

We were all tired, so we headed back to the resort and napped again.  Once we awoke, we had a quick lunch and headed to Downtown Disney.  We weren't sure what to expect.  We had a lot of fun looking through the shops.  We are looking forward to returning later to spend one of our tickets at Disney Quest.  

Day 13 - We were up bright and early to head to the Convention Center.  Miracle was scheduled to preach at 10:24.  When we arrived, we looked through the artwork to make sure the girls' artwork was set up properly.  Once we were satisfied that it was, we looked around the exhibit hall for a little while and headed to the room where Miracle was scheduled to preach - she got a Superior and is anxiously awaiting news of whether or not she will receive a call-back.  After that, we headed back to the exhibit hall for the rest of the day.  We all got henna tattoos and the girls participated in a scavenger hunt with a college Miracle is looking at.  All in all, it was a good day.  

Plus, I got a bit more of a perspective of life in a wheelchair in public... kids are on my level and talk to me freely, struggling people are more willing to share their struggles - possibly because it is obvious that I have struggles of my own, and it provides a great angle for photographs!  

We were finally at the resort early enough to have some time to relax and wind down before falling into bed. We grilled our dinner and ate outside.  Then we sorted through the day's finds and cuddled on the couch for a bit before the girls headed off to bed.  

I had hoped to blog more consistently while we were here with the Internet access but have been so tired that hasn't happened.  I have to learn to listen to my body and slow down so that I don't get too sick and going to bed rather than blogging is part of that. 

Perspective

We are watching Little House on the Prairie, the movie, as a family. We checked it out of the library. I wasn't thrilled with the idea of watching it because it does not have the familiar characters from the television show. I was surprised at how good it is. It is about a six hour movie so we are watching it in segments. Anyway, last night we saw the part about the Christmas where Mr. Edwards brought a cup and a candy for the girls. Butterfly commented on the difference between that and what the typical American child receives and expects for Christmas. She said that we, as a nation, are greedy. I am not sure I would have put it in those words, but I understand her perspective. The movie also helped her to understand a lesson I have been trying her whole life to teach, that happiness is not gained or lost by the things you do and don't have, but by your perspective. We can have much and feel like we have little or we can have little and feel like we have much. It is all about perspective.

Humpty Dumpty - That's Me

I am broken. I have been thinking that this is not a good place to be and that I definitely should not blog about being here. But sometime today I realized that this is EXACTLY where I need to be. I do not like what got me here or what is keeping me here. The situation is not one I would choose, nor would I wish it upon any person, no matter how much I dislike them. The long-term illness of FigNewTon, the things going on with Butterfly, the demons from my childhood that have come back to haunt me, the pressures of being poor long before this economy turned south, the loneliness that comes of not having family, the ache that comes of missing people I love dearly. Any one of these could break a person. Maybe there are drawbacks to being strong, stubborn, determined to be OK. The combination is such that some days I do not think I can stand. But the result is fabulous. I am broken. And when I am broken, I cling more tightly to the One who can heal me, the One who can put me back together again. So, for today, this moment, I am thanking God that I am broken.

Not Surprised

Through FigNewTon's illness, through Butterfly's TBI, through my singleness, through all of the ups and downs that have comprised my life to this point, I was able to face this morning with constant assurance that this did not take God by surprise. It did me. But it did not Him. It really doesn't matter what "it" is this time. There are several "its" in a lifetime.

This one today caught me completely off guard, yet, as I went for my morning walk, I had the constant refrain in my brain that it did not catch Him by surprise. And then I stopped in my tracks and contemplated that for a moment finally settling on a prayer that went something like this.

God, I know this did not catch You by surprise. I know You knew this was coming all along. I didn't and I am not sure how to handle this. But I know You can handle it. So I trust You.

And then I started walking again, basking in the peace that comes of knowing God can handle whatever life throws my way.

Disclaimer, mostly for Autumn, because she walked with me through FigNewTon's illness and was here when Butterfly first got her TBI: it's not as bad as all that, just a simple every day thing that was more than I can handle on my own.