Vacation

Day 1: New Orleans (evening)

• Radiator had a crack in it so we were downside to a compact car. Now this would be no issue but we also had kitchen supplies with us!! For some strange reason the kitchen supplies all fit but we had to down size our luggage....I have a feeling I will discover some vital items did not make it into my bag! But this is okay!! It was a really fun adventure and yes everything fit and most of it fit in the trunk!! Given a worm wouldn't fit once we were done!! Love how God throws an unexpected adventure, makes wonderful memories!!!
  
• Stopped and got some lunch at Chick-fil-a!! We are pulling up and all I can help but think is okay usually this place isn't this packed. Well come to find out it was cow day! You know, dress up like a cow and you get a free spicy sandwich. Well one entire family was decked out, I think there were 3 to 5 kids, even a baby still in the carrier was decked out. What they did was put a trash bag made the appropriate holes.....a cow has got to breath!! Then took a sharpie and made cow spots. They even had cow noses taped to their human noses!! They also had signs that said eat mor chkn!! It was too cute!! SO next time you find out it is cow day, I'm telling you just go eat in, forget about the madness and enjoy the outfits that people put on!!


• How can you go to New Orleans and not get some good food!! Blackened Tilapia, jambalaya, veggies, and grilled my shrimp!! It was oh my goodness, roll me out when I am done because I won't walk. It was also mixed in with a, "Lord, I don't mean to tell you what to do but see this, please put it on that big big table with lots and lots of food" (who want to get up from that table to go play football)!!

Day 2: New Orleans (morning)/Gulf Shores

• Cafe Du Monde....YUM!! I love this place, no trip to the Big Easy can be complete without a beignets (or two.....or three)!!


• Made it to Gulf Shores

Gulf Shores:

It is very beautiful!! The beaches are just as beautiful as they had been in the previous years!! I have been in the water! There is oil, yes but not nearly as bad as I imagined it!! The weather has been very beautiful!! We have enjoyed our time here and spending it with family on Dad's side! The time was spent at the beach and going all around town! We have loved visiting there for as long as I can remember!! While we were there we also went to Orange Beach (which is not far from Gulf Shores) and did a glass blowing thing! You could help make your class and the three choices that you had were: ornament (which you actually had to blow), paper weight and a flower. All three were beautiful. I made a purple ornament! We also went to an Elvis tribute show which was fun! Dad and I also went to Pensacola for the Michael Buble concert but that is in a post to follow!!

The trip was so much! Oil or no oil you should pack up and go to the Gulf Shores area. The people are very nice and the area is fun and beautiful, even if you are not allowed in the water (public beach area isn't at the moment because of oil)then at least go play/lay on the white sand and go play around town there is so much to do!!

"Exciting" Father's Day Weekend

Well, things have been interesting lately. Friday before Father's Day Dad was in a car accident on the way home from the airport. In route he was hit by another car. Basically what happened was another car which had 4 people in the car, at least the driver and a passenger were having an argument, the teenage passenger sitting in the back of the car reached up and pulled the steering wheel causing the car to go into the next lane of traffic where Dad's car was. They caused his car to go into the next lane of traffic then into the emergency lane at which time Dad's car hit the barrier and flipped over onto the drivers side and from the looks of it the car kept going on the road laying on its side. It looks like the other car may have also hit the roof of the car after it had rolled over. Gas also leaked out of the car (not a significant amount) from it hitting the barrier. Basically the part of the car that had the least amount of damage was the bumper...which did have a scratch. The car was a complete lost, front part of car was pushed in, driver side of the car was messed up, driver side front wheel area was messed up (from the other car hitting we believe), as was the right front wheel area (from hitting the barricade). Amazingly only the 2 cars were involved. Dad was able to walk away with only a bruise on his knees from hitting the dashboard/steering wheel area and a mark on his chest where the seat belt did its job!!

We got a call from dad saying he had been in a serious accident, we prayed and then ran out the door, not knowing what had happened. Headed the direction of the airport looking for any sign of an accident on the opposite lanes of traffic. We heard on the way that there had been an accident and all lanes were blocked, we knew that was it. So we made the appropriate exit and found a place to watch until the accident was cleared off. While watching we saw an 18-wheeler. My thought was great, the car went under an 18-wheeler, but at least it is still upright, and obviously Dad is alive. The 18-wheeler was not involved, just stopped (as did several other people) to help! The picture doesn't even tell the half of it, of course we have others this is just for a general idea. (In the picture the thing sticking out of the sunroof is the front bumper).


Well the area was cleared and that is when we found out what exactly happened. The girl that pulled the wheel was arrested and will have to face the consequences for her actions. But there is great news! Everyone came out okay! The pictures are not pretty but are yet very telling of what could have been if God was not in control!!

The song Amazed was sung the following morning and the part, "You dance over me while I am unaware" had a different meaning. I always understood and appreciated what the lyrics meant but never had I thought of it as God dancing over us (and His angels) while going down the road.

This reminds me of a verse (of course now I can't find it or think of exactly where it is) but basically the gist was our troubles are only temporary! PRAISE THE LORD! The trouble won't last forever! While the search for a new car continues and will for at least 1 or 2 weeks, the stress/emotions of the days/week that followed is over!

As Dad has said, "My angles weere working hard that night". We have been standing amazed and in awe of God. Obviously He isn't done with Dad or any of the other individuals yet!

Something that we discovered just today was that one of Mom's friends had driven passed the accident just shortly after it had happened (her and her husband did not see what happened) and prayed because there had been an accident and because it looked so bad.

GOD IS SO GOOD!!! So a few messages: 1) wear your seat belt, 2) be in control of your emotions, attitudes and body when you are in a car. One small mistake can impact the rest of your life. We are very grateful for God's goodness and grace especially as we were still able to celebrate Father's Day with Dad. Never doubt that prayer counts, as my Grandma says, "Praying for your kids and loved ones every day does matter. God always hears our prayers!" May we always sing priase and smile in trial or jubilee!! HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!



P.S. For those of you looking at cars I HIGHLY RECOMMEND a Honda!!!