Monday, July 29, 2019

A Nine Day Family Vacation in the Bahamas

Want to see what your family is really made of?
Take a nine day trip together!

Perhaps you'll also experience...

the laughter
the tears
the joy

(and challenge)

of reliving old memories
while creating new ones

We found it enlightening, but with God's grace
we made it, and wouldn't change a thing!

---------------------------------------
"The Family w/ Teens"

Los Angeles to Miami

Miami to Nassau
(approx. 182 miles)


Travel Tip:

Keep time zones in mind
when planning your trip

Our group's travel coordinator
planned everything out perfectly

we left at midnight...
slept on the plane...

and woke in time to see the sunrise


Good morning and
Welcome to the Bahamas!


The best part of "flying into a new day" is the opportunity
to begin enjoying adventures as soon as you arrive


Grand Hyatt Baha Mar


But first...

(if it's important to you)

place your suitcases in the corner and
capture photos of the room before you unpack

East Tower Fountain View

The Current
Gallery and Art Center

take a stroll through the gallery while appreciating
Bahamian history and culture through art

"Black is Beautiful"
by Edrin Symonette


with a reminder that...

"Hope is a Weapon"
by Angelika Wallace-Whitfield



Travel Tip:

Check out the hashtags

Thanks to social media you can acquaint yourself with the facilities
(before you arrive) so that you'll already know what you want to do first!

Day 1- Hit the Pool

Look closely and you'll see our oldest didn't waste any time jumping into the pool...

"Let's Get It"



Bring your GoPro from home (or possibly borrow one from the resort?)
for the opportunity to record and capture your first and "last jump of the day"

"Let's Go"


Time to dry off, shower, and enjoy a meal together


"It's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder..."


Posed photo vs. Real photo

Travel Tip:

If your aim is to document your family adventures
don't shy away from capturing "the real" family dynamic

because when... 

it's hot
you're away from home and
thrown off of your usual routine

it's easy to become quickly irritated with one another

Our saving grace?

My parents booked two double rooms so that one
of our teens could retreat with them each evening...


Day 2- Hit the Beach


(and the pool)



Keep cool and stay hydrated by drinking plenty
of water and ordering your favorite frozen drinks

we order our sans alcohol
(which the locals call "unleaded")


"Miami Vice"
Then you're ready to grab a
kayak and a rowing partner for

Kayaking

And after a long day in the hot sun
you're sure to have worked up an appetite

so hop on the local bus
($1.25/passenger)

and head to the Fish Fry

(a collection of authentic restaurants at Arawak Cay)

we tried...

jerk chicken
red snapper
peas and rice
conch
fried plantains

at
Curly's Fish Fry

Travel Tip:

Take bills in low denominations because
some vendors return your change in Bahamian $$


Once back at the resort
"ditch the kids"

and

snag a couch
(or the cozy table for two)

to enjoy a quiet moment with crepes and gelato at...

Café Madeline

Craving more?

Check out...

Part 2
Part 3

of our sweet adventures
from the Bahamas!

(find more Family Adventures here)

Monday, July 22, 2019

"Road to 50" Travel Adventures (Australia)

Planning a milestone birthday trip can be

exciting
inspiring
fun

as proved by our featured traveler
while sharing her

"Road to 50"
Travel Adventures

(click to read)

Bora Bora
New Zealand

and now...

the
"land down under"

G'day mate,
we're headed to Australia!!

-----------------------------
featuring
"The Doctor"


New Zealand to Sydney
(approx. 1,342 miles)


Chilling on the Sydney Harbour Bridge

the joy you'll have while crossing off

items
activities
experiences

from your bucket list
(will literally) 

make you wanna sing...

Sydney Opera House

Can't get to them?

They'll come to you with digital tours, workshops
and free live-streamed performances through their website

sydneyoperahouse.com


What's next on your list?

Skip the zoo and see the native
kangaroos and koalas

in a more natural habitat

Featherdale Wildlife Park

Travel Tip:
Plan the details of your trip,
but remain flexible

Remember that it's okay to...

go with the flow
change your itinerary
deviate from your schedule

(as long as you don't miss your flight home)


Blue Mountains National Park




she says...
This wasn't on my list,
but it should have been. 

God's creation is amazing!

I always take my Bible when I travel and
as I read Ecclesiastes, Solomon summed it up...

accomplishments
wealth and
bucket lists

are meaningless

without God

Life is not worth living without Him!!



Two more stops on the
"Road to 50"

Niagara Falls
Martha's Vineyard

(find more Family Adventures here)

Sunday, July 21, 2019

Find a Place to Worship (When You Travel)

Our families travel often
which means that some weeks 

we miss the actual church service
being held in our home church



but when one of the readers
(thank you Regina!)

reminded me that

worship doesn't just require a building
worship requires our building

I realized the blessing
we have found in learning to

praise
honor
worship

our Creator
no matter where we are!
------------------------------------------
Here are some of the non-traditional worship
spaces we've enjoyed while traveling the world


1. On the Flight Home

July 2013
because the Lord can speak from anywhere
(read about that experience here)

Psalm 91: 1-16

----------------------------------------------

2. Overlooking the majestic views of...

The Grand Canyon

because there's something about standing in a space that
allows you to feel both humbled and exalted simultaneously

Psalm 8:1-9

------------------------------------------------

3. On a private beach in...

Bali, Indonesia
Photo Credit: The Ritz-Carlton, Bali
August 2000
(read memories from Bali)

-------------------------------------------------

4. The Butchart Gardens

on
Vancouver Island in

British Columbia, Canada
July 2015
www.butchartgardens.com


--------------------------------------------------

5. Watching the sunrise from a private balcony...



recording an original song...


"Rejoice, Oh My Soul"

and later stopping at the Twin Falls
while traveling the Road To Hana

in

Maui, Hawaii
July 2014

It's travel season...
where will we worship next?


(find more Family Adventures here)