Atlanta Spring Break Road Trip '13

Hubs was just coming off a simply insane couple of months of a working crazy long hours. He managed to get three days off at the beginning of spring break. 

"We should take a road trip to Atlanta." The words popped out almost without me thinking about them. 

His eyebrows shot up and he said, "Really?"

I'm sort of a stay-at-home sort of girl so his surprise was warranted. 

"No, never mind."

He grinned. "We're going."

Oh boy. 

I spent a couple of days planning a simple two day trip. With lots of blood, sweat and tears and the help of dear friends, we set out for two solid days of family fun and togetherness. 

One good way to spend a lot of family time? Road trip! We all needed this. We got up too early, handled the not fun logistics of taking off for a couple of days and then headed out. 

The first stop was the Georgia Aquarium. I was so excited about this. I was also super excited that a vacation day also counted as a field trip, which is counted as a school day! But I was just seriously excited about the aquarium, and probably more excited than even the kids were. 

No, they were pretty excited. 

Bubbling with excitement. But they let Mom get her picture. 

First stop: the dolphins! 

The first thing we did was the dolphin show. The middle kid sat in the front in hopes of getting wet. The rest of us opted to sit a few rows back. The show was cute (and sort of cheesy) but I loved the dolphins and decided to put swimming with dolphins on my so far non-existant bucket list. I guess I need to start a bucket list so I can put swimming with dolphins on it. 

The kids are still singing the songs from the show. That makes me laugh. 

I literally bounced up and down with excitement at the next part of the aquarium. 

The kids loved the people mover and quickly turned it into a toy. 

The giant aquarium was just spectacular. I literally could have stayed there all day. There just aren't words to describe how beautiful it was, and I couldn't help but be excited about the prospect of the new earth. I kept thinking about how exciting it's going to be to live in a world where creation is perfect. There is just something about watching all of those animals that made my heart sing in praise. 

It was so fun to get up close and personal with these animals. 

Is it too much to ask for a house that has a ceiling as an aquarium? I mean, it's so calming and soothing. 

The girl kid kept quoting Finding Nemo: "I am a pi-ra-nha..." 

which made me laugh, except that fish really just wanted to eat us for dinner. 

I can see it in his eyes. 

The jelly fish are my favorite. 

I think I have lots of favorites. 

I could watch these things all day.

What was that movie where Will Smith had a jellyfish tank in his living room?

Never mind. That might be a bad movie. 

But I want a jelly fish tank in my living room. 

This tank was so beautiful. I could have stayed here all day. 

Can I just live in the aquarium?

We both loved it. 

We really loved this guy. 

And I really love this guy. 

Leaving the aquarium. 

One of us was not happy with something. I forget what. 

We thought about going to the Coke museum, but it was too expensive for how late in the day it was, and I was already twitching about the money we were spending, so we opted for a free walk through Centennial Park in search of coffee.

It was a really great walk. We walked by the CNN center and just enjoyed looking around. It felt good to be in a different city.

When we were on the way back to the parking deck it occurred to me that in my excitement of getting to the aquarium, I had not looked at which level it was where we parked. 

I asked hubs if he knew and the girl kid shouted, "496!"

We were both really surprised, but when we got back to the van, yep. She was right. Crazy. I guess an obsession with numbers is genetic, although my obsession failed me this time. Luckily she was there as a back up!

It was time for us to find our hotel. Luckily this trip was made super easy by Siri. She told us where to go, and never not once led us the wrong way. We actually saw a man looking at a real paper map, and I verbally thanked God for Siri and the fact that I hopefully won't ever have to look at a paper map again. I also proved how I get lost even with Siri. I would have to give the phone to the hubs at times when I still couldn't figure out which way to tell him to go. 

He assured me I had other strengths. Thankfully.

I had booked the hotel rather blindly, but I have to say it was absolutely wonderful. 

We were on the 16th floor. 

Turner Field! 

We just chilled. 

There was so much to see. The middle kid and I lay on the bed and looked out the window for the longest time. We were mesmerized. 

I loved loved loved the bathroom. Our house isn't modern at all, but if I were to start over, I might do bright colors like this. They made me so happy.

Shortly after getting to our room, we realized bad weather was heading our way. 

One of us was really worried. 

While she worried, the baby kid and I played cards. 

 And I just couldn't stop taking pictures of the room.

I want a red couch. 

It was so cool to watch the storm roll in. 

Here's where it occurred to me that other than being in a condo at the beach, our kids have never been in a hotel. The baby kid wanted to read the Book of Mormon, the middle kid thought a shuttle referred to the space shuttle and they couldn't not wrap their brains around me putting ice into a "garbage can."

My sweet little sheltered kids. 

Since bad weather threatened, we decided to order in Chinese food and eat and watch the rain. 

That was perfect. 

Nighttime brought the most beautiful views. 

The super wonderful red couch made a bed for the baby kid. He was so excited. Can't you tell?

He really was. 

As luck would have it, one of our favorite movies was on. The kids snuggled in their bed and we all watched the second Lord of the Rings movie. I soon noticed that we could see the Atlanta airport from our window too. You could see the airplanes coming in and taking off in the distance. It was so beautiful and relaxing to just watch planes land, so I spent the commercials doing that. (those planes come in so close together. I never realized that. and there were planes coming in one after the other for hours on end. so crazy.) I also realized how amazing and relaxing it was not to have anything to do. No cooking, no cleaning, nothing for school or anything. Just resting. Watching a movie and planes land. That was good. Really, really good. 

The next day, we were on to phase two of the road trip extravaganza.

Okay, family joke ahead. As we left the hotel, the baby kid suddenly bellowed: "It's the Taj Mahal!!!!!" We all burst into laughter and the girl kid said, "NO! That's in INDIA!" 

So for the rest of the trip every time we saw this building, one of us would yell, "It's the Taj Mahal!" 

Onward away from the Taj Mahal...

Excitement abounds. 

The middle kid was nearly beside himself.

We loved this mini-city. We saw this building yesterday! 

We were heading there later! 

Turner field! 

There we are at the aquarium! (not really but sort of)

Friends and I were just talking about Stone Mountain. I need to take the family. I haven't been there in more than 10 years, and I love that place. 

Look kids, Tah Mahal! 

We all laughed out loud when we saw that. Whew. 

The hubs got us caffeinated, which was much appreciated. 

While everyone was occupied, I snuck out to peruse the "fancy" mall. 

I honestly could not remember the last time I was in a mall, and I was decidedly unimpressed. 

This was pretty, though. 

After Legoland, we hit my request for lunch. My friend Jackie introduced me to this treasure a few years ago, and I couldn't wait to get back. 

Everyone loved it. 

I made my QB1 pose by this guy. He was unimpressed by this request, but obliged me. 

He added later that he's embracing his roll as running back more than quarterback, so there you go. Running back. Okay. 

Or last stop was one I was also very excited about. 

I mean,  you know, they are: 

(and they are so sweet to think I'm as funny as I think I am)

Part of the reason I was so excited about this stop was that the girl kid got a chance to see her "favorite" animal in person. She was so happy.

There are three pandas at this zoo, and we stood and watched them for the longest time. 

And took tons of pictures. 

It was so cool to see so many animals up close. 

I think he wanted me for lunch. 

I love this picture so much. Aside from the obvious tourists that we are, they are just done. Ready to go home. I knew I had gotten out of them everything I could. It was time to go. 

And I was sad. It was just a perfect trip, and I didn't want it to end. 

We made it home in good time, and as a consolation for the return home, the hubs got me my favorite take out. I repaid the kindness by going to sleep at 9 that night. We were all exhausted. But it was a happy exhaustion. I'm so glad I snuck out of my comfort zone and planned a road trip. It was so worth it. 

Sheriff's Office Field Trip

I was a little trepidatious about a Monday morning field trip. We managed to roll out of the house on time and as we made our way the 30+ minutes to the destination, I hoped this was going to be worth it.

It was so worth it. 

We went to the county seat of our county to tour the sheriff's office. This includes the sheriff's office along with the county jail.

(There was a note that we would not be touring the actual jail where the inmates were kept, which was fine with all of us.)

I could not believe how kind these people were. There were at least ten officers that took us in groups all over the sheriff's office. They showed us the police cars, transport vehicles, the SWAT truck, the booking section, the holding cells, demonstrated and explained fingerprinting, showed us all of the work stations and let the kids touch and explore nearly the entire office.

I was just amazed. 

We ended the tour in the office of the Sheriff, who was such a kind man. 

It was well worth the drive on this dreary Monday. Super worth it. 

Examining some finger prints. 

Fingerprint demonstration

SWAT truck

Office of the Sheriff

Antiques in the Sheriff's office

Explaining the things in the office

There were several displays of patches from all over the country

McGruff, the Crime Dog

Someone is a little terrified of "mascots"

The inside of the back of a police car.

Two thoughts:

1. I need my van to be made like this. I could hose it out every so often. Genius.

2. I made it through the decade of debauchery without seeing the back of a police car. That is God's grace and protection over me. I spent some time thanking Him for that. 

Checking out the bullet proof vests. 

Sitting in the police car

We couldn't take pictures of the booking section and the holding cells and workstations. The kids explored and sat in jail cells. The padded cell was especially intriguing. 

In light of the sermon from the day before, I was on heightened alert about the name of Jesus. In the padded cell was scratched into the wall (by a fingernail, they said) the word "JESUS." I said, "Oh, it's the name of Jesus. How amazing to see that there!"

They laughed and said, "That was probably a man named 'Jesus' (Hay-SOOS)" 

Oh. Okay. 

Well, I tried. 

And at least we talked about Jesus for that minute, right? (and we laughed)

After the field trip we ate at Steak and Shake before we ran our errands. I mean, field trips are celebrations, right? And we had to celebrate with shakes right? 

I think we just wanted shakes. And grilled cheeses. 

We were happy!

"What do you seek?"

I have strange fears. 

One of them is eternity. 

Yes. Eternity. 

I've had this fear since I was a child. I can remember clearly being in second grade and lying in the bed, trying to figure out eternity. I would think about it at length, trying to understand how heaven could never end. I would think about it until the anxiety would force me to stop or I would have to succumb to a full blown anxiety attack. 

I thought I would grow out of it. 

I didn't. 

I remember still being in a Bible study with my friends several years ago and confessing this strange part of myself nervously to my friends. A sweet friend blessed with the gift of faith said, "Just don't think about it."

Okay.

That didn't help.

I still, at any moment, can ponder the concept of eternity and work myself into a complete anxiety attack.

I'm quite sure this is sin.

{This oddity was finally helped a little by the theological revelation that time is a concept created along with our world. It didn't exist before the creation of the universe and won't exist after. To even ascribe the word "eternity" to heaven is to ascribe a  human term to a non-human concept. It won't exist there. This helped. Some.}

This tends to color how I feel about dying too. I am completely confident in my salvation. The realization that death ushers me into eternity? That's a little more of a problem.

I usually conquer this peculiar flaw of mine with praise and an outward confession of my weakness and begging God to help me trust Him.

{and I know all the right theological answers. this is just a supremely bizarre aspect to my sinful anxiety.}

So

The hubs and I headed off one Sunday to finally see "The Hobbit." We love these movies and watch them periodically. 

I particularly love Elrond and his home, Rivendell.

(photo credit: http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Elrond)

This is the cheesiest video ever, but I needed to include here just a glimpse of Rivendell:

So hubs and I are watching "The Hobbit" and I'm innocently enjoying the movie. Elrond's image fills the screen and I involuntarily sighed and thought, "Aw, I hope Jesus is like that."

That sort of shocked my system, and I sat upright and thought, "WHAT did I just say?" 

Gosh.

But soon images of Rivendell flowed off the screen and soothed me, and I found myself wishing that this is what heaven would be like. 

"If heaven was like that, I wouldn't want it to end."

Okay, folks, this is where I knew it was time to get into the Gospels.

See, I spend most of my time in the Old Testament. There are tons of reasons why, but I just prefer it. 

Anyway, after I found myself wishing that Jesus looked, sounded and acted like an actor on a screen, I knew it was time to spend some deep, real and long time with Him. 

I repented and opened my Bible to John.

Oh, sweet John. I asked the Lord to meet me on the pages of John.

Just as sometimes you don't realize how thirsty you are until you take that first drink of ice cold water, I realized how much I needed to be near my Savior. I needed to hear Him and see Him and touch Him and be touched by Him.

I began to worship as I saw again that He has always been. 

And then these words:

What do you seek?

He said these words to His first disciples, former disciples of John the Baptist, Andrew and Peter. They "heard Him speak and and they followed Jesus." He turned to them and said these words, not in a condescending or confrontational way, but in a gentle invitation for them to interact with Him. And that's why I needed to be here with Christ. Sometimes I think He wasn't kind. He wasn't loving. He's tough and hard and demanding. 

Or this is how I feel when I step away from Him for too long.

And I felt Scripture beckon me and ask me the same question. Gently. Kindly. It was an invitation to interact with Him, just as He said to Andrew and Peter, "Why are you here? What would you like to know?"

And I told Him that I missed Him. I was sorry I had stayed away too long. I needed to be near Him and hear His words again. 

So I read. I tried not to stop and study too much. I tried to just read and allow His words to flow over me. To soothe. To convict. To fellowship with Him. To learn from Him. 

And there is was. The invitation that I had seen quite often here lately. But to see it here, in Scripture  in context of His words, and His story, it was precious. 

So I read and I read. And I met Him here in these pages. I saw His love and saw His commands. I studied when my cultural expectations crashed against the words in the pages. When He wasn't kind enough or sensitive enough. And of course I was wrong over and over again. He was kind and gentle. It felt good to get back to Who He really was and is and what He is calling me to.

Hard words. He says hard words too. 

It felt so good to see His words unfiltered and fresh off the page lodging themselves in my mind and in my heart.

I felt changed each morning just by spending time with Him here. 

Jesus. 

Not God. Just Jesus. 

The part of the trinity that I grapple with the most. Savior and King. What does that look like each day in my life?

The words in John soothed my fears and ushered me to worship.

Then Lent came. What a sweet way to celebrate this time leading up to Easter. With Jesus. And just Jesus. 

I pulled this out. When John is complete, I will read all the Gospels, together as one. To see their stories woven together to paint this picture of Christ. 

To celebrate this: the "ministry, crucifixion and resurrection of the Messiah." 

What about me will be different by spending time with Him in these pages? No theology. No rudimentary word studies that are probably doing more damage than they are good. No commentaries. No books written about these Gospels. 

Just the Word.

Just the Words of Christ. 

How will I be changed? 

I can't wait. 

And I'm quite sure Jesus is infinitely superior to Elrond. I'm positive Rivendell will look like a sewer compared to Heaven. I know that my finite mind was not created to here on earth comprehend what eternity will be. 

But do you know what soothed this in me? When Jesus said to His disciples as He was getting ready to go to the cross, 

 Father, I desire those You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they will see My glory, which You have given Me because You loved Me before the world's foundation.

He desired even then that I be with Him in Heaven. How can I be afraid of being somewhere with Someone who loves me with a love I can't even fully comprehend?

So what am I back to? 

Trust. 

Yes, Jesus. I trust You. With my salvation. With Your plan for my life. And even with Heaven. 

I'm thankful for Your patience with me.

And I'm thankful for the power of Scripture. May we all seek Jesus on its pages more.