Day 10 - Travelling Home

The news has been filled with stories of long lines at the TSA due to the current government shut down.  And last night certainly proved difficult by the lines we saw wrapped through the lobby area near the entrance of our hotel.  But the staff here has shared that the lines in the mornings are quite normal but the backups build throughout the day.  Even so, we wake up a little early to give ourselves the extra time.

We decided to eat in the terminal AFTER we made it through security.  So we hopped a bus to Terminal E and checked our bags. Yup, we had six coming home because I always pack a duffle.  It allows me to be a little messier on the way home and leaves plenty of room for souveniers and dirty clothes.

Security was a breeze... we were first in line.  Once we made it through we separated so Scott and Sam could get a breakfast sandwich while I went in search of a Starbucks and Tyler scoped out cinnamon pretzels.  We met back at the gate for our 9:50 am departure.

It was a smooth flight to Atlanta. Tyler was sitting with a stranger and the two of them shared in conversation the entire flight.  It made me giggle remembering how as a kid he used to talk his seat mates' ear off. His neighbor this time seemed to be enjoying herself as well!

We grabbed lunch from a food court - Qdoba and pizza - and then headed to our next gate.

The flight was smooth all the way back to GR.  Because we flew out of Detroit, we didn't have a car waiting so we ordered an Uber and arrived home right around 6:00 pm.  Its been a busy week but we've experienced so much - and so many different things too!

Day 12 - Returning Home

We were up by 8:00 for breakfast and showers. While Scott and I met on a zoom call, the kids got to work with chores and prepping for departure.  They delivered the outgoing mail, walked Coco, got Sea Keeper started, cleaned the kitchen and started securing items for the ride.

When we finished, Scott and Tyler got to work refilling the fresh water and disconnecting power.  We pulled out of the slip just before 10:30a and were on our way.  The weather is 75* and sunny.  The winds are only 4 mph out of the SW but those are changing throughout the day as some weather approaches later tonight.  Waves are fairly light with one footers currently.  

We hope to make it all the way to Grand Haven today - a little over 120 miles or so.  This will take appx 4-5 hours if we can remain at cruising speed.

Around 12:30 pm we passed Ludington.  There is a thick fog that has increased as we travel south.  We often cannot see shore but get little glimpses of it on occasion.  It was easy to tell we were near Ludington by the sheer number of fishing boats in the area. 

We had a charcuterie lunch today so it was quick and easy.  Tyler spent a lot of time at the helm which gave Scott a chance to sit with me and enjoy the ride.  He really needed some time in the sun... especially his upper thighs.  Hehe.

The further south we went the waves increased with 3+ footers toward the end.  The fog remained but seeing the Grand Haven pier come into view was a welcoming sight.

It was about 3:30p when we pulled into our slip and took us about 45 mins to pack up and load the vehicles.  Home sweet home around 5:15 pm.

Thanks for coming along with us on our latest Lake Michigan Adventure!

Day 10 - Heading Home

 We decided to sleep in and do a 9:30 breakfast.  We met at a different breakfast for a brunch buffet.  It was delicious, but definitely nothing like we’d become accustomed to.

We found a balcony and looked out at the bay in front of the hotel.  B&K had shared that they often anchor out front when they are off charter.  And look who we saw!  We sent a text and they came out to take some pics of us as well!  A fun final goodbye!

We headed back to our rooms to wrap up our packing.  I worked a little bit on my laptop while Sammy rested.  She’s come down with a runny nose and itchy eyes.  I’m not certain what it is but I think it’s a response to the water from snorkeling.  But I suppose we will see.

We checked out of our rooms around 11:30 and then waited in the lobby for Big Love to pick us back up.  Once through security and customs, we got super lucky and found two rows of seating (5 chairs each) facing one another and claimed our spot for the wait.  We grabbed some food for those that didn’t have a big brunch and even did a little shopping at the gift shop.

Luke is returning to college on a Delta flight that was originally scheduled to leave at 2:45 while the rest of us are on American leaving at 3:00.  Fortunately with an airport this small, our gates are pretty much right next to one another.  Ironically both flights were delayed and we boarded a little later but very close to the same time.

We said our goodbyes to Luke and headed to our plane.  In St Thomas, you board and unboard by staircase and walk to the building.

Our first flight was appx 4 hrs to Charlotte, NC.  Our party filled the entire first class so we had a lot of fun with the flight attendant.  That is once she gave us grief for switching our seats after she took our dinner orders.

It was a pretty smooth flight overall with just a few bumps coming in for landing.  

We grabbed some food in Charlotte and we ready for our final leg home at 9:45 pm

We pulled into GRR sometime around 11:30, grabbed our bags and said goodbyes.  We ended up missing 3 of the 10 bags we flew home but hopefully they’ll be delivered soon.  Luckily we don’t need the swimsuits and shorts any time soon in Michigan!

And that’s the end of our trip.

I wish I had the words to share what a great time was had.  The amazing experiences and once-in-a-lifetime moments.  But more than that is experiencing it with people you love.  I cannot tell you how proud I am of our kids and how they handled it all.  They were so kind to one another, they tried new foods, and faced new challenges and all the time wore a smile.  

Stories we won’t soon forget…

• Annie being scarred by a lemur
• Luke finally learning some SkipBo strategy - he hates that game
• Scott mastering the entry (via backflip) into the dinghy
• Using the same toilet as so many incredible world leaders on Necker Island
• Bread Girl and the accomplishment of eating 33 rolls in one meal
• Todd’s leg flared up after a run in with fire coral
• Cole admitting that “details are my specialty”
• Big Love and his questionable window decals
• Jen’s calm voice asking Scott and Sammy to come out of the water when we spotted ANOTHER shark
• The sheer amount of food we ate and the fact that Scott gained 6 lbs 
• Uncontrollable giggling as Mama Vanessa ate her chips & cheese during Tyler’s graduation
• Warm nuts and Baileys in first class
• Celebrating when Cole finally saw a spotted eagle ray
• When we all swam in shark-infested waters
• Hearing B’s doubt completely switch to amazement when we said there was a shark
• The smooth cruisers that we let ahead of us in line at the Baths (along with their 30 closest friends)
• The size of the dinghy
• Dancing and reading the script of Annie Jr on the bow of the boat and often by flashlight
• Tyler reaching down to pet the Barracuda

I hope these memories are the stories you’ll never forget.  Stories to tell your kids and grandkids someday!

Day 6 - Welcome Home!

We got up and had breakfast.  Left the slip around 10:30 am and stopped over to the fuel dock for a pump out.  

We were on the lake and up to cruising speed by 11:05 am.  

He had some friends offer to meet us in Grand Haven and bring us home which was such a kind gesture.  Beyond that, they came out to the end of the pier to take photos of the boat’s arrival.

  

We settled into our temporary slip at Grand Isle for this fall and unpacked as best we could.  Then headed home.  It was an incredible trip - much quicker than expected but so many wonderful memories!  Cannot wait for more time aboard next summer!

Day 12 - Heading Home

Ugh. We were up for a quick breakfast of cereal so that we could get underway as soon as possible.  But the weather did not cooperate.  A morning shower came in so we decided to wait it out so as not to be doing all of our line work in the rain.  It was around 9:30am that we finally got disconnected and untied and left our slip.  We had to stop for more fuel and we on Lake Michigan by 10:30am.  It was still raining as we passed the lighthouse and headed south.  

As we passed Silver Lake around 11:15 am, the rain began to let up.  The waves were a slow timed 2-3 foot swells.  I was grateful we were going with the waves but the funny timing still made for some bumps every 3rd wave or so.  We kept the speed around 26mph but were able to speed up to our cruising speed of 29 mph as the swells died down.

12:00 pm passing Whitehall.

12:30 pm passing Muskegon.

1:00 pm pulled into the channel in Grand Haven.  There’s no place like home!

The kids and I went to work packing up.  It’s a generally small space but you know how it goes. Dirty laundry, linens, wet towels, unused groceries… it all had to be packed up.

1:30 pm Pulled into our slip at Safe Harbor Grand Isle Marina and they guys worked to retie our permanent lines (we brought on the trip so we’d have extra).  Sammy and I hauled our bags to the vehicles.  It’s 90+* here in Grand Haven and we definitely weren’t use to it.  We got on our way as soon as possible and stopped for lunch on the drive.  Pulled in the driveway at 2:52 pm (just in time for Jen’s 3:00 pm video appt).  

It was an excellent trip!  We really enjoyed all of it and especially the time shared together.  We made so many great memories and the laughs we shared will remain for years to come!

Weather: rain showers until Pentwater; then cloudy until Whitehall; Sun was out Muskegon and south
Temps: High 68* Low 59* in Ludington; 93* when we arrived in Grand Haven
Winds: 5 mph N, NE (gusts under 10 mph)  
Waves: 2-3’ swells; down to almost flat in GH
Travel Distance: 56 mi

Day 10 - Preparing for Re-Entry

We met at 9:00 am for breakfast.  By now, Rog and Gretchen had already completed a 2-mile walk as they were up early and on a mission to find some items at the market.  

Unfortunately the restaurant in the hotel was unable to prep any food because of an issue with the gas in the kitchen.  So, we headed toward town to find something to eat.  Adema’s grabbed a meat pie from a local shop, one of the only stores open this Sunday morning.  Otherwise the stores were mostly boarded up and closed for the Sabbath.  Meanwhile the streets were crowded with cars and the sound of hymn-singing could be heard.

We ended up visiting Moe’s, the local grocery store, and got some items for a continental breakfast - charcuterie, fruit, muffins, with chocolate milk.  We brought it back to the hotel courtyard and enjoyed our final few hours together.  Thankfully, the restaurant was still able to serve coffee!  

As we discussed the highlights from the week and how difficult it might be to return to our typical routines, we wondered... what memories will stand out later this week?  What images will come to mind when we reflect in a few years?  What moments will we cherish most as we grow old?  

A little before 11:00 am, we packed up and checked out of our rooms.  Adema’s headed out for the airport and the rest of us waited a few more hours before leaving that spot in the courtyard.

The flights were pretty smooth for all of us.  A few delays along the way but by 11:00p we were all safe at home.  

 

Its a beautiful thing to travel, to learn and grow and to return home a changed person.  

I’ve never experienced a trip like this one.  I felt a deeper level of relaxation than I knew was possible.  I honestly could just take in the beauty all around and experience the emotion and gratitude I felt. 

The trip certainly exceeded any expectations that I had.  But what makes it so extra special is sharing it with people that we love.  Each and every unique personality onboard contributed to the special week that it was and I am forever grateful for those smiles, those laughs, that love!

For me, our time together was Heavenly.

Day 32 - Heading Home

Alarms started going off at 6:00 am.  We had hoped to be on the road by 7:00 am but it took a little longer to close everything up before we left.  I think it took longer because it was our first time plus we couldn't divide and conquer since I needed to watch what Scott was doing so I could undo it when the kids and I return.

Anyway, by the time we wrapped everything up and dropped off cards to the building staff, it was just after 8:15 when we got on the road.  We had hoped to make the entire trip today.  However, losing even one hour when planning on 16-17 hours, was enough to make us question it.

It rained almost all morning and Scott had sinus pressure most of the day.  They are expecting a pretty large snowstorm to hit the Midwest beginning on Sunday so the farther we can make it today, the less driving tomorrow!  Honestly though I wasn't sure we'd make it home, but we kept pushing forward.

At 1:15 am we pulled in the driveway.  The kids did great!  Sammy slept off and on starting at 10:00 pm, Tyler stayed awake the entire trip.  Both kids are dealing with a head cold still so I was even more impressed.

What an amazing time we had!  But it feels oh-so-good to be home!

Homeward Bound - Day 30

I was pretty frazzled about the bike rack being stolen so I didn't get to bed early.  Instead I decided to sleep in.  We always take two days to drive home anyway so its not so urgent that we get an early start.

We were up and out of the condo around 7:15 am, stopping to say goodbye to the ocean on the balcony and taking our signature selfie on the balcony.  We were especially careful to move quietly so as not to wake the Rynbrandts.

We grabbed McDonalds and Starbucks for breakfast and then were officially on the road by 8:00 am. It was a pretty pleasant drive this morning although we do make lots of stops for 2 kids and a puppy to go to the bathroom.  Mid-afternoon Sammy got pretty upset saying her stomach hurt so we stopped  at a rest stop for her to get out and walk.  Afterwards she moved to the front seat and tried to rest.  Tyler didn't mind a chance in the back seat to watch a movie with Coco.

Tyler has been asking all day if we can just drive straight through.  My immediate reaction was "there's just no way..." but as I did the math a twinkling started to form... maybe we could!

We were making great time.  Stopping lots but only for quick run ins, we were aimed to make the entire trip in 16 hours.  That means we would make it to Michigan (Toledo area) around 9 pm.  Since I didn't want to stop in Michigan for the night, I asked the kids if they were up for a few more hours and they agreed.  So we pushed on!

It was 11:45 pm when we were driving through Grand Rapids.  The kids had both fallen asleep around the airport and we were running low on fuel.  I REALLY wanted to make it but decided it wasn't worth the risk of running out of gas.  So, reluctantly, I pulled off the highway near the hospital and filled up.  Thank goodness both kids remained asleep

As we pulled onto Canterbury Lane, I soothingly tried to wake the kids.  Tyler stirred just enough to see where we were and lifted his head in time to see Scott waiting in the driveway.  

I got out of the truck and lifted my arms in victory.  We did it!  WE WERE HOME!

The Long Trip Home - Day 9

With alarms set for 4:00 am, Mary and I were both surprised when we woke up at 3:30 instead.  Apparently God thought we needed more time this morning!

We packed up our chargers and bath bags had some snacks for breakfast.  We were downstairs waiting on the curb by 4:30... and were still waiting at 4:50 am.  Hmm.  That's not good.   Our ride never showed!  So we asked a security guard if he could help and he called a friend who drove a taxi. The man showed up quickly but only had a mini-van... for 6 of us, 6 luggage, 6 carry-ons, and a stroller.  We squeezed in and were on our way as soon as possible.

The ride to the airport was interesting.  The van lacked suspension in the rear so it was bouncy!  Beyond that, every dash indicator was lit up and the gas tank read empty.  BUT... we were on our way and beggars cannot be choosers.

Once we arrived, we stood in line for 20 minutes waiting to check our bags.  We were already 30 minutes behind from the driver, so I started getting nervous.  But, God just blew open the doors for us as we were never more than 5th in line as we approached each of the 5 security stops.  We had no time to stop for breakfast as we immediately boarded the plane.

The plane ride went really well.  I was grateful that the personal entertainment package offered more movies on this flight.  While waiting for our ride, Sammy dropped my iPad and shattered the screen... I was nervous to be going into a long flight like this without it but Sammy did great!  As soon as we boarded, Sammy synchronized our screens so we could watch Ice Age together.  It was very sweet.

We had about 1.5 hours to get our luggage, get thru immigration and go back through security.  Everything went smoothly and again God took care of the details allowing us short lines and friendly staff.  We were speed-walking through JFK to find our gate... no time to stop for lunch!  As the gate came into sight we looked up at the displays and realized our flight had been delayed an hour.  Ugh!  Although we were disappointed, we appreciated having the time to slow down and made our way back to The Shake Shack for a good lunch.  We relaxed a while longer with a few rounds of Uno and Spot-It.

As we headed back to our gate, I received a notice on my phone that they had upped the time of our flight and it was LEAVING in 15 minutes.  Again, we had to speed walk to get to the gate and walked right on the plane.  The flight staff was quick to settle us all in our seats so we could take off and make up some of the time... until we had a glitch with the boarding agent and needed to wait 30 minutes for take off.

Eventually we did take off and we had another uneventful flight.  The kids did amazing!

I made a Starbucks run while we waited for the stroller.  Then we made our way through the Detroit airport to find our bags.  When we arrived, the carousal was stopped and our 6 were the only remaining bags on the belt.  Wonderful!  We grabbed them and headed out for our trolley to the parking lot.

Since we drove two vehicles, the girls loaded up the black truck while the boys headed on to the red one.  Scott was surprised to find his battery was dead!  So we waited just a second while the driver went to get jumper cables and were on the road in minutes!

We were leaving Detroit right around 5:00 pm so the traffic was pretty heavy for quite a while.

From the outside it seems we had a lot of things go wrong today... but none of them caused issue.  Each time we felt God intervene and take care of the situation on our behalf.  It was an adventure and so fun to see our Heavenly Father at work.

We drove home, stopping at Wendy's in Howell for supper.  We pulled in the driveway minutes before 8:00 pm.  Its been 16 hours of travel and we are tired and ready for bed.  It is good to be home!

Day 9 - Heading Home

We woke up early and enjoyed our breakfast in the dining room.  Once again the concierge service proved wonderfully worth it.  Only 21 rooms on the ship were allowed room service and it made our morning SO much more relaxed.  We chose to walk off the ship just after 7:30 am.  It was when Rodrigo said the lines would be shortest AND would allow us to get to a hotel earlier to ensure we got a room for the day.  We didn't need to be to the airport til mid-afternoon and wanted to find a place to rest.

Rodrigo was right... there was NO line so we walked right off, got our bags, walked up to the immigration officer to show our passports and then out the door.  It was a rainy, overcast day so we grabbed a cab and headed back to the hotel we stayed at the first night.  It is crazy to think of how much has happened since we were last here 7 days ago.

The front desk did get us a room but it was quite a hike.  We welcomed the space and rested for a few hours.  Eventually the sun came out and Sammy was eager to visit the pool again so she and I headed out while the boys watched a few documentaries.

After lunch we grabbed a cab and headed for the airport.  We are all pretty tired from the early wakeup and the busy week but there are smiles on our hearts.

The first flight was pretty long but in a larger / newer plane than we've flown before.  Our family sat in the same row across the middle and each seat had its own screen with current movies available.  The kids LOVED having access to so many options and entertained themselves the entire trip.

As we began our decent into Grand Rapids, I looked over to see Sammy drifting off to sleep... she was so sweet and peaceful I didn't have the heart to wake her.  But eventually the lights woke her up and we deplaned.

The kids helped with the bags and we loaded the truck.  It was a VERY quiet drive home as both kids snuggled up with their blankets and pillows and drifted off to sleep.

We carried the kids up to bed and decided to wait until morning to unpack.  It is so good to be home!

The Trip Home - Day 23

 Its our last day of the trip!  There was a certain peace about everyone as we woke up this morning ... A peace that proved we had indeed found relaxation and were content to head home.

The morning ran like many others... breakfast, TV, and jammies.  The weather started out rather overcast so we got busy with chores hoping the sun would decide to pop out when we were ready.  Mary was a big help with the dishes and leftover food.  The kids packed their carry-ons and made trips to the trash chute. (Honestly, who doesn't love listening to those bags fall over 170 ft to the dumpster below!)  I emptied closets and drawers, attempting to find a month's worth of stuff and fit it into our three bags.  Even after shipping home a tote of toys yesterday, we still had so much to fit in that luggage.  We made it, but my bag was 20 lbs over the airline limit... oops!

After chores were done, we headed out to the pool for one last dip!  The water was really refreshing!

Tyler ran into his friend again so he had one last good-bye as we headed up for lunch.  Since the dishes were clean and the fridge was empty, we picked up pizza for lunch.  The water had flooded the intersection by the Embassy Suites again and the police were lit up outside our resort to shut down the road there as well.  I cannot believe how saturated the ground must be to flood again so easily!

The pizza was great... followed by leftover ice cream and cheese & crackers.  We brought some borrowed items up to the Adema's condo on the 27th floor and then returned to our condo to start saying our good-byes.  "good-bye sand dune, good-bye ocean, good-bye tide pools, good-bye pier..."

Then it was off to the airport.  We literally had no wait at security and breezed right through.  The kids once again found their "designated" spot on the light up bench to play while we waited.

I grabbed some food for everyone from Steak & Shake as the flight crew began boarding.  I checked the clock as we took off and noticed we had left ahead of schedule... that doesn't happen every day!

The flight was supposed to take about an hour and 40 minutes... but within an hour and 20, DTW was in sight.  I was so glad that we were still ahead of schedule.  If you remember our last flight home, we had to sit on the runway for an hour after we landed waiting for a gate.  It caused us to get home pretty late.  Tyler had even prayed that God would help us NOT have a long wait at the airport so he could get home early enough to spend time with Dad.  It was very sweet and we recognized that God must have heard his prayers because we slid right into our gate and were deplaning LONG before we should have been.

We had a bit of a wait for our bags, so Mary sat down with our carry-ons and Sammy while Tyler and I waited for the carousal.  Much to her surprise, JC walked up to surprise her.  And a little bit later Scott did too!  We were all SO excited to see them!  (God is so good - He cares for us in so many ways).  

JC and Mary drove the convertible home while Scott went with the kids and I to get our SUV from the lot.  We all met up at AppleBees in New Hudson.  It was fun spending time with our guys and we enjoyed sharing the highlights of the trip.

We pulled in around 10:30 pm and brought the kids up for bed.  It was a long day... but still so good.  Its great to be home!

Trip Home - Day Eight

It started out like any other day... well, kind of.  We got dressed up in our costumes from the Pirate Show and headed to Krispy Kreme.  Because, well today is apparently National Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day and Kristpy Kreme is giving away a dozen donuts FREE to anyone who dresses up.  Tyler's favorite part was being asked to a sword fight by the clerk at the check out.

When we got back, we packed up our bags and decided to head to the pool for some last minute fun.

 

Dean and Roger each took turns playing in the water with the kids.  Dean even picked up lunch from Pizza Chef so we ate that poolside as well.

After we finished, we headed back up to the condo to prep for our trip.   But first we took our "goodbye for now" photos.

 

Dropping off the van and getting through the airport went really smoothly.  The kids got comfortable at our gate as we waited for the delayed plane.  Notice the cool bench they were sitting on?  It lit up different colors as you put weight on the surface.  Very fun!

The plane left 30 minutes later than planned but the ride itself went beautifully.

 

After we landed the pilot announced that we would need to wait for a gate to open... it took 60 minutes.  Sitting on the taxiway, in our seatbelts, no bathrooms, no drinks.  We were sad.

But once more, the kids did amazing!  The only glitch was when Sammy said (very loudly), "I hate the pilot.  He has stolen my life!"  There were lots of giggles from the passengers around us.

We had another hold up for our bags and didn't make it to the Jeep until almost 8:00 pm (1.5 hrs after we had planned).  But the ride home went well and we pulled in the driveway with two sleeping kids just after 11:00 pm.  Its good to be home!