Adventures in Topeka
I'm a day late, I know. But here's the next bit of our vacation journal:
So after visiting my family we drove north to Topeka. My hubby's folks live in a countryside home and we were having a mini-reunion to celebrate his brother preparing to leave for a church mission. He'll be in California for the next two years. So if any of you Cali people happen to see an Elder Elliott, tell him his writerly sister-in-law says hello! :)
As soon as we arrived the kiddos were excited to spend time with uncles and their one aunt on that side. They enjoyed having family pictures done at the park, mostly because they got to play on a merry-go-round and a huge see-saw. After the pictures we hung around the park waiting for my brother-in-law to do his unicycle ride over the BMX course. That's right, he rode a unicycle! The kiddos have always enjoyed watching him ride it. This time it was extra fun because there was a whole crowd of people and a Kansan Olympian to boot! What an awesome opportunity. So all you people from small towns, you can still chase big dreams!
The next day was pretty relaxed. My sweetie and I went to Cabela's in Kansas City to get some camping supplies we would need for our upcoming vacation to Idaho. While there, we realized we'd forgotten to bring a diaper bag for Ben. So, I stayed at Cabela's with the baby while my sweetie made a run to Target for the needed supplies. And of course, what happened while he was gone? My baby boy had a blowout. We're talking stuff everywhere! So I called Jonathan and let him know I was going to be looking around the store for an outfit for our little boy. Cabela's is a hunting/outdoors store. It's a man's store, to be honest. Not that it stops me from loving it too, I'm very much an outdoorsy girl. But being a man's store I figured if they had baby clothes, there would be a good number of boy clothes. Oh no! Finally found the baby section and I kid you not, 2/3 of it was pink and pink camo. Seriously? At an outdoor store? Only a few measly onesies for boys and tons of outdoor hunting princess onesies and outfits for girls. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed. But I found an "I Hunt for Hugs" onesie for my son that wasn't pink and took it to the register just as my sweetheart walked in with the needed diapers and wipes.
That evening we were blessed to be present for William's setting apart as a missionary. It was such a wonderful experience. There is something special about watching a young man, or young woman, make the commitment to serve God and His children. We enjoyed talking together about all the wonderful things he would do and experience and since then we've enjoyed hearing from him of his adventures.
The next day we had to start on our way home. We decided to pace ourselves and stop at as many rest areas as we could to gauge how long our days would be on vacation. In doing so we discovered a lot of really neat roadside places. We took a little hike near Wabaunsee to see a windmill statue. The kiddos thought it was great fun, especially getting to be "shoulder angels" on the way down. We also discovered playgrounds and the largest inland marsh in the United States. You didn't know it was in Kansas, did you?
Then in Garfield we discovered a little roadside chapel. The historic marker had an invitation for all travelers to stop a moment "to pray to God on the journey of life." I fell in love with that chapel and snapped many pictures. When we got home and I was admiring my work (I'm not vain at all) I noticed that on one of the pictures I liked the most, the clouds above the chapel looked like a heart.
My friends, God is real and He loves you so much. That picture became a beautiful reminder for me of that love. Faith isn't wishful thinking and it isn't naivety. Faith is a beautiful source of strength and peace. It is an openness of mind to accept that there is a Power greater than your own. I am grateful for the faith which has sustained me through the heard times and lighted my way in the good. I'm grateful for the opportunities my loving Father has given me as I've worked to share my talents. He has blessed me greatly and that little chapel in Garfield reminded of how blessed we truly are in this adventure we call life.
Check in tomorrow for a
So after visiting my family we drove north to Topeka. My hubby's folks live in a countryside home and we were having a mini-reunion to celebrate his brother preparing to leave for a church mission. He'll be in California for the next two years. So if any of you Cali people happen to see an Elder Elliott, tell him his writerly sister-in-law says hello! :)
As soon as we arrived the kiddos were excited to spend time with uncles and their one aunt on that side. They enjoyed having family pictures done at the park, mostly because they got to play on a merry-go-round and a huge see-saw. After the pictures we hung around the park waiting for my brother-in-law to do his unicycle ride over the BMX course. That's right, he rode a unicycle! The kiddos have always enjoyed watching him ride it. This time it was extra fun because there was a whole crowd of people and a Kansan Olympian to boot! What an awesome opportunity. So all you people from small towns, you can still chase big dreams!
The next day was pretty relaxed. My sweetie and I went to Cabela's in Kansas City to get some camping supplies we would need for our upcoming vacation to Idaho. While there, we realized we'd forgotten to bring a diaper bag for Ben. So, I stayed at Cabela's with the baby while my sweetie made a run to Target for the needed supplies. And of course, what happened while he was gone? My baby boy had a blowout. We're talking stuff everywhere! So I called Jonathan and let him know I was going to be looking around the store for an outfit for our little boy. Cabela's is a hunting/outdoors store. It's a man's store, to be honest. Not that it stops me from loving it too, I'm very much an outdoorsy girl. But being a man's store I figured if they had baby clothes, there would be a good number of boy clothes. Oh no! Finally found the baby section and I kid you not, 2/3 of it was pink and pink camo. Seriously? At an outdoor store? Only a few measly onesies for boys and tons of outdoor hunting princess onesies and outfits for girls. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed. But I found an "I Hunt for Hugs" onesie for my son that wasn't pink and took it to the register just as my sweetheart walked in with the needed diapers and wipes.
That evening we were blessed to be present for William's setting apart as a missionary. It was such a wonderful experience. There is something special about watching a young man, or young woman, make the commitment to serve God and His children. We enjoyed talking together about all the wonderful things he would do and experience and since then we've enjoyed hearing from him of his adventures.
The next day we had to start on our way home. We decided to pace ourselves and stop at as many rest areas as we could to gauge how long our days would be on vacation. In doing so we discovered a lot of really neat roadside places. We took a little hike near Wabaunsee to see a windmill statue. The kiddos thought it was great fun, especially getting to be "shoulder angels" on the way down. We also discovered playgrounds and the largest inland marsh in the United States. You didn't know it was in Kansas, did you?
Then in Garfield we discovered a little roadside chapel. The historic marker had an invitation for all travelers to stop a moment "to pray to God on the journey of life." I fell in love with that chapel and snapped many pictures. When we got home and I was admiring my work (I'm not vain at all) I noticed that on one of the pictures I liked the most, the clouds above the chapel looked like a heart.
My friends, God is real and He loves you so much. That picture became a beautiful reminder for me of that love. Faith isn't wishful thinking and it isn't naivety. Faith is a beautiful source of strength and peace. It is an openness of mind to accept that there is a Power greater than your own. I am grateful for the faith which has sustained me through the heard times and lighted my way in the good. I'm grateful for the opportunities my loving Father has given me as I've worked to share my talents. He has blessed me greatly and that little chapel in Garfield reminded of how blessed we truly are in this adventure we call life.
Check in tomorrow for a
No comments have been added yet.
