A couple of weeks ago I got to take a vacation with ‘the girls’. Thanks to a friend of a friend, four of us were able to split the cost of a nice vacation rental condo and spend a week in Orlando, Florida. We really had a fun time doing, well, next to nothing! We all love to read so we set aside plenty of time to catch up on some good fiction. We had some days of wonderful sunshine which were warm enough to allow us to sit by the pool with our books and soak up some of that valuable vitamin D. We treated ourselves to a different restaurant each evening and enjoyed several games of Euchre every night. Yes, we were in the heart of Disney country and every other type of attraction you can imagine and didn’t spend time at any of them. I know it’s hard to imagine, but we managed to have a great week without them and we got some much enjoyed rest instead!
I learned a few things while on this trip; something a little different each day that I want to share with you. Maybe these won’t mean a thing to you and you’ll wonder why I even took the time to write them down. That’s ok but this is my blog and I get to write what I want 🙂 I do hope you enjoy it!
Friday
We waited on the shuttle from the parking lot to the terminal; there were lots of people traveling that day and the first shuttle was full and had to leave us standing. The second one had to make several stops before it got to us. We waited on the luggage when we got to Orlando. The belt broke after they got most of the luggage unloaded so they had to resituate things and send us to another retrieval area. An hour later we were on our way. At the resort we waited (once again) on their shuttle to take us to our building at the resort. After checking in, we waited on the rental car company to bring us our transportation for the week. Even with all the waiting the day was very pleasant and we were thankful we had no schedule to keep and no agenda so waiting was no problem! God has everything under control.
Saturday
We’re several hundred miles away from home and yet were able to do a favor in Daytona for friends from Ohio! Who would have thought? Driving to Daytona took quite a bit more time than we expected because, unbeknownst to us, it was Biker Week and the traffic was….oh my, there was lots of traffic and everything was moving so slowly (I guess we needed to slow down and wait these first few days for some reason!). However, we were able to see the beauty of God’s ocean while we were there and even though it was too cold to be in the water, the movement of the ocean is always an amazing sight. God puts us right where He wants us.
Sunday
A lovely, sunny day spent at the pool. Now this was definitely what relaxing was meant to be. Watching the young kids and their parents reminded me how quickly time passes and how brief each season of life truly is. It doesn’t seem so long ago that time at the pool didn’t mean a good book and a nap. Instead it was diving games and jumping off shoulders and ‘marco polo’ and learning to float and a host of other fun things kids like to do. Is it truly possible our family is no longer in that season? Where did it go? (On these days I really missed my grandkids!) Treasure the everyday events.
Monday
For adults, talking to strangers can be fun! The conversations don’t have to be long or important but they can make the day more interesting and long lines more bearable and sometimes give you a new point of view. While in Florida I talked with strangers on the plane, in the airport, at the pool, in the elevator, in the shopping mall, at the souvenir shops and in the hallway of our condo. Why not? We weren’t trying to be ‘best buds’ or convince each other of anything, we were just sharing an experience or maybe a space for a short piece of time. I found myself smiling as I talked with each of them, and smiling is a good thing!
Tuesday
Laughter is one of the best parts of any day. I have always heard it said that it’s good when you can laugh at yourself but this week I also realized it’s not only good when you can laugh at yourself but it’s even better when you can laugh with others as they laugh at you! Everyone of us is going to make a mistake and some of those mistakes are going to make for some pretty funny moments. Sometimes the funny moment isn’t even from a mistake, it’s something that just happened – just ‘one of those things’. Go ahead, laugh! Laugh at yourself and laugh with others. There’s nothing quite like a good laugh.
Wednesday
Sunshine is good for the soul as well as the mind and body. There’s just something about being in the warmth of the sun when the temperature is not too hot, not too cold and the breeze is just right. We know our body needs sunshine and our minds get rather slow and sad if we don’t get a bit of sun but I think it’s good for our soul as well (if that’s possible). It’s refreshing after a hard day or a long winter to just sit in the sun and spend a quiet moment relaxing. Somehow it has a quality that allows us to reconnect with ourselves and feel ready to face the next challenge.
Thursday
This was our shopping day. It was our last full day in Florida and it was rainy so what could be better than hitting some outlet malls? Shopping with friends can be fun as you work together to find things everyone wants; a certain item – like a Beast, a certain color – like soft pink. However, it can also be hard on your wallet when your friends talk you into buying that special something for yourself you hadn’t planned on! Splurging can be more fun with friends than alone!
Friday
Time to fly back to Ohio. It’s raining but not storming. The flight is not delayed. All our luggage arrives when we do 🙂 The trip has been wonderful and I am thankful for my trip with ‘the girls’. A full schedule awaits me beginning tomorrow, but this past week was a gift that now holds some really great memories. I am learning, ever learning that God loves giving us things to enjoy.
If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NIV)
JEV 
I am so glad you had a good time and got some rest.
Lots of love,
Louise