Vacations and Returning

I know it's been a few weeks... We have had two great weekends in a row, so I better write about them! On memorial weekend we totally lucked out (more like a blessing) with renting the most beautiful vacation house possible in Bethany Beach, Delaware! After the grueling 5 and a half hour (usually only 3) drive down there (car accidents and D.C. traffic...), we pulled up to this gorgeous home that we had found online the day before!!! It was like walking into a dream!!! Some friends of ours have a beach house down there, too, so we hooked up with them and hung out at the beach, took walks, had BBQ's, swam in the pool, played games... all while the weather was a perfect 75 degrees and sunny! (It finally started raining the day we left...!) It was glorious!!! On the downside, our refrigerator went out while we were gone, but fortunately my mom was here house sitting and she was able to save some of the food, and keep our house from smelling like rotten garbage when we got home!

After unpacking for two days, then a day to pack again, I got to get on a train to New York City with my mom early Friday morning and hang out there for the weekend! She had a book convention, so I went for fun! We had the BEST time!!! It was so weird to be alone, not used to that, but nice to walk and walk around different parts of the city. Friday I walked around midtown Manhattan, where our hotel was and took pictures and shopped! Aside from spending a few hundred dollars in a matter of a few minutes... (well, maybe hours), it felt really good! I love people watching! Friday night we went to the top of the Empire State Building then ate a delicious, non kid friendly dinner at the rink restaurant outside, Rockefeller Plaza! The weather was beautiful! Saturday morning, I had time to myself again, so I went to lower Manhattan, SOHO, and walked up and down the cobblestone streets wandering in and out of some amazing home decor/design shops. I was definitely inspired... Wow, what amazing design. I wandered up into Washington Square park, listened to some great musicians, then took in all the STUFF for sale at the Saturday morning market just bordering the park. I was really just looking, when an extremely persistent Chinese woman grabbed me and told (ordered) me to be still while she gave me a minute shoulder massage... OKAAAAAY.... After that, I was history. I sat right into her chair and endured (how can that feel so good???) a ten minute, very intense- and much needed, may I add, massage!!! It was worth every dollar! My mom and I met back at the hotel to walk up to Broadway for "The Phantom of the Opera." It was kind of a last minute decision to look for tickets online, but somehow we ended up with 2 front row, center orchestra seats for way CHEAP!!! What an incredible show. The power of music always astounds me... We ate another non kid friendly dinner that was delicious, then walked up to Central Park and over to Lincoln Center. We had yummy desserts that probably canceled out our walking, then fell into our beds exhausted and happy! We went to church on Sunday morning and were both so touched by the music in Sacrament Meeting. A beautiful woman with an equally beautiful voice sang the most incredible arrangement of "Amazing Grace", accompanied by cello and piano, that I have ever heard. It really touched me to the core. After our church service, we visited Ground Zero, and the Episcapalian church standing across the street, which was pivitol in the relief efforts during the aftermath of 9/11. It was deeply touching as well, to read about the service and sacrifice of so many and see the exhibits there. It was so amazing to me to find out that that church is the oldest Colonial public building in New York, still standing (it still has George Washington's pew). We were so enthralled in the exhibits and feelings of that sacred place that we missed our train coming home. It was well worth the two hour wait in Penn station...

Upon arrival home, I was so overjoyed to be in the arms of my family again. As wonderful as the trip was, there's just no place like home!