Thursday, January 17

Florida Trip - Day Four and Thankful Thursday

Day four of our trip we got up and headed out to a Cracker Barrel for breakfast. We had stayed in Georgia overnight and we reached Florida about 11am. The boys were excited. We'd finally arrived. We enjoyed a glass of orange juice at the welcome center and continued on our way.
We got off I75 at Highway 27. We were a bit tired of being on the Interstate and saw some interesting sights on our way into Central Florida. We usually stay in Clermont, which is about 20 minutes from Disney World. However, when we got to our destination, there'd been a mixup with our reservations, so we took 192 and headed toward Disney. We stopped at the Ramada Inn and they had no rooms left. However, they did have a kids' suite available for the next night, so I booked it. We went back west and found a Day's Inn, but were not at all happy with the room. Oh well, it was only for one night.

We noticed that many of the orange groves along 27 had been replaced with housing. What a shame. It seems that farmland all over America is being destroyed for homes. Developers need to remember that we need green space in order to survive.

The boys were really tired and so were we, so we decided to take it easy and rest. We ordered pizza and that was another bad experience. It ended up costing us $34 just for pizza and I can tell you I'll never order from that particular pizza company again. They got the order entirely wrong and wouldn't correct it.

Jordan and I walked over the to store and he saw a beautiful leopard towel that he bought with his own money. Jordan loves leopards and lo and behold we had all forgotten to pack towels. LOL When Brandon saw it, he wanted one too and so we went and bought him one. They were very pretty. I neglected to get a photo.

That is all of day four and finally we enjoyed just lounging around and not being stuck in the van. We were all asleep by 10pm.

Tomorrow, I will try and post photos of Day 5.
Now for my Thankful Thursday post. I most definitely have lots to be thankful for. Here is my list.

1. Thankful for the opportunity to have a nice vacation and return home without incident. We didn't have any problems on the road. We did have one close call, but that is to be expected on a trip of this length. Then it was a careless driver that caused the problem in a rain storm by cutting off a tractor trailer.

2. Thankful that the van's wheelbearing didn't go until we got home. It wouldn't have been fun to be stuck along the road with two boys. God's timing was perfect, as always.

3. Thankful that we were all healthy while we were away, even though we had travel insurance. I certainly wouldn't want to have to use it. Jordan was ill one night but I think he was tired and excited. That will do it with kids.

4. Thankful that all of my loved ones were safe while we were gone.

5. Thankful that the GYN found my daughter's cyst and it will be removed soon.

6. Thankful that our home remained safe while we were gone and there were no incidents of any kind.

7. Thankful that Meeko remained healthy while we were gone and that he had fun playing with his canine friends while we were gone. He settled in within 24 hours and is doing great.

8. Thankful for all my wonderful friends both on and offline. I have been truly blessed.

9. Thankful that God sent angels to be with us on the trip, just as I prayed for. He is so good and I'm thankful to have a personal relationship with Him.

10. Thankful that God answers our prayers and that my friends lift those up who are on my prayer list. Thanks to all of you.

If you would like to join Thankful Thursday, please visit Iris at Sting My Heart. Thanks, Iris for hosting Thankful Thursday. It's nice to have you back.

25 comments:

  1. Good Afternoon Mary,
    Oh my goodness, I can't beleive they are cutting down some of the orange trees in Florida. I guess some people will do anything for a dollar huh? Sorry you had a bad experience with the Pizza Company. And to pay $34.00 for Pizza? That is just unheard of. Was it made out of gold? LOL. I mean for that price, you would think it would have been. I can't beleive either that they didn't correct the problem either. I don't blame you for not ordering Pizza from that Company either. I would go to their website and leave a good long message about the experience. I enjoyed reading your "THANKFUL THURSDAY". We all indeed do have so many things to be "THANKFUL" for. I am so "THANKFUL" for you as well my friend. You are such a wonderful and sweet and caring person. "THANK YOU" for sharing your "THANKFUL THURSDAY" with us. I do hope you get to upload your pictures for tomorrow. Take care my friend and have a great day. May God Bless You and Yours.

    Love & Hugs,
    Karen H.

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  2. Karen,

    The manager of the pizza company was something else. They got the order wrong and then wouldn't correct it. We have the same pizza company in town and I will never order pizza from them. Thanks for the suggestion of sending them an email. I will look into it.

    So many blessings are bestowed upon us. I also enjoyed your Thankful Thursday list.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  3. I went to Florida twice in the summer of 1988 and we stopped at the visitors center for orange juice. I've wondered if they still did that.

    Still praying for those in need.

    Love and hugs,

    Diane

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  4. Mary,

    I have been reading all your postings on your trip and enjoying them. We used to go to Florida regularly for several years, but I haven't been recently, so it's a treat to read about your trip. It's a shame about the orange groves!

    Your thankful Thursday list reminds me to be thinking of all the things I'm thankful for. One of them is to get to read my favorite blogs!

    Have a wonderful day!

    Blessings,

    Renie

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  5. Diane,

    At one time visitors were welcomed with freshly squeezed orange juice. Today it is concentrated. Not as nice, but still a thoughtful gesture.

    Thanks for the prayers.
    Blessings,
    Mary

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  6. Renie,

    I hadn't gone for some years until 2003 when we took the boys and Mom. It had been over ten years and it had changed a lot. This time there are even more housing developments and the natural beauty of the area is disappearing. What a shame.

    Thanks for dropping by. I always enjoy your visits.
    Blessings,
    Mary

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  7. Thanks for visiting. I enjoyed your thankful list.

    Blessings to you!

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  8. I'm glad to hear the gyn found your daughter's cyst and am praying that all works out.

    Aren't Cracker Barrels the best...I can't go on the road without stopping in at one to at least have a glass of tea, I'll say, but Hubby knows it will be a meal and a browse around the gift shop, every time!

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  9. Such a precious thankful list from such a beautiful heart.

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  10. Boys that age, especially going to Disney World, will do that. The excitement and the long road trip makes 'em easily upset with anxieties, excitement, different schedules and such. Thankfully it was just that and nothing serious.

    OMG---Pizza that is over $20....I would be writing the company and better business bureau. I have done it several times and they've always refunded my money. That's outrageous. I would have been so furious. Guess that's why I have high blood pressure, think? rofl

    This was a great trip for me too...I enjoyed the fresh orange juice at the border with you and your loved ones.

    By the way....how did hubby enjoy the trip? What did he like best? Just the fun of having the boys with you both? I'm curious.

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  11. You have lots of things to be thankful about. I have noticed in my life that even when something goes wrong (like your wheel bearings) God is still watching over me, and it could have been much worse.
    I hate all the building on farm land too. We do need green space.

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  12. Deborah,

    I'm glad you enjoyed the list.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  13. Tammy,

    Yes, the GYN found the cyst and it is as big as a cantaloupe, so surgery is scheduled for February 19th.

    I love Cracker Barrel and so do the boys. They waited to eat lunch until we crossed the border just to eat there. I've heard they are moving into Canada. That will be terrific. They have such lovely items in their gift shop.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  14. Denise,

    Thanks for your kind words. I hope you are feeling better today.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  15. Anni,

    Yes, I think Jordan was just over stimulated. He was fine the next morning. I also think he was a little homesick. Though he loves being with Grandma and Grandpa, he still misses Mom & Dad. Brandon is different. As long as Grandma or Mom are around, he is happy.

    Dwight enjoyed Sea World and Disney. He loves Florida in general, so enjoys being there. He swam several times with the boys. I don't swim, so he enjoyed some pool time with them. I did go into the pool with them once, but am not a big water person.

    I was furious about the pizza. I am going to contact their head office as Karen suggested. That was atrocious and not a very nice way to treat customers.

    Take care, Anni. I enjoyed your visit, as always.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  16. Mari,

    We were almost home when I noticed the noise in the front driver's wheel. The next day I noticed it was getting worse. By Monday it was really bad, but that was the first we could get it into the shop. A costly repair, but I'm thankful that we got home safely.

    Thanks for dropping by.
    Blessings,
    Mary

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  17. Sounds like a wonderful vacation - and much to be thankful for!

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  18. What an awesome thankful Thursday post! Such a blessing to have a good vacation. I have never been here before---but it is absolutely neat! I love it!

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  19. Oooo----P.S. I spent several years of my childhood in Clermont Florida. We lived surrounded by the orange groves. It is truly sad that they are gone from where I used to live. We attended Clermont Assembly of God Church. I'm not even sure if that church still exists. I should check into that! Our pastor's wife babysat for us a few times.

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  20. Dawn,

    We certainly had a great vacation and yes, I have a lot to be thankful for. Thanks for dropping by.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  21. Angie,

    Welcome! I'm so glad you stopped by. I always enjoy meeting new blogging friends.

    I started going to the Clermont area in 1979. It has changed so much. The orange groves used to stretch for miles and now there are very few. We were in Clermont, but I'm not sure if the church is still there. I'd be interested to find out.

    Please drop by again.
    Blessings,
    Mary

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  22. Ohhhhhhhhhh, thanks for letting me know you answered my question about your hubby!!! It's good that he had some special time with the boys in the pool! [I'm not a water person either, I only go so far out....not much above my waist]. And your hubby has a dreamscape of all the water he could possibly want -----in Florida!!!

    I enjoyed reading your response, Thanks again!!

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  23. Mary,

    I am thankful for all the things you mentioned on your list, my friend.

    Hugs,
    Tina

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  24. Wow -- You've been one busy blogger! I finally opened Google Reader today, found almost 900 new posts and dumped most of them, but am working my way through the first 5 of YOUR 10 new posts. I don't think it's been more than a week since I last checked ... but it's possible because I've been watching tennis.

    I've enjoyed learning more about your trip and seeing the photos. You're so right about technology needing to be updated constantly. I get worn out trying to keep up myself.

    I've added each of your friends and family members to my prayer list. How wonderful that you've found so many things to be thankful for in the midst of all your trials. I do believe that counting our blessings always is the best choice.
    Hugs and blessings,

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  25. You know - we live in Arizona and a lot of the orange groves are gone here as well. Many were replaced with houses. Very sad...

    I am glad that you had such a great time on vacation and returned home safely. Wonderful that your daughter's cyst was found early :)

    Thank you so much for sharing your grateful heart with us this past week.

    Be blessed today and always.

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