Jekyll Island Day 2

It's possible that we did not sleep well, but I won't say much more about that. We spent the morning doing awesome things, despite our fatigue.

We first visited the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on the Island and learned about the endangered creatures and what the center is doing to help turtles. At our visit, there were 75 confirmed nests on the Island, and 476 in all the state of Georgia. The greatest part of the visit, though, was not the learning about turtles, but seeing the turtles. They also run a rehabilitation center in which they care for injured and ill turtles, hopefully helping them to return to the wild. They had large and small turtles of all ages and situations swimming in tanks with placards to tell us about them and their injuries and their healing progress. It was fascinating to see them, so large and beautiful, as well as sad to see many with scars or bandages on them. There was one being released back into the wild only 2 days later; I kind of wish we would have stayed to be a part of that, if possible.

We also enjoyed some animals at the Tidelands Nature Center, including a pair of baby alligators. It was a relief to finally see live alligators, because the boys had been hoping and dreaming and praying to see them our entire trip.

We struck camp at lunch, then Michael and I went for a bike ride before hauling our over-full car to the wharf where we caught a boat to go dolphin spotting. We saw a dolphin before we left the dock, but we continued on, nonetheless, and enjoyed 90 minutes of fresh ocean breezes and dolphins aplenty. We actually went down around the South end of the island and there encountered a pod of dolphins the captain estimated to be 30-40 dolphins. There were groups of them everywhere, including several calves, always swimming in sync with an adult on either side of them. It was awesome.

If you're a scholar of the blog, or nature in general, you'll remember that the north end of the island erodes. Well, of course, all that sediment needs somewhere to go, so it's deposited on the South end of the island to the north. This is a photo of Jekyll's South end, and that is a shrimp boat that ran aground several years ago as it was trying to take a close pass during a storm. The sand from the neighboring island has slowly built up and buried it so now all you see is the masts.

On the way back, the boys got a special treat:

They didn't even crash the boat. We overnighted safely, although not without weathering a battering downpour, in Columbia, SC.

Jekyll Island Day 1

We only made one big mistake on this leg of our journey: camping. Normally, I don't really mind camping as long as there is a comfortable place to sleep and there are things to do. This much-anticipated detour, however, added one more thing to my camping list: It must cool off at night. Therefore, I think I will never camp in the South in the Summer during a raging wildfire ever again. We had planned to spend a full week engaged in fun activities, playing on the beach, looking for ocean life, and generally relaxing, but because all of our general relaxing time was so miserable and disgusting, we opted to cram everything in to two great days and be on our way with the promise to return when the weather is more temperate, the Okefenokee isn't on fire, and when we have a house in which to stay.

We set up camp on Monday, then Tuesday dawned beautiful with a morning walk for the boys while Liz slept in a bit and prepared for the day. We walked down to the fishing pier and enjoyed the high tide filling the inlets. It was a beautiful walk, although a little on the pestered-incessantly-by-bugs side of things.

We enjoyed some time at the beach looking for creatures and enjoyed lunch in the sand. We learned that low tide is abysmal for swimming, but great for exploring. We saw horseshoe crabs and jellyfish and hermit crabs and sea slugs and whelks and all kinds of other things we couldn't identify as we strolled the shores. We made our way out to the sandbar, only visible during the lowest of tides, and saw some interesting plant life exposed in the sand there.

We ran over to Driftwood Beach, named because the North part of the islands, and all the island in the area, is eroding and pulling the natural flora into the sea, the washing it to an aged beauty.

After dinner we opted for some real adventure—horseback riding! Jacob wasn't old enough, so he and mom had time together while the oldest boys rode forward. After mounting his horse and feeling the power there, Michael wanted nothing to do with that misadventure. He stuck it out, however, and soon he emerged as a natural horse rider—confident, calm, and commanding. He took to it beautifully, and I'm sure proud of him for conquering a fear.

Here's Joshua and Freckles:

Michael and Doc:

Dad and Prince:

We rode through the forest, along the beach, and even got to see a few dolphins playing in the waves off Driftwood Beach. It was a grand time, and our guide, Tay, was friendly, informative, talkative, and delighted in the way Joshua sang and chatted almost the entire time. He was even able to sing his horseback riding song later for me when I asked. It was quite spirited and had few words.

After our long, hot ride, we decided we needed to go to the beach again, especially since the tide was coming in, and we've become true lovers of ocean waves. We got ice cream and walked down a boardwalk through the dunes, and by the time the boardwalk ended, we were already in the ocean! There was no one else around that area, so we romped and played and crashed waves and had a grand time. We saw two of the 74 or so sea turtle nests on the island, and returned to camp throughly exhausted.

Farewell to Florida

Moving through the stages of vacation is a bittersweet experience; the memories are spectacular, but the farewells are heartbreaking. We spent a spectacular week with the Petersens and Marquie, which culminated in a great adult night out on Friday. I enjoyed Dungeness Crab, a first me, and we had a grand time laughing, talking, complaining, and swatting bugs. On Saturday our hearts broke just a little as we bid farewell to our loved ones. Once they lived so close that we could weekend together, but as we drove away, our new separation felt even greater.

As it is Sunday evening, it is an excellent opportunity for reflection. We arrive for lunch yesterday, enjoying it with Grandma and Grandpa Turner at their new home on the other side of Florida. It has been several years since I have seen them, although Liz and the boys were able to spend time with them earlier this spring at Rachel's wedding in Utah. Before dinner, we grabbed Great Grandma and Grandpa Liscom and we all went to the beach, this time enjoying the completely different attitude of the Atlantic Ocean. While the Gulf was calm, warm, and serene, the ocean, on this day was cool, churning, and sported the best waves I can recall ever having the privilege to crash. Some of them came rolling ashore over my head, and I estimate there were at least a few good eight-footers in the batch.

Joshua was hesitant about the waves from the beginning, but Michael and Joshua approached headfirst and with fire. The warning flags were up and the currents were strong, so we stayed right along the shoreline, but our proximity to the sand did not diminish our enjoyment one bit. Great Grandma and Grandpa soon took up residence in chairs and enjoyed reading together, and Jacob warmed quickly to Grandma Turner who played with him in the sand, building castles and mud-fish who were swept out to see when the surf crashed particularly far in. I regret not having photos, for it was a spectacular experience. The raw power of the ocean, the forces of nature at work were wondrous and humbling as we stood looking at across the seemingly endless, churning, cresting expanse. Michael and I, alone, lasted the entire visit in the surf, many times being knocked right over and pushed several yards as the waves crashed in up on us. Michael quickly learned how to brace himself against the riptide as it returned from off the beach, and only once or twice did his Dad lunge forward to ensure he was not pulled farther than was safe.

It was truly inspiring for this Dad to feel the blast of the water and the freshness of the spray and to ponder on the awesome creations of our God. While I truly believe that man is His supreme creation, I marvel in the creations to whose power we must bend, even at our mightiest. As I surged into cresting waves and battled forces that rocked my being, I understood, in an instant, how the ancients anthropomorphized the behaviour of nature, how they assigned personalities to the times and seasons, and how they respected and honored the Gods that, in their beliefs, controlled the movements of the earth. Do we, in our belief system(s), continue to honor our God for his creations outside our own immediate realm, and respect them as awesome and mighty powers?

We returned home with happy faces, incredible memories, and sand in every last little nook and cranny on our bodies. We enjoyed an evening of relaxed family fun and conversation. It was joy to hear of Mom and Dads life as it has unfolded here in Florida; a new chapter is always exciting. The boys planted a new pineapple plant with Grandma in the yard, and they're hoping to be able to come back and see it fruit in another couple of years.

The Sabbath was beautiful. As we enjoyed the invocation in Sacrament Meeting, I felt overcome by the Spirit; it was rather unprompted, and I'm still not sure why it came, but I cherish the thought that my Father was allowing me a moment of peace and repose. I don't think I'm the only one who felt it either, for as I began to ponder on it, the man offering the invocation paused, then continued in a voice obviously touched in the same way that I had been. What connected us in that instant I know not, but I will not question; I will merely cherish and treasure a moment of clarity and truth.

Because it's the second week of June, and we won't be here next week, we created a bit of an early Father's Day celebration with Grandpa Turner and Great Grandpa Liscom. We were four generations gathered together in good food, laughter, and the return of an old Turner Family tradition: Dad's giant ice cream sundae. The boys enjoyed a little scripture movie, and the six adults settled in for some good, old-fashioned game time. Interestingly, this is the first time Liz and I have enjoyed the company of Grandma and Grandpa Liscom, socially, since we married. Once, they stopped by our house in Indiana, unannounced, and we were so surprised and our house was in the middle of being painted, that I'm afraid it was not one for the record books. It was so wonderful for this in-law to be among the family of his wife, to see the adults interact, to get to know them in ways that we've never before been afforded.

Because we've spent most of our married life far away from family, our own family has not had the privilege of getting to know the Turners but in glimpses, quick notes, and too-soon-ended vacations. While this weekend has been another of those quick and soon gone experiences, it seems to me that so much experience has been packed into so little time, as though the passage of that time were not proportionate to the fellowship and love shared among us. It has been a delight to work alongside Mom as we washed dishes, and chat with Dad before bedtime and be in their home and feel of their love for us. I regret that so many miles and such busy lives have created such distance among family members, but my heart leaps with joy at how a few short hours can fill so many missed moments so efficiently.

Tomorrow we begin the part of our vacation that is just for us; no family visits, no preplanned adventures, just the five of us, together. So far it looks like a week of scattered thunderstorms and 90+˚ weather. And we're staying in a tent. So, should you get a chance, say a little prayer for us, and we'll keep our heads up and our hearts open.

Florida Photos

SUMMER VACATION Day 1

We made it to Atlanta. Had it not been for the unrelenting road construction in nowhereville, Illinois, we would have made it much earlier than scheduled, but we're grateful to be resting, nonetheless. We saw amazing places like Metropolis, IL, the home of Superman, Nashville, TN, and some aimless stretch of Kentucky. The South is so beautiful—perhaps we'll relocate here someday. Perhaps we should see it by daylight before deciding . . .

GARDEN VICTORY!

We've waited and waited and waited for our dirt to be delivered, and yesterday we had 15 tons dumped in our back yard with a threat of overnight rain. So, what did we do? We started shoveling, and by the time night gently fell, we had filled all our boxes except the little one I hadn't built yet. We woke up sore and exhausted, especially since Jacob cried all night with an earache, but the job wasn't finished. It still hadn't rained, but Liz had to run the car to Davenport, and I had to give a final.

Well, by the time I got done with my class, it had poured and was continuing down. Michael and I hit the shovels and did another couple tons, but this time it was wet and muddy. We broke for lunch, gave the rain time to move on, and during a clear moment we all headed out to put plants and seeds into the beautiful ground we so lovingly prepared. The only problem in this lovely situation was that the ground certainly wasn't loving us back. It was wet, sloshy, thick, muddy, puddly, and altogether disagreeable.

We did, however, conquer, and now all our little plants are, hopefully, working for us at this very moment. We learned new skills, like tomato-teepee-making, and walking with an inch of mud on our shoes. Not a single person took a splat in the mud, although we definitely had plenty all over us. We didn't beat the return of the liquid downfall, but we were close, and we even got our garbage cleaned up.

We had Papa Johns for dinner and watch some excellent Little House; spoiler alert—it was fool's gold. Here are some photos of our adventure today.

These are my "front porch" flowers:

Winter Squash, Pumpkins, and Currants:

Top to bottom: Potatoes, Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Red Onions, Yellow Onions, Carrots, Parsnips, Red and Yellow Bell Peppers, Jalapeños, Poblanos, Anaheim Peppers, Concord Grapes, at least six types of Tomatoes, Eggplants, Tomatillos, Purple Basil, Various Herb pots, Fava Beans, Kentucky Pole Beans, Yellow Beans, Radicchio, Cabbage, Peas, Cauliflower, Garlic, Black Beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Lettuces, Bok Choi, Radishes, and more Herbs:

Joshua, messy and tired:

Michael and I, soaked to the bone, good and muddy, and happy to be working together:

Tomorrow's task? Get to Atlanta!