This past weekend I had some business to do with one of my Heritage Makers teams in Philadelphia, PA and decided it would be fun to take Jordyn with me and see a few sights while we were on that end of the country. Little did I know this would be one of the most memorable events of my entire life.
Our adventure began when we stepped on the plane and Jordyn peeked her head into the cockpit. The flight attendant asked her if she wanted to step inside and she got a big grin on her face and said of course! Once inside the cockpit the pilots were more than accommodating and they welcomed her inside. They invited her to sit in the seat with a captains hat and mentioned that this would be a great photo opportunity for me. As I ruffled through my purse to find my camera they sad her down, scooted the seat up so that she could reach everything and had her turn on the seat belt sign and other things while I hurried to put new batteries in the camera. When I finally got myself put together (while people are stumbling past my big bent over behind and my carry on luggage) I looked in to see this . . .
Jordyn sitting comfortably in the drivers seat of the airplane. I was amazed at how nice the pilots were and they invited me into the cockpit as well. "Sit here mom and we'll take your picture together!" the co-pilot said and they took not one but 4 different shots of Jordyn and I together in the seats. (Those of me didn't make the cut for the blog). Next Jordyn asked for a shot with the pilots . . . and they were happy to oblige. I still am in shock. What a fun way to start our trip!
We got to Philadelphia (after having a delay in Denver) at about 1am and went right to bed. My Heritage Makers friend and consultant in the business opened up her home at the Daylesford Abby in PA and we slept in one of the old buildings on the sacred grounds of the church. Imagine for a moment the movie The Sound of Music . . . not too far is the building where the Priests stay and the grounds surrounding the chapel are beautiful. It's peaceful, quite and sacred and was very special to experience. No time to spare meant we had to get up really early in the morning and get to work on the Heritage Makers business showcase and consultant training I was doing with the team. But we couldn't help but dream about what the rest of the weekend had in store for us. After all of the business was over we headed for New Jersey where we could catch the train to New York City.
Being on the train was a great experience. It was a double decker and much like an Amtrak or other huge train. It made a lot of stops like a regular metro would but the ride was smooth and comfortable. The trains have a train conductor who totally looked the part and was excited to have his photo taken with Jordyn. Everyone else on the train thought we were nuts but we didn't give it a second thought.
Upon arriving in New York City, I had no idea what we would be experiencing next. I mean I see the city on television but it just doesn't do it justice. It's so much bigger, louder, busy as can be and you just can't capture that on camera. Jordyn was excited to hail a cab (and couldn't believe how aggresive you had to get to get one!) and ride through the city. Our little cab driver didn't speak English and was not the best driver in the world. We were literally 6 inches from the cars next to us and the lines in the road meant nothing to him. As I looked around, it seemed that this behavior was typical for all the drivers on the road. I was a little tense, but Jordyn just laughed and made it all better.
It was cold and rainy and the sky was dark. The clouds covered the tops of the buildings, which I couldn't believe because they were SO tall. Skyscraper has a totally different meaning to me now. The streets were jam packed with people and as we went towards Central Park we drove past so many things I had never seen before. It was like a completely different world.
We went to Central Park and took a carriage ride through the park. Our tour guide gave us some history on New York and it was so cool to just relax and take it all in. I couldn't believe we were actually there. After our ride, we walked up 5th Avenue and saw all the windows getting dressed up and ready for the Christmas holiday. Apparently, Christmas in New York is a bigger deal than anywhere else. (Now I get why Erica is soooooo into the Christmas holidays - New Yorkers really know how to do it big!) Christmas trees are going up on all the big buildings and it was beautiful. As we walked past Trump Tower it finally hit me that this was real, we were really here. It's not every day you get to see stores like Louis Vuiton - the big spendy stores that only the incredibly wealthy people get to see. Jackie asked if we wanted to go inside of any of them and I felt so unworthy. We stayed outside.
One of the neatest places we did go inside was the famous St. Marks cathedral that stood so majestically and just called us in. Every time I go on vacation I love to find the old cathedrals and chapels that have been around for centuries. This one had to be one of the most incredible I've ever been in. And it was Jordyn's first experience. It was overwhelming really and Jackie (a former Lutheran Pastor) was able to explain some of the symbolic and sacred nature of the things in the cathedral. One moment I will always treasure is when Jordyn was introduced to the lighting of the candles and what that meant. I won't go into detail about what it meant for us that day, but Jordyn lit a candle for her brother and it was truly a special moment.
Before leaving for the trip I had lined up tickets to see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. They name it "Spectacular" because it truly IS! I have always wanted to see the Rockettes at Radio City and at one point tears were streaming down my face. I don't know if it was because it was such a beautiful show and I was impressed by the organization and perfection of the entire production or because I was seeing one of my childhood dreams being fulfilled. Either way I can't wait to go back!
New York will be an experience that I won't soon forget and I have plans to return as soon asI can! The next day brought another "first" for us as we drove South to the Jersey Shore and visited beautiful Cape May for a few photos and beach time. It was much to chilly to get in the water but the beach on the Eastern shore is absolutely beautiful. It was high tide and we had such fun taking pictures and playing in the sand. Cape May is quite a tourist destination but catching it off season was a special treat. It felt like we were the only people on earth.
Catching the view of the beach and the lighthouse right at sunset added to the beauty of it all. The smell in the air, the perfect time of night (twilight I think ;) and the chance to spend it with my beautiful daughter is a blessing I will cherish for the rest of my days.
Cary Robarge was there as well and took a little tumble. Ooops. At least he was okay!
Don Bushman was as well. This is him observing the mess of pop and ice in the back of Cary's explorer!
So I love to bowl. I used to be really good. Good enough that I could have been on a league. That was then, now I'm old. I have tennis elbow. What the? I don't even play tennis! But that's the diagnosis. So my game has took a dive but it's still worth going for the fun.
Not long into our game Harry pulled a muscle in his upper leg. Okay his butt. He was in the middle of a beautiful delivery and his leg went wacko and he was done. He kept us company at the table and became our play by play commentator. But I think he just wanted a butt rub. ;)
It's too bad too becuase Harry has natural talent. He's a great bowler . . . but nobody can beat Erica!
Here's a terrible shot of the screen. I had to take it because I was in the lead. You can't see the picture clearly but it's my only proof that I was ahead of E for a few seconds!!! She really rocks . . . and she's so modest and innocent about it! Love you E!!!
Anyone who would like to challenge the Dickerson clan on a few rounds of bowling is welcome to bring it on!!!!
On Thanksgiving I was able to go to my mom's house and spend some time with my side of the family and mostly catch up with my sissy's for a little while. When we get together we have more fun than we should and we forget others are even in the room as we laugh and fool around like we're still in our tweens.
Todd is thankful most for his family. His wife and children are the most important thing in his life and what makes him happy. Todd feels blessed to be part of such a wonderful family, immediate and extended, and loves how much he means to them as well.
I don't like scary movies or stories so when Brownie recommended that I read this book I didn't really give it a second thought. But a few months later I bought the book and it sat on my desk until I had my next plane ride and a few hours to kill. Brownie said again I had to read this so we could go see the movie coming out. (I've never done that before - read a book and then seen the movie. I just don't get to read as much as I'd like to.) So I took it with me on my trip and started to read while I was in the airport. Little did I know I'd become completely hooked on the book, stay up late to finish it and buy the sequel as soon as I could get to the bookstore. 
Jordyn sitting comfortably in the drivers seat of the airplane. I was amazed at how nice the pilots were and they invited me into the cockpit as well. "Sit here mom and we'll take your picture together!" the co-pilot said and they took not one but 4 different shots of Jordyn and I together in the seats. (Those of me didn't make the cut for the blog). Next Jordyn asked for a shot with the pilots . . . and they were happy to oblige. I still am in shock. What a fun way to start our trip!
We got to Philadelphia (after having a delay in Denver) at about 1am and went right to bed. My Heritage Makers friend and consultant in the business opened up her home at the Daylesford Abby in PA and we slept in one of the old buildings on the sacred grounds of the church. Imagine for a moment the movie The Sound of Music . . . not too far is the building where the Priests stay and the grounds surrounding the chapel are beautiful. It's peaceful, quite and sacred and was very special to experience. No time to spare meant we had to get up really early in the morning and get to work on the Heritage Makers business showcase and consultant training I was doing with the team. But we couldn't help but dream about what the rest of the weekend had in store for us. After all of the business was over we headed for New Jersey where we could catch the train to New York City.
Being on the train was a great experience. It was a double decker and much like an Amtrak or other huge train. It made a lot of stops like a regular metro would but the ride was smooth and comfortable. The trains have a train conductor who totally looked the part and was excited to have his photo taken with Jordyn. Everyone else on the train thought we were nuts but we didn't give it a second thought.
Upon arriving in New York City, I had no idea what we would be experiencing next. I mean I see the city on television but it just doesn't do it justice. It's so much bigger, louder, busy as can be and you just can't capture that on camera. Jordyn was excited to hail a cab (and couldn't believe how aggresive you had to get to get one!) and ride through the city. Our little cab driver didn't speak English and was not the best driver in the world. We were literally 6 inches from the cars next to us and the lines in the road meant nothing to him. As I looked around, it seemed that this behavior was typical for all the drivers on the road. I was a little tense, but Jordyn just laughed and made it all better.
It was cold and rainy and the sky was dark. The clouds covered the tops of the buildings, which I couldn't believe because they were SO tall. Skyscraper has a totally different meaning to me now. The streets were jam packed with people and as we went towards Central Park we drove past so many things I had never seen before. It was like a completely different world.
We went to Central Park and took a carriage ride through the park. Our tour guide gave us some history on New York and it was so cool to just relax and take it all in. I couldn't believe we were actually there. After our ride, we walked up 5th Avenue and saw all the windows getting dressed up and ready for the Christmas holiday. Apparently, Christmas in New York is a bigger deal than anywhere else. (Now I get why Erica is soooooo into the Christmas holidays - New Yorkers really know how to do it big!) Christmas trees are going up on all the big buildings and it was beautiful. As we walked past Trump Tower it finally hit me that this was real, we were really here. It's not every day you get to see stores like Louis Vuiton - the big spendy stores that only the incredibly wealthy people get to see. Jackie asked if we wanted to go inside of any of them and I felt so unworthy. We stayed outside.
One of the neatest places we did go inside was the famous St. Marks cathedral that stood so majestically and just called us in. Every time I go on vacation I love to find the old cathedrals and chapels that have been around for centuries. This one had to be one of the most incredible I've ever been in. And it was Jordyn's first experience. It was overwhelming really and Jackie (a former Lutheran Pastor) was able to explain some of the symbolic and sacred nature of the things in the cathedral. One moment I will always treasure is when Jordyn was introduced to the lighting of the candles and what that meant. I won't go into detail about what it meant for us that day, but Jordyn lit a candle for her brother and it was truly a special moment.
Before leaving for the trip I had lined up tickets to see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. They name it "Spectacular" because it truly IS! I have always wanted to see the Rockettes at Radio City and at one point tears were streaming down my face. I don't know if it was because it was such a beautiful show and I was impressed by the organization and perfection of the entire production or because I was seeing one of my childhood dreams being fulfilled. Either way I can't wait to go back!
New York will be an experience that I won't soon forget and I have plans to return as soon asI can! The next day brought another "first" for us as we drove South to the Jersey Shore and visited beautiful Cape May for a few photos and beach time. It was much to chilly to get in the water but the beach on the Eastern shore is absolutely beautiful. It was high tide and we had such fun taking pictures and playing in the sand. Cape May is quite a tourist destination but catching it off season was a special treat. It felt like we were the only people on earth.
Catching the view of the beach and the lighthouse right at sunset added to the beauty of it all. The smell in the air, the perfect time of night (twilight I think ;) and the chance to spend it with my beautiful daughter is a blessing I will cherish for the rest of my days.
I thought you might enjoy seeing a recent photo of Zack. Todd and I get to visit him every couple of weeks and I've started taking pictures at our visits so that we can see the changes in him. He doesn't look like himself really. Short hair makes him look like he's in the military and his glasses make him look so . . . I don't even have the words. He's almost as tall as I am and his voice is stranger than strange. (Growing up with all girls in the house I never realized how much change boys go through at age 14. It takes a lot to get to manhood!)
