Kiawah Limerick 2017

We are now back at home, and most things are put away, But before we launch ourselves fully back into the "real world," we must close the door on vacation 2017 with a vacation Limerick. (Really wish we had had Julie to help us with this!)

With Bucky's and brownies to eat,
Friendly deer and alligators we did greet.
A gun shot rang out, 
Police cars - no doubt!
A mama deer was now obsolete.

Is It the Place or the People?

Is it the place or the people that make for a great vacation, even if it is a rather short vacation? At Kiawah Island, it is a rare combination of both, but I would have to say that the people are the most essential ingredient, and here are the people I enjoyed spending this long weekend with.

We also met up with some long time friends from Wisconsin. Thanks, social media! We had a great time catching up with the Cooks at Gilligan's on John's Island.

On this, our last day, Walter and I got up early to see the sun rise (a repeat performance, but just as amazing) and take a long bike ride. We rode to another Marsh Tower and crossed paths with a few deer. Strapped to the Marsh Tower was a box with a journal and pens for visitors to record their special Kiawah moments. I think I could have filled up that journal. 

I think we all feel refreshed and relaxed. I also feel so grateful for time to connect with friends and the two children who live in our basement. I will leave you with a few photos. Until next time!

Riding Bikes

Whenever I ride my bike on Kiawah Island, this is how I feel.


This is what I actually look like.

Here We Are Again!

We are at Kiawah once again. There was not as much hooplah and build up to our long weekend away this year. I am not sure why. Maybe it is because it is a smaller group. Just the four of us who currently reside at 113 E Kenilworth Drive. But I am still determined that this time should be relaxing and rejuvenating for my true love.

After surviving torrential rains on the way down Thursday night, we discovered that the agent had forgotten to leave a key under the mat as promised. Oh, well. We waited for nearly an hour, and someone finally came.

We have enjoyed a leisurely pace, some pretty tasty BBQ, strolls on the beach, and long bike rides in the early morning coolness.

I have been thinking of and praying for our other children and those they hold dear. Seth is starting his doctoral program at the University of Texas. Thomas and Julie and the kiddos are on their own adventure/vacation in the North East. Megan and Matthew are in the midst of a move from Kansas City to Clarksville, TN. Seth's friend, Chelsea, is enduring US Air Force basic training in San Antonio, Texas.

By the way, there has still been a bit of "mandatory craft time." If we get the sea turtle poster finished, we are going to give it to Wilson so that he can hang it  up in his room.

Kiawah Limericks 2016

They weathered a storm named Hermine;

Don't worry! The kids are all fine.

The wind blew and it rained;

Only Faith's drive in was strained,

Not a tree fell, not even a pine.

Three walks the family did take,

Sand sculptures they later did make.

When his wheels were a spinning,

Young Wilson was grinning;

A nap in the closet he'd take.

They feasted on great BBQ,

Each other in Nerf Wars they slew.

The bullets did fly,

To make you cry,

"I surrender! Boohoo! Boohoo!"

Last Day

The most important ingredient for a fantastic vacation is including the people you love the most. I have spent the last four days with some of those people, and we have laughed hard and made some memories.

Last night at Gilligan's, after writing a vacation limerick or two with the help of Julie via text message, we shared favorite all time memories from Kiawah. We reminisced about our honeymoon, Thomas and Julie's engagement, the antics of the Ethan's, cereal wars, and long discussions about the pronunciation of the word "foot" while floating in the ocean holding boogie boards.

It has been only a few days, not a full week, but we all feel richly blessed. We witnessed an extravagant sunrise and tried to capture the beauty on our cameras. Ethan went to the beach after dark and laid down on a towel so that he could take in the breath-taking beauty of the stars and count the shooting stars. I took bike rides in the cool mornings with my true love. Clear skies and 80-degree temperatures have been perfect for sunbathing, splashing in the waves, playing games, and building sand structures. We have seen baby alligators, deer (aka "kangaroos"), and so many exotic looking butterflies.

We way goodbye reluctantly, but with the hope of returning next year.

A Perfect Day at the Beach

Today's weather was glorious! The morning was spent building sandcastles and playing in the surf. Wilson rode his bike to the beach, and the girls rode in the bike trailer pulled by their dad. We all returned to the villa for lunch (leftover BBQ or PBJ's). Then Thomas and Julie packed up for the trip home, but not before another epic nerf gun battle at Wilson's request.

This afternoon Seth, Walter, and I took a bike ride to one of the marsh towers while Ethan and Faith headed back to the beach. We joined them there later in the afternoon. It was so pleasant that we had a hard time pulling ourselves away, but hunger won out. We enjoyed a dinner of lasagna, garlic bread, and salad. Now the gang is getting ready to watch the Clemson game while enjoying our traditional beach dessert - Drum Sticks!

We are looking forward to more adventures tomorrow as well as dinner at Gilligan's.

I have some pictures that I would like to share, but the internet service is so slow that I cannot upload pictures. I will try again tomorrow.