MO Family Vacation - Day 4

I promise that after today, I am only going to post two more logs from our Missouri trip, then you can follow my more exciting travels.

On Tuesday morning, Hubby and I left the resort around nine, once again leaving the kids to wake up and get going on their own. We didn’t know where we were headed, just out for a drive. We drove around the Osage Beach Outlet Mall but nothing of interest was open. And yes, I took pictures, but they were pretty boring. All except maybe this one which was across the street.   

We next discovered the Osage Beach City Park. It was pretty nice and would have been even nicer had it been warmer than 40 degrees out. But I wasn’t going to complain, at least the sun was out.

 I don’t know about swimming at the beach though, no matter how warm it was. It needed a lot of cleaning up.

 We drove around some more before stopping to explore a different section of Lake of Ozarks State Park.

 I took way too many pictures of this beauty that Hubby spied in a tree.

 By 12:30, we headed back to the resort. The kids were waiting for us just down the road at Dog Day’s Bar. I can imagine the place really hops in the summer, but not so much in early March.

 The kids wanted to take us out to lunch before they left to drive home, and they chose El Charco Azul Mexican restaurant. Val ordered whatever was in this monstrous bowl. It was really good though. 

We got back to the ranch around two and by three the kids headed out for their ten hour drive home. We hated to see them go but were glad that they could spend at least part of our vacation with us.  

MO Family Vacation - Day 3

Oh, my goodness, it seems like such a long time since we were in Missouri on our family vacation and here I am only sharing our third full day there. I need to get on with this.

Monday morning, Hubby and I woke up early, well, at least earlier than the three kids. We decided it was time to split up, so around nine, we left them at the resort so they could get moving whenever they felt like it. I wanted to see the Shrine of Mother Mary and knew they didn’t have much interest in it.  

 I bet it would be a beautiful place in the summer when the flowers are out and the pools are running and you can walk around without three layers of winter gear on and your nose running.

 Next we stopped at Bridal Cave on Thunder Mountain. Since we had just been to a cave the day before, we didn’t think it was necessary to take another tour, but I enjoyed noising around the gift shop, looking at rocks.

Shortly after that, we heard from the kids. They were having breakfast at the Wacky Knacky diner, not for lack of food back in our unit at the resort. They said they were heading to the Lake of the Ozarks State Park. We followed in hot pursuit, but never caught up to them. My son Nick had put some tracking thing on my phone, so that I could see where ever each of them were. And likewise, they could see where I was. The things they come up with these days.

Anyway, before we had left home, when I was looking up things to do in the area I read about the Swinging Bridges. They looked terrifying to me and I had hoped the kids wouldn’t discover them. But of course, they did.

 Actually, they both seemed pretty sturdy, but just too narrow and too noisy when you drive over them.

I walked about halfway over the longer one. I had a bit of a panic attack and couldn’t move for a minute or two, was terrified that I would fall through one of the cracks, which seriously were not that big and my five-pound cat wouldn’t even fit through them. But sometimes it’s too hard to be rational.

 

 We left there and started driving over to Ozark Cavern in the State Park. Along the way we passed this cool old house. I post this picture here just for my friend Denise, wondering if she happened to ever take a picture of it, as she had of another cool old house I’ve passed in Missouri. No?

 Got to Ozark Cavern, aware that it was closed until April, but the ranger at the visitor center said we could walk out to it and go in as far as the gate. She warned us about a beaver that was living there. We thought, cool, but we will never see it.

 Ha! Didn’t see the beaver (I actually don't think there ever was a beaver, I think the locals were confused) but scared up another critter. When I downloaded my pictures and started editing them, this muskrat showed up. We actually think there were two muskrats – the one that splashed away on us and the one cowering in the corner of their nest. Muskrat love!

 We drove back to the resort and walked around until the kids got back. Then we went down and played a few family games of shuffleboard. How sweet, huh? What a happy family.

On the Road

Later in the morning, on the day on which Jesus rose from the grave, two of his followers were casually walking along the road when a stranger caught up to them and joined their conversation.

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.

(from Luke 24, NIV)

Can you imagine having such a conversation with Jesus? Do you think that maybe at some point in your life you have?

MO Vacation Log - Day 2

We woke the next morning to still cold weather - around 40 degrees and rainy. Before the day was out we would even run into snow.  Still, there was none on the ground, not even snowbanks. I don’t think the snowbanks outside my window at home will be melted until June.

We didn’t get going until almost noon. That day, I couldn’t totally blame the kids, the time changed overnight, so we were all an hour behind to start with. We decided that the weather was perfect to explore a cave, Jacob’s Cave, in Versailles, an hour from our resort.

On the way there, we crossed Bagnell Dam, the structure which created the whole Lake of the Ozarks area in the 1930s. Hard to believe that this would turn a winding river into a massive lake and recreation area. 

We also took a side trip to check out Willmore Lodge. Built during the construction of the Dam as an administrative building, it now operates as a visitor’s center and museum. Unfortunately, it was closed when we stopped in.  

But we came this day to explore a cave. I’ve been in probably four or five caves in my life, and even though they are all the same in many ways, everyone is still totally fascinating.

MO Vacation Log - Day 1

My apologies to those who have been reading my Wednesday blogs about how to make the most of your visit to the doctor’s office. I thought that if I was going to post pictures and stories of my trip to Missouri last month, that I really should get that over with. I promise to give you another thrilling episode of “Coming to the Clinic” as soon as I can.

So, as you may or may not remember, the second week of March, Hubby and I were joined by our three kids (ok, son, daughter and son-in-law) at a resort in the Lake of the Ozarks. It was the first time we had all taken a family vacation together, with my two kids as adults. We had a good time, but I’m glad we had the chance to figure out our limitations on shorter, cheaper trip.  

Our first full day there, we woke to cloudy, cool weather. Actually, looking out the window as I write this and all I see is snow, that 40-degree morning with grass beginning to green seemed like we were in the tropics. We got a late start (late for me and Hubby at least, coz we are ready to walk out the door by eight am, vacation or not) and drove to Ha Ha Tonka State Park, in our two separate vehicles. 

 From the Missouri State Park website: Ha Ha Tonka State Park with its intriguing history and outstanding geologic features, should not be missed. The park is a geologic wonderland with sinkholes, caves, a huge natural bridge, sheer bluffs and Missouri’s 12th largest spring. The ruins of a turn-of-the-century stone castle overlook these wonders and offer impressive views of the Lake of the Ozarks and Ha Ha Tonka Spring. A series of trails and boardwalks makes it easy for visitors to experience all the park has to offer from its historic castle and geologic wonders to its wooded areas and open rocky glades. Picnic sites beckon visitors for a relaxing lunch in a scenic setting unparalleled in the lake area. All these fascinating features combine to create a park that can be explored and enjoyed time after time.

 I could go into great deal about these ruins, but you can look it up on line just as easily.

 I experimented with some computer enhancements on some of these pictures.

 Ruins of the carriage house.

The old watertower. 

 The old post office,the only building left standing from the town of Ha Ha Tonka.

 The Natural Bridge.

 The lake looking towards Tonka Springs, the castle ruins atop the bluff.

He Lives, He Lives

Looking back over this blog, I see that I shared this hymn just over a year ago. It’s still my favorite, so it’s okay to share it more than a single time.

Have a blessed Easter.

1 I know that my Redeemer lives;

what comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, He lives, who once was dead;

He lives, my ever-living Head.

2 He lives triumphant from the grave,

He lives eternally to save,

He lives all-glorious in the sky,

He lives exalted there on high.

3 He lives to bless me with His love,

He lives to plead for me above,

He lives my hungry soul to feed,

He lives to help in time of need.

4 He lives to grant me rich supply,

He lives to guide me with His eye,

He lives to comfort me when faint,

He lives to hear my soul's complaint.

5 He lives to silence all my fears,

He lives to wipe away my tears,

He lives to calm my troubled heart,

He lives all blessings to impart.

6 He lives, my kind, wise, heav'nly friend,

He lives and loves me to the end;

He lives, and while He lives, I'll sing;

He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

7 He lives and grants me daily breath;

He lives and I shall conquer death;

He lives my mansion to prepare;

He lives to bring me safely there.

8 He lives, all glory to His name!

He lives, my Jesus, still the same.

Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,

"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

(Author: Samuel Medley, 1775)

The Easter cross overlooking the city of Ayacucho, Peru in 2009.