If you know me, I like to set low expectations. It helps me enjoy life more. I'm happier when I exceed my goals.
Will I run a 5k? Sure. Will I have an excellent time to brag about? No, but I finished the course and now I can eat pancakes all day because I exercised.
See what I mean? And no I haven't run a 5k recently. I'm busy. With stuff.
When Yulee became too much, we moved. This would be our second move in two weeks. We packed everyone up in a frenzy on Thanksgiving morning. We loaded into the car and hit the road. North of course, but still not leaving Florida, because we don't have permission yet.
The night before I had talked to my friend Margaret. Her family was going to graciously put us up at the Comfort Inn on Amelia Island.
Here's how we settled on this location:
First Josiah had a meltdown, Eli got fussy, Aaron felt trapped because there was no where to go, and I couldn't take being cooped up with the three of them. When Aaron and I got into bed that night we were too tired to even sleep.
"We gotta get out of here."
"I know. But the thought of packing everything up....and I like this room. We need to move this room somewhere with a park nearby."
Aaron googled "hotels near parks near me" and viola! Comfort Inn and Suites Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island.
We think the Holiday Inn was done with us too. The cleaning crew had turned off our fridge so our food spoiled. They also put the check out notice under the door. Sorry Holiday Inn.
So we needed to haul all of our stuff and stop at a grocery store. On Thanksgiving day. First stop - Publix. It was closed.
Second stop - Winn Dixie. Also closed.
Third stop Walmart because I've never seen a closed Walmart. Until Thanksgiving day 2020.
Right when I was starting to worry we found Harris Teeter. Along with everyone else on this island. Good work Harris Teeter.
We unloaded the kids and bought some basics. Aaron decided to get some mac and cheese. And then some mashed potatoes. And then some turkey. Finally a salad.
We loaded up and checked into the hotel by 11am, unloaded everything, and hauled it upstairs. Eli was sleeping at this point, so I unpacked as quickly as humanly possible, because when he woke up he was going to eat for 30 minutes. Infants are like that. They sleep and then they eat. People will tell you to sleep while the baby sleeps. Honestly? How do you get anything done on that schedule? How do people move from hotel to hotel on that schedule? Obviously who ever gave that advice didn't have a toddler.
Finally we sat down with our Thanksgiving meal. The first Thanksgiving we have ever had without extended family. Just the four of us in that hotel room with pre-cooked food from Harris Teeter in plastic containers reheated in a microwave using only the +30 button because Aaron did the reheating and doesn't bother with the other functions.
That's right, ladies. I didn't lift a finger. No prep. No fuss. No bringing it to the table to reveal my latest culinary creation. Nothing. I didn't even clean it up.
Talk about setting low expectations. In 2021 I can reheat a can of corn and put it in a ceramic bowl and my family will be impressed. In 2022 I can make mac and cheese in the pressure cooker, burn the sides, and they will still be in awe. At this rate, I estimate I won't have to stress out about a full Thanksgiving meal until 2035.
After we ate, we went for a walk, because Josiah refuses to nap right now. And you have no idea how that hurts my heart. I live for nap time. I love nap time. I am a nap professional. Yet, each day it eludes me. One day, nap time, I will be back....
Two blocks from our hotel - a board walk, the beach, a playground and putt putt golf. Not like big adventure island putt putt golf with alligators and blue water. Small orange putt putt golf. Think Carolina Beach.
One block in the opposite direction was the rec department with a Pirate Playground on the left, and on the right, Fort Clinch State Park. The rec department even had a green way. Lush tropical trails filled with wildlife like fat brown swamp bunnies and birds. Palm trees that block out the sun on trails that go back into woods and landscapes that look foreign to us. Trails along Egan's Creek, where you can walk quietly and spot alligators. Real alligators. In the wild. Not in a zoo or aquarium or at a putt putt golf course. Fat lazy alligators in the water holding very still. Or not as the case may be. We saw one having dinner. When it jumped out of the creek and snapped something up about 10 feet from us I did indeed pee my pants.
Around 5pm a pastor from the local PCA church brought us home cooked food. It was amazing. We ate off of his Thanksgiving leftovers for days. It's the only home cooked food we've had in 2 weeks. Which you don't really notice at first, but then when it's in front of you it hits you - you've been surviving off of food from the deli section at the grocery store. Which isn't bad. The Publix deli section is AHHHMAZing. But a home cooked turkey, with mashed sweet potatoes, and dressing - can't be beat.
Christmas decorations have been put up and Christmas songs are on the radio. It's 80 degrees outside, and we are wearing shorts and sweating. Their are lights on the palm trees downtown. It's an odd contrast for us, but we like it. In fact, this is a place I could stay. I will miss Amelia Island when I have to leave. I will come back here. We often talk about moving here.
When we left Yulee and we were struggling to find a grocery store that was open, we weren't our best selves. We were griping. We were complaining. It was all very.....Jews in the dessert for 40 years wandering around following some dude that said he knew where he was going but kept getting lost. God was providing for us in the most amazing ways and we weren't taking notice.
But when Josiah played on the playground near our hotel during nap time, it all came together. We met a family who had recently become American citizens. They were from Cuba. Their story about living in Cuba, the limits that were put on them, their journey here, how they were able to create a life for themselves - it put things into perspective. They worked and labored for a life that we were just given by being born here.
We looked at what we had. Two beautiful boys. A marriage grounded in God first. Family that loves us. Family that was gifted to us through church. Friends from church who love us. People who have put us up in hotels so that we can not go further into debt. People who have given to our crowd funding. Grants. Neighbors who are like family to us. And a 4 week journey in Florida spread out over 5 months which gave us stories to tell for years to come.
So yeah, things are really really good for us. Things are amazing for us.
I can stay here as long as I need to.
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