More thoughts on New York....

Yosemite's

Half Dome

NYC's

Chrysler Building

This morning as I was having my morning Bible study, thoughts of my time in New York were still on my mind. You know, after you come home from a new experience, your mind continues to ponder it all...well at least that's what happens to me! I was trying to tie together all my thoughts regarding why New York has left such an impact on me. I came home just completely awed by it all. Well, I am amazed by simple things, so you can imagine my thoughts after just seeing the Statue of Liberty, etc. I figured out that the most amazing thing about New York was its history and architecture. Dave pointed out that when most of the buildings in New York were built, they didn't have computer drafting, or even welding! Everything was done by hand. Which makes the simple fact that the Empire State Building was erected in just 15 short months an amazing feat of man. So here is where my mind wandered. The city is filled with amazing feats of man. So I said to myself, "self"...if I am so amazed at what man can create, how much MORE SO should I be amazed at what God has made? As our family prepares to leave tomorrow for a long weekend in Yosemite, I am preparing myself for just that. Yosemite lies is stark contrast with New York in that it is a place completely created by God. When did man ever create a mountain? Or the seas? Or an amazing waterfall? Or the birds, squirrels, or even man himself? Yosemite is the perfect place to be in awe over what God has done. It is a place where I can worship God simply because of what I can visibly see. But faith is worshipping God based on what I cannot see. My faith is based on the son of God being sent to earth to die in place of sinful men. But I have never seen Jesus, so where is my proof? My proof is in the creation. Romans 1: 18-20 says:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Nobody has the excuse of unbelief because we have proof through what God has made! We see it each day when we go outside! So as we leave for our trip, I am preparing for 5 days filled with wonder over what God has done. It far surpasses anything that man can ever create with his own hands. And to top it all, God made it all in 6 days. Beat that!

A Week in The Big Apple

We just returned last Friday from a week spent in New York City. Dave was there on business installing (shhh.......) some effects for the new Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum in Times Square. Well, he was there watching other people work. The construction site was not ready for him, and so he babysat and made sure his wiring/plumbing/etc. was being properly installed so another Technifex employee, who is going out this week, can finish the job. So, if you could call it work, yes, he worked from about 7am-3pm. He also inspected the site at FAO Schwarz, where they are installing the most darling little miniature Barbie Model Runway, complete with Barbies that come down the catwalk, do a little turn and then go back behind the stage, just like the real models! By the way, that FAO toy store is REMARKABLE, to say the least.

So let me begin by saying this was a TOTAL VACATION for the both of us. Nevermind the few measly little hours Dave had to spend at work. All expenses paid, except my own airfare made this a once in a lifetime opportunity for us. Our hotel was beautiful, and not to mention they put us up in a suite that was about 500 square feet! And I did not lift a finger the entire week. It was so strange for me. No cooking. No cleaning. Nobody else to care for. No laundry. No pets. No responsibilities. And plenty of things to see and do...That's my idea of a "real" vacation! Oh, I did pick up my dirty clothes off of the floor. Does that count as work? This is the longest time I have ever been away from the boys, and it was very hard. I missed them tremedendously. But they were off at Auntie K's house having a blast. And Karen got a reminder of how little boys live on a regular basis! Click here to read her blog about their time together!

So, we began our trip by spending the whole day on Sunday (his one full day off) touring the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Unbelievable!! It really is nostalgic to see her in person. To see her stand there in the New York Harbor, and to know what she stands there for. It truly is an icon of our freedom here in this country. Ellis Island was personal for me. My grandfather came into this country there. His name was in the computer database of immigrants who entered there. We also toured most of lower Manhattan that morning, seeing Ground Zero (the former World Trade Center Sight), some amazing cathedral churches, the Stock Exchange, Federal Building where Washington was inaugurated and that at one point housed congress and served as the Capitol, Wall Street and the famous "Bull", etc. etc. Standing at the World Trade Center sight was quite eerie and sobering. To think of the large cloud of debris and the images I remember seeing on TV of people running down the streets of the city were suddenly so real and personal. There is just a sense of nostalgia in the city no matter where you go.

The rest of the days were devoted to traveling around the various other parts of the city, seeing Central Park, the Natural History Museum (seen recently in "Night at the Museum"), the Empire State Building (we went to the top on our Anniversary!), the famous Chrysler Building, riding the Subway, viewing the Brooklyn Bridge from the South Street Seaport, riding the Staten Island Ferry, Grand Central Station, shopping, eating, seeing Times Square, and much more. We really enjoyed the unique energy that is present in the city. Everyone is getting somewhere and fast (except if you are in a car, then you're going nowhere fast). It is such a different lifestyle than we are used to, and I could not and would not ever live there. But it is somewhere I would highly recommend visiting. The city is full of rich history and amazing feats of architecture. Every building is a work of art. Your neck will be sore from looking up (hey, that explains why my neck has been hurting...I just figured that out!) And your feet will be sore from walking. The subway was a fantastic way to get around, and cheap! And we found the city to be extremely safe. Police presence was everywhere and everything is very clean. I felt comfortable walking around by myself even carrying a purse, and I observed many other young women doing the same. All in all, is was such a blessing to be able to see this wonderful place in person. I would certainly love to return someday. And I sure will miss the NY pizza and bagels!

Taking a breather....

I find this whole blogging thing kind of therapeutic at times. Right now I am using it to get all my thoughts straightened out! Whew.....just thinging about all I need to accomplish in the next 2 1/2 weeks is mind boggling. Whoever said that being a stay at home mom is meaningless, unfulfilling, and downright boring needs to just eat their words and fall off the planet....Come ON!!!

Dave just gave me the news a few days ago that he needs to go to New York to do an installation for Technifex. New York, like right in Times Square, New York! He then asked me, after seeing the inexpensive cost of airfare, "Could you, would you, join me?" SHRIEK!!!! You mean visit the place I have dreamed of seeing in person since I was a little girl? Hmmm...let me think about that? You mean I can go to New York and only have to pay for airfare? YES!!!! Then reality struck when I looked at my calendar and realized that I have food to prepare for a baby shower, Seminary Graduation, Awana Awards Ceremony, not to mention countless birthdays and anniversaries to celebrate (including my own anniversary, which, by the way, will be celebrated while we are in New York!), and then a camping trip to Yosemite which we leave for just 5 short days after returning from out of state! Feeling tired? I then stopped for a moment and realized that God would allow me to accomplish all of these tasks only if I relied on His grace, mercy, and help to do them. I prayed that I would not do any of it begrudgingly or out of duty, but to genuinely help and serve others and in so doing, I serve God Himself. So, I wrote every task I need to accomplish down in an orderly fashion, and then scheduled a day to do each one. God is already demonstrating his grace: There were more than enough days to do it! It just has to be well planned and executed! Karen and I are doing all the food for a baby shower for 50 people, and the shower falls the morning after I return from New York! So that means all the food is made and frozen ahead of time. All the camping stuff will be purchased before we leave, as well. Then it's off to New York!

We will be staying just a few blocks from Times Square, and while Dave is working during the day, I plan to stragetically visit all the wonderful sights I can reach by bus or foot, including Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Broadway, The Museum of Natural History, Ground Zero, the NYSE and Wall Street, and many historic sites and shopping areas. Together, we will see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, and perhaps take a bike ride through Central Park. It's all still in the planning phase. But we are very excited and can't wait to go. It's one of those places you just want to see in person after seeing it in the movies and on TV so many times! Stay tuned for pictures when we return!