Destin Graber Vacation

 

We had a wonderful family time in Destin.  It was more crowded than what it is at Dauphin Island, but the water is clearer.  Anna Maria Island is fun too!  For those of you reading this, what is your favorite beach to go to?

Our house had a golf cart that we could use, so often some of us would get a ride 1 1/2 blocks down to the beach.

Other times we walked.

We also used the golf cart to zip around the place.

There were a couple of ice-cream runs.

Jill and I had the same swimsuit, just different colour.

Our house had 4 seats and 2 umbrellas that were allotted to us.  There were more chairs we could bring from the house.  We would have to go down early to reserve the front slots to be closest to the beach before they were all taken.

Josh and I went down early one morning and after saving our spots, took a walk along the shoreline.

Boogie boarding 

There was lot of reading too.

Jill and Staci were reading the same book.

We discovered that Tenley is a beach girl!  She LOVED it!

The house had a pool that we used also.

Kaia fell and had to go to Immediate Care for 5 stitches! 

She was brave and still enjoyed the time at the beach.

She couldn't go in the water for a couple of days but didn't seem to mind it so much.

We all took turns cooking.  We had decided what we were going to fix before time and made a grocery list for a pick-up order.  We went a couple of other times too.  Food was plentiful!

Jason bought pizzas for their turn.

Jason took the younger girls to an alligator place.  

We had a little devotional time with the kids one evening where we shared Grandma Lois' hobby of collecting stamps.  We enjoyed looking through all the old, old stamps from all over the world.  My mother had friends she corresponded with in many countries.  

Did you know that at one time in our history, children 5 and under could be sent by mail?

We shared how Papa and I used to write love letters and pass notes in class at school.  We let them read them aloud.  Rather sappy, and they got a real kick out of it.

I had brought stationary and encouraged them to write notes of encouragement to someone.  We talked about the Bible being a "love letter" from God to us.  Many people just keep their "letters" on the shelf gathering dust.  If they would only read it, they would find treasure inside!  We gave each grandchild a letter from us and told them they could choose to open them or just toss it aside, perhaps in the trash, but they might miss something special!  We'd written that we loved them (Just like God tells us over and over how much He loves us!) and we also had put money in each one.  Just think what they'd miss if they didn't open them!  

The Bible is much better than money; there are immeasurable riches inside!  Open your Bible and find the treasure!

Then we had a quiz show about terminology that we knew back in the 1970's. Things like - what is a rolodex?  How did one make a collect call?  What are rabbit ears?  What is a party line?  What is the Sears catalogue?  (You could order clothes, guns and even everything to build a Sears house!)  

The next day, Claire had done her own version and had terminology that is new these days to see if we could understand their new lingo!  We didn't have a clue!

We celebrated June birthdays.  

(Sweet Kaia wanted to be in the picture too.)

Those cards I encouraged the kids to write?  They all wrote me notes of appreciation and love!  Best gift ever!!

Tenley had to model her birthday gifts.

And I think all of us got our nails done!

Family photo time.

Some of us were all wearing blue and white stripes.

We went to church with former Newton friends from our church back in Kansas, Joy, Brad and Darlene.  They moved here several years ago.

Then we went out to eat.

Such good times!

It was hard to say good-byes.

Next year, our family gathering will be in Wisconsin to attend the wedding of our oldest granddaughter!