Saturday, October 18, 2008

THE TRIP TO CELEBRATE #5 - Our day of reliving precious memories and making new ones

As you know from yesterday's post the first thing we did on our 50th was to locate the church where we had been married and take a similar picture in front on the doors. Here are a couple more.




(click on all pictures to enlarge)


Next we found the Old Court House where we got out marriage license. They had built a new addition onto it but we weren't the least interested in it!


Then we went into the Hotel Monte Vista
To the coffee shop on the corner where we ordered 2 Hot Chocolates. When Sonja found out we were celebrating out 50th Anniversary she offered to "buy" us a treat....either Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Icing or Mint Cheese Cake topped with Chocolate & fresh Mint.
We chose a piece of cheese cake to share and sat at this window as we enjoyed our yummy Hot Chocolate & Cheese Cake. Sonja was so impressed that we had been married 50 years and right here in Flagstaff that she told EVERYONE who came into the coffee shop!
Another picture of my beloved clinging to this street clock and saying, "No, no I don't want to get married".

At 10 a.m. we started the 80 mile drive to The Grand Canyon. About 20 minutes into our travel it began sprinkling and rained lightly the entire journey. We could not see any of the canyon at the lookout sites due to the heavy clouds and mist, but we still enjoyed the ride among the tall pines and up the mountain.



At noon we had arrived at the famous El Tovar hotel where we had spend out wedding night. This time they were all sold out and "there was no room in the inn".


We put our name on the waiting list for the dining hall and spent our time enjoying this old 100 room hotel which opened January 14, 1905. It was named El Tovar in honor of the Spanish explorer Pedro de Tobar who had led the first expedition to Hopi Indian country in 1540. This hotel was built by Fred Harvey who also built the famous La Fonda in my home town of Santa Fe, NM in 1876.

We asked our sweet waitress to take a picture of us eating our lovely lunch in the El Tovar. The building is built of native boulders and these darkly stained Oregon Pine throughout the entire interior.

As Mickey prayed over our lunch he added "And please God, lift the clouds from the canyon so we can see the beauty of your handiwork."

As we walked out of the El Tovar and toward the rim of the canyon to the look-out these are the scene's and views that God blessed our eyes with!!!!!










God indeed answered Mickey's prayer above & beyond what we had hoped for.
Such beauty. If any of you have never seen The Grand Canyon it is absolutely one of the things to put on your "Must see & do" list. Pictures never can capture the beauty and grandeur of this place. This is my 4th time to be dazzled by the beauty.

This little cabin has nothing to do with memories of our marriage anniversary but we took a picture of it because it holds fond memories of a trip we made to Grand Canyon in October, 1966 with our daughters, Suzette, age 12, & Jacque, age 11. My forever friend, Joan, was keeping 2 year old David for us. We stayed in one of these little cabins and roasted hot dogs & marshmallows on the open fireplace. The next morning we awoke to about 4" of snow. Happy family memories.

By the way, it snowed on this mountain this night, too!!!

Our plans were to spend Saturday night at The Grand Canyon at the El Tovar Inn. Then we were going on to Sedona for Sunday & Monday. We have been in Arizona numerous times but had never been to Sedona. We'd heard, over and over, how very beautiful it was so decided to add it in to this trip. We are totally flexible people and so we decided to just drive the 70 miles on down to Sedona for the night.





These are post cards I bought (because our camera charge was done for the day) of the stupendous beauty we beheld driving down the long winding road into Sedona. When we got there it was jammed pack. There was some motorcycle rally going on and the only room we could find was $275 + tax a night!!!! What???? We might consider paying $275 for a week!!! You know we are Frugal people. So the alternate plan was to drive back the 35 miles to Flagstaff and spend the night and return to Sedona the next morning to enjoy it.

Little did we know how much our "plans" were about to change. We got back to Flagstaff at 5:30 and I could tell Mickey was really worn out and tired. We got the very last room at the motel there in Flagstaff. We were just watching TV and about 7:30 Mickey said, "I'm going to go on to bed. I don't feel very well." He got sicker and sicker and I kept wanting to call 911. Finally he agreed I should take him to the emergency room at the hospital which he had noticed where it was that day as we were touring around Flagstaff.


At 9 p.m I checked Mickey into the Flagstaff Medical Center.

Even with this change of events we could see the hand of God. Had we found a room at either Grand Canyon or Sedona he would have had to be flown by ambulance plane to Flagstaff. We are so thankful we were in Flagstaff.

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18 comments:

kc bob said...

More great photos Susan.. one of those Grand Canyon pics is now living on my desktop :)

Nadine said...

Wow God is amazing how he works things out - from a special treat to being able to see the Grand Canyon to even getting you back to a place you needed to be to get help.

I'm glad he's better now.

Betty said...

Your photos were really awesome. Wish I could see the grand Canyon some day.
I hope your husband didn´t come down with something serious and is getting better quickly!
Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

The Grand Canyon is amazing! Alicia once climbed it a few years ago. That girl has been around :)

Anonymous said...

It's so much fun to go back and see places again with new eyes. Amazing how our perspective changes how they look. I'm so glad Mickey is better! (Hi Mickey)... I'd love to visit you guys sometime. We have to come to Tulsa next saturday for matt's ordination at an AG church in Tulsa. But I think because Izzy's staying with mom it will be a quick trip.

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Did you get the email I sent you?

Please visit my new blog at:
http://christiansprayerpower.blogspot.com/

Katherine

Anonymous said...

God certainly works in mysterious ways. He was definitely watching out for you. I'm glad you got to see the Grand Canyon. We haven't been there in several years but keep thinking we will drive up there some day. It is about a 2 hour drive to Sedona. We went up there a couple of weeks ago. I love that place.
Happy 50th Anniversary to you. We just got married three months before you did.
Hugs,
Charlotte

Jill said...

Susan- I am so very far behind on blog reading and have had a wonderful time catching up with you and reading all about your anniversary trip. I have never been to the Grand Canyon but hope to make it there soon...ditto for Sedona. Those postcards are beautiful! Even though I haven't been visiting your blog, I have been thinking of you and Mickey and your family and the children and I have been praying for you every night. I hope he gets better and better each day. Big hugs, Jill

Shirley said...

I am so enjoying "sharing" your trip with you! LOVE the pictures of the Grand Canyon.
I also love to see how you give credit to the Lord for each and every little thing - He does indeed care about every detail of our lives.
Blessings!
Shirley

Susie said...

Hi Susan,
I've been enjoying reading about your 50th anniversary trip. What fun to revisit the places where you began your long and happy marriage. I have to agree with you about the beauty of the Grand Canyon. Your photos are magnificent, but to see the beauty in person is just awe inspiring.
Hope Mickey is continuing to improve each day.
xo

Pear tree cottage! said...

Susan these two posts about your wonderful 50 years together have been so lovely to read and may there be many! MANY! more years of loving laughter for you both.

I just loved the photos being an Aussie seeing the grand canyon from your eyes is a treat.

I am sure by now Your Micky is so much better and what an amazing story.......best wishes Always. Lee-ann

Missy said...

Susan, your heart of gratitude just amazes me. I pray we can all have the faith you do!

I think you have inspired me. I tried once to go to the Grand Canyon and got caught in a desert flood! I think I might start making plans for my 15th anniversary next year to take a trip to see these places in Flagstaff. We've never had a proper honeymoon.

I continue to pray for Mickey!

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

I'm just beginning to read your journal about your trip. This one gave me goosebumps! I can see God's hand taking care of His children!

Thanks for joining my Power of Prayer blog! I know we will see miracles! That is wonderful that your friend called you at the hospital!

I'm off to catch up on your other posts. It's midnight here!

Katherine

retha said...

I would like to be able to see the Grand Canyon! In our God's Window we have a baby grand canyon, at least that I have seen.

I enjoy this travelling with you, Ma'am

The Olson's: said...

There are many times when plans change & it doesn't seem to make sense. But after, it all comes clear! God's timing is perfect! I'm so glad to know the end of the "story" already.

I love how Mickey prayed for God to clear the skies & He blessed you with a magnificant view! God truly is amazing!
~ Leanne

Brenda said...

Of course I remember the church you were married in now that I see the picture. Flagstaff Christian Fellowship! We know several people who attend there, a thriving church with an awesome college ministry, since they're only a block from the university.
I like the one with Mickey hanging on to the clock! And of course the Grand Canyon is spectacular.
God bless,
Brenda :)

... said...

you got some great photos. i agree, the grand canyon is such a spectacular sight. and up to that evening, it sounds like a wonderful trip. i'm so glad you ended up back in flagstaff.

Momma Roar said...

WOW! From how visible God made the Grand Canyon's beauty for you and to making Himself visible in your plans and safety.

T went to the Grand Canyon with his family when he was 10. We have plans to take the kids out when they are a little older to enjoy it more. His family took a 4 week trip and camped most of it!

Mickey is a planner - already spotting the hospital while driving around - sounds like something T would do!