Inspired by Life- March

The Fog.  I've never gone to the beach on a day that I could only see a few feet ahead of where I stood.  It was extremely white and opaque.  The ground, the sky, the air; all white.  The plants even seemed without color.  I could hear the waves, but I couldn't see them.  It was a bit like walking by faith.  I could hear the thunder of a far off storm approaching.  I could feel the wind and hear it whistle through the oats.  I could hear and smell the crashing salt water.  But I couldn't see much other than the mist of thick condensation floating around me.  After walking only a few feet, I couldn't see where I had come from.  

If I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there, Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me.  -Psalm 139:9-10

Even through the fog, the power of God is mighty and profoundly evident.  Being only a few weeks away from Easter, I'm strongly reminded of the sacrifice paid on my behalf by my Savior.

Just the week before He rose from His grave, they took palm branches, greeting Him as the King, shouting, "Hosanna!"  "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" -John 12:13

And only days later, would they turn their backs, spitting on Him and ridiculing Him.  Calling for His undeserved death.

But He was pierced for our transgressions.  He was crushed for our iniquities.  Upon Him was the punishment that brought us peace and by His wounds we are healed.  -Isaiah 53:5

On a hill, the cross of our Messiah stood between two criminals.  This blameless Man, sent to save the world, hung on a cross, naked, affixed there by three spikes, impaled through His perfect body. 

For us.  For undeserving me. 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosever believes in Him, should not parish but have everlasting life.  -John 3:16

Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name.  You are Mine.  -Isaiah 43:25


This post is part of the Inspired by Life Blog Circle series.  Photographers from around the world will share what has inspired them to pick up their cameras.  Continue through the circle by clicking on the links.  Next up is the most talented, Channon Williamson.  To enjoy the beauty of her work and see what inspired her for the March blog, click HERE.

To the Rocket Drawers: Daydream On!

On February 5th we picked Margo up from school and went straight to Daytona Beach for our night's stay before the event that we had been anxiously awaiting for the past year: the Falcon Heavy launch.  We had been following the progress of the Heavy closely and knew it would be a hard ticket to get, so when we scored tickets for our family, there was a level of excitement in our home that is difficult to describe.

I've discussed Jude's love for flight in previous blogs (see "Scrubbed"--if only to see the cute potty picture of Jude reading his space books😜), but since he was a toddler, he has been fascinated with all things flight related.  Where fine art or family portraits might hang in most homes, Jude's sketches and drawings of space, airplanes and rockets are crookedly affixed with scotch tape.  And once he started school, he'd draw his rocket designs for hours.  Before long, my science classroom and office were also filled with his drawings and models.  I actually started a file for him to place his drawings in because space became limited.  I really can't even estimate how many times I'd look over to ask how homework was coming along, to find him working on his rockets or airplanes.  Instead of getting on to him for being off-task, I'd have him come to my desk and explain his design and how it was better than the rest.  And I know he drew and dreamed of rockets and airplanes during class too, because I'd always find those drawings stuffed in his book bag or tucked into folders.  And pretty much all free space on any binder, folder or worksheet would be taken over by his aircraft designs.

I still vividly remember getting my first "B" in citizenship for daydreaming instead of being on-task with my seat work in Mrs. Raurk's 5th Grade class.  And although my daydreams weren't as awesome as Margo's and Jude's, that's when my ideas would flow and my creativity piqued.

Although many of his drawings have fallen as the adhesive from the tape has worn off through the years, some of his drawings still hang proudly.

A few of the drawings from the "Jude File".

On February 6th, we woke up before the sun.  In the same way a family might get all decked out in Mickey gear to head to Disney World, we donned our Falcon attire and were on our way to see a rocket launch. As we pulled into Kennedy Space Center, the sun woke and the excitement rose with it.  We filed in, knowing we'd be experiencing something historic.

And as the day went on, the delays kept coming.  Winds and more winds.  But as we waited, Jude spent his time studying every rocket and engine display in the Apollo/Saturn V center.  Watching him study and touch the rockets, I could not help but think back on how it all began.  A daydream and a drawing.

With 15 minutes left in the launch window, they began to fuel the engines.  And we roared!  And as we began to stare down the countdown clock, my thoughts drifted to the engineers who had created this rocket.  This big, humongous moment.  Surely they drew rockets.  And here they were watching the daydream that was once a drawing on the fridge, sit on a launch pad as they prepared to send it into space. I think there are too many times we discourage our children from daydreaming. We want them "on-task".   And lots of times, our definition of on-task means answering questions on a worksheet rather than creating their own questions; or memorizing equations rather than creating a new equation.  Don't get me wrong, there's value in answering someone else's questions and memorization, but the ability to think and problem solve and create is far more powerful for the advancement in our world. And when their ideas seem impossible, we tend to steer them towards realistic dreams because we just can't imagine what they can.  We're inclined not to support ideas, designs and dreams that are outside the realm of our own possibilities.  And this rocket was no different. It was once a crazy idea that seemed impossible to most, and here it was firing engines on 39-A.

And the countdown from 10 began with screams and anticipation.  Hearts were pounding.  And then lift off.

There were tears and cheers and hugs.  We watched the most powerful rocket since the Saturn V launch into space and then we watched two of the rockets return and land in unison.  It was incredible.  The rumble from the thrust was like nothing I've ever felt or heard.  And the brightness of the flames actually made my eyes water.  It was possible after all and  we were front and center to witness it firsthand.  I knew immediately that it would be an experience that would add to and enhance the dreams of my children and the dreams of rocket drawers everywhere.

Daydream on, my rocket drawer.

This post is part of the Inspired by Life Blog Circle series.  Photographers from around the world will share what has inspired them to pick up their cameras.  Continue through the circle by clicking on the links.  Next up is the most talented, Cath Britton.  To enjoy the beauty of her work and see what inspired her for the February blog, click  HERE.

Turquoise

Turquoise is my favorite color and it has always been that way.  It's not blue and it's not green.  It's both.  Maybe it is my favorite because it is my Nannie's favorite color.  My childhood memories are filled with that color.  Growing up, my weekends were spent playing with my cousins on Nannie and Grandad's turquoise shag carpet and playing in the turquoise waters of Navarre Beach, just a few minutes away from their home.  It is the color of my children's eyes.  And it is the color of my favorite place in the world, Pensacola Beach.

Pensacola Beach, Florida

Our summers are full of turquoise.  Swimming and hunting shells and playing until the sun sets.

Admiring his treasure

In a place where she is weightless and not bound by reality.  She can fly or be a mermaid or a princess of a tropical island.  It's the magic of the beach when visited by a child's imagination.

All seems right, from our beach chairs.

From my kitchen sink, I look out my window and thank God for the colors in my life and the colors in my childhood memories.  And I pray that my Margo and Jude will look back one day on their childhood memories that are full of turquoise, and feel the same overflowing joy that I do. 

My childhood turquoise:  Nannie's and Grandad's with the cousins. 

Riding in the back of the Ram to the beach until we were burnt and ready to play on the carpet until there wasn't any play left in us.

This post is part of the Artist Inspired Blog Circle series.  Every artist will have their own vision of the theme,{Turquoise}.  Continue through the circle of their visions for {Turquoise} by clicking on the links.  Next up is the most talented, Nikki Smith.  To enjoy the beauty of her work and her artistic vision on this theme, click HERE.

The Artists Inspired Blog Circle is made up of an exceptionally talented group of photographers from all walks of life, from all over the world.  They are wives, mothers, friends, daughters and visual storytellers who draw from their own experiences to create art that is inspiring, unique, beautiful and thought-provoking.

Scrubbed

Last Thursday we headed to Kennedy Space Center, but it wasn't just for a visit, it was for a rocket launch.  We were already in South Florida, so we really couldn't believe how perfect the timing was for us to experience an actual launch.  We were able to tour the Visitor Complex for about an hour before we needed to head over to the viewing area at the Saturn V Center. 

We asked one of the guides, "If you only had an hour to see anything here at the Visitor Complex, what would you see?".  There was no hesitation.  "Atlantis.  Without a doubt.  Atlantis".  And so, Atlantis it was!  And it was amazing!  For Josh and me it was nostalgic, and for Margo and Jude it was historic.  I'm not going to lie, for the majority of the presentation and exhibit I had goosebumps.  We walked around that shuttle and Jude read every single word of every single sign.  He discussed the engines and the designs and the functions of all the parts of the shuttle.  And at some points he just stared and thought and soaked it all in.  Now don't get me wrong, Margo thoroughly enjoyed it as well.  She loved the historical parts of the exhibit and the stories.  But for Jude, it was different.  It was inspiring.

Josh snapped a picture of Jude explaining why he felt the engines were designed and positioned the way they were.  And he agreed with the design.  Mostly.

I had to drag them out of the exhibit, pretty literally.  We were only able to see about half of the exhibit before we needed to be boarding our bus for the launch.  There were four times on our way out of the building that I had to physically turn back around to go get Jude from where he got distracted by a diagram, model, sign, etc.  After the fourth time, I just held his hand and escorted him out of the building.

We boarded the bus and we made our way over to the Saturn V Center.  We grabbed lunch at the café and we walked out to the grassy area facing the launch pad.  And then lightning hit pretty nearby.  We were all called in doors where we anxiously waited.  After about 45 minutes, we were given the okay to head back out to the viewing area.  After everyone was seated and ready for the launch, with about 25 minutes until liftoff,  another bolt of lightning struck so close that I thought someone flashed their camera right at my face. And then over the intercom, "Ladies and Gentleman, this launch has been SCRUBBED."  Well, I had no idea what they meant by scrubbed in this context, but every other use of the term meant something good.  The vehicle is scrubbed down.  The report is scrubbed and ready to go.  But I learned very quick like, that in terms of a rocket launch, the last word you want to hear over the intercom is, "scrubbed"!  To say that we were bummed would be an understatement. 

We got in line to board the bus back to the Visitor Complex (which was now closed).  In line behind us, a girl cried.  They were real tears.  Tears of sadness.  Margo turned to her and said, "We understand.  We're sad too."  Her mom told us that she wanted to be an astronaut when she grows up and they flew all the way from Maryland to watch this launch.  Jude looked at her and said, "I don't want to fly in them.  I want to build them for you to fly in."  By the time we reached the bus, they had planned out their future in aeronautical engineering and space exploration.  As we boarded the bus, we were given a green ticket.  And with that green ticket was the chance for another launch for Saturday.  On our way to the parking lot, we passed the Rocket Garden.  As Jude walked by each rocket, he'd pet the base and pat it as to say, "Good girl.  You did your job".  And I'm pretty sure that Jude felt deep in his heart that he could build one of those himself soon enough.

   

For the next few days, while we decided if we'd drive 3 hours round trip again for a possible launch (there was an 80% chance of thunderstorms around launch time), I thought about how Jude's life had revolved around all things related to space or flight.  From 18 months old, he knew his planets.  At two, he had all his space books memorized and loved to draw the solar system and rockets.  He grew to become fascinated with flight.  Most objects turned into projectiles.  And the past few years, he's become obsessed with paper airplanes and the science of flight.  Last year he won second place in the district for his paper airplane flight at the Elementary Science Olympiad and this year placed first in the district for paper rockets. 

Jude telling Margo all about the order of the planets in our solar system at age 2.

As a toddler, he'd watch space documentaries over and over.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled play and nap time to bring you this program on space.

After the shower, he had a hard time focusing on getting dressed when he had a solar system that needed to orbit around the sun.

While Margo reads the story of the aircraft, Jude studies the engine.

The paper airplanes recovered during one afternoon of cleaning the house.

The Hellcat is his favorite airplane.  He'll talk you through every part of her build.

By the time Saturday rolled around, we had made up our minds that we were going to the launch, even if there was a rather large possibility that it would be scrubbed again.   On the way to Kennedy Space Center, Jude told us that he wished he had a notepad to take notes and make some diagrams.  Well we fixed that with a quick stop at a CVS and $1.47.  So equipped with his pad and pen, Jude walked in ready to take notes, draw diagrams and write down his ideas.  The Thursday before, we were too rushed to see anything other than part of the Atlantis exhibit, so we were excited that we'd be able to take our time visiting and exploring the attractions (the scrubbed launch actually turned into a blessing).  But as much this science-teacher-at-heart loved the exhibits, even more I loved watching Jude take his notes and draw his diagrams and dream.  Arrows depicting forces and lines and x's accompanied by his thoughts and explanations filled the little pages of his pocket notebook, which he had already labeled in his not-so-neat handwriting, "Space Records". 

It rained off and on throughout the day, and I had my doubts that we'd get to see the launch.  And as we loaded the bus to head to the Saturn V Center once again, Jude said that he'd been praying all day that the Falcon 9 would take flight.  And well, I don't even know why I even had doubts!  We sat in the stands as clouds moved about, but the closer we were to launch time, the better the weather got.  With 5 minutes until launch time we watched the vapor roll off the rocket and the live broadcast as we drank our Cokes and ate our M&M's.  And we got nervous.  Like seriously nervous.  It was a type of excitement that I really can't put into words.  All four of us were on pins and needles watching those red digital numbers decline.

When we were down to a minute, my heart was beating out of my chest.   And Jude's little hand wrapped around my leg.  And Margo put down her Coke and M&M's.  And then we were down to the countdown with a shouting unison.  10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...

The tears came.  It's hard to express what one feels when they experience a rocket launch for the first time. It was pride and patriotism and my passion for science education and my love for my children.  Watching the Falcon 9 take off from the same launch pad that the Apollo missions and Shuttle missions launched from was a most spectacular experience.  We watched it ride out of sight and we screamed and cheered and clapped and cried.  And then, 8 minutes after taking off for space, the Falcon 9 came right back in for a landing.  I still don't quite understand how they do it, but someone had an amazing idea.  Someone who wasn't scared to dream up things beyond the times.  Someone who thought creatively.  And here it was before my very eyes.  It is unbelievably amazing that they can send a spacecraft into space, then reenter Earth and go on to land upright on a small concrete pad.  Unbelievable!

  

After the landing, we took some pictures and then made our way to the busses.  Heading out, we decided that we needed to buy a Falcon 9 t-shirt for the future astronaut who was so sad about the scrubbed launch and had to fly out before she could see the rescheduled launch.  While Josh waited in line to buy the shirt, Jude sat and he wrote. 

Josh ended up buying us all t-shirts and Jude continued to write for the next hour.  Whatever he wrote, I'm pretty sure that he'll live it out one day if that is what he chooses to do.

Click to watch the Falcon 9 Rocket Launch from June 3, 2017.  It was the 100th launch from that Launch Complex.