Tag Archives: Pompano Beach

Family and Friends, RV Life, The Adventure

Mondays are for Memories – Sisters’ Winter Getaway, Final Reflection

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Usually when I’m putting together something for my “Mondays are for Memories” posts I just chose a post from the past (whether randomly or not). But today I wanted to wrap up the “Sisters’ Winter Getaway” series and since that is still such a fresh memory, brought back so many memories, and was so memorable, that I figured it would work. (Plus, I pretty much make up the rules here at RvThereYet, so who’s to say I’m wrong?)

Before I go any farther, though, I want to give a word of encouragement to any Mom out there who has young daughters who are NOT as close as you would like. I’m sure there are days when just keeping them alive makes it a good day! Do not despair! We three sisters were no exception to the hormone angst of tween and teen girls.

As the youngest of the girls, I know I went back and forth between being on “Team Elna” or “Team Joie”, and these days it’s pretty hilarious how each of us remembers certain events. But although our growing up years were pretty sister-typical, our adult years have been blessed with a steady increase of affection.  I believe a large part of that is not only do we share parents and a brother (Hi, Dewey!), we also share a deep and abiding love of Jesus.  Those two things, familial ties and faith, have bonded us and kept us close through babies, health crisis’s, the loss of our parents, and the bumpy road we call life.  We are so blessed to call each other sisters and best friends.

We do not take our treasured relationship for granted.  We are reminded often that no one is promised tomorrow.  Those 10 no-plan, low-stress, laughter filled days in January were perfect for us, and we will be forever grateful for them.   I think my brother-in-law said it beautifully when I thanked him for being willing to let his sweet wife be gone for so long. His reply –
“I am surviving and will see Joie soon, so all is well! Those times are so precious and important to you all. I am actually thrilled that the LORD worked it out in such an unexpected way. His ways and thoughts are always far above ours and why should we be so surprised when He blesses us in unusual ways?”

We have indeed been blessed in unusual ways, far above what we had imagined when we first discussed a mid-winter plan. To Andi and her family for allowing us to stay in such luxury, to Gary who willingly let us use that shiny red truck (leaving him car-less), to the husbands who survived pseudo-bachelorhood so we sisters could be together, I offer our heartfelt thanks. And for our kind God who worked all things together for our good, we give Him all the Glory!

Family and Friends, Pictures of the Adventure, The Adventure

Sisters’ Winter Getaway – Part III

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Ten Days. At a friend’s condo. In the Florida Sun.  We three sisters were just about beside ourselves with giddiness in anticipation of the prospect. We didn’t have a clue what the condo would be like (just that we were essentially being gifted) or what the area would be like (apart from crazy traffic) or what we would do with eight whole days together(with two travel days tacked on either end), but we were pinching ourselves that this was really happening .  In all honesty, with the exception of making travel arrangements, we made zero plans. And that turned out to be the perfect plan!

Imagine our delight when we realized the condo we were being blessed with was over and above anything we expected.
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Oh, and mirrors!
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…count the Stephanies!
We were so thankful that Andi joined us for the first 5 days, not only because it was her place after all, but because she was so much fun!! She fit right in with our low key, no agenda type of getaway AND she knew all the good places to eat and the shortcuts to get there!!
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(Our official ‘group picture’!)
We went to the movies (Little Women – how excellent), did a bit of shopping (yay for a local Costco and a couple of thrift shops), and connected with some friends who were wintering nearby.
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Although we couldn’t find any scooter friendly beach access, Joie and I did manage to put our feet in the sand and feel the ocean breeze in our hair.

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(Man, I’m a bad selfie taker!)
So while we didn’t do any beach sitting, we did take a couple of drives up A1A where we ooo’d and ahhh’d over the ritzy houses and glistening yachts. We may (or may not) have whined a bit about the traffic, but that is to be expected (the whining AND the traffic!). No documentation of said traffic or houses or boats is available because after all I was driving – and you know – traffic.
So just what were we doing? Well, we were sleeping until we woke up, enjoying our coffee on the balcony, and working on a jigsaw puzzle
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or two.
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Games were being played
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and wonderful meals were being shared.
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Whether we were navigating the roads of Pompano Beach or hanging around the condo trying to find that odd shaped puzzle piece with just a little bit of red in the corner or walking through the neighborhood enjoying the beauty of the area, our days were filled with laughter (oh my, so much laughter) and memories and prayers and maybe a tear or two. They were wonderful, wonderful, grace filled days as we soaked in our precious sisterhood.  Days that we in no way take for granted.

While I have one more installment on our SWG,  just let me say now I’m praying this was just our First Annual Sisters’ Winter Getaway!

 

Family and Friends, The Adventure

Sisters’ Winter Getaway – Part I

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It was in late summer this past year that we sisters decided that waiting an ENTIRE year before our next “Girls’ Week” was unacceptable. Totally unacceptable.  We didn’t know what a mid-year getaway would look like, but our wheels were beginning to turn. Since I was already planning to be in Florida from January through March we started hatching a plan.  I started looking at AirBnB type rentals on the west coast and the sisters started looking at flying into Tampa. Then an amazing thing happened. When a dear friend of Elna’s, Andi, heard that we were trying to put together a “Florida Plan”, she offered her family’s condo in Pompano Beach. January is her family’s month to use the condo, and they weren’t planning on using it.  How kind! How wonderful!  How unexpected! Our focus changed from West Coast to East Coast, and they started looking at flights into Ft. Lauderdale.  The dates were set, the availability confirmed, and the airline tickets were procured.  Oh my, this was really going to happen!! We didn’t know anything about the condo except it was on the third floor, there was an elevator and it was in Pompano Beach.  But that was all we needed to know! We invited Andi to join us (it was her place, after all!), and were pleased that she was able to make those arrangements.
All three ladies were flying in on the same day with just a little time difference and my job was to pick them up at the airport. (Special thanks (and I mean SPECIAL thanks) to Gary who gave up his truck for 10 days so this getaway could happen!) I made sure I arrived in daylight so I could scope out the new territory.  I also thought I’d work on getting some of my stuff into the condo before the truck got filled up with the other travelers.  I had the gate code and the code into the “stack” and I knew where the key was hidden. I thought I was set. Here’s my conversation with the gatekeeper, Vern, as I pulled up to the gate.
Him -Hello! Who are you here to see?
Me – We’ll be in the third floor condo on the first stack, but I’m not sure of whose name it’s registered in.
Him – Well, how long are you planning on staying?
Me – Ten Days
Him – Ma’am, there’s a problem with that.
Me – Well…and I began to throw out every bit of information I had. Andi’s maiden name, the name of the neighbor, the fact that others will be joining me that have more information…..
Him – Ma’am, that’s not the problem.
Me – I’m sorry, just what is the problem then?
Him – The truck.
Me – The truck?
Him – It’s against the association rules for any kind of truck to be parked here overnight.
Me – Now that IS a problem!  Even a pretty red truck like this?
Him – Yes – even a pretty red truck like yours.   Didn’t anyone tell you about these restrictions?
Me – No – but then again, I don’t know that I ever told the owner I was driving a truck. (Turn’s out that Andi was not aware of the policy anyway!)
Him – Let me make a couple of calls and I’ll see what we can work out.

A couple of minutes pass as he tries to reach someone official, all the while directing cars around me (you know, in the giant truck). Finally he comes back to my window.
Him – OK, I’ve gotten permission from the chairman of the board that you can park you truck here JUST THIS ONE TIME. But you have to park all the way in the back behind the dumpsters.
Me – Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Just tell me where to park and I promise we’ll  follow all the rules.

Here was our stack –
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And here is where I had to park the truck –
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It was a bit of a rocky start to our adventure, but I have to tell you we got a lot of chuckle mileage about the No Truck rule over the course of the next few days. And needless to say, Vern and I (and Paul, the weekend guy) were best buds by the time we left and I’m sure they’re still talking about those crazy ladies in the pretty red truck!

More adventures to come…..