My last Blog. :(

Hey well sadly this was the last day of the vac. :( !!!!!!~!~!~!~!~!~ AHH! well i had a great time! We made it home safely. (and this time all the way home) Yesterday was alot of fun. We got to go to Peabody hotel! that was so cool. There are just ducks waddling around the hotel. Also we got to go to this DELICIOUS BBQ place. It was featured on Food Network. (yea it's just that good...mmmmmm) If you ever have a chance GO THERE!(O yea is in Memphis,TN) We aslo got to go to Graceland where Elvis Presly used to live. ( but we didnt get to go in it.) Then we traveled to Birmingham, AL to see some friends. Mr.Mike and Mrs.Liz. There we had BBQ again because our FAVORITE BBQ place is in Birmingham. It's call Johney Rays. If you ever have a chance again GO THERE! (you wil not regret it. plus there pie is GREAT!!~~!!) Today we got up and traveled home. We stoped at a state park and had another picnic. Our last one for a LONG time. Tomorrow I leave for camp. Anoher long week. But I am looking foward to it. Gonna try to get as much sleep as I can in my OWN bed.

Here are some pictures.

Both of these are from the Peabody Hotel.


I am gonna go to bed now and try to get as much sleep as possible. Signing off for the last time.


Sarah

Last Day of Traveling (Sydney)

Today was our last day of traveling. Me and Sarah started to cry [Sarah takes issue with this remembrance], but we we survived. At the SC welcome center the bathrooms were really nasty. When we got home we did everything we normally do to feel at home (at least I did). For example, I went outside and played soccer at 8:00 pm.

Some of the favorite people I met were Haley in Fort Worth and Sydney Elizabeth from CA. I don't remember the name of the girl from Santa Rosa, NM. I also met Marissa and Orien in Farmington. And that was all the people.

It was exhausting in the car - and boring. All I did was watch movies and play with my silly putty.

My favorite movie was Cow Belles.

My favorite sight: The Grand Canyon and Mesa Verde (but first Grand Canyon - it was awesome [this was a catch phrase of the girls]).

Thanks for looking at our blog. This has been good times. "The eagle is flying for the last time" [from the Princess Diaries]. This really means it is the last time I am writing.

Sydney

ps - we're logged off.

Home in Beaufort - Finally!

Fun Statistics from our cross country adventure:

• 13 Separate States (5 states we cross over 2 times)
• 4,935 miles total travel.
• 1 rock in the windshield
• 2 complete cups spilled by dad
• 3 total tiredness breakdowns (and then recovery - we love each other and know each other better now than before).
• At least 3 catch phrases from the girls - repeated many times over the miles.
• 12 movies - favorites included Cow Belles (watched 4 times) and Cars (3 times - and we didn't buy this until we were at the Midpoint Cafe in TX on Rt. 66).
• Favorite State signs - OK, TX, LA and AR.
• Least favorite - TN - didn't have one at the welcome center in Memphis - just a welcome to Memphis.
• Favorite Foods - Toms BBQ in Memphis (here's the link: http://www.tomsbarbq.com/video.php. Don't miss this food. Adam, the owner was great. The Rib tips are the best. If you go through W TN, you need to stop), Breakfast at the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon (only could afford one meal and breakfast at that), and Uncle Julios in FW, TX.
• Least Favorite - finally picnic lunch at High Falls State Park in GA today. After 2 weeks of the same food, we were just plain tired of it.
• Least Favorite Welcome Center bathrooms: SC.
  
• 902 pictures taken on the trip between 2 cameras. Thank Jesus for digital cameras.

Here are some of our favorite people we met.

Sydney Elizabeth from California on shuttle ride from Hermits Rest on the W Canyon. Both Sydney's became fast friends in a few moments. Here's a picture.

Two girls in Santa Rosa, NM when we stopped for a fast swim at a local lake and water slide. Lots of fun.


Fran at the Midway Cafe on Rt. 66 in Adrian, TX (AKA Flo from the movie cars).


There are lots of other great folks from around the world who have shaped our trip: the people from France who shared the laudramat with us in Page, AZ. Adam, the owner of Tom's BBQ in Memphis that kept thanking us for coming to eat there (the food's worth it), all of the old friends we saw along the way - who made time or space for us in their lives. They mean so much to us and it was always so much fun to share our family with theirs. That's enough for me. Let me let the girls share (they helped pick out these final thoughts). Eric

Still Traveling East - with pictures!

From Sarah -

Well today was a long day of traveling...again. :( And is not exciting because there is nothing to look forward to at the end. I am excited though that we made it home safely. Well, almost home. We are now in Fort Smith, AR. Today we went to Oklahoma City and saw the memorial there. Such a sad thing. Yesterday we got to go to Petrified Forest. That is so cool that a tree can turn into a stone~!~ Today we also got to go swimming at our hotel in a indoor pool thank goodness. We went to eat a Chili's. Tomorrow we are going to go see some friends.

The Grand Canyon was AMAZING! I cried I didn't want to leave. It is so beautiful there and I have decided that I am going to apply for a summer job there when I am in college. Can't wait. I took tons pics for everyone to see. Can't wait to get home.

Sarah

From Sydney -

These are the things I will remember about the Grand Canyon:

1. I saw tons of elk (well ... really 3). They make a beautiful noise.
2. The canyon was really beautiful when the sun rised and set. We woke up very early. But my dad forgot to set the timer. And he forgot to do a wakeup call. But we got to the canyon was just coming up. Hallelujah! We still got to see it.
3. We got to see the milkway, the scorpio, and the Big Dipper. I got to stay up really late. It was really cool, because the Milky Way looked like a bunch of clouds, but it was the Milky Way really. The stars looked like a bunch a polky dots or kinda of like 101 Dalmatians.

Every thing else I will remember about the Grand Canyon.

Here are a few pictures -

The Dees Family in Farmington, NM. Thanks for the hospitality. So sad our picture with all of us got corrupted somehow. (Not sure why one of our cameras does this. Lost several really good pics.)

A picture from Mesa Verde. Sydney's first Junior Ranger badge!

Marcia has been chasing pictorglyphs (I never can tell the difference) around the SW. This was her first spotting at the bottom of Marble Canyon (130 degrees. See Sydney's blog earlier).

We finally arrived at the Grand Canyon. What you can't see is just as we arrive it starts to thunder and lightening. We've just gotten done reading how dangerous lightening is on the rim of the canyon. We freak, but still get the picture!

Famous spot at the Western end of the Canyon. Just before our family adventure hike with the ranger.

The picture we tried all we week to capture. Caught this on the last night as we waited for an everning vesper service to begin. Not a bad place to worship our Father! [Kids say - notice dad's beard he worked all 2 weeks to grow.]

Long Day - By Sydney

Yesterday we traveled a long way. We watched three movies. We didn't want to leave the Grand Canyon.

Today we have another long day of traveling. The End!

Sydney

Traveling East!

It's late. Trying to get to sleep in a motel in Eastern New Mexico just off Rt. 66. No great internet connection so we still can't upload any good pictures. You'll just get my reflections on 2 weeks of a family vacation.

First, my mom, Jean Spivey finally went home today. Thanks for all who cared and prayed. I've been calling nurses and her room usually two times a day. We're just glad she's feeling better..

Second - time. We've been trying to think of the last time all 4 members of our family have been together at the same for this long. I don't think it has ever happened. Between work, school and activities we all move all the time. We have learned lots about all of our personalities. We've each been stretched to readjust our attitudes. We've seen what tiredness does to us and what a new day and sleep can provide.

3rd - As a Dad, I've also seen how wonderful my girls are. I love being with them and seeing them explore and learn and enjoy. My challenge comes in allowing them the opportunity to do so - to not put a damper on things. They've come up with their own catch phrases from the trip that I'm not allowed to participate - partly because dad's are weird. Go figure.

4th - I loved unplugging in the GC. Cell service was bad. There was no internet connection. I had not watch. Just allowing the day to progress were a wonderful gift. The ranger activities. The meal overlooking the canyon. The storms coming in over the north rim.T he elk and squirrels. It's not very often that we can take our own advice (I preached on this a few weeks ago), but it was very good.

Hopefully, tonight we can get more photos up. We have tons.

Eric

The GRAND Canyon

Well, everyone else in the Spivey clan has had input on our big road trip, so it is time for me to share. We have spent the last 2 1/2 days in the Grand Canyon. What a time we have had! We have been busy with casual hikes, ranger talks, story telling, star watching (the kind in the sky, not Hollywood), searching for wildlife and people watching! Each of us has picked an activity we wanted to experience. Sarah took us to a ranger talk on condors. Sydney has led us to several Junior Ranger programs (including a 1 mile hike down- and up- into the Canyon. Eric went on another ranger led hike into the canyon at 7 a.m. this morning. We chose to sleep! I'm about to sit in on a talk about the history of people in the canyon, followed by a Native American dance presented by Hopi Indians.

The last two afternoons have met us with thunderstorms. We learned that this is monsoon season in the Grand Canyon. Who knew? Watching storms roll into the chasm is exciting. But, the lightening in a bit intimidating. Also a bit unnerving for me is seeing all the people who chose to jump barriers and hang out on the "edge" of the canyon. Crazy, huh? the mom in me makes my stomach fall to see people so daring (and stupid!).

The view here is indescribable. I've often heard friends say that they wonder how someone can look at this place and not believe in God. With all the evidence of scientific history, I can understand how someone might lean on that as evidence. Yet, to see the Grand Canyon and not have a Creator for whom to worship in the presence of it is really a great loss! I hope you all get the chance to experience this beautiful treasure of our country.

We're having a fantastic stay!

Marcia

A few pictures from Sunday

Sydney did a great job of highlighting our day yesterday. We're tired on Monday morning. Each day is full. And it's been hard getting use to AZ's no day light saving's time as well. We are 3 hours behind the East coast here - and the sunrises about 5:15 am - too early for us.

Today we actually head to Grand Canyon National Park. Yesterday as we got out of the boats at Lee's Ferry we saw the start of the GC. We are working out way up to the highlight of the trip. I hope we are not "hey, kids, look at this!" overwhelmed at this point that it doesn't take our breath away. we'll see today as we come in the Eastern entrance - the less crowded entrance.

Here are some fun pictures:

Upper Antelope slot canyon. The one Sydney mentioned.

At the bottom of Glen Canyon Dam - just before we got on the River. Very Cool!

Our stop on the River - just after 3 of us took the plunge.

Here are my 2 favorite picture from Monument Valley!

Splash Day! By Sydney

Today we went to a Canyon. We didn't drive. We road in the back of a big, bumpy truck. They had lots of rocks that they would call Beauty and the Beast and George Washington. and it looked just like them. And it was kind of hard to see, but we figured it out.

Then we went to a rafting trip. Just after 30 seconds of starting a guy's hat flew off and we had to go get it. The water's degrees was 48 degrees. I couldn't reach the water until we stopped. Then I dove in. I was freezing. it was really really cold (I mean really!). We came out shaking. But we dried off.

We walked up to some petroglyphs - writings from a long time ago. They were very cool. It was 130 degrees up there by the canyon wall. When we got back in the boat, my dad put a water bottle where they keep all of the lemonade. It was in a bag in the river hooked onto the boat. the next thing you know, the driver says that the bottle is floating behind us in the river. So we had to turn around. We could see that it was thundering, but it did not rain. And the wind was blowing really hard. The waves were very - I mean very - high so the water splashed all over us. We were soaked and freezing! Remember, the water was 48 degrees (freezing). But it was hot and it dried us off.

At 9:00 at the hotel. Me and my dad went swimming. (not my dad, just me - he was just there).

Of all the things I did today - my 2 favorite thing was swimming in the swimming pool. But before we went swimming I was really, really, really hyper. I jumped up and down everywhere.

And that was the end of our day.

Sydney


[Now - it is time for Sydney to go to sleep finally. I hope you enjoyed her writing.]

Day ?? - Traveling the Navejo Nation

It's Saturday night. I really can't believe it. We've finally made it to AZ. The girls are asleep and Marcia and I have been coordinating the use of a Super 8 hotel laudramat with folks from Holland, Japan and France. A timed laundry was put into our 2 week schedule. We started the trip in SC looking for all of the US state license plates (up to 45 now) - but we might as well attempted to count the people from the different European nations we'd meet. I've lost track now.

First - let me give a great shout out to the folks who have hosted us on our adveture so far - Royce and Patti Rose in Fort Worth were our Sunday School teachers, professor and friends. We've seen them at various Baptist events, but it was good to be in their home again. Then - for our educator extraordinares in Farmington, NM - Liesl Dees and her two children - Marissa and Orien. Liesl went to Samford with Marcia and Me. We decided we had not seen each other in 17 years - since Scott and Beth's wedding. it's amazing how we age - but we all stay the same in some way - no matter what life brings at us. We had a great time with Liesl and family. we made sure to take some pictures of them (forgot at the Roses'), but don't have the camera in the hotel room. Sorry, Liesl, will try again tomorrow night.

We traveled from Farmington today across the northern portion of the Najevo nation.

We visited the 4 corners marker and had our picture's made. Surprisingly - we had to wait in line - and then negotiate with people in line to take each other's pictures. We started the day shopping for jewlery and spent the day doing so - from high end trading post in Farmington to dealers on tables beside the various view points in Monument valley. I think Sarah loved looking at the jewlery more than the natural wonders. Go figure 12 girls.

We then made our way to the Monument Valley - here is the infamous timed camera on the car hood - just a little crooked. Finally - a road to give our Honda Pilot the workout it was designed for - not just carting girls and family around. 17 miles of pot holes and beautiful sites. Can't wait to see Chevy Chase's version of this in vacation.

Tomorrow we combine two days of plans because of the late start and hold up in Amarillo - see picture below. We'll be touring a slot canyon called Antelope Canyon and rafting down part of the Colorado below Glen Canyon Dam.

Blessings to All.

Eric

Day at Mesa Verde - Dad's perspective

We did have a great time at Mesa Verde today. Sarah's impression is pretty good. Just good to be with our family.

Marcia loved just thinking about the ancient people. Sydney loved crawling through the ancient tunnel at Balcony House. Sarah loved hiking up the 32 ladder - wanting to climb as close to the sides of the canyon as possible. I just loved being with our family in the mountains. We could see moutains in 4 states. Of course, I was thinking as much about skiing - wrong time of the year.

We are amazed at the many different types of topography - so many different kinds of things to see. You think much more about the influences of the geography - how these things have come to be made - and the beauty of God's creation. So thankful. Here's a picture of Marcia and the girls at Cliff Palace.



Saturday we head to Monument Valley through the Navajo reservation to Page, AZ. Blessings to all.

Eric

A day at Mesa Verde

Today we got to go to Mesa Verde. It was amazing! It's so cool that they were able to build those amazing houses. I wished I lived there...wait a minute...no TV, no computer, no like everything! Maybe I wouldn't want to live there. haha See yall later.



Sarah

Rest for a While

Today was a day of travel....again. :( But I guess if we want to get there we have to travel, right? Although we do have to travel, we got to do and see some pretty cool stuff. We got to go swimming in a lake!! Not very often that a Beaufort gal gets to do that! lol It was so cool seeing some of the rock formations! They were so different then Beaufort. And the weird thing is there is NO water!!!!!!! What am I supposed to do without an ocean for another week and a hal. No dolphins, no pretty water sunsets! But even though its different its REALLY pretty. Well my parents are talking so I think I am gonna go check my FB. See you later.


Sarah

The Day of Surprises

You've heard from Sarah about our great gift from the Amarillo Rotary Club to stay in Amarillo for the night. Supper, hotel, and great musical about Texas - all for free have been fun. Amazing mystery- why is the hotel pool water cold when the air temperature is 100? We'll post pictures after the musical tonight.

Here are some pictures from our first few days.

Our day at the Fort Worth Zoo

Sydney's new friends - The Roses' Grandchildren. Thanks for the great Texas hospitality.

It's great fun seeing old friends. Thanks Alan for making time for us.

I guess you know we stopped in Texas by now. Here's the first welcome station.

The Mississippi River - near our infamous casino stay. Did I say how much felt like Chevy Chase?

Our first Welcome Center.

If this works - it's a short video of the play TEXAS we saw tonight in a beautiful canyon called Palo Dura Canyon - south of Amarillo. Here's a link: http://www.palodurocanyon.com

Finally - I've got to mention that Marcia loved getting our first taste of the RT 66 culture here in Amarillo.

Thanks everyone for reading.

Blessings from Texas!

Eric

A offer!

Ok, so this is going to sound kinda weird but amazingly COOL!!! We were just sitting at a rest stop in Amarillo, TX and this policeman and a business looking person (rotary club member) came up and asked us if we wanted a FREE offer of tickets to a play. And we get a free hotel, free dinner, get to go to a Canyon (second biggest in the world) one sec I got to go get a picture.......ok I am back. I got to go we are leaving like right now. I can't believe it!!!!! this is awesome. I will talk to ya later. Love yall!


Sarah

Day 3 - Fort Worth Texas

Sydney's version of our day:


Today we went to the Fort Worth Zoo. My mom used to work at the zoo.

My favorite thing about today was we saw a Green Jay - my sister's favorite bird from our bird book at home [Found only in deep south Texas]. Wait, mom just reminded me that I really enjoyed having the baby chimpanzee play with me through the observation window. I guess I forgot.


It was 110 degrees. Whew! That was the hottest day of my life!

This is our family at the Fort Worth Stockyards. Notice me on the longhorn steer!

Dad says that to tell everyone that this link is not about our family.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/14/arizona.grand.canyon.death/index.html

We are traveling to NM tomorrow. Hope to post again soon.

Here are some pictures of our first and second day of traveling.

This is the McGinnis kids and Sydney doing funny faces!

We are stopping at all the welcome stations and getting pictures like this!

Day 1 Sunday, July 12

Well our first day of travel was quite a day. We traveled 14 hours!! We got to see many friends. We have stopped at every states welcome station. That night for our hotel we stayed in a casino. Yes, I know but it was the cheapest and REALLY nice. Talk to ya later.


Sarah