Fun in Christmas Town

Frankenmuth, Michigan is also called Christmas Town and at this time of year, it was amazing. We went this past weekend and yes…I bought more Christmas ornaments…lots more. So let me share my pictures for those who may never get there.

We stayed in the Bavarian Inn Lodge, a fun place where you can swim in December.

But the best part was getting there. You had to go across an old wooden bridge.

The weather was a little cloudy but temps were great. The bad weather did not show up until we left. The lights at night were fun and the town Christmas tree changes its colors as it plays a new song.

Of course one of my favorite sites was the carriage ride where the horses were decked out in wreaths, bells, painted hoofs, and some were driven by a small elf on the shelf(besides the real driver). We didn’t ride cause I wanted to make pets of them because they are work animals…but still.

The main focus for the trip was shopping and good giggly wiggly…its almost too much. Bronner’s by itself could make you dizzy…about $200 dizzy. Plastic can get you in trouble.

But the amazing part of Bronner’s is the Silent Night Memorial Chapel. It was built in 1992 as an exact copy of the Silent Night Chapel in Austria. It is a must see if you go there.

All around the building are signs with the words to Silent Night written in possibly every language.

Inside was quiet reverence and information about the song as it was originally sung with guitar.

Of the trips we have taken this year, this was the most fun and relaxing. Our Inn at night…

I hope you enjoyed my vacation in pictures. I did not realize that Michigan was the Lighthouse state but it makes sense when you have a lake the size of an ocean that needs a lighthouse. The was the lighthouse at the Michigan Welcome Center.

Lighthouses are an instrument of safety to guide you from troubled waters – in my mind, Jesus is our lighthouse. Shining His light of love for all of us to see to walk safely…with an outreaching hand to grab when we misstep.

Remember as you step, step with kindness. Your kindness may be a lighthouse someone else needs to see.

The Island of Alcatraz Lighthouse

When people first hear the word Alcatraz they immediately think of it as a famous prison, which it is, but it has a long history before that became a reality. Alcatraz got its name from the Spanish in 1775 when naval officer and explorer Juan de Ayala surveyed the harbor and the San Francisco Bay. Since he observed pelicans in large numbers on the island he named the island as “Isla de los Alcatraces” meaning the “Island of Pelicans”. While I did not see many pelicans, seagulls were everywhere.

In the mid 19th century, the island was developed with a light house, a military fort, and a military prison. Below is a picture of the original lighthouse from Wikipedia. This lighthouse was first completed in July of 1853.

In 1909 a new and higher lighthouse was built to replace the original light house due to damage from the 1906 earthquake and the building of the current cellhouse which overshadowed the height of the current lighthouse. The new lighthouse is 84 feet tall with a tapered octagonal shape and its light reaches out 22 nautical miles. The lighthouse, which is the oldest operating lighthouse on the west coast of the United States, was automated in 1963 when the Federal Penitentiary closed.

With the island being vacated in 1963, Native Americans(American Indians) occupied the island for more than 19 months, 1969-1971. Their hopes was to reclaim their land per rules of the treaty. This island is where their ancestors gather the seagull eggs. Initially the occupation was a group primarily from San Francisco, but they were later joined by AIM and other urban Indians from other parts of the country. In 1972, Alcatraz was transferred to the Department of Interior to become part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.

Over the next few post, I will share the pictures and the history that I learned from my tour of the island. While the history was interesting, I had a hard time forgetting the sadness and troubling times from its history. This place was visual proof of man and his self destructive ways. I am hoping for a day where kindness and gentle nature is the norm, probably not in my day but maybe one day. Remember always the power and beauty of kindness and try to share it as much as you can.

What Do You See #79, April 26

Sadie of Keep it Alive has challenged us with an amazing picture to write our thoughts about. Spending a lot of my childhood on the sea, this really spoke to me so…here we go.

I PACE THE SHORELINE

I pace the shoreline. Where are you? Don’t you see the dark is coming?

I pace the shoreline. The smoke filled sky warns of the deadly fires across our land.

I pace the shoreline. The freezing waters turn my feet blue like the sea.

I pace the shoreline. Please understand how much I need you, how much I love you.

I pace the shoreline. The lighthouse laughs at me as it blink on and off. Can you see it?

I pace the shoreline. Waves crash gently against the lighthouse, assurance of a calm sea.

I pace the shoreline. I think I see the tiny silhouette of the boat. Could it really be you.

I pace the shoreline. Please come home to me.

We as humans are emotional creatures. These emotion are a gift from above but must be monitored carefully. Because if we let them have their own course of action, much pain can be made – not always on purpose. So I remind you always to remember the power of kindness, to use it often and to be aware of the beauty it creates.

Always be kind.