Mom and Kids at Bald Head Island

One of the boys in my son's class for the past two years took quite a liking to my boy this past year.  He invited him over to play all the time, and his parents' seemed to like my son's influence, for this boy is a typical hyper, energetic boy whereas our son is more mellow and easygoing.  Their daughter is a year older than my daughter, and those two have great fun together as well (although Emily is physically much more mature than our daughter).  For the first time ever, this family decided to invite another family to join them for part of their vacation at Bald Head Island so that their kids would each have a friend.  They generously invited us, but my husband did not want to go.  He was still in a sling and unable to help with luggage or be very useful he thought.  Also, problems at work called him into the office part of the weekend.  We had also just gotten Orwell that past weekend, so he felt he should stay and take care of the critters.

I was nervous about driving the kids down by myself because I've never been to Bald Head Island and did not know how parking and the ferry process worked.  I followed our hosts down to the ferry dock, so that helped a lot.  The kids enjoyed the ferry rides to/from the island.

We got to see a popular Baptist camp off in the distance while we sailed.

Fort Caswell

Again they helped me figure out how to call a tram which took us to the nice house they rented.  I got the private room over the double golf cart garage which was separate from the main house.  It had a bathroom, bedroom, and sitting area within the bedroom area, so all it needed was a microwave and a mini fridge to make a nice apartment for a single person.  It had a super tall vaulted ceiling (maybe 15') making the room seem much larger.

King size bed in the suite over the garage

Master bedroom with private balcony

The girls stayed in a large room with a double bed and two bunk beds and a private porch while the boys stayed in a room with just as much sleeping space.  With 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 2 large dining areas, a full kitchen and a large living room, and porches and deck all around, this house had more than enough room for the seven of us and their two dogs.

Posing on the deck outside my room over the garage

The morning after we arrived was spent on the beach.

After lunch we headed to Old Baldy Lighthouse.  The boys had studied Old Baldy during the school, so we made the lighthouse a priority.  We also saw Fort Holmes and the church where  Libby, a family friend from my home church, got married.

The kids enjoyed climbing the fabulous old trees.  They had so much fun (well except Ben who clung to the limb for dear life) that the mamas had to join them.  She's in her 50s, and I'm in my 40s, but we each pulled up onto those trees like a boss.  #NeverTooOld

 We spent the next morning at the Shoal's Club pool followed by a nice sit down lunch at the club. I absolutely loved the tree canopy paths and the golf cart commuter lifestyle.

We could get used to this life!

Next we went to the conservancy to get the schedule for the week and to look around. The kids did a little souvenir shopping and we all got some delicious ice-cream, but the kids talked more about their boxed water which looked like a tiny paper milk carton.  The box was simply decorated in black and white, and the kids were convinced that because the label said it was better water that it was the best they had ever had.  It should be for $2 a serving!

 

After the conservancy, the girls went paddle boarding.  I'm still waiting on pictures our hosts took us all of us on our boards, but it was a really peaceful and fun time.  Our guide and I had much in common.  He taught high school math last year and will be a STEM facilitator and instructor this coming year just like me.

When I took the kids to this quiet island, I had a simple prayer for God to speak to our hearts.  I was in a state of deep mourning for the depravity of our nation, and knowing the judgments that are forthcoming according to Biblical prophecy, I was grieving for my lost friends.  When we arrived, God gave us the most beautiful sunsets as our answer. They say a picture is worth a 1000 words, so here is a glimpse of what I heard.