SILVER SPRINGS STATE PARK

 Silver Springs in Ocala Florida is famous for its glass bottom boats.  It was Florida's first tourist attraction and it dates bac to the 1870's.  My granny told me of visiting there but for some reason I had never gone.   Well Jon had an extra day off this week so we went.  It was well worth the trip. 

  Someone asked why we don't take the little kids on most of these trips...well there's a couple of reasons.  The first reason is they are just not too interested in their schedule being changed around.  If it's just Jon and me going then it is alot of work to take them.  As they are older it's hard to find places to change them.  You have NO idea what a problem that is for us.  Also Sarah only eats pureed food so that is a challenge too, there are only a few places where we can get her food pureed- Olive Garden is one of the few that will always do it for us.  Thankfully they have a wonderful caregiver who they love and they stay home with her playing with their toys, eating and taking afternoon naps with no stress for anyone.  It also refreshes us not to have to be caregivers for a few hours.  We love our kids but the responsibilities with special needs kids only grows as they grow.  Think of having children who are toddlers forever..... that's our life and we gladly accept it but we need a few hours to unwind!  The older boys were both at work.  Our oldest son told us we've been acting like empty nesters LOL

Silver Spring web site

The admission price is $2 (well it is for seniors which Jon and I both are!!!!  OH MY GAWD!  It make me feel good and yet a bit guilty when the ticket taker questioned my age.  She was suspicious....and I loved her for that!  

To ride the boat it is $10 and you are guaranteed to get a few screaming kids or one that asks dumb questions (yes some questions are dumb)   we were lucky we got both!  Actually it's usually a parent who thinks little Mikey is sooooo cute asking questions and generally being obnoxious.... As you can tell when I have no kids with me I don't want anyone's kids around LOL  One of my pet peeves is kis who are obnoxious because the parent thinks that's cute...it's not!  Ok off my soap box! 

the famous glass bottom boat  The fleet they have now were first used in 1965... a good year!

 It's really that clear- no touch ups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This was actually used in several tv shows/movies

 Absolutely beautiful 

 Se walked all the trails and even did a dirt one to be able to get our 10,000 steps in.  it's very wheel chair accessible except for the boat a person has to be able to transfer themselves.  

 

Jon always wears long sleeves and pants and i wear as little as I can!  I don't know how he stands it in Florida!  He looks like a ranger! 

this was taken from the bridge- yes it is that clear

Most of the builds are closed for repairs.  I was so disappointed because we usually get a magnet and coffee mug from every where we go.

It was absolutely gorgeous and not too hot.  We got there at 10 (its a 1.5 hour drive for us.)  We drive up a country road through the middle of Florida Hwy 471.  I just love that drive.  We were there for about 3-4 hours.  We walked all the trails but didn't see the wild monkeys although we think we heard them once or twice.  

Then we went to lunch at a Cracker Barrel in order to do a favor for a friend.  Just know no good deal goes unpunished....   She needed cases of DAD root beer for her church on Sunday as part of a give away to the dads.  So she found the one in that area that had loads of it.  After we got it loaded in the van we ate lunch.  Then before we took the long ride home we stopped at the bathrooms....  now normally I wouldn't share that but there's a reason...

This is my FB posts only moments later as I wanted to capture my emotions....

"Y’all I’m DYING.... new Cracker Barrel-everything is the same EXCEPT for the bathrooms- they are switched. I am a creature of habit. Y’all know what just happened...I didn’t realize it was the men’s room till I came out of the stall & saw the urinal! . I ran out without washing my hands . . What’s even funnier.... my husband saw my tennis shoes next to him & was wondering about the guy with the MUDD Shoes on ( they are girls tennis shoes) I laughed so hard I cried & couldn’t get my breath I met Jon when he came out. He was laughing when he realized that was me "

You see I have a history of going into men's bathrooms BY ACCIDENT.  We have some family jokes about it.  This just took me over the edge.  I was absolutely howling with laughter, tears running down my face... I needed a good laugh.  And you can laugh at me!  I always say "if you can't laugh at yourself come sit by me and I'll laugh at you"  Laughter is good medicine.  

Life has been hard in so many ways recently.  I'm dealing with a lot of pain and loss as I recently lost a newly discovered family member and one of my dearest friends is facing a major health crises that is not going the way we want it to go.  Tears and eternity are close to me right now.  Both dear ones have the hope of heaven and that is a blessing but the pain of loss is very real.  For one the pain of not knowing about each other but for just a few weeks before he passed...and for the other one  a dear long time friend who is struggling so hard to fight a monster of a disease.   Life is so very very hard at times.  My emotions are on the surface right now and the only thing I can do is fall back on the promises of God.  I have to remind myself throughout the day.  Loss is hard for everyone that's why we hate death so much and fight it because we don't want to be apart from the ones we love.  But loss is my nemesis.  I've had more than my share of loss starting from when I was born- some losses were by death some were separation or things out of my control.  One of my close friends says I have a little tribe that I hold fiercely to and that's true.  I like/care about most everyone in my world but I'm not a gushy person.  I have "my people" that little group that I'd rather be with than anyone else in the world (some are related, some are not and a couple have never even met each other, they are from different parts of my life)  I'm grieving the loss of what could have been with the newly discovered family member.  A lifetime of loss that we didn't know each other and this person was absolutely one of the best  The stories I've heard just make me sad for what could have been if a lifetime of secrets had not happened.  When I say I'm a very standoffish person with my emotions it's no exaggeration.  So this crushing loss has taken me by surprise.  To be honest I've always been a bit prideful in how I felt I didn't need anyone especially family.  Of course I could psychoanalysis myself- that was my minor in college - but I have realized how much I wish I'd had more family in my life especially in my teens and young adulthood when I was so alone.  So I lost one who should have been a part of that tribe and I'm afraid I'm going to lose one who is apart of that tribe...  Pray for my friend that God will be merciful and give the doctors wisdom!  Life can be cruel but this is not the end.....