Chicago Trip

As I mentioned in my last post, Dad, Rachael, and I made a quick trip to Chicago one weekend in May since Dad was on the commission to install the new pastor of the Westminster RP church there.  The installation service was on a Sunday, but we decided to make a little vacation out of it together and go up a day early to enjoy some of the sites in the city.  The top place on our list:  The Chicago Botanic Gardens.  If you have never visited these gardens, then the next time you are in the Windy City, make a point to do so!

A week or so before our trip I continued to ask the Lord to give us favorable weather since most of my ideas involved being outdoors.  As we drove into the city that Saturday, it was pouring down rain, and I began to wonder if we would have to resort to Plan C or D.  Well, by the time we had eaten lunch and unloaded most of our belongings at our hotel, the skies cleared, and it proved to be a beautiful afternoon! What a special gift from the Lord.

It was so very relaxing to stroll through garden after garden and take in the pure loveliness of the environment all around us.  There was the vegetable garden, the English-walled garden, the rose garden, the water garden, the Japanese garden, etc - not to mention all the lakes and fountains and rolling hills.  And the spring flowers and trees were in full bloom - it was so very beautiful!!!

Given that I have a love for photography, this was certainly the place to be.

It proved to be the perfect place to also get some photos together:

Since Rachael's smart phone decided to continually lock up on her while we were away, she resorted to using my phone (I made the mistake of giving her my password...;) )   I did not realize she had made it her mission to keep Kathy and Mom abreast of our whereabouts and activities 24/7, but it turns out she was in possession of my phone more often than me those two days!  This was a common sight and continually brought a smile to my face: 

To add a little more humor, here is Dad checking the weather on his phone (since there was a chance of thunderstorms that afternoon):

But we could have given him the live report if he had just asked... :)

For dinner Saturday night we decided to dine at a restaurant we had never visited before:  The Cheesecake Factory.  And of course, we couldn't leave without savoring their signature dessert!

On Sunday morning, we worshiped with fellow believers at the Westminster RP Church.  The installation service was that afternoon at 3 pm.  Dad was privileged to give the charge to their new pastor, Rev. Steve Rhoda.

Upon the conclusion of the service, we immediately set out for the three hour drive home.  Being the loving father that he is, Dad obliged to fulfill his youngest daughter's request that we take the route through downtown Chicago rather than around the city.  This offered some spectacular views of the famous skyline (though my phone couldn't quite do it justice).

As the sun slipped behind the clouds that evening and we drove the familiar route back home, I thanked the Lord for answering my prayers and giving us a relaxing time away together.  Special memories and a special place.  I hope we can return soon!