As we read about MLK, Jr on our drive, we realized we'd be driving through Montgomery & when we searched points of interest, his parsonage museum came up just minutes off of our route.
YES! We had to go.
This was the parsonage for the first church he pastored.
Unknowingly, they gave guided tours and we arrived at a start time. We were the only guests! We watched a short video telling about his life, featuring parishioners during the time of his pastorate who still lived in the area. Then a beautiful older lady walked in to be our guide through the parsonage- she had also been one of his parishioners in 1954. (!!!)
I didn't know that I liked history so much but I found it to be so intriguing and inspiring. Blending it with my love of homes made it all the more real. It was chilling to walk through the home that he lived in as a newlywed, had his first baby, and hear first hand stories about the bus boycotts, meetings of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, phone calls with President Kennedy, and his personal epiphanies about the call on his life to stand up for his black brothers and sisters.
The kids paid attention so well and were so well behaved. Peter was most fascinated with the bomb markings on the front porch but they were engaged the whole time. It all was such a blessing and wonderful experience. We were pinching ourselves for days & weeks afterwards.
That evening we arrived in Gulf Shores, AL. We were all thrilled to be at the beach and didn't waste any time!
We got some early morning beach time the next day but then it got drizzly.
So we went for a drive and discovered Gulf State Park. There was a nature center that we ventured into and discovered they were about to start a program for a local school. We got to sit in on it and learn all about turtles, snakes, owls, alligators. It was so interesting, the staff were so engaging.
That afternoon and the next morning we enjoyed time on the beach.
All of our kids love the beach but I think Benny must love it the most. The sand, the water, it all makes him so happy. He could spend hours perfectly entertained on the sand. My flip flop is his boat.
Thankful that we got that beach time in so early in the "season".
Next, our final stop was the Alabama bay. I got to play florist and wedding staff.
Lily got to help me!
picking out the roses...
a big comfy, cozy bed...
we arranged flowers late into the night and had so much fun catching up and chatting
there was time the next day to hit up a splash pad
and then late night snuggles for this one
We had a more direct drive home with just one stop back over to stay with will and emily. I got to look at these beauties the whole way back.
We are so enjoying the chance to travel more now that the kids are older.
I hope they will have fond memories of it as well.
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