Thanks for reading along yesterday while I updated the (nonexistent) movie version of my life. Lest you fear that I think of myself more highly than I ought, I will say that the original "just for fun" post of that movie-version-life was an idea I found on another blog, and it seemed a fun thing to think about. I rather hope there never IS a movie version of my life, because that tends to only happen for people who live through a major drama or trauma, and I'm perfectly content with my little life over here in the corner of the world.
ANYWAY!!!
When I was reading through old blog posts for my archiving project and found that original post that served as the inspiration for yesterday's update, I also found this post, in which I found myself dreaming of a future vacation to Chicago. I guess my vacation-plan-loving self dates back to my single days more than I thought!
I bring it up today because I always like to find evidences of the ways God cares about our dreams and desires (even ones that are not of eternal significance...like vacation planning) and allows them to come to pass in His way and time. And I always like to give credit to Ryan for making my dreams come true, which is something he does so well - and so often!
Back when I wrote the post, I was poor, single, and dreaming of the chance to see new-to-me places and enjoy new-to-me experiences. Now I'm married, and while we're not rich by any means, we're not destitute, and we are so grateful for the ways God provides for us to get to see new places and enjoy new experiences - and we always love seeing how many things we can do on a pretty low budget! (I think we've done well!)
When I read my old post, though, I couldn't believe how God and Ryan worked together to make my dreams come true!
(Side note: some things never change. I declared in the original post that I wasn't a city girl and didn't want to live there, but I wouldn't mind visiting, and Ryan and I have learned for sure that is still true. We aren't city people, but we do enjoy a good visit.)
Ryan and I spent a long weekend in the Chicago area for our second wedding anniversary, which means from the time I dreamed up this post in April 2011, some of the wishes I expressed were just a fewyears away from becoming reality.
* I said I wanted to arrive in the city by train, and we did that! we stayed in the suburb of Schaumburg, Illinois, and when we went for our big day in the city, we traveled in and out via train!
* I said I wanted to take a double decker bus tour, but it was December in the Windy City when we traveled there, so a bus tour didn't sound like so much fun anymore. This idea (for Chicago or any other city) remains on the bucket list. I still think the idea sounds fun!
* I wanted to visit the Skydeck of the Willis Tower, and we sure did! I even got brave enough to step (ever so briefly) out on the glass ledge. We didn't have a clear-blue-sky kind of day to look for as many miles as we could see, but we had fun up there!
* I wanted to take a dinner cruise - and again, Chicago in December sort of killed that plan, but do let the record show that Ryan took me on a dinner cruise in Sarasota Bay on our honeymoon, and it was everything I ever dreamed and more!
* I wanted to go to Lincoln Park Zoo to see what great pictures could be found, and we did! The pictures weren't what I expected, since most animals aren't out running around in December. But that zoo has a magnificent Christmas light display, and we got some GORGEOUS pictures. (And that's a free visit, too, so bonus!)
* I had never been to a "real game" for any sport, so I said I wanted to go to Wrigley Field and watch the Cubs play. They weren't really in season for our visit, but again, Ryan has made the "real game" dream come true by taking me to two Colts games! The first was when we were engaged and the second was for our first anniversary!
* I wanted to spend one night in a hotel with a view of the city lights, and that was definitely out of our budget, BUT! When we went, Ryan planned a very special dinner for us at the Signature Room on the 95th floor of the John Hancock building, and it did have a spectacular view of the city and all its lights. So I say that counts!
* I also wanted to ride the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier, and we still haven't made it to Navy Pier, BUT!! The first year we were married, Ryan did take me on a Ferris Wheel ride at the fair, and that was good enough for me!
I'm grateful I wrote this (silly?) hypothetical vacation post, and I'm grateful for how Ryan has made my dreams come true - even when he didn't know what those dreams were! (Pretty sure he's never seen that original post!) It gives me great hope that God has many more dreams yet to fulfill for us, and I'm excited about that!
2 comments:
Always fun to realize you lived out a dream, even if in parts!!
Now I'm dreaming of a hypothetical vacation. It is so fun to see how things we dream come true -- either partially or exactly as we hoped. Thank you for sharing this.
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