The Modern Nomads

One Family's Journey

Tag: Prince Edward Island

PEI: My Second Home

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On July 23, 2018

In Walker Epic Roadtrip 2018

This weekend was spent back at the place that is now my second home. The coolest part about this weekend was I got to share it with my mother. She was the one who introduced me to Anne of Green Gables and helped me begin cultivating my love for great stories. I will never forget the feeling or the moment my mom and I stepped around the corner and got our first glimpse of Green Gables. We just stood there, arm in arm, and reminisced about all those times we watched the movies together with a cup of coffee in hand. We envisioned Marilla and Anne sitting on the front porch chatting while Rachel Lynde hurried over to interject her opinion into their conversation. Being there with her was completely surreal.

Green Gables…Isn’t it stunning?!

And then…we actually saw Anne and had the opportunity to chat with her. She was “fascinated” by my mom’s fancy jewelry and my girls’ bright clothes. The girl playing her was so much fun. She stayed in character the entire time, and I was willing to allow myself to actually believe we were talking to the real Anne.

Mom, it’s ANNE!

To be honest, I always thought I would see Prince Edward Island on a romantic getaway with my incredible husband. But, I loved the way this has worked out. Sharing PEI with my mother, my own girls, and my mother-in-love was absolutely perfect. It’s hard to describe in words all the emotions I felt and sites I saw this weekend, so I’ll allow the pictures to do the talking…

The Red Cliffs

The Lake of Shining Waters

The beach we stopped at on our carriage ride.

Mom and Hannah on Anne’s beach.

Silver Bush…home of Lucy Montgomery’s uncle and her favorite place as a child.

Daisies are the happiest flowers.

My kiddos picking flowers off the road

All things Anne wasn’t the only thing we did this weekend. We wanted Aaron and the girls to experience part of the amazing countryside of PEI. The farms there are absolutely stunning. It’s hard to describe the beauty of its farmland, but imagine bright greens and yellows over a backdrop of the incredible red soil with a touch of brown in it. So, this time we went to Island Hill Farms and played with their baby goats, chickens, and bunnies while also watching them cut and store hay for the winter. Aaron was loved playing with the goats and watching the “big tractor” haul hay, and the girls were content to just sit and love on the bunnies. It was perfect farm experience for them.

Daddy, look at that tractor!

Sweet baby chickens

The baby bunnies were so soft

Acres of hay bales

I hug you goat!

And then it was on to the Butterfly House to actually allow the girls to be in the midst of a host of butterflies. (I’ll never admit this to KK, but it was a little creepy to me. 🙂 ) Let me just say, KK was in heaven. She has a love for fairies and butterflies. I came up and whispered: “Do you think there are fairies in here?” Oh, to have captured that smile would have been amazing. She just sheepishly grinned and shook her head “yes.” What a thrill it was to see her surrounded by her favorite “animal!”

Mommy, it landed on my finger!

This one loved Hannah…at least the urge the held.

 

Popi, the butterfly whisperer.

I don’t know how long it will take for me to get back there, but God willing, I will go back. Maybe this time it will be the romantic getaway I once imagine. But, if not, I’m totally okay with that. Sharing places you love with the people you love is one of those gifts of grace that is so precious. Until next time PEI…you have my heart!

The iconic lighthouse on PEI

One of the oldest lighthouses on the island.

 

Our Little “Anne”

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On July 21, 2018

In Walker Epic Roadtrip 2018

It has been such a blessing to see my children discover new things this summer. They each have either improved a skill or developed a new one. Since my girls are very close in age, they are often compared to each other. It’s been easier and tempting for me to lump them together instead of seeing them individually. This summer has given them time to discover a little of who they are as a person and not as “KK/Hannah’s sister.” So, today, I’ll focus on Makaylan.

I introduced Anne of Green Gables to my girls about a year ago. (Long before I even dreamed we would be here.) At the time, it was Hannah, not Makaylan, who took to the story. Hannah loved how unruly Anne could be and found her mischievousness to be hilarious. KK, on the other hand, was too practical for that. THEN came this summer.

We’ve been reading the books and watching the movies all summer. Though Hannah still loves Anne’s mischievous ways, it’s Makaylan who has found a “kindred spirit” in Anne’s character. This year KK discovered the absolute joy of reading. It’s hard for me to keep a book in her hand because she reads them so fast. She concluded that we were taking way too long to read Anne of Green Gables, so she decided to read ahead. Therefore, she discovered new things about Anne’s character that resonated within her. KK has always been a little more timid (but outspoken), somewhat “quirky, book-smart girl who sees the world just a tad differently. She studies people, places, and situations thoroughly, but she is not afraid to speak her mind if she must.

In Anne, she sees a little of herself…and she realizes it’s perfectly OK to be her. It’s okay to love to read. It’s okay if you are smart. It’s okay if you like things most seven year olds do not like. It’s beautifully and perfectly okay to be Makaylan!  Oh, what joy this brings to this mama’s heart!

Makaylan has also discovered that she enjoys writing. (This writer mama is leaping with joy!) They’ve seen me write the blog most of the summer, and it never “dawned” on her that I, too, am a writer. She’s asked me so many questions about writing, blogging, and getting books published. To my great joy, she has even began writing a book titled ???? … You will have to wait until it’s ready to be published 🙂 I don’t know how long this writing adventure will last, but I will cultivate it as long as she wants it.

So, to end this post, I will let Makaylan tell you her feelings about coming back to Prince Edward Island. I will post it exactly like she wrote it, and I know you will enjoy PEI through the eyes of Our Little Anne!

Prince Edward Island

Do you want to learn about PEI? If you do you came to the right place. PEI is pretty. Prince Edward Island is where Anne is found. We have been there 1 time. I love PEI. You get to meet Anne, Diana, and Gilbert. We are on are way there. Tonight we are going to Anne and Gilberts love story. I love Anne. I love Diana. I love Gilbert.  And I love you.  We went to Anne’s house. We are about to go over the really tall bridge into PEI that dad doesn’t like and is scared of. We are with Nana and Popi and tomorrow we will go back to Anne’s house. Last time we went into the Haunted Forest. It was fun. I am excited about being back at Prince Edward Island. 

Pictures of Prince Edward Island

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On July 13, 2018

In Walker Epic Roadtrip 2018

I wasn’t able to post pictures earlier in the week because we had a bad internet connection. My prayer is you will enjoy a little glimpse into one of the prettiest places God created. I loved touring around and seeing a place that only existed in my dreams. And…there was something sweet in realizing that you are never too old to get excited about your own dreams coming true.

Anne’s room look out over her beloved cherry tree

It’s Anne coming up from the field

Anne with my girls 🙂

Green Gables…Isn’t it stunning?!

Aaron LOVED Matthew’s carriage

Kinded Spirits

A Morning at Green Gables

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On July 11, 2018

In Walker Epic Roadtrip 2018

Today was absolutely divine! (Said in my best Anne Shirley accent 🙂 ) This morning I got to spend a day at Green Gables. The moment I walked onto the site, I was a little girl again. Chris let me go a little ahead of them, and thank goodness. The minute I got a glimpse of Green Gables my heart swelled with tears. I was finally here! 

I have dreamed of walking where Anne and Diana played, laughed, and got into mischief, and today it became a reality. As I walked up the side of the house, I could almost picture Matthew coming in from a long day’s work. The cherry tree that drew Anne in with its brilliant blooms was perched exactly where it ought to be. Marilla’s kitchen was completely spotless with her apron hung appropriately outside the door. And, Anne’s room was just as I imagined…plain but with a simple elegance. 

Then…the BEST part of today happened. As I was coming out the side door, Anne literally walked up, through the pasture, and into the yard. Oh, I know it was only a sweet gal playing the part, but today I didn’t care. I introduced myself, my girls, and carried on with her as if we were kindred spirits. Normally, I am pretty sensible and reserved in my emotions. But…not today. Today was a day for childhood dreams to become a reality, and I was determined to enjoy every moment. Soon after meeting Anne, we saw Diana and later Gilbert. As they watched the actors interact with each other, my girls got to “experience” a pure, sweet friendship that I hope they will always remember. Anne and Diana would chat, tell each other secrets, and stop to snicker as people passed. 

As I watched them, I was reminded of the kindred spirits God has given me in my nearly 40 years. In every season of life, He has provided at least one person I could walk alongside. Today, I thought through those friendships and thanked my Good Father for giving them to me. I’ve toured the world with some of them. I’ve laughed myself silly with some, and I’ve grown closer to Christ because of all of them. Anne used to say: “Kindred spirits are not as scarce as I once thought them to be.” And, I couldn’t agree more! I’m thankful I was reminded of that and hope I don’t forget it.

My morning at Green Gables will go down as one of the highlights of my life. The only thing better…experiencing it with my mom next week when my parents come to visit.

Until next weekend…

PS: I’ll post more pictures tomorrow when out internet connection is better. 🙂

Welcome to Green Gables

Meeting Anne with an E

By

On July 10, 2018

In Walker Epic Roadtrip 2018

It’s super late here, but I can’t go to sleep without sharing the wonderfulness of this day! THIS day… Since I was my girls’ age, it has been a dream in the making. Today, I left the United States, crossed over the border into Canada, and then crossed over a loooong bridge into PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND!! EEEEK!!! 

If you have known me for any length of time, you know it has been a dream of mine to see the place where Anne with an E “lived.” I’ve longed to see the rolling hills, Lake of Shining Waters, White Way of Delight, and, of course, Green Gables. Though I will have to wait until tomorrow to see most of this, tonight, I got to meet and “see” Anne with an E.

Chris bought me, Cindy, and the girls tickets to the Anne of Green Gables Musical, and it was everything (and more) that I hoped it would be. The girl who played Anne embodied the red-headed orphan girl tremendously. There were times when I got so caught up in the story that I forgot it wasn’t “real.” But, then again, it WAS real. In a very real sense, I was actually sitting IN a theatre, in Prince Edward Island, and seeing the play that sparked my imagination so many years ago. You see, it was through Anne that my love of English, and words, and speaking began to take root. It was Anne who reminded me that asking questions was perfectly acceptable. It was Anne who taught me that no matter how bad today was, “tomorrow is fresh with no mistakes in it.” And, it was Anne who taught me that “being smart was better than being beautiful.” 

The story of Anne has been part of my childhood, and now it is part of my girls’. We’ve been reading the books for weeks, and I introduced them to the movies as soon as I thought it was appropriate. They have fallen in love with Anne’s story just as much as I have, and tonight it was an absolute dream to be with them watching the story that changed my life.  

Furthermore, we got the surprise of our lives. As we were leaving the theatre, Anne popped out of the dressing room. Oh! What a joy and a delight to meet Anne with an E! No…she wasn’t in costume, but it didn’t really matter to me (or the girls). For one moment, I was back as a seven-year old little girl and meeting my hero. (Even now the computer keys have become blurry from the tears of joy!) Tonight was definitely a night I will always remember. 

In moments like these, I’m reminded of the love our Heavenly Father has for us. He allows little moments of pure, raw, unadulterated happiness to sweep over us. Sometimes He allows us to “meet” our childhood heroes. And, all the time, He reminds me that all of life is nothing more than pure grace. 

Tomorrow I get to explore this beautiful island, and I can’t wait to share it with you. But, for now, I sleep (or, at least try to sleep). 

Meet Anne with an E

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