This is Ryan standing in front of The Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY, home of the Original Buffalo Wings. Yum!
I'm finally getting around to blogging after returning from our anniversary getaway. Ryan and I took a week off together and went to Niagara Falls to relax and reconnect. We left the kids at home with Ryan's sister, Rhonda, and spent 7 full days having "grown up time". It was great! We stayed in an amazing bed & breakfast, Kilpatrick Manor, and achieved the perfect balance of doing fun things and doing nothing at all. We went for a ride on the Maid of the Mist. We had dinner in the Revolving Restaurant at the top of the Skylon Tower. We went for a tour in the Niagara wine country. We saw the Broadway musical "Wicked" in Buffalo. We ate lots of delicious food and saw fireworks on 4 different nights. But we also managed to read several books, take several naps, get a great massage, and watch the entire first season of the show "Army Wives". We came home very refreshed!
I think the best part of our trip was all the nice people we met. I kept teasing Ryan that he was "Mr. Most Inspirational" because everyone wanted to meet him, shake his hand, and hear his story. It was our first time really being away from the military and people who have seen an injured Marine before. I had no idea how deeply affected everyone would be when they saw Ryan. Sometimes it was just people in the airport who wanted to thank him for his service or give him a hug. One person even went to the ticket counter and requested that we be upgraded to first class for our trip home. (That request was granted and we had a very nice flight. Thank you Mr. Ken Morris!) But we really got a chance to get to know the other guests at the bed and breakfast. Most people only stay in a B&B for a couple of days, so after a week our hosts, Kevin & Nance, started to feel like family. And every two days it seemed like Ryan was telling his story around the breakfast table. People were always touched and amazed. But the most amazing part for me was seeing how talking to Ryan made others comfortable enough to talk about the tragedies that they had endured. So many people have had unbelievably difficult trials in their lives, but you would never know it by looking at them. Talking to Ryan gives them the freedom to share their pain with another soul who knows what pain is. And by sharing our burdens, they become a little easier to bear. Ryan wears his scars on the outside, which unconsciously gives others permission to show the scars they wear on the inside.
Here Ryan and I are standing in the vineyard at Pilliteri Estates Winery. It was beautiful!
I think the best part of our trip was all the nice people we met. I kept teasing Ryan that he was "Mr. Most Inspirational" because everyone wanted to meet him, shake his hand, and hear his story. It was our first time really being away from the military and people who have seen an injured Marine before. I had no idea how deeply affected everyone would be when they saw Ryan. Sometimes it was just people in the airport who wanted to thank him for his service or give him a hug. One person even went to the ticket counter and requested that we be upgraded to first class for our trip home. (That request was granted and we had a very nice flight. Thank you Mr. Ken Morris!) But we really got a chance to get to know the other guests at the bed and breakfast. Most people only stay in a B&B for a couple of days, so after a week our hosts, Kevin & Nance, started to feel like family. And every two days it seemed like Ryan was telling his story around the breakfast table. People were always touched and amazed. But the most amazing part for me was seeing how talking to Ryan made others comfortable enough to talk about the tragedies that they had endured. So many people have had unbelievably difficult trials in their lives, but you would never know it by looking at them. Talking to Ryan gives them the freedom to share their pain with another soul who knows what pain is. And by sharing our burdens, they become a little easier to bear. Ryan wears his scars on the outside, which unconsciously gives others permission to show the scars they wear on the inside.
This trip was exactly what we needed when we needed it. It was hard being away from the kiddos for so long, but we knew they were in great hands. (Thanks, Rhonda! And thanks to Aaron, Kaitlyn, and Kassidy, for giving her up to us for so long!) Jaida is off at camp all week in California. And then we're expecting visits from grandparents, aunts, and cousins. Noah turns 1 at the end of this month. So there should be lots of blogging to come! I'll try to keep up!
We survived a boat ride to the base of Niagara Falls on the Maid of the Mist. It was awesome!
5 comments:
Looks like a great time and love the pictures! ;) Glad to hear you had such a relaxing and wonderful time!
I'm glad you had such a good time.
I agree that Ryan is an inspiration and I'm glad to hear that the sharing flows both ways when he tells his story.
So jealous that you got to see "Wicked"! I read the book several years ago but haven't been near enough to see it on stage. Someday!
Happy Anniversary!
So glad to hear you guys had a good time. It seems well deserved.
We really enjoyed the CNN video of Ryan you posted earlier. I shared it with all the guys in the squadron. Ryan is an inspiration to all of us.
Happy anniversary and may you have many more fun and relaxing trips together.
What a beautiful inspiration you both are...happy birthday to Noah.
From the Huls'
Hi-you don't know me, but I found you through C-jane as I've been following Stephanie Nielsen's story. I have been hungry for any information on how her burn recovery will go. Thank you for all you have shared. I've read your whole blog now--your life is beautiful! Your children are precious. And your relationship with your husband is one to hold as an example.
My favorite insight from your blog has been how you described Ryan entertaining people at the bed and breakfast when you said, "He wears his scars on the outside and that give others permission to show the scars they have on the inside." Beautifully said. I am still in tears. How incredible you are to acknowledge that everyone has scars even after all the horrific pain your family has endured. But it's true...when you see an inspiring couple and an inspiring survivor like Ryan that is willing to share his pain to help others through theirs everyone takes part in the healing. I won't forget that beautiful analogy. Thank you to Ryan for wearing his scars on the outside so more of us can work through our scars on the inside.
Thank You. God bless you.
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