Tour de South Part 6: Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach was my fourth area. I arrived there in April 2007 and stayed until early October 2007. I was next to the beach for six months during the summer. The waters of the Gulf taunted me. I loved driving down Front Beach Road and seeing the beautiful white sands and the emerald sea. I loved going down to the County Pier and teaching people there. The beautiful views helped people be more pensive and ponder the meaning of life. They were more teachable at that setting. We had two beach baptisms while I was there, and the water sloshed over my shoe when I was helping my new little convert out of the water, but that was as close as I could get due to mission rules. Panama City Beach was the strongest pull on me to come back and visit. That and I spent six months there and stayed in contact with quite a few of the members there on Facebook. It was the area where I first trained another missionary, the area where I had to re-figure out who Sister Chadwick was after a scary event in Pensacola. I grew a lot there. I learned a lot there. I healed there. If I ever moved to a humid climate, I'd move there. My heart was full as I introduced Brian to Front Beach Road for the first time. 

Unfortunately for us, the weather was pretty terrible while we were there. It rained most of the time. On Thursday, we headed to Wakulla Springs State Park near Crawfordville, my third area where I only served three weeks. While I was serving in Crawfordville, our zone went to Wakulla Springs and did a boat tour. It was really cool, so I wanted to go back and take the family. Thankfully, the weather was decent. The boat ride starts near the spring and then takes you down river a little bit. Since it is a state park, the waters are very protected, and we got to see alligators, turtles, water fowl, and even a manatee in their natural habitat. 

 It was a two hour drive from PCB to Wakulla Springs, so this took up most of Thursday. We spent the rest of Thursday doing laundry.

On Friday, it was pouring most of the day. We went to Ripley's Believe It Or Not, which is shaped like the sinking Titanic. Across the street from Ripley's was a new hands on museum called Wonder Works.

 Apparently you can do lots of cool science experiments there. When we come back when our kids are older, we'll have to check it out. Ripley's had some pretty crazy things. Michael and my favorite exhibit was the one they had of the Titanic. If you get a chance, ask Michael about the Titanic and see what he remembers. He talked about it for days afterwards.

 On Friday, we also drove to Seaside (where the Truman Show was filmed), and dreamed of owning a beach house. It was still pouring, so we didn't get out or take a picture, but it was still beautiful.

On Saturday, the rains parted and we FINALLY got to go to the beach. The family we were staying with told us the water would be really cold still, but we had Michael get in his swimming suit anyway.

 Being an Idaho girl who swam in ice melt waters every summer growing up, I thought the Gulf was refreshing, so I went back to the car and changed into a swimming suit so I could play in the water with Michael.

 Michael enjoyed running in the water and flying his new kite.

 Rachel didn't care much for the wind, but she had fun playing in the sand with Brian.

 After the beach and showers, we did an egg hunt with our host family, the Baxley's.

 And colored Easter Eggs. 

The next day was Easter. Rachel got to wear her new Easter dress

 

 And I got to see all my old friends at Church. Since I was there, the branch has grown to be a ward. It's amazing! It was SO good seeing everyone. After church, we laid Rachel down for a nap, packed, ate a fabulous Easter dinner with the Baxleys, loaded up the car, and headed to the County Pier. 

 I didn't get to do this as a missionary either. 

 Rachel loved looking out at the water below her. 

At around 6 p.m. we got back into the car and headed west, riding off into the sunset 

to begin our five day drive home.