Of course we thought of Mrs. D as we stayed at the
Marriott for the first time. :) The kiddies immediately pounced on the
plush-looking beds, checked out all the drawers and closets, made themselves cups
of tea, and wondered and exclaimed over everything.
Pizza Hut Meat Lovers pizza. My favorite. :)
We were pretty
eager to get in the pool (even though we had just come from lovely Lake
Ontario), so between dinner and bedtime our whole entourage went down the
hall, up the stairs, over the walkway, down the stairs, through the lounge,
up the stairs, through more halls and more doorways (in other words, through a
pretty impressive labyrinth, which just increased the cool factor) and
finally, back down again into a wide, empty room with a lovely pool and a cozy
little hot tub. We had the place to ourselves.
The next morning we went to the breakfast buffet... and
you know how that goes. We knew it was really time to be done when some of
our kids didn't even want to finish their syrup-saturated waffles. One of the
kids had an abrupt onset of upset stomach, and I wondered if we'd have to call
of our special outing. But NO, the owner of the upset stomach wanted to proceed
as planned. So.... we were off!
Arriving at the boat shuttle ticket office in New York, we figured it was time to let the kids know where we were going.
Willie's response what something like, "Huh? I thought we were going to Disney World!" Even Joseph, with all his imagination (and despite enjoying C.S. Lewis, Piet Prins, Vandehulst, Anneke B, and other great story-tellers who have written tales involving castles), didn't immediately jump up and down for joy, but studied the flyer a while and then asked, "What is there to do at a castle?"
Expectations are tricky things.
However, once Willie got over the fact that it wasn't Disney World, and once I got over the fact that the kids seemed only politely happy with the surprise and not quite ecstatic, we went on to have a really good day. In fact, a great day... one that just kept getting better... so that by the end of the day, we took home a van load of overflowingly happy and thankful kids, which made for one overflowingly happy and thankful mommy and daddy.
BOLDT CASTLE
It was during the latter part of the Gilded Age
that George Boldt commissioned the building of the castle on Heart Island. His
instructions were to "spare no expense", as he was planning to give
the castle to his wife for a Valentine's gift.
However, in 1904 Louise suddenly died. George immediately
ordered that construction of the castle cease, and it is believed that he never
again returned to the island. The castle
was abandoned to harsh weather and vandals for over 70 years.
Mom and Dad visited there 45 years ago on their
honeymoon and found it to be pretty much a ruin, filled with garbage and graffiti.
However, a few years later the property
was purchased (for one dollar) by the Thousand Island Bridge Authority, and
they have been slowly restoring and completing the project as planned
originally by George Boldt.
a playhouse George built for his two children (Under the long porch is a bowling alley.)
coins in the pool
The perennial question: who is king of the castle, and who is the dirty rascal?
It seems pretty extravagant, this love-gift from a
husband for his wife. And indeed, George would have been wiser to store up
treasures in heaven, where St. Lawrence winters do not destroy, and where
vandals do not break in and steal; where death has no sting, and the grave does
not have the victory.
However, we found it beautiful to reflect on the
fact that we have a Saviour who, in an even greater way, has spared no expense
for His bride.
Looking at this grand castle on a hill, this gem on
the St. Lawrence River, with Great Lake waters tirelessly dancing round it
onward to the sea, we remember that our Saviour-Husband has gone to prepare a far
greater house for us, a place with many rooms, incorruptible, undefiled, bright
with the glory of God Himself, that where He is there we may also be.
Our hearts well up. Amazing love, how can it be?
