Vacation Hijacked

I wrote the following a week ago after finding out Ben's elaborate plans for my life :) I couldn't post it until now since we had no internet access where we were..and this the explanation of that:

What I thought was happening last weekend:

We set out Friday evening and headed to North Conway for Ben's work's employee fall outing. They put up all the employee families at the Red Jacket Inn with indoor water park passes, breakfast buffet and cookout included. It was great! About a month ago, however, we found out that Ben's dad was being installed as the pastor of his new church on the island of Islesboro on the same weekend as the outing. Since that was also something we wanted to go to we decided we would leave the work outing a day early and get up at the crack of dawn (or a little before) and drive the 3+ hours to catch the early ferry in order to make it to church in time for the installation service. Then we would stay overnight and catch the ferry back the next day and drive home. Ben took Monday off so he didn't have to do all that driving in one day and we would head home at a leisurely pace and get back Monday night.

What actually happened:

All that I had anticipated happening, as described above, did happen UNTIL we got to church on the island. As I opened up the bulletin I read that the installation service was next Saturday at 2 pm. WHAT??? I immediately started thinking "We got up at 4:30 am, missed the last day of the outing in North Conway and drove while stressing about making it in time to catch the ferry...and it is not even happening this weekend??? What? Who made the mistake, why didn't anybody tell us? It wouldn't be the first time the church had changed something, or forgotten to communicate something...but Ben's name was in the bulletin as playing the piano...hadn't there been time to notify us?" Well, I began talking myself down and telling myself there must be some reason we were here this weekend...and if we had to miss the service next weekend so be it...disappointing, but we'd get to spend time with family just the same...oh, well. It was about this time I heard Ben's dad announcing from the pulpit that the installation service would be held on Saturday (no surprise there) and that Friday evening would be a hymn sing and that his daughter Piper would be there to play the harp (I guess she got the memo about the date change) and that also Ben was staying the week and would be playing the piano...(UM, EXCUSE ME??? I think you are mistaken...Ben took one day off and I doubt he'll want to make the trip up again next weekend...and ...and...) At this point Ben was returning from his seat at the piano to come and sit with me. I think I said something like "So, you are staying the full week, are you??" Fully expecting him to chuckle with me at the misunderstanding...but instead he said "Yes." I said, "Really?", sarcastically. And he said, "Sure, do you want another week of vacation?" I said, "Really?", less sarcastic but still disbelieving. He said, " Yes, I thought you'd like to stay the week." So I sat the rest of the service (actually I mostly walked around outside trying to keep Tobi from screaming) thinking of how this all occurred...it is such a strange thing to go from one moment believing that everyone else is misinformed only to find out you are the ONLY clueless one. As it turns out, Ben had been planning this for months. His parents had rented this cottage months ago. Ben's Mom had been researching about the Island before they even knew for sure that they were coming here to live. She found this gorgeous piece of real estate for rent for a pretty reasonable price comparatively. She rented it thinking either it would be a great place to come with the family if they didn't end up living on the island or it would be a great place for the rest of the family to come and stay if they were here. So, unbeknownced to me they planned this all out. I guess Ben really likes surprises. I had lots of reasons to be suspicious along the way as I look back...but I wasn't. I didn't have a clue.

It has proven to be more than a lovely surprise of a vacation. The cottage is amazing. Just what you would imagine a summer cottage to be, complete with a porch and a hammock that are just a stone's throw toss from the water's edge. It is located on a little peninsula of sorts so there is ocean on both sides of the house and every window has a glorious ocean view. Yesterday I sat outside and read and relaxed strolled our little beach had a picnic lunch all while I watched the tide roll out and then roll back in again. I certainly packed a few less things than I would have had I known we were staying for a week...but I think that also may be a blessing. Less laundry, less unpacking, less stressing about what to bring... and Ben did a lot of secret packing. I had no idea the bed of his truck was full of bikes, and food, and lots of extras...that had I seen I would have been VERY suspicious. So all in all, it was a lovely surprise. We are alone in the cottage until Thursday and then some of Ben's siblings (yet to be determined just how many and when) will join us... and Saturday we will all be here for the REAL installation service! At least that's what they've told me....

Update 9/21/09

We are back and had the most wonderful time. Great to be away and to be with family. The service did happen as planned and it was great to be a part of such a great day/weekend. Lots of family came to help celebrate and we got a great taste of Island life.

Here are some pictures of our week:

Tobi at the water park in North Conway
She LOVED the water slide
Our cottage on Islesboro, ME
Tobi loving the beach

Our view
Spending time with family
A family hike
The beautiful view from our cottage
Sunrise from our porch