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Post by superioragates on Jul 1, 2010 13:49:41 GMT -5
Hey again it's just me! My son-in-law joined the Navy, and has been in boot camp for the last 6 weeks or so. He graduated today so my daughter decided she wanted to go to Chicago and see it happen, and see her husband. So...off we go! She lives in Amarillo, TX, and not too far in to the trip, in Groom Tx, you will find this awesome cross, and religious display. The place is really something to see, and if you are ever in the area, I highly suggest stopping to take it all in. You can literally see this cross from like 2-3 miles away it's so big! This is standing underneath it: This is what you see from the road: This is another one of the awesome things built there: My grandson, and daughter at the base of it: These are some really awesome statues/crosses: Outside the tomb: Inside: OK, so...after that stop, it got dark, and we drove until about 2 a.m., then died in some off the highway little hotels....random, but it was clean, so who cares right? THIS STOP: RANDOM!!! Just outside of Rolla,MO, all of a sudden, and without warning, a ROCK SHOP appeared!!! OMG! I immediately swung in there and went in!!! Course my daughter and grandson sat in the truck and waited while I quick went in and browsed around....took some pics.... This next two pics go together, but the stone was so big, had to take 2 pics!! This is awesome!!!! OK, so a little further down the road, man them Ozark mountains are awesome by the way!! We ran in to this....just too funny.... I have more photos in my photo bucket album of the graduation, which was just an awesome things to see by the way....but THIS is what we came up here for! I HATE Chicago driving! OMG! I thought KC,City was bad!!! UGGHH! Gonna find a different way outta this mess if I can at all!! YUCK! Haven't had a chance to see anything else here yet, but wanted to show ya a few things from our trip Thanks for lookin!!!! Marie
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Post by parfive on Jul 1, 2010 16:59:06 GMT -5
If you’re still in or near Chicago, the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art is a MUST SEE!! It’s in Elmhurst, about 16 miles west of downtown. www.lizzadromuseum.org/home.html
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jul 1, 2010 17:52:38 GMT -5
Congrats to your son in law! I retired in May, 2002. 20 years went by really fast, I highly recommend to anyone in the Navy to stick around and retire. The benefits are more than worth it. Great pics!!
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Post by rockmanken on Jul 1, 2010 19:07:29 GMT -5
Wow! You went right by us and didn't say hi. Also, chinook live in Rolla. There was a rock shop in Springfield, Mo. also. Great pix. Glad you had a good time. Ken
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Post by superioragates on Jul 1, 2010 19:20:40 GMT -5
Ken - we gotta head back ya know! LOL We were running short on time to get here, but may have a "little extra time heading back! oooo, that would be FUN!!!!! I think we are heading back on Saturday or Sunday morning, which would put us there late that day!!!! Hey Parfive - yeeeeah....NOT goin anywhere NEAR downtown Chicago!!! UH UH UH!! no way no how. This place is a mad house!!! LOL Hey Randy - I think his plan is to stay in as a career......we'll see what happens. I know he gets shipped to Florida next....after his A-school! Florida? HOW far is that from MN? !!!!! well, least they will get to see new places, I will just miss them like crazy! That flippin rock shop just jumped right out of no where! I swear! TOO fun!!!!
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Post by NatureNut on Jul 1, 2010 20:48:12 GMT -5
Marie, congrats to your son-in-law. He looks so proud in his uniform. Bill and I went for my son Tom's graduation up there and took him out to dinner. We were so proud as I know you and your daughter and grandson are. Congrats to you all! Did you have chicken for dinner? LOL Jo
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Post by tkrueger3 on Jul 1, 2010 21:44:53 GMT -5
Marie, congrats to your S-I-L, and please tell him for me, "thanks for serving our country!"
I have a question about the crosses and crusifix statues - what was the signifigance of putting a statue of St. George in with those? It's a gorgeous piece, but doesn't seem to me to follow the subject matter very well. Of course, I don't know the place, or the setting, or the story.
Tom
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Jul 1, 2010 23:09:48 GMT -5
That's a good looking proud family!!! Congratulations to your son-in-law. Looks like you're having a little fun too!
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Post by sitnwrap on Jul 2, 2010 8:01:58 GMT -5
Marie, you have a beautiful family. Congrats to your son-in-law. You sure packed a lot in on the trip there but that last pic is priceless. My dad was in the Navy and we still have his uniform.
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Post by frane on Jul 2, 2010 9:06:30 GMT -5
Congratulations to your son in law and your daughter! It can be a tough life in the Navy at times but well worth the journey! My husband retired after 25 years in. My oldest entered in 2002 and the graduation was a reminder of that time. Your trip pictures were great and even though it took a lot of time, looks like it was a fun trip too! Fran
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Post by superioragates on Jul 2, 2010 14:20:18 GMT -5
This trip has been pretty awesome so far. It's a complete mess trying to drive in this nightmare of a city, but oh well....we'll figure it out. Will be heading back on Sunday morning....more like at lunch time, so anyone in the path back to Amarillo, give me a holler before Sat. night, and we'll see if we can meet up somewhere. !! Definetely gonna stop at the rock shop in Rolla on the way back, so I have more than 10 minutes to look around!! LOL Will have more pics soon as I can!! Son-in-law says "thank you" for all the congrats!!! He is proud, and as you can see, so is my daughter and grandson!!
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Post by sbreed on Jul 2, 2010 20:27:30 GMT -5
Wow, they have really built a lot around that cross! I lived in Amarillo from 1987 until 2008 and that cross was just in the middle of a field in Groom. I don't know about now but when I went out there, something spiritual was felt. No words to describe it. It was amazing. I am glad they added to it. Looks like it has become a tourist attraction.
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Post by superioragates on Jul 2, 2010 22:14:28 GMT -5
The cross is surrounded by a "feeling"...I can't explain it either. But it is an awesome thing to see, that's for sure. There is a gift shop there too, which I took a few pics of inside, which is really a very nice place.
TODAY: update Today we went to this mall in Waukeegan,Ill.....was gonna take pics of some different things, can you believe they have a No Photographs rule inside the mall? unbelievable...I mean, really? so anyways, there was this shop in there, a very cool rock/bead/gift shop, with some AWESOMELY HUGE Amethyst geodes....gorgeous stuff in there. The place was called black market gems? anyways a very cool store! There was also a native American place, and what attracted me was turquoise colored necklaces, so I went in..yeah, was died howlite, but they were selling the stuff for outrageous prices! crazy....anyways. Tried to get to Lake Michigan, but only found 1 place we could actually get to, and it was closed at 6 pm.....really? a public beach closes at 6pm? strange, but we will try again tomorrow, maybe. Taste of Chicago is going on in Chicago right now, which sure explains all that crazy traffic we are seeing....CRAZY traffic!!!!! these people are nutso drivers!! (this coming from someone who lives in a town of 700 people...hahahaha!) Thats todays update....HOPEfully we will get more pics tomorrow....down by lake Michigan!!
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Post by rockmanken on Jul 5, 2010 22:35:33 GMT -5
Donna and I got to meet Marie and daughter and grandson today in Springfield. Had a real nice couple hours together. Swapped lies and gave her a few rocks. Grandson is a gorgeous little redhead. Full of fire. All boy. Had a great time. Ken
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dbrealityrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2010
Posts: 1,084
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Post by dbrealityrocks on Jul 6, 2010 8:13:04 GMT -5
nice pics, went through Rolla last winter and also stoped at that shop, nice little place, looks like a good time was had by all
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Post by superioragates on Jul 6, 2010 13:52:47 GMT -5
Finally made it home last night at about midnight ( I say home, still in Texas for another month or so). The stop to meet Ken & Donna was way more than I could have expected...no way in the world was I expecting them to bring me rocks! Wow! I will get some pics posted soon of the stuff they gave me....I felt so bad, I had nothing to give them in return! I was really looking forward to meeting them both, the meeting was so fun, and the complete highlight of this trip! Ken and Donna are such sweet people, I cannot begin to explain. THANK YOU both for the rocks, for taking time out of your day to meet me, for...everything! It was a great pleasure for me to meet you both, and I hope at some point we can meet again! Have fun on your trip, and drive carefully!!! Pics will be up by tomorrow, in a new thread!!
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Post by Bejewelme on Jul 6, 2010 20:12:27 GMT -5
Marie: What an awesome trip, I know you are enjoying your time with that dear little guy! Congrats to your son in law you have a beautiful family! Wow that cross station is pretty amazing, and how exciting you got to meet Donna and Ken, I am so glad you are making the most of everything! Be safe! Amber
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