From Sea to Shining Sea (& On We Sail)
Eleven years ago, Ray and I were still traveling to homeschooling conventions far and wide. In 2014 we went from sea to shining sea. That year we went to the Christian Home Educators Association of California convention and took advantage of an opportunity to visit the shore of the Pacific Ocean. Today we are to be on our third day of sailing on it.
I saw something encouraging back in 2014 when we traveled from sea to shining sea. I feel confident that I would see it again if we did that again in 2025. I hope this reminder encourages you.
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From Sea to Shining Sea
A Vintage Post from January 7, 2014
This year Ray and I traveled from sea to shining sea and back again.
Sunrise at Canaveral National Seashore in Florida
In May we were at FPEA, the state homeschool convention in Florida; in June at CHEA, the state convention in California.
Not exactly prepared for beachcombing in California
In October we spent two weeks sharing with homeschoolers across North Carolina. In the middle of those two weeks, we squeezed in a quick trip to the Outer Banks.
Bodie Island Light Station in Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina
Add to those trips, homeschool conventions in Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Minnesota, Texas, and Colorado, plus trips to see our children and grandchildren, and we were away from home for . . . . well, that’s a blog post for another day.
While we were in North Carolina, I began to realize what I had seen from sea to shining sea and to make plans to share what I had seen with you.
Good exists in America. Christians worship God. Mothers tenderly care for their children. Fathers are devoted to them. Parents make hard and well-thought-out decisions about the welfare of their children.
People shop in stores without stealing anything. Shop clerks treat customers with respect. Corporations do business honestly.
Government workers do their jobs. Citizens obey the law and respect law enforcement officers. Except for traffic violations, I did not see a single person commit a crime during any of our adventures from sea to shining sea.
God works across our land. He sends sunshine and rain. He makes plants grow.
Beach plants by the Pacific Ocean
Lemon tree in California
Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico
Sunrise at Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina
He makes the sun rise and set.
Sunset on Ocracoke Island in North Carolina
I know that I only saw a few snapshots of America during my journey, but those snapshots are part of the picture. The snapshots of America that we saw don’t make headlines, but they are still true. What I saw encouraged me; I hope it encourages you, too.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
The name of the Lord is to be praised.
Psalm 113:3