Vacation Day 4-- Niagra Falls-- The Candian side

Day four of our vacation was devoted to Niagra Falls. We got up and got going. It was a Saturday and we knew it would be busy. We crossed over into Canada first thing. It was much easier than the last time we went to Canada (ask me about it sometime) even though it required passports for Greg and I, as well as birth certificates for the kids. Once you find a place to park you have to walk and walk and walk. The Canadian side of the falls is just crazy. There are so many people there! People from all over the world. It is also a really commercial area. It is not a peaceful communion with nature by any means. Fortunately though, even with the all the distractions, the falls are still amazing! You can just feel and see the POWER. You can even HEAR the power. Awesome.

Niagra Falls wouldn't take you long if all you wanted to do is take a look at it and snap a picture, but we were there to do more than that. Our next stop was the Maid of the Mist. After paying and waiting in line for a long time you get on a boat with hundreds of other people. Everyone is decked out in their snazzy blue, plastic, rain ponchos. The boat takes you as close to the bottom of the Horseshoe Falls as it can. The closer you get it gets louder and wetter (although not too wet). You can also feel the boat fighting the falls for position. The falls just won't let you get too close. But you are still close enough to see how you would be tossed and churned in that water, how the falls are strong and powerful and majestic. If you take the time to think about it you are in AWE at this amazing creation. You can see the different characteristics in the Lord's creations, and this one just exudes power. In others you will find peace or beauty or serenity or uniqueness. In the Falls you feel power.

On the boat we were standing with an Italian couple. They were very kind and asked Greg about our family and commented on how wonderful it was that we had 5 children and said at their age (with their children grown and gone) you realize that is what life is all about. I appreciated their kindness so much because we often get negative comments about the size of our family, but we realize that is what life is all about. We will have lots of wonderful grandchildren to love and visit. Our golden years will be full of doing things that matter. (Sorry for this little tangent, but it was something that I was very grateful for).

Here I am with all the kids just after boarding the boat.

Very close to the falls. We are getting wet now.

Adam looking thrilled to be so close to such an amazing site!

After our trip on Maid of the Mist we headed up the street away from the falls to play a little Glow in the Dark Mini Golf. Now folks you would not believe this street we walked up. Talk about a tourist trap. Adam thought it was kid heaven, I thought it was more like a kid Las Vegas. Gaudy, and way over the top. Not this mom's favorite place. Fortunately the kids know how cheap we are so they knew we would only be doing this ONE activity on this street of their little dreams. Adam loves mini golf so this was for him. It is hard to get good pictures, but here are our attempts at them.

I will save the trip to the American side of the falls for another day. Ahh, I love vacation. I even love reliving vacation!