Good afternoon, blog readers! I saw this discussion post on social media, and I thought it would be an interesting one to pose to all of you. This is your chance to talk about the time you uncovered a dinosaur bone while backpacking across the Sahara Desert. But if you haven’t experienced something quite as unique, don’t worry…I want to hear it anyways!
What is an experience you’ve had that is so unique that you don’t expect many (or any) of my other readers to have experienced the same thing?
Here’s mine: When I was eight years old, my family visited the Big Island of Hawaii (my dad traveled a lot for work, so we paid for most of the trip using his airline miles). We went hiking at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to a spot where we came within reach of red hot lava. The flow was slow enough that the park rangers determined that it was safe for visitors to walk right up to it.
Jessica
When I was 18, I took a missions trip to Romania. It was my first time on an airplane and I just happened to fly overseas. It was quite an experience. I stayed with a native person and emerged myself in the culture. I also roomed with another American. We became good friends. I was part of a VBS team for a week. We travelled to villages and orphanages sharing the love of Christ. I stayed three weeks. We went to Romanian church services, we ate the food they ate, and tried shopping at the open market. We even went to a Romanian wedding. I didn’t want to come home. I learned that the universal language was that of love. Even though I couldn’t speak the language very well, I could show love to the precious children.
Ellie
Sounds like a really neat experience, Jessica! I have yet to go on an international mission trip, but I hope to one day. Have you gone on any other mission trips?
Ellie
Jessica
No, I was going to go with the college that I attended to Africa and Russia but it didn’t work out. I don’t like planes very much. So, I think there’s a lot of people here in the states that need people to care and love them like Christ would There are a lot of hurting people that just need some compassion shown to them and a friend as well.
Anonymous
It was our first trip as husband and wife. We bought a pop up camper. Drove Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway to Cherokee, North Carolina and The Great Smokies. Skyline Drive is 105 miles and Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles. The drive was slow paced, relaxing and the scenery was beautiful… Jane
Ellie
I’m sure that was a wonderful trip, Jane! The Smokies are beautiful.
Ellie
Jessica
I had the chance on two different occasions to help fix dinner for the band for KING and COUNTRY when they came to perform at my church.
Ellie
I love For King and Country. We saw them here in Nashville last Christmas. Great concert! Did you meet them, too?
Ellie
Jennifer
My dad was in the Navy and stationed in Italy. As a very young child, I was able to climb the stairs to the very top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa . I believe it was 1979. So cool! You are “forced” to lean into very old and worn footsteps on the stairs.
Ellie
That’s awesome, Jennifer! Just think of all the people whose footsteps you walked in. I love history…Was your dad stationed anywhere else while you were growing up?
Ellie
anonymous
When I was 17 in the spring, my sister who was 20 that spring, invited me to go for summer holidays to the part of the country where she was at. So I travelled by train for two days. Its a big country. She met me at the station, then we walked to the edge of the city. Once on the side of the highway we stuck out our thumbs….a man maybe fifty and a younger guy gave us a ride. We went quickly along highways and country roads ’til we got dropped off on a gravel country road by a lane. We walked down the long lane to a log cabin, but that was her friends place. So we had tyo next walk across a field behind that home. Past the edge of the feild down into a woods, (with bushes on the sides of the little hills). But there was a real woods with lots of larger trees and small open meadow spots in the flatter areas. My sister knew where she was headed. She took me into the woods and to the edge of a small open meadow, where a little hill arose and the woods became kind of bushy. There smiling she finally said this is it, we are here! She was very happy to have finally arrived with me at our destination….which was just a pile of cloth on the ground and a few boxes of things. That pile of cloth was a teepee. There then at this realization, my heart sunk inside of me (but I don’t remember how I reacted outwardly) at that point. But it did all turn out to be a good time. I did not have the heart to know the Lord Jesus in those days. I think it is true that the seed is the Bible word and our hearts are the soil that receives this good seed and He is looking for good fruit from us. We are all on a journey and there is a Heavenly destination to seriously seek to arrive at.
Ellie
Oh my. How long did she live like that?
Anoymous
I think just until the fall. She may have gone to a city to room with a friend for awhile. Eventually she got a degree in education and taught school and married a school teacher. I was just there for about a month and had to go back to school (grade 12 and I had quite the attitude inside of myself that fall when I was back in the little classrooms because of my unique horizon broadening summer experiences). Thanks for putting up with my trip down memory lane. And I’ve enjoyed reading other peoples stories.
Anonymous
I got personally kicked out of a concert rehearsal by Neil Sedaka, who wouldn’t let “strangers” watch him rehearse. On the other hand, I’ve hung out backstage with Burt Bacharach who was one cool cat. One side of my family had lots of professional musicians and the list of people they knew or ran around with is a Who’s Who.
As far as travel experiences, I’ve seen Queen Elizabeth @ Buckingham Palace on her official birthday. She was sitting on her horse, trooping the colors. Ran into her again in Scotland, when she was there for an event. She looked smaller off her horse. LOL
Ellie
How neat it would be to “run into” Queen Elizabeth. What a great memory to have!
What type of music did your family members play?
Ellie
Stacey N
Its my dream to see Buckingham Palace and also shake hands with both Prince William and Harry and meet the Queen! I love reading and hearing about the royal family and I so wished I could have met Princess Diana, she was such a giving and loving compassionate person who gave her time and love to so many people!
Bethany
I set my mind to climb a mountain. I’m 2012 with no experience I climbed scarfell pike and in 2016 I climbed hellveyn. Both were tough going. Getting to the top felt amazing. In my tough moments I remember that if I can do that, I can do anything I put my mind too.
Ellie
Congratulations, Bethany! That’s a great accomplishment. Where are Scarfell Pike and Hellveyn located? And how long did the climbs take you?
Ellie
Mona
I spent two weeks enjoying the spectacular landscapes, wildlife and atmosphere of Antarctica a couple of years ago. It was life changing for me, to be able to experience the most unique place on this earth. Unforgettable.
Ellie
What a trip of a lifetime! We had a friend who went to Antarctica. She traveled on a boat with a National Geographic tour. Did you take a boat as well? I would love to hear more about your trip. In fact, if you have pictures and would be okay with me sharing them on the blog, feel free to email them to NashvilleWife@gmail.com.
Ellie
Katy
My husband and I got lost in the Welsh mountains and ended up being chased across a muddy field, in the fog, by a herd of angry bulls! (This was on our honeymoon).
Candi
What a memory to tell your children and grandchildren!
Ellie
Yikes! That’s scary! Did they eventually lose interest? How did you get away?
Candi
I have had a unique experience but it’s on the spiritual line…it was with…God! I was 14 at the time and visiting an uncle and aunt in Texas and they lived in a trailer house. They had a few trees around the trailer but for the most part it was wide open plains all around them like Texas is. Well, a huge thunderstorm came up in the middle of the night and I was terrified. I came from AZ so thunderstorms wasn’t that frequent and I was in a bedroom all by myself on the far side of the trailer away from my uncle and aunt’s bedroom. The thunderstorm was getting worse as closer it came and I could watch it out the window. You know Texas storms seem or are BIG. Well, i was certain we were either going to be hit by lightning or toppled over from all the wind and was extremely frightened. The lightning was coming closer and closer hitting the ground and then it started dancing around the trailer and at one time hit right outside my window! and for this young Arizona girl, she thought her end was coming so what did I do? Out of desperation I put my hand out on the next pillow beside me and cried out to God that He would hold my hand so that I would know I would be alright till the storm passed. It only took a few seconds and my hand started getting warm…and then warmer…and warmer till it was uncomfortably HOT! I couldn’t believe what I was feeling, was this true? I felt it with my other hand and yes it was so hot…One part of me wanted to snatch it off the pillow and bury it in the cool sheets or go run it under cold water but the other part in no way didn’t want to let go of God’s hand! I remember my body relaxing in such peace and thinking it didn’t matter about all the lightning and wind and rain, God made it known I would be alright as long I was holding to His hand. It stayed like that for a good 15 minutes and as the storm passed by the warmth in my hand started decreasing little by little (I quickly took a little time to get out and kneel by the bed in humbleness and gratefulness and thank the Lord for my “miracle”) till it was gone and I was fast asleep. I still remember that time very vividly after all these years.
Tanya
Thank you for sharing that Candi! Isn’t that amazing that God really cares about the smallest things? Like a young teenage girl being afraid in a thunderstorm.. yet nothing is too small for God! He is so true to His Word and shows Himself powerful to those who believe on Him!
God is our refuge and strength!
Ellie
Wow, Candi. That’s amazing. Thank you for sharing. God is good!
Anna
When I was five years old, my parents took me and my five siblings to SeaWorld as our summer adventure in CA.
We were in an audience (along with at least 5,000 people) to watch a live show they do with whales and dolphins. Then as we were watching it, the whale trainer said she’d pick one kid in the audience to come down from the stands and have a chance to feed and pet the whale. As a shy kid, I did not want to be picked since I didn’t want anyone watching me. I even tried to hide behind my parents but guess who they picked…me! I was so scared! But afterwards, I thought it was the coolest thing ever and I am very glad I was picked to pet a whale.
Ellie
Sounds like a neat memory, Anna. Was it a Killer Whale?
Ellie
MarriedUK
I held the most perfect baby in my arms, having delivered him moments previously.
It was unique. And I’ve done it three times.
Jessica
I agree, there is nothing like it in the world. I’ve had 6 children and it never gets old.
Ellie
I agree, too. Definitely nothing like it. Next time, I need to remember to take more photos of those first moments. Mr. Handsome took some of me, but I didn’t take any of him.
Ellie
Lauren
Hard to pick just one! My favorites are:
Catching a hat that was thrown by Troy Gentry (of Montgomery Gentry) at a concert. It was really sweaty since he had been wearing it.
Almost got run over by Jeremy Camp’s golf cart at a music festival.
One the best overall pie contest at the Iowa State Fair – beat almost 200 other pies for the title. The executive chef for a big restaurant in Des Moines was a judge and he said it was one of the best pies he had ever had. I was speechless!
Ellie
What type of pie did you make? My mouth is watering!
Lauren
Cherry! The secret is farm grown cherries. Stuff from a jar or a store just isn’t good enough!
Ellie
My husband would love that. Blueberry pie is his current favorite, but he loves the cherry strudel I made him, so I know he would love cherry pie.
Jesussaves
Once when I was in New York City visiting with my son who lived in Brooklyn. My daughter was going to be 30 and she always wanted to go visit the Today show, outside the window. And she loved watching Kathy Lee on TV
when she worked for the today show.My daughter and I had flown in from St. Louis to spend the week with her brother. So as we were sitting in a restaurant I went into the ladies room and got on my knees and asked the Lord to please give our daughter a special 30th birthday. The next day I got her up early and said Let’s take the subway and watch the today show from outside. It was her birthday and she was up for it so after we did that I said let’s wait and see if we can watch part of Kathy Lee outside of the window. To make a long story short out of many people we were chosen to be on the show and play a game about SAT questions. And then there were four contestants out of the four my daughter and I were the two that won! And I am not very smart, actually I am not smart so it was only God that could help me win that question. It was amazing and people came up to us afterwards and said oh, I bet you can take that off of your bucket list. And I said I have never had a bucket list. I was very thankful to the Lord for answering my prayer just to have my daughter have a memorable birthday It was amazing!
And then two years later we flew back to New York to spend time with our son. At that time he worked for Macy’s. Macy’s employees were able to walk in the Thanksgiving day parade holding the balloons. He asked if I could walk with him, and our daughter also. Because she was not feeling well she stayed and sat on the bleachers right outside of Macy’s store. But both my son in his 30s and me who was 60 at the time walked in the parade together and it was an amazing experience! The weather was unseasonably warm and it was amazing walking down by radio city music Hall with all of the tickertape flying through the air helping hold this huge balloon. Again, it was such an answer to prayer. It was a fun memory for my son and I to have together.
But my favorite experiences in life are sharing the gospel with different people, being able to open a Bible with someone who has never even looked at a Bible. Being able to pray for my children and my husband and my mom and our loved ones and friends. Watching God answer those prayers!
S.T.
This is so encouraging for me to read this morning. What an awesome God, and what a wonderful, praying Mom you are! Thanks for sharing!
Tanya
Thank you for sharing!! So encouraging that others are passionate about spreading the Gospel! May the Lord bless you to continue being a prayer warrior and leading many more to Christ!
Ellie
That’s very neat. Thank you for sharing. Your daughter is very blessed to have you as her mom. 🙂
Ellie
Rachel
My husband travels a lot for work and needed some more air miles before the end of the year so he could get to the next level with his airline. So we flew all the way to Alaska (from Ohio) but only spent 18 hours in Alaska before we flew all the way home to Ohio. This was only five days after the big earthquake so in the short time we were there we felt another earthquake (aftershock) that was 5.0. We spent time in 8 different airports in only 3 days.
Ellie
What a whirlwind trip that must have been! Did you see some good scenery from the plane?
Jamie
My unique experience is that I delivered my baby by myself while standing up in my bedroom. I did not realize how deep into labor I was until I felt the urge to push. I was bracing myself against the dresser and called my husband in to catch the baby. My favorite memory from that moment was my husband’s voice who repeated very calmly “You’re ok, you’re ok, you’re just having a baby sweetheart. You’ve done this before. You’re ok.”
Ellie
Yikes! Good for you! That was a big fear of mine when I was pregnant. Out of curiosity, how did you cut the cord? Did you call an ambulance?
Amanda
I’ve had quite a few unique experiences, but here are a couple highlights.
This past September I got to dig roots with a stick while spending time with a group of women and children from the nomadic Hadzabe tribe in Tanzania.
I won the women’s division, and a blue ribbon, in a watermelon seed spitting contest at the Oregon state fair.
I delivered my friend’s baby moments after she told her midwife to come in about an hour, and hung up the phone.
Ellie
Three very different experiences. Thanks for sharing, Amanda. Were you able to talk with the people in Tanzania?
Ellie
Amanda
Tanzania has 121 tribes living there, each with their own language, I was told. Many people do speak english, but the Hadzabe tribespeople we met did not. We (my daughter and I) were introduced by an interpreter, who left us there with the women for about half a day. Though we couldn’t speak to each other in words, it was surprisingly easy to communicate with gestures. It was a wonderful experience in every way, as was the entire trip to Tanzania.
I still can hardly believe this happened, but I won a 12 day safari for two to Tanzania in one of those internet contests that people think no one ever wins. One of the contest sponsors was a very ethical company I’ve bought clothing from for years, so I knew it was legitimate, but I never dreamed I’d actually win. We also each got 9 pieces of clothing (3 full outfits), internal frame backpacks, camera bags, and back country water filters. I had to pay for our airfare, but everything else was provided. I took my daughter for her 30th birthday, and it was one of the most wonderful experiences I’ve ever had.
Ellie
I’ve never heard of anyone who has won those type of contests…I’m sure the chances are very slim, so I’ll bet you were shocked! Sounds like an amazing trip for sure. And 121 tribes, that’s a lot. Thanks for sharing those details!
Ellie
Esther Huddleston
My parents and I flew out to Peru from Northwest England for my brother’s wedding to a lovely Peruvian lady. 3 days of travelling to get there, (10 hour coach ride when we landed in Lima). We spent 3 or 4 days there, which included bridesmaid dress fitting and shoe shopping the day before the wedding! My brother ran out of time to make all the tiers of the wedding cake, and my Mum and Aunt were making delicious alfajores (biscuit with dulce de leche filling) till about 3 hours before the wedding. The wedding ceremony changed starting time 3 or 4 times! One needs to be very flexible when in Peru! Nothing is fixed and definite. Everything was “maybe”! I also had a taxi ride with Jesus! Then 3 days travelling home! (I have also been a bridesmaid at my other 3 brother’s weddings but didn’t have to travel for those!) Also visited 5 countries in one day! Set off from England very early morning, we drove through France, Germany, Holland, Belgium and into Poland.
Ellie
Very neat experiences, Esther! Did your brother and his wife move back to England, or do they still live in Peru?
Didn’t know you could drive from England to Poland in a day. That would be a great road trip.
Ellie
Esther
Thanks. They stayed in Peru for a couple of years, moved back to England for a few months, and since then they moved over to Ireland.
Benita
I’ve had several unique situations, so it’s hard to choose which one to share. I was pregnant with my 1st child and working the midnight shift at a convenience store. I was sweeping the sidewalk outside when I saw a person walking in the street, so I turned around to walk back in the store. Before I got to the cash register, I was grabbed from behind and started getting punched in the face. I just started screaming hysterically, and I was dragged to the stockroom where the guy started hitting me over the head with glass 2 liter Coke bottles. He broke 3 over my head. I was screaming when I heard a voice tell me to play dead, but I didn’t obey. The 2nd time, the voice was a little louder, but I still didn’t obey. I was so scared for my baby, in so much pain, and I was really hysterical. The 3rd time, the voice was very angry with me and LOUDLY told me to play dead. I instantly obeyed that time. He quit hitting me when he thought I was dead. I waited a bit before getting up, and when I did I went to call the operator, no 911, to report what happened. When I was being loaded into the ambulance, I looked at the responder and asked if I was going to die, and he said no. Then I passed out. I can still feel the dents in my skull. My beautiful daughter is 33 now. The Lord was very good to me, and I went on to have 4 more beautiful children.
Ellie
I had goosebumps reading this, Benita. Definitely a miracle! How far along in your pregnancy were you what it happened?
Amanda
What a terrifying experience that must have been. I am so glad that you and your baby came through it alive and ok.
Doreen
I also had an interesting experience last year that involved an answer to prayer right before my eyes. I had just dropped off my son at school and pulled into a parking space in the school lot to make a phone call. I was calling the doctors office so I was minding my own business but out of the corner of my eye I saw a Dad trying to get his son out of the car next to me. The boy was about 10/11 years old and had special needs. After finishing my phone call I noticed the father was still trying to get his son out of the car. The boy was resisting in every possible way, he did not want to go into the school. Finally the father basically dragged him out of the car onto the sidewalk, not hurting his son, but in a desperate way. I felt so bad for the father being in that situation and felt bad for the son too knowing he had special needs. I said a quick prayer to God asking that he give the father patience dealing with his son and to help the boy cooperate and listen to his father. A moment later the boy who was almost sitting on the sidewalk, got up and started walking into the school on his own! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. An answer to my prayer right before my eyes. God is good!
Ellie
Thank you for sharing, Doreen. How sweet that you took the time to pray for them, and how amazing that God answered your prayer right away.
Ellyn
I grew up going for long stays at Walt Disney World in Florida – we always stay at Fort Wilderness – and they are my favorite vacation memories. We would drive an RV from Michigan to Florida, park and stay at the campground for 10 days or so. The whole trip would be about 2 weeks long. I loved every moment of it.
I’ve been all over the world, to Europe, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, all over the U.S., but Disney (and Ft Wilderness) is my favorite!! 🙂
Ellie
Sounds like we need to go to Fort Wilderness! Is it a resort?
Ellyn
It’s so much fun! It’s one of the Disney on site resorts you can stay at. You can bring a camper or rent a small trailer home there. They have pools, trails, restaurants and plenty of family events including bonfires and shows. It’s the best!
Ellie
Sounds like a fun place to stay, and very unique!
Caroline
What a neat idea for a post, Ellie, it’s a joy reading all these responses.
My unique experience is that my husband and I spent out honeymoon in Kenya. At the end of our trip, we visited an elephant orphanage in Nairobi that does really wonderful and important conservation work, including taking care of orphaned or abandoned baby elephants until they are old enough to be re-released into the wild. We got to meet many of the babies — I was surprised at how hairy they are! They are such magnificent animals.
Ellie
That’s incredible, Caroline. How large are baby elephants?
Carol Williams
At the age of 15, while enjoying family vacation in Yellowstone National Park, I was chased by a bison up a steep hill. Thankfully, the bison decided otherwise on having me for lunch! At what seemed like the last minute, he turned off the path into the woods. Without a scratch, but badly shaken, my family and I went back to our rental cabin instead of hiking any more that day
Ellie
Oh my! That’s frightening! Did he chase everyone or just you?
Anonymous
My fun experience is that my husband, daughter (2 1/2), and myself drove from Kansas to Ohio to surprise my mom for her birthday. The rest of the family knew we were coming, but my mom didn’t. I can still remember sending my daughter into my parents apartment and telling her to go find Nana while my husband, dad, and I listened outside the door. My mom said who are you, and how did you get here. She finally realized it was her granddaughter, and then she wanted to know where her parents were.
Ellie
What a kind thing to do! I’m sure your mom felt very loved.
Tanya
My unique experience was my third birth 8 months ago- I had strong contractions starting at 37 weeks and we were moving that week so everyone around me was assuring me that I would deliver early. Having contractions for many hours at a time, couple times a day with my oldest just turning two, and my other boy – one, it was a very difficult situation. I went to the hospital around 38 weeks because the contractions got so bad, but they sent me back. At 39 weeks, it was one of those days again, where the whole day was spent having the contractions for we finally called my mom to sit with the kids and started off to the hospital. As soon as I sat in the car, they stopped. But I was determined, and we decided to go on a fast paced walk. We sped-walked a few miles, then walked up all 6 floors of the hospital parking garage- just for me to come in and tell me that I am still 2cm dilated and that its not my time and that I need to go home. I completely broke down at that moment, crying out to God that didn’t He understand how exhausted I am of all these super painful contractions all days long with other babies to take care of? But later that night, I finally surrendered to the Lord and said – may it be Your will whichever day and time my son is to be born. On July 10, my hubby and I went to Bible study at 7pm, had an amazing study of letting God be in control of every situation, I was having contractions that night too, but nothing out of the ordinary. At 11pm I decided I would take a bath, try to calm them down, knowing that the contractions would wake me up at night if they were the real ones. So at 1 am I laid down in bed, and this time, the baby kicked so hard that I just couldn’t bear it and I said – that’s it, we need to call mom to come sit with the kids. We called and she said she would be on her way. Hospital bag was packed so through my very painful contractions, labor being in full swing already we get a call 15 min later from mom who said: “Don’t panic, and I know you need to go the hospital……but our house is burning…” We thought this must be some kind of joke, thankfully we lived a mile away from them, drove over and surely enough, their entire second story of their home is in flames. Long story short – they also, that night, had 4 of their other grandchildren sleeping over, so me panting and laboring in the front seat of our van, we piled everyone except dad in the car and took them to our house, sped to the hospital and I delivered Danny 40 min later. The miracle of this whole thing was – that the kick of the baby at 1am, made me call mom- and that phone call woke her up and she saw the flames outside the second story window and they were barely able to get out of the fire safely. The man doing the inspection said that the fire was in the attic, so the fire alarms Never went off, and the beams were so burned, it could have been minutes later, and the entire roof would of collapsed completely on top of all them, who were all sleeping upstairs – all 6 of them. So that night, I realized God has perfect timing for everything. I had demanded God to hurry up and let me give birth weeks ago, yet he knew the perfect second for Danny to kick me hard inside, to save my family from their death. I am still so in awe of God and His amazing work in our lives! Praise the Lord for His mercy and grace!!!!! God is so real!
Ellie
Thank you so much for sharing, Tanya. What an incredible story of God’s faithfulness. And I guess we all need to put smoke detectors in our attics. That’s something you don’t think about.
Ellie
Candi
I wanted to cry just reading your story. Just trying to imagine myself in your shoes…a difficult situation for both you and your parents for sure. I’m so glad we have a God we can call on in our desperate times (and not so desperate) and that He hears us and gives us a miracle. So glad you are all ok!
Tamara DeLoffi
When I was 13 our church youth group from Germany was turned loose in Paris, France. The only rules where at least 1 guy in a group of girls,to stay away from the McDonalds in the Red Light district and we had to meet back by the bus at a certain time. We had 12 hrs in the city.
Another is driving UP Lombard street ( the most crooked street in San Francisco). Lombard is a one-way street going DOWN. Some friends and I drove to San Francisco after a friends wedding.
Pearl
I went for six months on the Africa Mercy ship as an RN. I saw many things I hadn’t seen before, but PTL we were able to help many people get a better quality of life after helping them.
Ellie
That’s awesome, Pearl. I know someone who worked on a Mercy Ship.
Christine
Two quick things come to mind:
I’ve climbed one of the tallest mountains in the United States ( the air is so thin up there, but the view was amazing!)
I grew up in LA and have been in a movie!
Ellie
Thanks for sharing, Christine! Which movie? And which mountain did you climb?
Ellie
Christine
I was in the Leave it to Beaver movie as a kid before my mom decided that she did not want me to get into acting, ha. I’ve also climbed Mt. Langley, which is over 14,000 feet tall!
Ellie
That’s neat! What character were you? Haven’t seen that movie in forever. How long did the climb take you?