“USA 🇺🇸 North Carolina ~Jacksonville Sunset Dinner Cruise on the Water with Kaylee and Tom on Amazing Grace and More!”

• December 22, 2023
• By Pen
• 0 Comment

We had the most amazing day! Thank You Kaylee and Tom!!!

First up, we arrived at Kaylee and Tom’s place on Emerald Island, where Kaylee and I chatted up a storm and Daryl took a nap. Tom was at work. Then, Kaylee served up the best Grits and Shrimp for lunch. Honestly, I never ate grits that I liked. I now know, the cook needs to know how to make them! I have since gotten her recipe and I will be making this dish, in the regular!

So yummy!

⬆️ Kaylee and Tom have a couple of elves that show up every year at their house. They always try to take Toms Grits and Shrimp from him!

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Not long after lunch, we packed up their truck and headed for the Camp Lejeune Base marina, after a brief stop at The Whale, to drop of Jonah the VW Bug, then we met up with Tom at the dock.

Tom is a retired veteran Marine Colonel, of 28 years. Both he and Kaylee are involved in the Project Healing Waters; the giving of their time, energy and resources to help veterans deal with the numerous conditions they are left with, following deployments/wars.

We got underway on their beautiful yacht; “Amazing Grace,” then anchored just in time for the beautiful sunset and a delicious dinner of grilled Tuna and veggies, salad and Key Lime Pie for dessert!  I’m telling you, these guys are the ultimate hosts! Both Kaylee and Tom are licensed Captains, and make a good team on Amazing Grace. We were in very capable hands!

Kaylee posted this on their “Amazing Grace Anchored” Facebook page: it tells of some history

“I truly believe that God brings people into our lives for a reason! I also believe He brings them back into our lives at just the perfect time! I met Pen on a cruise, 11 years ago, out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. We were both traveling, solo. (Hubs deployed)  I had the best week with her and we kept in touch through the years; off and on, through Facebook. God definitely had plans for us to reconnect in person. He stationed her son-in-law back at Camp Lejuene Marine Corps Base, after his duty station  overseas was complete. Pen eventually met her soulmate, Daryl, after our US Virgin Island cruise, and when I met him a few days ago I felt like I already knew him. Pen said the same thing about Tom; that she felt like she already knew him. It also feels like just yesterday, that Pen and I were on that cruise together, as we just picked up where we left off, 11 years ago!

Tom and I are so excited to be able to spend time with them, while they are here visiting family. We are taking them out on Amazing Grace for a sunset cruise dinner. Once we leave the dock we will be surrounded by military bases. We will put down anchor, have dinner and watch the sunset. We will definitely be lifelong friends! Thank you God, for bringing Pen back into my life!”

……to which I say: I couldn’t agree, more! How sweet!! It’s like Kaylee and I never missed a beat, in spite of the years, after that fun cruise. Life happened, lives changed, deployments continued, retirement was on the horizon for everybody, and then life goes on, differently, yet always with intention. Thank God, He is in charge. 

We all had a lovely time. The weather was so perfect, and the water was like glass, it was so smooth.

Photo Dump ⬇️

⬆️ This view is so beautiful. It is the Officer Housing, on base. I recognized it right away. It’s a beautiful area in the woods, along the water. When we visited the grand kiddos the last time, a few years back, Chelsie took us out to this area to watch the sunset, as seen from the banks of the same waters. ⬇️ 

Last night, we got to see the sunset in this same area, from the boat. Both sunsets were spectacular!

⬆️ Captains Kaylee and Tom 

⬆️ Cobra Helicopters were in the air 

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After our time on the water, Daryl and I were back at The Whale, about 10 minutes before the campground “Kid Night,” with a Christmas movie and crafts was to begin. Chelsie was on her way…… then, I got a delayed message, from three hours earlier (while we were on the yacht) saying the lady in charge of the kids event came down sick and they had to cancel the kid night. 

Bummer, but my grands took it all in stride, and we had our own popcorn party in The Whale, and had fun, just the same. Chelsie’s neighbor, Rachel, came, too. It’s fun getting to know her. She is recently retired from the Marine Corps, and come to find out, her husband, Justin (also Marine) knows Tom; Kaylee’s, husband. Not only that, but Chelsie and Rachel knew each other from the Drill Field, years ago, when Chelsie was active Marine; and they were both Drill Instructors… staying in touch, off and on, over the years…..then they were surprised to see each other, after they randomly moved into the house, right next door to each other!

I love small world stories!

Tom and Kaylee have graciously invited us back to Amazing Grace, next time with my daughter and her family. Just gotta work with the winter weather pattern, and hopefully find a day while the kiddos are still on holiday break.

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