Motels & Amens
๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ธ๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ค๐ฆ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ท๐ช๐ฆ๐ธ๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ท๐ช๐ฆ๐ธ ๐ช๐ด ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ข๐ณ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ญ๐ฐ๐ต, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต'๐ด ๐๐. ๐๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ'๐ด ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ข๐ถ๐ต๐บ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ช๐ต ๐ช๐ง ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ท๐ฆ ๐ข ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ต.
I was in the middle of a 4 month cross country road trip adventure. I had stopped at a motel in Bellingham, WA and was so inspired by the experience!
As a female solo traveler, I normally donโt book motels because frankly and unfortunately many of them can be sketchy and scary. But after spending this week about as far Northwest as I could get without entering Canada, I found myself super tired yesterday afternoon and when I looked at the time, I simply refused to subject myself to the Seattle Friday night traffic.
I knew Iโd encounter on the way back to my summer homestead. SoโฆI decided to find a room on the more cost efficient side (oh trust me, I wanted that water view room downtown, but wasnโt willing to let go of water room view money), so I took a chance and booked what appeared in Google to be a safe motel.
I must admit when I pulled in, my heart sank a little. I mean it kinda looked like a huge McDonaldโs with all the red and yellow. But upon entering, my mind was set at ease during check-in. And Iโm really glad I stayed.
The room was super clean and they even made the beds with close to what youโd have in the fancy hotels. It was comfortable, I felt safe, and when I went to get a FULL hot breakfast this morning (which a lot of the franchises arenโt offering due to Covid), I learned more of the history. The motel had been under the Travelodge franchise for many years but when the current family owners purchased the place pre-pandemic, they pulled out of the franchise to make it their own, and Morning Glory Inn & Suites was born.
Of course they hit a rough patch when Covid shut down the world, but thankfully they received assistance to keep them going. And Iโm glad they did, because now theyโre making it work with their customers being at the forefront of every amenity they offer.
They have their system down to a science. As their 2 or 3 year old child soundly sleeps behind the front desk, you circle 4 breakfast items you want and then two women donned in masks and gloves plate your items while the front desk prepares your coffee the way you like it and wipes down ink pens between customers. The pool is open but limited to 2 guests at a time to keep everyone safe. And while the lobby is semi full of last minute breakfasters looking for coffee, the staff maintains a good pace all while being patient and friendly and kind.
Moral of the story. Donโt judge a book by its cover. Talk to the hotel staff and travelers along the way. Their stories will often wow you. As the owner told me she was so happy I was vacationing the way I was by spending time in so many beautiful places, I said, โWe have an amazing Creator.โ Her eyes lit up and she said, โAmen.โ
I immediately felt my spirit lift and as I went back to my room to eat breakfast I prayed for additional blessing upon this familyโs life. Theyโre doing a good thing. And I wish them many happy successful years of business as they welcome weary travelers.
Remember friends, weโre all in this together. Sometimes we have ocean views and sometimes our view is the parking lot, and thatโs OK. Thereโs beauty in all of it if you have a heart see it.
And now, Iโm headed to my next adventure.