It's late. I am sitting in a bedroom in my parents home. Everyone else is asleep. I should be too, but today is my mom's birthday and I think the piece of chocolate cake eaten about an hour ago is keeping me awake.
My parents retired and moved to Colorado a year and a half ago. This is the first time I have seen their new home. I am so grateful to be here.
It had been just over a year since I had seen my Mom and Dad. Too long! The distance and the busyness of life had prevented an earlier visit.
But we are all together now and I am so thankful!
Our family has taken many long road trips. Living apart from extended family for the past eight years as allowed for us to spend many hours in the car together driving down the interstate. I have grown to absolutely love road trips. This time was no exception. The only difference was the kids are older and take up much more room in the car. The challenges of keeping everyone comfortable can be cause for some tense moments. But we make it through and everyone tries really hard to work together. Road trips will be on the list of memorable moments in our children's life. (or at least I can hope so)
Road trips provide something else for me though. It is a time to talk. Long hours on the road with no where to go but buckled in your seat allow us to talk through all that is going on in our life. And the rest of us have to listen.
It is a time to think. Just when everyone is starting to feel a bit irritable, we have thirty minutes of silence. No talking, just thinking. It's my favorite time.
It is a time to reflect. There is no where for the kids to run off to, so we usually have some moments on the road trip where we encourage them to reflect on all that God has done in our lives as a family, and for His grace and His goodness.
But out of fear of sounding like peace and joy ooze from our vehicle as we head down the highway at seventy-five miles an hour, we have plenty of sibling arguing, whining, and cranky people in the car too. It is almost comical at times to watch us go from deep conversations to absolute frustration over the next kid asking, "how much longer?"
It was a long trip this time. But another road trip has been logged and I am so thankful to be here.
5 comments:
Your post brought back memories of our family road trips growing up. With five kids in our Aerostar van and all of our pillows listening to my dad sing along with Keith Green. Those are cherished times!
Have a wonderful time with your family Chris. I hope you enjoy the trip back just as much. Safe travels!
Happy Thanksgiving, my friend! I loved this, both the picture you described of the talking as well as the "dose of reality" with the whining and bickering!!
Enjoy your time with your parents!
I've not had too much time to sit at the computer this week and just now read your blogs about Thanksgiving. (midnight, Saturday). I love hearing about the trip and the miles of family time on the road. What a treasure! Makes we want to go back and load them all up and head out across the country. Thanks for posting another memory jogger. It makes me count more blessings.
I know this is your Thanksgiving post, but I just wanted to comment and let you know that I have loved reading these past few posts and getting caught up on you!! Your trip sounds wonderful... I love the way you speak of your parents and your time with them. God bless you, my friend!
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