a weekend...

sweet girl- a little tired at dinner. she laid down her head and fell asleep!

then, when we got rained out, we carried her upstairs and she slept on the chairs.

a few cute wall hangings!

sissy took these shots!

stef got nora the BEST present ever... a barbie playhouse. she has played with it over and over. she had the barbies playing in there. it was so cute!!

last sunday, david and i said good-bye to our dear friends. they were all very sad, and it was so hard to leave. however, i knew the week would be fun for us. i was looking forward to vegas and picking up david and alyssa. i was sad, but also excited about the next week.

our first stop was vegas. we got there a little before the kids flight got in. we stopped at bass pro shop for david. he was quite excited... and got a new fishing pole for his time in virginia. then, picked up the kids and checked out our hotel. i had stayed there a few years ago, on a similar road trip. but, it wasn't 115* like this weekend! let me tell you, even the breeze burned your eyes. we went to the pool and laid out for a bit. then, we toured the strip. it was fun just walking around, but soon, we were hot and tired! we had room service in our room and then went to bed.

the next morning, david managed to stay even in the casino! (i lost $7.85- plus a little bit of shopping!!) we left and hit up the hoover dam. again, i had done that tour before, but love it and wanted the kids to do it! we all had a good time! then continued on to the grand canyon.

a few days prior, we found out our good friend had gone to be with Jesus. we were going to be driving very close to where calling hours were. so, we altered our route a bit to get us in a better location to be there. that meant no denver, but a little less driving time. and, no camping at the grand canyon. we went a little further to start better the next morning.

however, we got to stop at the grand canyon. it never ceases to amaze me. the beauty and the overwhelming wonder of a huge hole in the ground! God is amazing! i was really struck on this road trip with the beauty and creativity of God. how AWESOME is He?

the next day, we stopped at the big texan in amarillo, tx for dinner! quite fun. another stop i had loved and wanted to recreate. if you eat a 72 ounce steak in 1 hour, you get it free! fun to see someone try!! then, on to elk city, ok for the night.

next was our missouri day. we had stopped for lunch, and david and i were each driving. he had been lamenting about the presley drivers and how we like to stay close! so, he got a little behind me and i didn't think much of it, since he doesn't like tailgating!! about a minute after i lost sight of him, we got a phone call saying "pull over... we are on the side of the road".

apparently, the camry's ac had died about a half hour before. then, he just couldn't accelerate. we stood there on the side of the road awaiting a tow truck. david decided we should go on ahead and he would catch up when he could. the kids and i made it to grandma's calling hours in fulton, mo. it was very weird to be back there. i had been there a lifetime ago for another friend's funeral. (grandma's grandson, ryan) from there, we went on to st. louis to stay with stef's boyfriend's family. SO FUN to meet them!! the whole drive, however, we were thanking God that while it was frustrating to be leaving david behind, at least they were okay, no accidents, etc.

we left st. louis the next morning. on recommendation from taylor's mom, we stopped at cracker barrel and picked up a book on tape (i'll be honest and admit i wasn't sure about the fun factor in this, but we were sick of our cd's!!- this was thursday. we aren't done with our book yet, and have listened to it every chance we get!! we are obsessed!!! AND... you pay full price for the book on tape, but when you return it, you get all back except $3.50. HIGHLY recommend it for a road trip!)

we stopped in chicago to stay with byssa's friend for the night. such a fun girl and a fun family! we also stopped to see my mom's old college roommate. she happened to live about 6 minutes away! it was such a fun stop! (note- to all my chicago friends. i will be coming back this summer, so we can hang. i wasn't supposed to stop in chicago, and didn't have enough time to call and then see everyone! so, THIS FALL!!!)

on the way to chicago, eight hours after they had said david's car would be ready, we found out the car was essentially totaled. the engine was unrepairable. so, david traded the car parts for work done and rented a car to head to twinsburg. we are now down a car. it was amazing to see God's providence through it all. it was so much easier to accept this all being so far away from it, having fun in chicago.

(another side note- david's previous camry broke down on his way TO california, seven years ago. my first honda did THREE cross-country road trips, and this one made it the whole way.... we may be honda people from now on!!!)

we got home on friday, and on the way home from dropping off david's rental car, it hit. i was moved. i was home. it has been a weird weekend, filled with tears for me. this is our home for now, this is our new normal. this is life, not a vacation. all good things, but all change. and sad when the reality of moving REALLY hit me. saturday was okay, but sunday morning, david left for virginia. it will be two weeks before i see him again. we left for church, and it was a tough morning.

however, church was wonderful! we sang some great songs (including "it is well with my soul", david's favorite hymn and the song we sing to our kids each night before bed). but, that song reminded me that it IS well with my soul. i NEED God's peace. another one sang about God's leading us home. all reminders that THIS is not my home. i am just passing through. i can settle, but not cling to this earth.

then, we read psalm 121. i remember reading that psalm and singing a song related to it in guatemala, after we got the news of ryan's death. "i lift my eyes up to the hills. where does my help come from. my help comes from you, maker of Heaven, creator of the earth". a good reminder after the week of beauty in the hills, but also that God is the creator. it talks about not letting my feet slip- which parallels another psalm i have been reading, psalm 73. that also talks about clinging to God.

weird to come home after 7 years of really living on my own, 11 years after leaving. this isn't a whirlwind trip like i am used to. it's home. i think my kids are a little out of sorts still, but they had a great week with mom-mom. nora wouldn't even look at me for hours after i walked in- like she was mad at me for leaving. now, it's just sweet. she will look at me and just tell me she loves me! and jamey is walking all over the place!

alright, enough for tonight. i just wasn't really able to write this weekend. i was emotionally spent! but, i will try to get back on my daily routine!! my new normal!!!