Goodness Gracious

Here we are in San Francisco again. We were her 2 years ago, sans Alicia, our 26 year old and Sarah, our 23 year old. I am in love with this city once again. There is so much to see and do, and it seems there is everything in the world crammed into this small piece of real estate.

There is something here for everyone: music, art, culture, diversity. In fact, there is so much that it is hard to choose what to do. Case in point: Today we drove into town, one so we could get MUNI transportation passes, and two because it was cheaper to drive in to the city and park (20.00 a day) than to ride the ferry(7.00 each way per person times 7). When we got in, we got turned around, started fussing about it, and got all flustered. Then when we finally got going right, we parked and went inside the ferry building to get something to eat.

If you have never been to the ferry bldg. you will have to imagine the feast for the senses. It is a long bldg. with open shops on each side. Kinda like a farmers market, with upscale restaurants about every 4 shops. There is a cheese shop, a bread shop, honey, wine, meat (cooked and raw), seafood, several coffee shops, gelato, even a caviar bar with a tasting menu. One restaurant called ‘the larder’ has 2 aspects; a take home menu that you prepare at home, and a family style sit down place. But the best thing about it besides the fact that it is an open kitchen for training new and up and coming chefs is that they have a dog….thats right, I said a dog….you know, one of the ones with the dreadlocks that looks like a rug….living under one of the tables. Now I am not sure how they get away with this. In Fl. where we live, that would be a health violation. But it was there 2 years ago, and it was there today. In fact, it was out from under the table today and one of the hostess/waitresses had to push it back under the table, so I know it was real and alive. Weird. Only in California!!

Back to the heart of the story, though. We were trying to decide what to eat, and nobody wanted to decide. I think that is kinda sweet, although sometimes it is totally irritating. Nobody wanted to decide because they didnt want anyone else to be disappointed, or to be responsible if no one else liked it. So we finally decided to have Taylors Refresher, (burgers and sandwiches) which we had had here before, and we knew we all would like it, rather than try something and be disappointed. It was a good choice, although not at all adventurous, and as we proceeded throughout the rest of the day, some very important things occured to me:

I am a people pleaser. More specifically, I want more than anything for my family to be happy and get along. At all costs and sacrifice. In some ways, that is what I think a mother is suppose to be. I will give anything: time, money, my other relationships (including sometimes putting my marital relationship) to make my kids happy. I will dance around one child and walk on eggshells around another and skirt issues with them, hopping between difficult subjects to avoid conflict and fear disappointing them. But that is not right. The goal should not be their happiness but their growth. God knows we are not always going to be happy and if we aim only for happiness, we stunt growth. So my thinking has to change. I have been working on this for some time, but big change doesn’t happen overnight.

So what should I do? Not worry so much about their comfort and work on character. That I know. But how do I do this, specifically? I am continually praying about this, and know as God works on me and my selfishness (have I told you lately how much I have been seeing my true character…ouch….selfish to the bone) he can work through me into theirs and as I humble myself on my knees, he reveals and reshapes me so he can do the same for my children. After all, he wants our character to reflect him as much or more than we do.

Looking at us on the outside, you might think we have it all together. I confess that without God’s grace, you would see a different picture. But I can look at my heart and know that without a patient heavenly father gently reminding me, forgiving me, and guiding me over and over again, I would be hopeless. But with him, I am the eternal optimist. It is him, not me that I hope you see as I seek his Joy in the Journey.  

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Ok, I know it has been a loooong time since my last blog, and I am not even going to attempt to write about everything we have done and seen. But, I will give you the highlights.

We have driven thru 14 – yes, thats FOURTEEN states since September 18th. We drove thru some, stayed one night in others and several nights in a few. By far, my favorite state has been Utah. Now don’t get all defensive if it is not yours or if you think some other state is better, this is just my favorite for this trip so far, because we were able to see more of it and stay there longer to appreciate its beauty. We only went thru southern Utah at that, so I can’t really judge the whole state based on that portion, But it is my favorite so far, and I am sticking with that.

We visited Palo Duro Canyon in Texas and the Cadillac Ranch. If you don’t know what that is, you’ll have to look it up;) It is a fun place for a quick stop in Amarillo. I know I wrote about this in the last blog, but humor me as it is a good jumping off point.

Next, we drove to Alberquerque, NM and stopped for lunch. We had tex-mex of course, and then walked around a bit. We didn’t have much time there, but it reminded me of St. Augustine, in Fl. We decided to stop early  that night so we could see the Petrified Forest in the morning, instead of driving on to Jacob Lake which was the original plan.  I have always wanted to go there, and I am so glad we did. The painted desert was beautiful, and the petrified trees are just so cool. You can’t imagine what they look like, but they are so facinating.  Dad was in a rush to get going again because we still had a long way to go and he knew that the last 60 miles was going to be hairy and he didn’t want to do it in the dark.

Well, he was right, and we made it thru at dusk: harrowing switchbacks, 500 ft drop offs, no guard rails and no shoulders-a wild ride. But we made it to Jacob Lake which was a beautiful campground. Very dark, and you could see the milky way with the naked eye! It was also very COLD and we sat around a campfire toasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories.

From there, we went to the Grand Canyon, North Rim. All I can say is WOW! It was beauty indescribable.

We then drove to Zion National Park. It was even more beautiful than the Grand Canyon. Truly God’s handiwork. We hiked, biked, and even waded through the Narrows in 65 degree water that was ankle to waist deep. We waded for several miles into it, and then turned around and waded back. By the time we were coming back, the sun was setting and it was getting cold! Don was right again, thinking that we should have started earlier. But it was fun none the less.

From there, we went on to Bryce Canyon. My sister-in-law says that to her, Bryce was a spiritual experience. I have to agree. As we hiked what is said to be the most beautiful hike in the US, the queens garden/Navajo trail, all I could think about was how amazing our Creator is. How great is our God! Pictures don’t do Bryce Canyon justice.

We saw the Hoover Dam, and learned to appreciate what God has put in the mind of man to accomplish. And we saw Las Vegas, and remembered what the mind of man without God is prone to do. I have such a burden for that place and a renewed sense of the need of our nation.

So here we are, driving through Sacremento, actually stopped in a traffic jam. We have a wedding to go to on Oct. 17 here. We will be going on to Santa Rosa for a festival today, tomorrow and Sunday. After that, who knows? We plan to visit San Fran, Napa, and Yosemite.

I know this is long, but I just have one more thing I have learned: My husband, the love of my life, as much as I hate to admit, is rarely wrong. I wish I appreciated it more, and honored him more for it. Usually, it just makes me aggrivated. But I am learning to listen to him, trust his judgements and work toward fulfilling his need for my respect and honor. I fall so short so often, and am ashamed to admit that I am not further along than I am. I think so much about my needs and I realize how truely selfish I can be. I am so glad that God hasn’t and won’t ever give up on me. And as flawed as I am, I know my darling husband won’t either. He is the biggest blessing God has ever given me and I hope I will be better at honoring that.

Also, Hopefully, my blogging will be better, and not so far in between! In the meantime, remember to have joy in your everyday journey. I know I am.

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We stopped in Amarillo Tx. Saturday afternoon, and thought it would be only for one night, but after talking to many people, we decided to stay another day and go visit the Palo Duro Canyon. It is the second largest canyon in the US, and is about 20 miles wide and 120 miles long and 800 ft. deep. It was so cool! You can actually drive to the bottom on great road, and go from end of the Public Park to the other. The park is only a small portion of the canyon, though, and you can see the privately owned portions as you drive down the road to get to the park entrance.

Texas is big and the panhandle is flat and windy. I know now why the dustbowl happened. There is nothing to stop the wind. It just blows and blows. And most of the time, especially at dusk, it smells. Like Cow. Paddies. Don says the ranchers say thats the smell of money. Well if that is what it takes to have money, I don’t want any, thank you.

I did come to realize what a city girl I am. I want to be outdoorsy, and adventuresome, but somehow, that just doesnt work for me. I did buy some ugly KEEN (brand) hiking shoes, and they are terribly comfortable, but really ugly. But I wear them anyway. And I still try, even though I am not as good at it as I would like. I am afraid I will break a nail or something. But I do prefer nature to the mall any day of the week. It just cant be too much work.

We are getting on each others nerves a little more, I think, and I must confess that I think I am liable for at least some of it. I have been too lazy to get on my knees these past 2 mornings, and I miss my time with my savior. I don’t get a chance to talk with him like I want if I try to do it any other time, so when I wake up in the morning at 4:30 or so, that is our time together. But I have been so tired lately, that I have been lazy and stayed in bed. But not tonight. I cant wait to spend some time with him, and I look forward to relaxing in his arms. Thats how I find joy in this journey.

We drove to

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So far, so good.

We have made it to Amarillo, Tx and so far, there have been no huge disagreements, everyone has pitched in, and we have not been ready to kill ourselves….or each other! Keep praying for us.

We went from Macon, Ga. thru Alabama, Mississippi, to Memphis, ate, slept, and then drove thru Arkansas and stayed in a great little RV park near Fort Smith, OK. The owner lady had moved there from Sacremento. She had a little outdoor prayer shelter with a bench where a large sign dedicated the property to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The sign also beckoned one to sit and pray for a while. So I did. It was a lovely park, and we enjoyed the many hummingbirds (at least 20) that flocked to her feeders.

We asked her for a recommendation for dinner, and she sent us across the street to a little dive called the Catfish Hole. We love trying new places, and let me tell you, this one was a find. The food was amazing: fried fresh catfish, shrimp, chicken fingers and fresh-cut french fries. The sides were served family style: beans, savory and not sweet, cole slaw, pickles, and hushpuppies. We ate and ate, and because it was just across the street, we were able get some exercise when we walked back to the campground. 

 As we were walking back, the kids were laughing and cutting up in front of us. Don and I were walking arm in arm behind them. Don and I looked at each other and smiled, and we realized just why we took this trip. I reveled in that moment, as it brought tears to my eyes. I had caught a glimpse of heaven.

And I felt true joy in the journey.

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Well, after two days of delays…we are finally on the road!

We left at about noon on Wednesday, and made it as far as Byronville, Ga (near Macon). As of now, we are traveling north to Atlanta on I-75, then we will get on I-20 and head west to somewhere and then get on some other road that will ultimately take us to I-40 in Birmingham and then keep on going. Not sure when we will get there or where we are really going, but the point is that we are going!! Livin’ the dream, baby!

Alot has happened since my last blog. Here is the readers digest condensed version: Sarah couldn’t find a job or a place in Cali, so she flew home Saturday, 9-13. We decided that she should drive with us to Cali, since she is the reason we were going out there….to see her in a wedding Oct. 17, and it would be nice to have another driver anyway.

In the meantime,  Alicia, (our 26 year old daughter) was written off the schedule at Barnes and Noble (don’t shop there!!!) so we invited her to come along too. So instead of having just Don and I and the three younger kids (Sam-17, Joe-13, Faith-8) we now have 7 people sharing a 34 ft. motorhome and a jeep that only seats 5. We have 6 bikes, (but the rack only holds 4) so we only need 1 more bike but 3 more racks. At least there is a bed for everyone (using a blow up matress for one kid). But I am so thankful. I can’t remember the last time everyone was together. It is weird, with 2 other adults, and they are our children, but good. I am blessed and happy. If we don’t kill each other!

Day one was uneventful, but I learned some lessons:

1. If you can’t find a kid when you need one to do some menial task, look behind the curtains in the bunks. Thats where Joe hides. And if you find him, don’t loose it. He didn’t know he was needed.

2. 68 mph. is the fastest a motor home should go. EVER.

3. Love bugs on the windshield are like many marriages. They bind themselves together, because of the fun, and they never see the danger coming. They end up splattered and never even know why or how it ended.

4. MacAllisters Deli has consistantly amazing food. Their Spud Max even fills up Sam…which is a feat in itself.

5. I love Chic-Fil-A. I could eat there every day….and be as big as a house!!

6. My children have very eclectic tastes in music. And that is great. Especially when you ask one of them to create a play list to drive by.

7. The sound and motion of the motor home is really annoying to our motion/noise sensitive Alicia. Ouch! Gotta get some dramimine for her.

RANDOM FUN FACTS about Georgia:

1.Atlanta is Coke heaven: both kinds. Not that I use either. EVER. Did you know that the worlds consumption of Coca-Cola in one day would run Niagra Falls for 28 seconds? Or that the original Coke was GREEN? EW!

2. There is a town in southern GA called Amboy. I just wondered how it got its name. And is there an Amgirl nearby?

3. There are more Waffle Houses than Starbucks in Ga. (I think) We drove around for an hour trying to find a Starbucks for Alicia, and passed many Waffle Houses. Every exit has a sign for one, but no Starbucks. Guess they are downtown or something, not right off the interstate.

4. Six Flags over GA is where that kid got his head chopped off (thank you Sarah for reminding us of that as we drove by.) We still want to go there.

5. There are 6 different regions in GA, 4 major rivers, 13 islands and the largest freshwater basin in the US, the Okenenokee Swamp. (that means "Land of the trembling earth" in Seminole.) The name comes from the fact that the swamp actually quivers because of the gasses escaping from the rotting trees and plants. GROSS!

6. Evidently there is a question in GA of what is edible vs inedible. We passed a large white open bedded trailer pulled by a semi, that definely had the word INEDIBLE carefully stenciled on the back. Hmmmmm…..

I am glad to be on the road, and am definitely finding Joy in the Journey.

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