On the road again

We are heading to Mt. Rushmore for the Memorial weekend. We got a call from some dear friends a couple weeks ago and wanted to know if we wanted to meet them there and camp with them. This made me laugh. Evidently we have become the safe campers. We constantly get asked to accompany different families on either their first camping trip or their first camping trip with kids. I'm not sure how this came about other than the sheer volume and crazy adventures we seem to go on. I haven't seen my dear friend for a long time. They adopted a little girl 9 years ago who is between my kids' age and whom they think is a cousin. I love these girls and can't wait to wrap them in a huge hug. But the most exciting thing is the fact that I get to meet their new son. By a miracle of God alone they got pregnant and had a sweet little boy 4 months ago and I can't wait to meet him! This is his first long road trip. I wonder how they are doing. At least this time they have a full-fledged backseat babysitter! His dad is a Major in the army and once gave us a tour of the Pentagon when he was stationed there. Very cool it was!

This trip with all its green rolling hills, Rocky Mountain views, and cattle ranches reminds me of Ike's first camping trip to Arches National Park in Moab, UT. He was 6 weeks old and has been camping more and hiked more miles than most adults I know. Or a few years ago when we took MacGyver's parents back there. Back before GPSs were a staple. It was my turn to drive. The kids were in the far back asleep and the men folk switched places with us women folk. My mother-in-law and I were just talking up a storm when I realized we were low on gas. And the last sign I read was "no services for 207 miles". Growing up in the East never prepared me for this reality. In the West there isn't a gas station on every corner. Or food. Or a bathroom. Or anything that resembles civilization. And this girl never stepped foot in a Girl Scout meeting. By contrast, MacGyver is an Eagle Scout. He was born prepared. He was also asleep. Very asleep. I've never been more awake and aware of my condition. And neither has my mom-in-law! Needless to say; we were sweating. And praying. I didn't run out of gas (that day). I had to laugh a little seeing his face when he woke up as I pulled into the gas station and we told him what happened; and a little from relief, too! I never said life with me would be boring!