Over the River and Through the Woods

This past weekend we initiated Drew and Garrett into the joy of the road trip, driving up to northern Michigan to visit my Grandma, Aunt Pat and cousins who Jim and I haven't seen in 5 years, and Garrett and Drew have never met. It was a bit of trial by fire, but, we were pleasantly surprised how excited the boys were about it, and how able they were to roll with the changes. (Well, with one rather glaring exception I think we all hope to soon forget...) It was a joy to take a trip that I got to take every year growing up; to visit family that we so rarely get to see; to have the chance to introduce them to Drew and Garrett and to share with the boys places and activities that are special to me from those trips. Grandma Char and Grandpa Mike drove up as well, and we had two whole days to stay, not including driving to and from, which was just about right. Here are a few of the highlights along the way (in addition, of course, to all the visiting we were able to do!)...

Road Trip!

Jim and I spent this past weekend doing something entirely impractical and it was glorious. For the first time in four years we took a road trip together while the boys hosted Grandma Char and Grandpa Mike for a sleepover. Before Garrett and Drew, road trips were something we loved to do, and every year we would take at least one long one. Since the boys came, though, we've stayed pretty close to home.

After so long, and in the middle of a busy Summer of too much work and too little time, with an even busier Fall up ahead of us, it was a needed and treasured break: from home, from responsibility, from being practical. And indeed, 900+ miles in two days to see a concert was not practical. But it was a wonderful trip and full of goodness that, despite the weariness, leaves me feeling renewed and in a better place heading into the crazy months ahead, not to mention daily life, for a while.