Road trip- the rest of the story

Day 1
Day 2- Back for more
Day 3- Down on the farm
Day 4- Flooded waters, drowned plans
Day 5- Oh, keys! Where art thou?

Well, sort of the rest of the story. In short, the wedding was beautiful (or so I heard, I missed most of it because Reagan insisted on doing somersaults down the aisle). The reception was nice and elegant (Reagan thought so too. She tried real hard to take down the tulle and white twinkle lights so she could wrap them like a scarf). About 7:30pm we left the reception for the long road home. Apparently we left too early because the reception ended shortly after with wedding crashers, eight squad cars, and some of the bridal party getting into a fight with the crashers. Poor Jordan. It was all beautiful anyway.

The road home ended much as it started. There was a lot more adventure and drama, laughs and tears, and lots and lots of stops. But all of that is inconsequential to what I want my girls to remember about the trip. I want them to know that we had a good time. I want them to know that they had the opportunity to see family that loves them and cares about them very much. I want my girls to know how important family is and that sacrifices should be made to take an opportunity to see that family from time to time. I want my girls to know that should ANY family member be passing through their town, they should stop whatever they are doing and go meet said family member. I don't care if it is a fourth cousin twice removed and you don't even know their name. Family is that important. Go see them.

During our road trip, we took turns reading a book that my Grandma had recently given me. It is her autobiography with hundreds of pages of stories and photos. I am so grateful my Grandma went through all of the trouble to write that book. I will cherish it forever.

Grandma is one of 11 surviving children. She even has triplet brothers that were born in the early 40's. Can you imagine how rare that must have been to have triplets and to have them all survive? In the book, Grandma talks about a road trip they took. She says,

We took a trip in may. We went to Ohio to visit Mary and Bill. We had a big
old car, a Hudson, I think. Mom, Dad and Reno sat in the front seat (no seat
belts then). Dad put a bench in the center for Jim, John, Joe (the triplets),
and Ruth. Arnie, Joyce, Eileen and I sat in the back seat. We all took turns
holding Teresa who was only six months old. At their house we slept on the floor with pillows and blankets. We had a great and memorable trip.

They didn't have a mini van stocked with juice boxes, cookies, and a DVD player. They didn't have a hotel with beds and room service. During all of my stress and anxiety with crying kids, lost kids and keys, getting separated on elevators, getting separated on interstates, and getting detoured by floods, I forgot to stop and be grateful. Megan read that little passage to me while I was driving and in a moment I was changed. Grandma reminded us what it was all about.

So through all of the stories and the drama and adventure, girls, I want to you remember one thing, "We had a great and memorable trip."