Spring tends to signify all things new. I can hear the array of birds chirping outside, the beautiful musical managerie that they create. My 5 year old said at our outdoor dinner tonight, "stop momma, do you hear that?" Even the busiest boy on the block is taken aback by God's details in nature. Pretty cool.
We are all feeling the anticipation of our upcoming road trip this coming July to a few National Parks. As I'm obsessing about the details of stocking our new camper with every possible item I can find on sale and meal planning, it seems that so many of our conversations resolved around this trip. One guy named it, and rightfully so, "the trip of a lifetime."
If I stop long enough to breathe in that reality, i can actually see past my anxiety about the many long hours as a family. The boredom, the fighting, the exhaustion, the challenges of [gl]amping for 2 solid weeks....... the mess, the dirt, the bugs, the smelly, cranky, hot kids........
It will be amazing. That is the absolute truth. Amazing can also include hard. Sometimes I am too quick to see the glass half empty because I let fear take over. Or, I tend to build things up in my head......and I forget that flexibility generally means more fun for everyone.
Two weeks is definately a long time. But, if I blink it will go by quickly. Cherish it. That really needs to be the focus. I will never get this season back with my family. It's happening, one mile, one meal, one day and one park at a time.
My kids, like most, thrive better together when there is time and opportunity to take space and play with their non-sibling. On the first major road trip 2 years ago in WA through the north cascades, there were virtually no other kids in existence at any of our campgrounds, strangely enough. I had a premature mommy meltdown as we pulled out of the driveway, hands and heart in prayer that they wouldn't severely mame each other. It turned out to be a truly wonderful bonding experience for them. I was floored. [Really they had no other option] but no need to dwell on that detail.
So where exactly, are those adventurous Wahls headed, dare you ask?
Glacier Nat'l Park
Jamestown, ND (see the relatives; meet the 2nd cousins)
Badlands Nat'l Park & probably Mt. Rushmore
Yellowstone Nat'l Park
If you have recommendations for cool places to stop and visit along the way please feel free to leave a comment!
