ROAD TRIP!!

  Yes, I know.  It's been weeks since I last wrote.  Life has been busy, and chaotic, and I've been trying to get my life in Iowa in order, so I could freely move to my life in California.  For those of you who didn't already know, G and I decided for me to pack up my life for a while, and take the kids clear down to Southern California to spend some time together as a family.  We plan on staying in CA for about 6 weeks.
  So, after weeks of planning, praying, and packing, my 3 kids, my best girl friend, and I crammed ourselves and our "lives" into our van, and started the long, slow trip to CA.  Quite honestly, I was really excited about the road trip.  I've never driven beyond Denver, and I was excited to see what the country looked like past my little bubble.
  The first day (Wednesday) we left at 7:30am.  I didn't shed any tears as we drove away from my home and state.  I was filled with excitement for the trip, and eagerness to see G again. The kids were great in the van, and with in 2 hours, they were all fast asleep, lulled by the constant rain on the windows.  We passed through flat Nebraska, and for the first time in my life, I was able to see the beauty of the flat, dry state.  We really started getting excited when we made it to Colorado.  That's when things really started to feel real, and we were really leaving our comfort area.  The land started to change, and we quickly got used to the beauty and greatness of the mountains. 
  We arrived at our Windsor, CO for our first night, and spent some great time with friends of our family.  It was a fairly short night of rest, and we were up again early the next morning.  Our goal for our second day of traveling?  VEGAS!!  It was a big goal, and meant about 12-13 hours of traveling.  Sounds alot more do-able when you don't have 3 kids who like to cry, whine, and fight. 
  The first several hours of driving for day two was slow and used a lot of focus.  We were going through the Rocky Mountains, and although they are breath takingly beautiful, they are stressful to drive through.  Accending and deccending mixed with tight curves are just not my idea of easy, peaceful drving.  Thankfully, my Girlfriend didn't mind, and she tackled the mountains like a Champ! :)  
  We crossed the state line for Utah, and were met with more of God's spledor.  I was much drier than Colorado, but it still held amazing landscapes filled with canyons and platueas.  There were still mountains, but they were shaped differently than the Rockies.  There was alot of brush and other crazy looking plants and shrubs.    The worst part of the trip, happened in Utah.  My youngest, J, got car sick, and made a nice big mess on herself and her carseat.  It wouldn't have been so bad if I could've cleaned it up at a rest stop.  No such luck.  We were just at a rest stop, and if you've ever traveled through Utah, you'll understand that they don't have many rest stops, or towns with any services.  So, the only thing we could do, was pull off on an exit ramp, and make the best of the nothing we had.  Let me tell you from first-hand experience: it's difficult to clean up puke when your best tool is wet wipes.  I was able to clean things enough, that we felt we could keep going, although getting the smell out of the van was going to need another bag of tricks...and I knew we wouldn't find that in 'no life' Utah.  (Sorry, Utah.  I don't dislike you, it's just that you weren't helpful when we needed you the most....no hard feelings:)
  We kept on trucking, and passed through the corner of Arizona and Nevada in the dark.  It was quite late, but we still wanted to reach Vegas for the night.  Come on!  Who doesn't want to see Vegas in the dark, with all the lights a-going?  We pushed hard, and with the van full of sleeping kids, we crested the hill before Vegas, and our mouths dropped open in shock of all the lights we saw.  Quite honestly, my first thought was fear.  Yes, I wanted to see the lights, but I had a lot of fear about actually entering "Sin City" at night with my kids in tow. 
  Through my husband's help, encouragement, and guidance, we made it to the South edge of the city, and we parked between The Luxor and The Excalibur.  Deciding on which motel to stay at was the easy part (The Exaclibur).  The hard part was yet to come...waking the kids, and somehow getting them and all our stuff inside and to our room in 1 trip.  A bell man took our luggage, and me and my Girlfriend were left to carry the kids, get checked in, and get up to our room.  So, I'm wasn't trying to be a worry-wart, but how could I not be concerned about being in Vegas at 11:00 at night with 3 little kids with sober and drunk people milling about hoping to strike it rich?  We entered the lobby, and we were hit in the face with a blur of noise, lights, and excitement.  I was wearing a backpack and my purse, and was carrying my little J with her big Blankie, and I was trying to direct my walking son who was very enamored by all the activity.  The casino was huge, and of course they designed it so you would have to walk through the whole casino in order to reach the registration desk.  I would've enjoyed this at a different time, but not the way I was stumbling around with the kids and my last shreds of sanity. 
  While we were waiting in line to register, the couple behind us were trying to talk to my son and tell me how tired he looked.  I tried to be as polite as I could be, but all I wanted to do was roll my eyes, and tell them what a long day we had, and if they weren't planning on helping us, then please just leave us alone.  We got checked in, and trudged once more through the huge casino lugging the kids, aiming to reach our room located on the 8th floor.  When we finally reached our room, I was shaky and not feeling like myself.  The wear of the strain of the day was finally setting in.  An hour later, I was showered and ready to sleep for our 1-night, Vegas experience. 
  The next day we crept out of Vegas, and all we have to show for our stay is pictures.  :)  No gambling, and no alcohol.  We finished driving through Nevada, and fought against strong desert winds.  I was so relieved when we reached California.  Finally, the same state as my husband!  Driving through LA was awful and stressful.  Unfortunately, we did hit some of the rush hour traffic, which stole at least an hour of our time from G. 
  The last hour of our trip, I was constantly on the phone with G.  We were trying to find a good meeting place, and excitedly chatted about how we couldn't believe this was finally happening.  We decided to meet in a parking lot.  I couldn't wait!  We drove up, and all hopped out of the van.  A couple minutes later, I finally spotted G, and he started making his way to us.  He looked like California, wearing a black back-pack, and his military haircut, and sunglasses. 
   After 14 weeks of separation, I could FINALLY say to the kids, "Look!  There's Daddy!!"  The kids ran excitedly towards him, and enveloped him with hugs and kisses.  Our reunion was a sweet one, and it was awesome seeing the kids in their Daddy's arms again.  I immediately felt like my load was lessened.  I wasn't alone anymore, and I could share the responcibilities with G again.  It was great to hug, hold hands, steal a few kisses, and laugh as a family again.  Just being with eachother was enough for me.  We were a Family again! :)  God opened up all the doors for the trip, and blessed us with the protection we needed, and we were finally together again.  Honestly, some of the best minutes that evening, was just sitting next to him with the kids on his lap, knowing that it was real, and he wouldn't be leaving shortly.
   I am so thankful to God's faithfulness to our family, and His care over us for those long 14 weeks.  With out God's strength, we wouldn't have been able to make it a single hour.  I am in awe at my Heavenly Father's Faithfulness, Care, Protection, and Love to our family.  This adventure in Cali has only just begun, and I am certain that the Lord will continue to be faithful to us, and uphold us, just like He has done for the last 14 weeks.  He will provide us with what we need spiritually, emotionally, finacially, and physically.  What an awesome, and Glorious God we serve!