Let's hear it for rolling down the curving mountain road toward the little town that's nestled in the foothills, the little town where the little white house sits beside that creek, where the beds are fresh and ready to welcome tired travelers home (thanks to great friends who stayed here while we were gone, and left good things for our return).
It's sort of amazing, when I think of it, just how much we packed in to just five days on our Wyoming road trip. Yellowstone, Jackson Hole, a state track meet (where our middle guy placed 3rd in the 800!), breathtaking sights along the Wind River range, white water rafting on the Snake River, and wildlife viewing in our own mountains on the way home. We still think KOA kabins are the best (Well, mostly. Sometimes you end up with one that you wouldn't choose again, but really, that's part of the adventure, right?).
It's so vivid for me these days, just how much I want to cherish the moments, to make the memories, to bottle up this summer and keep it in that special place. Because we won't have this one again. Not ever.
And so, when I'm tired from the final garden-planting push, from the Big Project, from the preserving, the prepping and the packing, not to mention the hours of driving, I choose to dig for the energy to play ping-pong, to throw the aerobie, to watch these boys do things that we're all so proud about. I know rest will come for me in snatches and pockets as I need it, but the moments with my guys won't wait.
This gets me over the hump of listening to rap music (rather loudly) in the truck for longer than I would choose. It helps me when the brother bashing goes beyond the boundaries. It balances the life-lessons that are a regular part of our days.
Goodness, I love this life.
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