Today Becky had a great conversation with a group of people. It seems they understood exactly what we are doing and how we feel about it. They told stories about their families and lives, and felt the enthusiasm that Becky and I have about Our Trip. A friend of mine, let's call him Tom, related Our Trip to a graduation. I think that analogy works on many levels. If you remember your high school or college graduation party, you were surrounded by many people. A lot of them you didn't know very well, but they all had wonderfully encouraging things to say to you. They told you stories of the dreams they had, the things they did, and places they visited. They related to you, and that is exactly the kind of interactions Becky and I have been experiencing since we starting telling people about Our Trip. Not since my own graduation party have so many people made an effort to come up to me or call me and say something positive, inspiring or appreciative. It makes me feel very excited and encouraged to go out and see this country, not just for us, but because there will be so many people that follow along with us. To everyone that stopped what they were doing to say something to us about Our Trip, Thank you.
Dan
Friday, May 29, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Family and friends get us where we're going
Our children are one of the biggest reasons behind taking a trip of this magnitude. When I reflect on that it brings me real gratitude for the people in my life who have taught me the value of family. From parents and siblings, to nephews and nieces, even my own children have opened my eyes to the unselfish, unconditional love of family.
A good friend told me recently "I'm convinced now more than ever that family is the most important thing." How perfectly simple.
There are a lot of problems in the world and we can dwell on them and try to help solve them but ultimately we have the most impact on the people closest to us - our family and friends. These are the people who get us where we're going in life.
So while it's true that Our Trip is just the four of us, it's taken generations of family members and countless friends to get us where we're going. Thank you!
A good friend told me recently "I'm convinced now more than ever that family is the most important thing." How perfectly simple.
There are a lot of problems in the world and we can dwell on them and try to help solve them but ultimately we have the most impact on the people closest to us - our family and friends. These are the people who get us where we're going in life.
So while it's true that Our Trip is just the four of us, it's taken generations of family members and countless friends to get us where we're going. Thank you!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
This Just Makes Sense
All kinds of people do it. They blog about it. They write books about it. This is not so crazy. It's almost normal to want to travel the United States in an RV. And for Dan and I, this just makes sense. Maybe I had some trouble expressing the idea to him at first, but now I can see that we were meant for this trip. It's our epic journey. It's our "big thing."
To learn something about people, you only have to take a look at their past actions. Back in college we took road trips to Florida, Texas and Canada. For our honeymoon we drove from Ohio to Maine, stopping only in a parking lot to sleep. Early in our marriage Dan took summer trips with friends, trying to hit as many baseball stadiums as his vacations days and our budget would allow. We are roadtrip people. This just makes sense.
To learn something about people, you only have to take a look at their past actions. Back in college we took road trips to Florida, Texas and Canada. For our honeymoon we drove from Ohio to Maine, stopping only in a parking lot to sleep. Early in our marriage Dan took summer trips with friends, trying to hit as many baseball stadiums as his vacations days and our budget would allow. We are roadtrip people. This just makes sense.
31 Favorite Things
"Imagine all the things we can do during the trip," I said to the kids one Saturday afternoon during lunch. What followed was a frenzied discussion on all the things we love to do as a family. Swimming at the pool, a pond. Fishing. Bike riding. Visiting friends. Playing at the park. Making cookies. Roasting marshmallows. Bowling.
As we shouted out our favorites, Abby started counting. Playing catch, 25. Playing tag, 26, Going to the movies, 27. "Mom, we've got to write these down," she said. We're up to 31 things.
"These are our favorite things," 3-year old Carter said. "That's right, honey," I agreed.
Later that night when I was putting Carter to bed, he had not forgotten about all the fun we'd planned for the trip. There are three songs he likes to hear at bedtime: the ABC's, "Santa Clause is Coming to Town," and "Favorite Things." Before I started singing he asked
"Mommy, can you sing OUR favorite things in the song?"
As we shouted out our favorites, Abby started counting. Playing catch, 25. Playing tag, 26, Going to the movies, 27. "Mom, we've got to write these down," she said. We're up to 31 things.
"These are our favorite things," 3-year old Carter said. "That's right, honey," I agreed.
Later that night when I was putting Carter to bed, he had not forgotten about all the fun we'd planned for the trip. There are three songs he likes to hear at bedtime: the ABC's, "Santa Clause is Coming to Town," and "Favorite Things." Before I started singing he asked
"Mommy, can you sing OUR favorite things in the song?"
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Before She Grows Up
Maybe it will happen next year, possibly the year after that. My 9-year old daughter will start that separation thing. It's natural, it's okay. I understand it. I know this pre-teen thing must run its course all the way through high school. But my little girl will be a different person by then. She won't say "Mommy, can you wash my hair?" or "Mommy, let's make a craft together." She won't ride bikes with us after supper or go to the drive-in movies or plant a garden with me anymore. I have just a year or two more to connect with this girl. Or to make an impression on her. Here's what I'd like her to know before that happens.
I'll always be there for you. I do want to spend more time with you. Your ideas are great. I'm so glad I have you in my life. I've learned so much from you.
After making this realization just months ago, I knew I had to spend as much time as I possibly could with her. A year-long trip around the country is the perfect opportunity to connect with my little girl before she grows up.
I'll always be there for you. I do want to spend more time with you. Your ideas are great. I'm so glad I have you in my life. I've learned so much from you.
After making this realization just months ago, I knew I had to spend as much time as I possibly could with her. A year-long trip around the country is the perfect opportunity to connect with my little girl before she grows up.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Remember That Year
In 20 years, my husband and I will be in our 50s. The kids will be 29 and 23.
Here's a little dream I have:
I can see Dan and I sitting on the patio of a summer rental on the East Coast with the kids. Maybe there are some grandchildren tucked in bed. It's late in the evening. We can see the ocean from where we all sit. We can hear it. It's been a long time since the four of us have sat listening to the ocean.
Carter speaks up. "I remember that year," he says. "I was pretty little but I remember it. Going to the beach always reminds me of Family Year. We went to so many cool beaches. Ya know, that was one of the best years of my childhood," he says.
"Oh, definitely the best," Abby says. "Mom and Dad took us everywhere in America in our RV. It was more than beaches. We saw it all. I loved that trip."
That's my dream. I want the kids to remember next year as the best year of their childhood. The one Mom and Dad spent the whole year with them, experiencing the wonders of America. The one we spent learning together, playing together, eating ALL our meals together, and growing up together. Our year, Family Year. That's what I want for the four of us more than anything.
Here's a little dream I have:
I can see Dan and I sitting on the patio of a summer rental on the East Coast with the kids. Maybe there are some grandchildren tucked in bed. It's late in the evening. We can see the ocean from where we all sit. We can hear it. It's been a long time since the four of us have sat listening to the ocean.
Carter speaks up. "I remember that year," he says. "I was pretty little but I remember it. Going to the beach always reminds me of Family Year. We went to so many cool beaches. Ya know, that was one of the best years of my childhood," he says.
"Oh, definitely the best," Abby says. "Mom and Dad took us everywhere in America in our RV. It was more than beaches. We saw it all. I loved that trip."
That's my dream. I want the kids to remember next year as the best year of their childhood. The one Mom and Dad spent the whole year with them, experiencing the wonders of America. The one we spent learning together, playing together, eating ALL our meals together, and growing up together. Our year, Family Year. That's what I want for the four of us more than anything.
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