Sometimes It's the Little Things

This weekend we took an unexpected trip to eastern Kentucky for Bob's Grandmother's funeral. The pastor there said he had never seen that many family members at a funeral in that little mosoleum. She had 18 grandchildren and 30 great-grands. We will miss Granny very much, but are thankful to know that she had trusted Christ as her Savior and is with him now and has all her memories back again!

This 'quick' trip took us 72 LONG hours through 5 states! We got to see some fall leaves beginning to change colors in the mountains - so beautiful! We knew it would be hard on the kids, but were amazed at how well they actually did with all the riding, different hotels, different people and all the time at the funeral home. It wasn't easy, but they are so adaptable. They didn't know where we were going, didn't understand why we were in the van for such a LONG time, didn't know how long we'd be gone, or who all the people were that we saw while we were there. You could see the uncertainty on their faces at times. The expressions asked, "where are we and who are all these people?"

So, we tried to make a point each day to do some small thing for them to make it all more fun. We found the game room at the hotel where we stayed in KY for a little while before bedtime. On the way home, we drove out of the way to find an outdoor park for the kids to play for 30 minutes after dinner before we got back in the van AGAIN!

They had a blast climbing on all the rocks in a big field near the playground. Then on Sunday we stayed at the hotel for an extra hour or two to let them swim in the pool before we got in the van AGAIN!

Those little breaks from the monotonous agenda of the trip made the whole experience seem like an adventure for them instead of a nightmare for all of us. Carrie told me one day that she 'just loves to stay at hotels'. I asked why and she said it was because she gets to snuggle me all night long! We sleep girls in one bed, boys in the other! It was a reminder that they feel safe and happy just to be wherever Mom and Dad are. We love our kiddos! (And they have the best Dad in the world! Thanks for taking the time to make the journey more fun for all of us. You're the BEST!)

So the weekend's lesson for me was this...

God provides little blessing for us all through our jouney as well. Things we don't need, didn't ask for and probably usually don't even notice - much less appreciate. He loves us better than the best earthly father ever could. He knows us better than we know our own kids. He has a plan and a purpose for our lives, even if we don't always understand it as we go through our journey.

But do we trust Him with childlike faith that He is in charge of the details, the timing, the directions, the WHOLE plan? How often do we enjoy the journey? Are we thankful for the little things? I hope I am on some days - I know I don't trust enough, follow enough, love Him enough, thank Him enough, but I want to.