Randoms of take aways from the family vacay for your Wednesday <3

These honyocker’s were up and at ’em at 3 AM the morning we left. We all were. We had an early flight home in hopes of catching the U of I game that evening back home.

We weren’t the only ones who answered the call and found long, long lines due to the TSA issues. We made it through in time to catch our flight, only to find it was delayed.

numerous times.

But these kiddos were troopers and we all agreed we would rather have gotten up at 3 AM to stand in line for one hour instead of extra sleep and a two hour line wait. It was better to spread out and spread out we did…

All arrived home safely, the Illini made it to the Final Four and we got to listen to or watch the game thanks to technology and here are some random takeaways from the trip.

Random #1

We loved the picnic lunches at the various parks.

I felt particularly loved and seen and understood the first day when Rachel offered to make my PB&J sandwich. I hesitated in agreeing to her kind gesture and my dear husband knew why.

He spoke into the awkward silence and told her to make sure the peanut butter was evenly distributed to the edges of all four corners, not too little nor too much and the jelly needed to be the same.

As we near our 45th year of married life, I knew in my heart he knows me better than any other human <3

Random #2

Like this tangible gift of a San Diego mug from Russ’s cousin, there are so many beautiful acts of kindness we felt along the way.

The thoughtfulness of both family and friends, plus people who were helpful or friendly touched our hearts and help weave together with the photos and stories to enrich our memories of this getaway.

I learn about hospitality and having a generous spirit from others example and I am grateful to be the recipient of many lessons on the Journey.

Random #3

I see a heart here. You may not, and that would be my fail in angling the camera correctly, but it was definitely there.

There were several hearts along the way, sometimes I spotted them, sometimes someone else.

But each one represented a reminder that kindness is in us because God is kind and we are made in His image.

I love that the children make sure to point out hearts to me, and I pray they will always find them in the world around them and remember how good and kind God is to them to leave these love notes as trail markers on their own journeys.

Random #4

We are so grateful to Zach and Rachel to have included us in this trip.

As parents/grandparents, we sit on the sidelines these days. We do the precarious dance of speaking up and shutting up and sometimes we fail.

Our role is to support when needed and busy ourselves while cheering them on when not needed.

To be able to have a front row seat to them exploring and climbing, having gotten to witness their first visit to the Pacific, seeing the parks and city through their eyes, was a gift we do not take for granted.

If I knew the secret to how we ended up having this kind of relationship with our children, I would bottle and sell it, but I can only attribute it to God’s grace and mercy to one like me. It is a divine gift and we treasure every moment.

One of the sweetest memories for me happened in the car one day. As the miles ticked by, some kind of conversation came up and Graham asked Papi what he had done when he worked at ADM.

True to Russ’s nature, he modestly shared some of the many responsibilities he shouldered over the years there. It was sweet as the boys listened and asked questions.

Then there were the times when a song would come on the radio and they would sing along in the back seat. Often it was a comical and overly dramatic rendering, but they knew every word of the praise song.

I will treasure this in my heart long after the photos get buried in the iCloud file.

Random #5

This one is headed to her parents’ room with an app on her mom’s phone that will unlock the door.

When I was her age I would have been carrying a literal room key with a huge plastic gizmo that had the room number printed on it along with the name of the hotel.

Since then, I have marveled at slide in and now tap cards that open the door.

Even these are obsolete to her generation.

Traveling with the children brought many moments of remembering my own childhood, their mommy’s childhood and current life.

It has all flashed by so quickly and sometimes I have to just sit and grasp how fleeting this life is.

I wonder what changes she will see over her life and how on earth things could get any more advanced than they already are, but I know better than to doubt they will.

One thing will remain tho…and that is love.

This I know with all my heart <3