Family Quest

“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” ~ Lin Yutang

So when are you coming?”

Each time I talk to my grandmother-in-law, she makes sure to ask me this question. And I’m always not sure when we’re coming. They live in West Virginia, so it’s hard to sometimes find the days to go.  My husband and I moved a few things around and decided to go see family, as we haven’t seen them in a while. Baby A had never been to Charleston, West Virginia (except in utero) and she is now already 6 months. Z had gone to WV numerous times at that point. Maybe it’s 2nd child Syndrome? First child sees the world, and with the 2nd child, somehow we just didn’t have the days off what with my husband’s work schedule, etc. Then add another child to the mix and traveling with 2 seems daunting.

But we did it! We went on a last-minute-road-trip ~ the kind of trip in which you don’t know you’re leaving until the next day. My husband and I are sometimes v.last minute. We are known to host a dinner events at our home a few hours before dinner, and now make a sudden road trip. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. And in this case, it did!

 

Z at a bench looking out into a South Carolina lake. This was before the rain fell.

Welcoming Blue Skies. On the way to WV, my husband drove during a v.rainy night ~ the girls mostly slept, but the first 2 hours were tiring for us as they were awake, and tough for the driver who was my husband. On the way back we drove through mostly blue skies, some grey skies, and during the day. I was expecting the worst, but the 2 of them were mostly ok. The last 2 hours dragged along, as wails got whinier, miles seemed longer, rain drops seemed heavier, and the car space smaller.

Baby A’s feet on a Pizza Hut table. First stop was within an hour of the drive as she got cranky!

This picture she looks so big!

And she’s almost 3 so maybe that’s why?

Z playing with my phone and took this self-image!

An early birthday gift from family~ a Dora Backpack that sung to us on our drive. My husband purposefully hid the back pack and when Z asked for it 4 hours later, was relieved that at least we had gone 4 hours without its singing!

Cousin on a Native American mound in WV

The good thing about traveling is a good book. This book won the Newberry award which is a big deal for children’s books. The title Getting Near to Baby made me gravitate towards it. It was an amazing, powerful, beautiful book of dealing with tragedy and the child perspective was so refreshing. When I go to the library, I usually get a bunch of children’s books. Love them. Lately, I’ve been enjoying chapter books.

A good thing about traveling is exploring around you, whether that means going to the mall, or playing on the terrace.

Rest Stops are good for the soul!

Lake admiring.We are safely back in our cozy home. It was a great trip and now we are taking it easy lounging in pajamas, and home clothes, which means for Z 3 separate hair bands, button necklaces, and casual buttered toast.

“And God has made for you from your homes a place of rest and made for you from the hides of the animals tents which you find light on your day of travel and your day of encampment; and from their wool, fur and hair is furnishing and enjoyment for a time.” (Quran 16:80).