4896

I am snuggling in a king size bed with Emma, Jack, and Roy. The sheets are cold. The air is cool. Will is snoozing close in his pack and play. I am close to giddy. Everyone is trying to settle down, a little restless, a little goofy, and I am right there with them. I feel like a kid. We have traveled through six states together to get here to Missouri and I couldn't be more proud of my family. Success and pride and love wrapped up into the flannel sheets of Pappy's bed.

Reflecting, I am still proud and feel a sense of accomplishment. The Jerrolds clan has traveled the unthinkable- don't get me wrong, we had our truck, cushioned warmed seats, toted two DVD players, numerous tunes on our IPOD and the luxury of food (and Starbucks) on the go (no covered wagons here). There and back, we traveled 4896 miles, through 12 states, with three kids, one dog, and I think we did darn good!

Throughout our time away, Emma, Jack, Will, & Cooper ran in the pecan groves of Pappy's yard in Missouri. They threw leaves in the air in the small town of Portageville in Grandma's yard. We looked upon a herd of antelope grazing in the fields of Wyoming. We stood huddled together in the biting wind in the Painted Desert of Arizona. When our children would become too restless of riding endless hours in the truck, we could only play one praise song to calm them: Mighty to Save. It became such a testament to the scenes we saw- we saw our Savior's handiwork, whittled over plain, mountain, dessert, and high land. What an experience to share together as a family: as we traveled 4896 miles, we saw the created beauty of our Savior, the same Savior who poured out His blood to save each of us...

I can still smell Pappy's laundry detergent on Jack's pajamas. I nuzzle my nose into his arm and warm in my family's trip...