Our big trip....

I grew up in a small town surrounded by tons of family. St. Joseph Missouri was my home until I was in about the 4th grade. I was fortunate to live in the same town as most of my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents. My memories are fond with so many precious family fun times. Family gatherings were a norm and a huge crowd as well. I remember the day clearly, my dad came home and said we were moving to Georgia. He had gotten a new job and life from then on would be very different. Different in mostly many good ways! With the exception of one thing...leaving our family. We packed up and began our new life in Georgia and over the years, we've created new family gatherings and traditions. Don't get me wrong, life is and always has been great and I love our family and what my parents have given us. They've done their best to give us a great family life. But nothing can replace the feeling of gathering with all of your extended family. Yes, over the years, I have visited every few years or so, but missing them is something I've grown to deal with. A few weeks ago, my grandmother was moved to a nursing home in St. Joseph. My heart hurt and my mind started racing. I really wanted to see her while she was still alive and wanted my children to see her again as well as my roots and stomping grounds. That's when the thought first entered my head. What if I packed up the kids, loaded down the van and headed off to make the 14 hour drive alone back to St. Joseph! Jason would not be able to take off from work so if I were to do it, it would be an adventure I would have to do on my own. I went back and forth with the idea and then one night, I met with a friend for a late dinner and ran the idea by her. She told me about one of her greatest memories and that was one in which her mom took her and her siblings on a road trip alone. She said she would never forget that trip. It was then that I knew I was up for the journey! Honestly it was a mindset. I was on a mission to create memories and have fun! The kids were super excited to go and meet all of my family...their family! I spent over a week preparing for the trip. Packing, getting food, checking and rechecking my checklist, downloading movies, and most importantly praying. I prayed that I would not lose my patience and that the kids would get along as well as for God to put his arms around us and keep us safe. Jason and I sat down with the kids the night before and went over the ground rules. It went well and they all signed their lives away! We packed up the van and headed out at 4pm on a Saturday night.

 My goal was to drive to Nashville that first night and spend the night in a hotel. We stopped in Chattanooga for a root beer float and to take a few pictures and then back on the road we headed.

 The kids watched a couple of movies, played some games and listened to music. We made it to Nashville and now time to find a hotel. My stepmom was my land link helping me along my route. She called with bad news. Unfortunately there was a huge event in Nashville and there were NO hotels anywhere near there. Okay Angela, this is a part of the adventure. Panic hit me for a brief moment but then I looked in the rearview mirror and realized I had no reason to panic. The kids were fine. I would just keep driving for a while. I would eventually find somewhere to stay. Meanwhile Grammy (my stepmom) was on the phone still searching. About an hour and a half past Nashville, she called to say she had found a place. It was a MainStay Hotel. That didn't sound too appealing but sleep did! As we pulled into the hotel around 10pm, I was pleasantly surprised! We checked in and went into our room. Wow!!!! It was a beautiful suite! Probaly one of the nicest places I have ever stayed. Indoor pool and jacuzzi too! Grammy was my savior! The kids put on their suits and we headed down to the swimming pool! What a wonderful night and a memory we will never forget!

 The next day we woke early and hit the road. We had ahead of us a 6 hour drive to Columbia Missouri where we would go to my Aunt and Uncle's house to stay for the night. The ride was awesome! The kids never fought and really enjoyed themselves in the van. They watched 2 more movies and we also stopped for a great lunch at a McDonalds with a playland. We played for about an hour before hitting the road again. We arrived in Columbia around 4pm. My uncle made us a great homecooked meal and my cousin and his wife and their baby also came over. The kids stood around while their uncle jammed it out on the drums!  It was a beautiful day! The kids played football in the frontyard as we sat and visited for hours. We settled down in our beds and were ready to get up early the next morning to finish the drive to St. Joseph.

 We rose at 8am and hit the road. We made it to St. Joseph by 11am!!! We headed straight to the donut shop! Golden Glaze Donuts! I grew up on these donuts! The best on the planet! The kids agreed!

 After making that crucial pitstop, we then headed to our hotel to check in. We decided to stay in a hotel so that the kids would have an indoor pool and we would have our own space. We loved the hotel and had an incredible stay there! Our time in St.Joseph was filled with so many precious memories! Each night we were pampered with a homecooked meal by different Aunts, Uncles, cousins, and friends! My children couldn't believe how much family they had! The first night we were spoiled with an incredible meal by my childhood friends and their family.  We love the Goodwins!!

The second night we were there, we got to visit with my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents on my mom's side of the family.  It was so much fun and the kids and I were spoiled rotten with tons of great food and lots of playing with cousins!  As we sat and shared stories and watched our children play like we used to play, I was overwhelmed with gratitude.  No I don't live near them, but even distance doesn't keep us apart.  It was as if no years had really past.  Family just picks up where it left off.  Thank you to the Deatherage family for opening your home and making such a great memory with us!

The third night we were there, we drove down to my cousin and his wife's house for a good ole cookout! My dad was able to fly up midweek and enjoy some of our family time and also to help me with the drive home.  It was so great getting to see family with him!  The Barton family (my dad's sisters family) was so welcoming and we really enjoyed our visit.  We crammed food in our mouths as we watched out the front door at our children playing a pick-up game of basketball all while goo-gooing over our new baby cousin Scott Basil!

On our last night there, we invited some of my dad's side of the family down to the hotel to go for a swim and eat pizza!  It was just like old times, kids playing, people teasing each other, telling old stories, learning new ones and just loving one another!  One of my cousin's Melissa whom I grew up closest to, who now lives in Kansas City was able to drive up and spend the day as well!  Love, Love our time together!  She sipped on a beer and I a virgin Strawberry daiquiri as we watched the kiddies splash in the pool!

We also did some fun adventures while we were there. We went to my childhood park I grew up playing on, visited the Missouri river, went to a mueseum, played at the local arcade center, ate tenderloin sandwhiches and the biggest ice cream cones known to man, dined at the best taco shop on the planet and each day treated ourselves to Golden Glaze Donuts!!!  

Another special treat was the kids visiting my grandpa Leo and Grandma Eunice out at their pond house.  The kids got to experience exactly what I did as a kid.  Jumping on the trampoline, drinking pop and going for boat rides in the boat!  And although Grandpa clearly went over the rules, we know with the Bewley boys how that goes.  Within the first five minutes of being out in the boat (mind you they were alone in the boat just the two of the boys) they were standing in it rocking back and forth and managed to drop the paddle in the pond out of the boat!  Oh my!  That's my boys!

Last but certainly not least the reason for which we went!  To visit my grandma Janice otherwise known as GG!  She was recently moved to a nursing home and so once we picked up dad from the airport we bee lined it to visit with her.  I know this was very difficult for my dad to see.  Who ever wants to think about the day our parents get so bad they have to be placed somewhere.  Honestly though it was quite a pleasant visit.  She has a beautiful private room with a lovely view outside.  She's getting everything she needs there along with therapy twice a day to help her walk.  As we arrived, she lit up when she saw us.  The kids and I hugged her and visited for a while.  Until we all got sucked in to a game show she was watching on television.  FYI, my grandmother is addicted to game shows on tv.  As a matter of fact, when she comes to visit we often hide the remote from her just so we don't have to watch it.  But on this day it was different.  We cherished the moment!  

The next day we returned to try to get her out for a bit.  Really uncertain how that would go, we were pleasantly surprised!  That day, it was as though the old GG had come back.  She was alert and engaging all day.  We took her back to our hotel and ate lunch by the pool then headed up to our room.  Just as one of her favorite things to do is watch tv game shows, she also loves to play them.  So we laid on the hotel bed for quite a while playing computer games.  Just like old times!

This visit with Grandma was priceless.  She will have good days, she will have bad days, and one day she will have no days left...but I will forever have these days to remember in my heart!  What precious time together!  I love you GG!!

I know this was a lot to read but my hope is to inspire all of you mom's to create memories with your children!  Take risks to go on trips alone or adventures here at home together.  This trip was AHHHMAZING!!!  It is one that I nor my kids will ever forget.  Thank you to my wonderful husband for supporting me in this journey and for that great friend (Sharon Brooks) for inspiring me to go!  I am a strong woman and not afraid to live life to the fullest (kids and all)!!!