Are we there yet?

When we decided to head to Boone for the day today, it had been almost 4 months since our last visit.  For some reason we had not considered the number of times we would hear "Are we there yet?" from Nathan -- which was interspersed with his declaration that he didn't see Boone or the bulldozers or the big rocks that are currently a tell-tale sign of Boone's proximity.  As we drove into town, we were reminded of the things we miss about our first home -- from the double-decker Wendy's to the opening day of trout season (David misses that much more than I do).  Crazy as it may seem, we even miss the Boone Mall that by most people's standards could barely even be called a mall.

With all the visiting of friends who we love and miss, it was the ride back down the mountain that was most familiar.  I say that not because of the terrain between Boone and Lowell, but because of Nathan.  By this time, David and I should know better than to expect a quiet ride anywhere no matter how tired one or both kids may indicate they are.  One of our most memorable trips was a late night ride back to Boone when a 1 1/2 year old Nathan exclaimed, "Tractor say bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb" about 10 times a minute for 2 hours straight.  I am ever amazed by his ability to talk incessantly.  Anyone who wants to know how to pray without ceasing simply needs to be around Nathan for a long distance drive.  Tonight we heard that dinosaurs have tails and dragons have tails and the dragons on Dragon Tales are nice.  Why aren't we home yet?  I'm tired of riding.  Carleigh's crying.  She's going to make herself throw up.  Carleigh stopped crying.  Carleigh is tired and hungry.  Carleigh is tired.  Why is Carleigh tired?  Who lives in our old house now?  And on and on and on.  We really should keep a tape recorder with us at all times.

I take these moments to do two things.  Number 1.  I apologize to David because he married me without me warning him how I was as a child.  Nathan may look like his daddy, but he sure does act like his momma a lot of the time.  Number 2.  I treasure them in my heart.   I wonder if this is what it was like for Mary when it says in Scripture that she treasured things about Jesus in her heart.  I'm sure the day will come when we have teenagers and our backseat is quiet and we wish Nathan and Carleigh would share with us what is going on in their heads.  I hope David will always be able to say as he did tonight half-way down the mountain, "We sure do have fun, don't we!?"

So I will relish these trips and remember that much of the joy is in the journey and not simply the anticipated destination.  And I will be ever thankful that the Lord has given me my husband and children with whom to  journey.