Day 7

The year was 1983.  I was 12 years old and getting ready to start Junior High in just a few weeks.  All of my older siblings had graduated from high school.  I was the baby and getting ready to start a new phase in life. 

That hot summer, my mom and dad decided that the three of us were going to take a road trip.  Since my three sisters all had jobs and my brother was in the Air Force, I was the lucky one.  Although, at the time, I did not think I was so lucky :).  My mom's nephew, Frederick Trice Hyman, III was getting married to a girl named Jane in San Anotonio, TX.  I had never been to TX.  In fact, I had never been further north than VA or further south than SC!  So, in a dark green Lincoln Continental, the three of us set off on a road trip I would never forget.

I will be the first to admit, I did not want to go.  I was, and guess really I still am, a homebody.  I did not want to be that far from home, even if I was with my parents.  I complained and sulked.  Although, secretly, I did like having that whole big back seat to myself where I could read and read for hours on end :).  As I look back on it, I think of my poor parents who had to listen to my whining.  They hardly ever traveled and were probably so excited to get away!  My mom was probably so excited to see her little brother (who was only months younger than she was :). 

There were definitely some interesting stories as a result of that trip.  I decided that I hated Texas.  Mainly because it was so hot.  And, the aunt that I hardly knew announced as soon as we got out of the car from traveling for days that everyone was going to the rehearsal dinner right then, except "the baby."  Oh, yes she did.  She called me the baby and I was 12 YEARS OLD!!!  And, she announced that I would be staying with grandpa alone in the house.  Grandpa, by the way, spoke no English and had no legs and stayed in the bed.  Not that anything is wrong with any of those things, but to a girl in a strange place who was already hesitant, well that about put me over the edge!  I was scared and wanted to go back to NC!  Well, the story ended fine.  I did not have to stay alone with "Grandpa," although a neighbor lady who was very nice ended up taking me to the mall to buy my cousin a wedding present.  In this day and time, I would not do that with my kids, but it was 1983...

After the trip, after retelling the stories, just the three of us, the trip started to "grow" on me.  We did eat some amazing Mexican food.  Remember, this was before NC had Mexican restaurants on every corner.  We even ate burritos instead of biscuits for breakfast!  My parents kept talking about something called "indigestion" and how the food never gave it to them while we were in TX :).  Oh, and we went to a brand new store that was really cool in TX.  One we did not have in NC...it was called "Wal-Mart."  It was a funny name, but they had everything!

Then, one day, I realized, I was thankful that we had gone on that trip.  If anyone had told me that just five and a half years later my dad would be in heaven, I think my attitude would have been a little different that hot August in 1983.  But, isn't that just how life is?  I guess that is why in the Bible God tell us to "...sing and make music in your heart, giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (Ephesians 5:19, 20).

So, here I am, 29 years later...ewww, as I type that I keep checking my math...I am feeling old now...

Let me try that again...So, here I am, 29 years later, and I am back in San Antonio, TX.  This time, I am the mom and my wonderful husband is the dad.  There are seven of us in the minivan; I am not alone and quiet with my books in the backseat.  There are loud moments, there are stressful moments, there are moments when I have not set the Godly example to my children that I should have,  but I am choosing to be thankful.  I am thankful I am here.  I am thankful for the beauty that God displayed so brilliantly today.  I am thankful for the colors on the Riverwalk.  I am thankful for the courage of those who fought in the Alamo.  I am thankful for the gorgeous landscape we saw today while driving.  And I am thankful for this road trip with my family today, just as I am thankful for the road trip my parents took me on in August, 1983.

This is where we were supposed to go tubing today.  Thankful it didn't work out :).

 Thankful for the boat tour of the RiverWalk in San Antonio.

 Thankful for dinner and what may have been the best salsa I have ever eaten :).

 Thankful for this guy.

 Thankful for these five blessings.

 Carried by His Grace,