Signs

One of the really fun things about traveling 2500 miles by car across 8 states is all the signs we came across. On my next cross-country road trip, I plan to keep a journal of all the names of towns that amuse me or befuddle me as I wonder how it is pronounced.  I also hope to do a better job of capturing pictures of signs.  Here are a few signs I did get on this trip.

In Oklahoma I followed the sign to Will Rodgers birthplace.
At the end of the road, we found a sign that it was closed.

This was a funny signs in the Wizard of Oz Museum

Saw this sign just a few minutes before I saw this. . . . 

The population here isn't as high as one might think.

This next one was my favorite

A few minutes later saw men in orange jumpsuits working in a large garden,
but no one was looking for a ride.

 

What happened to day 4-9 . . .

 It really was my desire to blog daily while Mom and I were on our big adventure.  I was doing well until Day 4, when we started managing a very busy social itinerary.  I got behind, and when I couldn't catch up, I abandoned the plan.  We are back home, and I do want to share some of our travel story.  Instead of a daily account, I will make a few "theme" posts.  In a nutshell, it was a great adventure!  Mom was very pleased with the trip, accomplishing the goal of visiting friends and family all the way to Kansas and back.  We are so grateful for safe travels and a fun time together.  

I will kick it off with the selfies. 

Day 1 - Buccee's stop in Leeds, Alabama

Day 3: Leaving Royce and Brian in Mena, Arkansas

Day 4: Leaving Barb and Don in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Day 5  Outside the Wizard of Oz Museum, Wamego, Kansas

Day 5 -In front of mom's childhood home Hoyt, Kansas

Day 6 - Dinner with Cousin Tonya

Day 7 - visiting with Uncle Delbert and Cousins

Day 7 - Laudner's Monuments - looking at headstone options (for me)

Day 8 - cheese store outside Springfield, Missouri

Day 8 Lunch with cousin Terry in Springfield, Missouri

Day 9 - heading out on last leg of Journey - Hampton Inn Jonesboro, Arkansas

Day 9 - last stop of the trip - Buccee's Leeds, Alabama

Driving Aunt Millie Day 3 Monday

Cousin Brian fixed us a great  Breakfast monday morning. We said goodbye and headed out around 10.

 It was a beautiful morning and the sights along the way to Tulsa, Oklahoma we're beautiful and sometimes amusing.

At 2:30, we arrived In Tulsa Oklahoma at the home of Don and Barbara Hood. Mom and barbara have been friends since 1961. Mom and Barbara stay in regular touch through text and phone calls however they had not actually been together since some time in the late 1970's. Barbara and Don took us to Fish Daddys to eat then we toured their backyard garden until settling into the living room for the evening. Their son Jason with wife Aubry and daughter Dallas came to visit. Dallas had just had her sweet 16 birthday party so it was fun hearing about that. I found a kindred spirit in Aubry. She told me about the fun sights in Tulsa including the Route 66 stops nearby. I added one of them to our travel plans for Tuesday. It was a lot of fun to connect with this family that has been a part of our story though at a distance for so many years.

Sorry , I still haven't figured out how to turn these pictures around. 

Driving Aunt Millie Day 2 Sunday 7th

Sunday morning started with a nice continental breakfast at the our Hampton Inn. As we were packing up our car, next to us was Mike and Frank. They are from Atlanta and recognized our license plate. It led to a fun conversation. They were headed to California on a big motorcycle trip. They liked our road trip shirts so we shared some information about how they could get some made. Meanwhile , Pete and Rufus climbed on the back of the bike to get a picture with grumpy bear. It was all a fun way to start our journey out. 

We made one stop at Love's gas station. I'm a big fan of the Love gas station, the truck stop ones especially. The layout is the same, so it's easy to find the bathroom. And they have stickers and magnets. So far , we've been able to collect a new sticker each day for our water bottle.

At 2 o'clock, we arrived at my cousin Royce's beautiful place in "the middle of somewhere few have seen" Arkansas. It's near Mena AR. The last two miles found us on roads reminiscent of the roads in Uganda. I actually was excited to dodge some potholes just like old times. Royce and her son, Brian met us at the car with umbrellas as it was pouring rain. For most of the afternoon and evening we sat around the table eating and talking.

The rain cleared enough for us to ride around the  beautiful property in Royce's truck. We met horses Jack and Tucker.

I had not seen my cousin nor her son brian in over forty years. It was lots of fun catching up and learning about their lives there in the beautiful Arkansas hill country. 

Driving Aunt Millie Day 1

We started later than planned, hearing aides wouldn't work, and Alabama closed its welcome center but it did not dampen our spirits!

Day One was a. travel day. In the early planning days, seeing Memphis had been the plan. It even says so on our t-shirts. However, by the time the trip arrived, we changed plans to stay west of Memphis. And when we reached Memphis , the driver was ready to simply get through and get to our stop in Forest City Arkansas.

I had intended to stop at all of the Welcome Centers for the four states we entered yesterday. Due to various reasons , we only made it to the Mississippi Welcome Center. I did introduce mom to the world of Buccee's.

It was a good day of travel. I was grateful for a nice , clean room with a comfortable bed at the end of it.

 So I'm doing this from my phone ( as I left my computer at home) and I don't know why but these pictures are showing upside down and sideways. If this is how they show up on the blog , I apologize. Meanwhile Maybe tilt your computer and I will see if I can figure it out before the next post.

Packed and ready

 I told them it was a little early to get in the car , but they are just so excited that they couldn't wait. Pete the cat and Rufus are all buckled in and ready to go. Mom and I loaded the car this evening with plans of being on the road by eigh am tomorrow. My plan is to post a picture or two a day with a couple of the day's highlights. I won't send out emails. If you want to follow along with our progress, just check the link every day or two. Let the adventure begin!

Looking ahead

 Currently, I am busy looking ahead.

At work, we are in the throes of Summer fun.  This summer, our theme is Snapshots Across America, and each week the theme revolves around a specific place.  This coming week, we will imagine that we are at the Florida Beaches.  We have 7 more destinations following that including Hawaii, a Texas dude ranch, and New York City, just to name a few. These summer weeks are so much fun, as I get to be so creative.  It is also fast-paced, as each week I am implementing one theme while making sure I am ready for the theme of the coming week.  I am grateful for the others who help me make this all happen. And it is the excitement of the kids that keeps me going.

I am also looking ahead to this coming Saturday when mom and I head off on our big "Driving Aunt Millie Road Trip."  We have been planning for two months, and it is almost here.  We have our t-shirts, hostess gifts, hats, Pete the Cat with his backpack, snacks, and a big Rand McNally Atlas. We appreciate prayers for good health leading up to and during the trip, as well as safety for travel.  We desire that we will be a joy to those we visit, and that this will be a special time together with great memories. My plan is to journal the journey here on the blog while we are traveling.

I have to confess that I am also looking ahead in fear for Peter.  He is showing the signs of stress, which appear to stem from the full-time work, and taking responsibility for himself financially and physically.  While this is the goal for any young adult,  I do think this is more of a challenge for Peter mentally.  My great concern is his ability to get along at work so that he does not lose his job.  He has shared things with me that have me concerned.  He has made a few changes to his personal schedule that he hopes will help his stress level. And this evening, he shared that through some research, he has found cheaper car insurance.  The cost of his current insurance provider is ridiculous and causing him a lot of worry.  I am so proud of him.  He is really working hard to be independent and responsible with his money and his time.    However, we have been down dark roads that began similarly to what I am seeing now, and this is what makes me nervous. He is in the crossover of Medicare to his insurance through work, and is receiving no more SSDI financial support. I don't know how this will affect his doctors and medicine.  I also wonder if an additional med might help him handle the anxiety. Please pray for him, as you are led.  I do appreciate your prayers for him, especially while we are gone.  There has been a history of his experiencing major challenges while I am gone, which has me feeling a bit anxious. And yes, I know where to turn with my anxiety.  (Cue the sounds of "what a friend we have in Jesus" in the background.) Yet it really helps to know others are praying.

Thank you for your prayers for us as we go forward in the upcoming weeks.  I am grateful for your prayers that have supported me in the days past.