Highlights and Low Lights

We are 2,500 miles into our road trip through CA and AZ and what an adventure it has turned out to be!  There have been many unforeseen challenges along the way, twice Mike and I were at the point of throwing in the towel and turning back towards WA.  However, Mike and I are happy that we "powered through" and overall the trip has been well worth the troubles we have faced.

Trip Highlights

• In-N-Out burger!  We have shown restraint though, and have only eaten there three times.
• We visited two MAF families from our Candidacy Class.
• We had the chance to meet our "mystery supporter" for breakfast.
• We met new friends that treated us to an afternoon at the Phoenix Zoo.
• We shared our ministry during a Missions Weekend at a church in Mesa, AZ (which happened to be a couple blocks away from my old apartment).
• Reconnected with friends and family.
• The kids are getting spoiled by Grandparents (which doesn't happen very often because we live so far apart).
•  Got a sunburn in February.

Macie's first trip to In-N-Out Burger

Free show with dinner!  A tow truck backed over a fire hydrant and created a fountain in front of our restaurant.  We watched the firemen try to shut it off while we ate. 

Watching a movie with fellow MAF MKs that are also moving to Indonesia!

Colton wanted to go swimming even though the water was only 55 degrees.  This is how far he got.

Trip Low lights

• Colton caught some sort of stomach bug and couldn't hold any food down for 24 hours...in the car, at the park, in the car again.  We ended up staying in a hotel room for the night until he recovered so that we wouldn't infect our friend's children.  We had to make two clothes runs to buy him more shirts during the night.  This was the first time we contemplated driving home.
• While we were visiting "Aunt" Margie in Santa Barbara we decided to go sightseeing with her in our car  around town.  While we were idling at an intersection the car suddenly went dead.  Would not start.  Dead.  There we were with a four year old, a two year old, and 80 year old "Aunt" Margie pushing our car up onto a small median in the middle of the road.  It was a stressful situation to say the least.  To add to the situation I had forgot my cell phone that morning in LA.  I left in a taxi with the kids and "Aunt" Margie and found somewhere to stay for the night while Mike dealt with the car.  Without a phone reconnecting was a bit difficult.  We ended up staying in guest housing at the retirement home where "Aunt" Margie lives and the car was fixed by the next morning.  That was the second time we contemplated driving home.  

  

Picnic dinner in the hotel while waiting for the Jetta to get fixed. 

We are thankful and praise God for his protection throughout our road trip and thank Him that our car didn't break down in rush hour LA traffic or in the middle of the desert on the way to Phoenix.  We are also thankful that Colton recovered quickly and that it was only a 24 hour bug.  Currently we are recharging and relaxing for a couple of days in Phoenix with my dad getting some quality "Grandpa time" in with the kids before we hit the road again.  We are excited to see what else God has planned for us on our trip!