Let’s try this again: “How was your trip?”

Wow… that wasn’t my most positive post ever.

Let’s go with … Take 2.

This, I remember.

Saturday.
It seemed like such a long day.
Driving with trees down and no stop lights.
No A/C.
Reception at the barn.
Basketball at the church.
Adjusting to the time change.
Finally. Bed.

I laid in bed and thought about Tender Mercies. I knew we had been blessed.

1. The Lewis’s (where we stayed) had a generator. So even though the power went out right as soon as we arrived, the generator kicked in and thus we had lights, refrigerated food, and fans. Bless those marvelous fans. The Lewis’s are such marvelous people to let all of us bombard their home. We Smiths had 16 kids and 6 adults who stayed there.

2. We really had the best sleeping arrangements. So even though my kids were unsettled being away from home, it was the best situation for us. We had the isolated apartment in their home with laundry facilities, a fridge, kitchen. The boys stayed in one room with bunk beds. Truman had the cutest toddler bed that he loved. Hannah slept on the couch and it was comfortable for her. Zuzu stayed in the pack-n-play in our bedroom closet. It was great!

3. Our initial flight TO Maryland actually was quite successful. Tru didn’t freak out in the airport. He didn’t get scared on the plane. He just vegetated and played on the ipod most of the flight. Zuzu slept for a bit on the flight and woke up happy. We were all able to sit by each other. John and Michael sat by us and helped with the kids. We were able to manage luggage (thanks for my mom for helping us at the airport… and Mary and Phil picking us up in Baltimore). The kids did their best to help haul everything.

4. Max loved Aunt Mary. He kept talking with her, holding her hand, staying nearby. He loved her. Plus Everyone loved Rosie.

5. Once Hannah got over being shy, she quite enjoyed herself with Danielle & Christine. There aren’t many girlies in the Smith Family and Hannah ends up right in between the littles and the teens. They did well including her.

6. Tru really liked some of the uncles. Here he is with Stephen & Brock.

7. Loved all the corn fields & GREEN! It made us want to buy a bunch of land in the country.

8. Eliza was a peach… a real gem. Yes, traveling with a baby is tricky, but she was about as good as she could be. She didn’t even cry on our hot hard day in D.C. Blessings!

9. Brothers got to compete. The older brothers ended up winning the younger brothers.

10. As expensive as it was to buy six round-trip tickets at $500 a piece. Choke! We were so grateful for the family members who chipped in so we could do it. And because the Lewis’s were so generous with letting us stay in their home, we didn’t have to pay for a hotel. And they let us use one of their minivans so we didn’t have to rent one. These folks made our stay so much better & cheaper. Thank you friends.

11. Lydia really liked Eliza and would always come give her kisses. Here she is showing Eliza her fancy 4th of July fingernail polish.

12. Abe was riding down a new hill on a new bike and didn’t anticipate how steep it was. He tumbled and rolled and scraped everything. He came in with a hanging arm, a bruised head and knee, and scraped shoulder and back. I thought his arm was totally broken as he couldn’t move anything … eventually we thought it might be sprained, but it still was swollen and hurt so much by the time we got home, that we had it x-rayed. Fractured. He got his cast today. Oh – but the tender mercy is… I’m so grateful it wasn’t worse. He was able to sleep well and hang in there on the rest of the trip despite the pain. We didn’t have to fiddle with an emergency room visit. He was a champ!

13. Despite how hot and drained we were from being unaccustomed to the humidity, I’m eternally grateful for the A/C we had, all the gatorade, water, and milkshakes. The kids enjoyed a popsicle every time we got in the hot car to go somewhere. Hurray for COLD!

13. What a cool opportunity for all the cousins to be together. I’m so glad my kids know them a bit better.

There are many more tender mercies from this trip that I haven’t mentioned. We are so blessed… this I know.