Buenos dias de Phoenix, Arizona! It's a beautiful morning and already at 6a, it's 95 degrees. woooo weee! bring it on, AZ, bring it on!
Yesterday was a HOT day in the southwestern US. I started off at 110 degrees and headed toward Nevada. On the way, I took old Route 66 through the mountains. I cannot BELIEVE trucks used to go through there before I-40. I was scared that my little car was going to go over the ledges! I stopped for a brief time in Oatman, AZ and met the local burros and wandered the old streets and took in a piece of history.
From there, I headed to Laughlin, Nevada, which reminded me of a miniature Las Vegas with a strip of casinos.
And... then I headed south to check out Needles, California. US-95 is a strange road and I can't wait to take this little trip with someone someday. Between that road and route 66, it was not a boring drive at all!
Then I hopped on I-10 and headed into Phoenix. I hit it right at rush hour and enjoyed some bumper-to-bumper traffic :D
And now I'm here - at my uncle's and aunt's home. I haven't seen them in 20 years. I haven't seen my cousin Chad since he was a baby and I'd never met my cousins, Kerason and Brooklyn. It was so great reuniting and sharing stories and reliving memories and just... well, being family!
Prayer Request: My left eye is sore. It's not red or swollen (yet), but I kinda need my eyes to be OPEN and GOOD to drive.
*****
Part of this trip's point was to reconnect with my family. It's hard to believe that I have two different family units in Arizona (who are not directly related - one from dad's side, one from mom's side) whom I've never visited before. It's harder to believe that no one from my immediate family has seen their homes. It was time.
There's a lot of people that come and go from our lives, but the people that will ALWAYS be there are family. Now, I know some families where that's not true and it's sad... but I think that even when push comes to shove, most families can even see beyond their differences if needed. It is so important to maintain our familiar relationships.
I haven't always been the best at it, but it's gotten better. As I think about the fact that there's a new baby coming into our family VERY SOON, I wonder how our family will grow and how much joy it will bring.
I also think about the fact that my grandfather is losing his memories and how much sadness that brings our family... while the other grandfather is celebrating his 90th birthday in a couple weeks.
I think about my own family relationships that have grown up quite a bit and how much I've matured in my outlook on family during the last few years.
My thoughts as I'm driving today:
Where does family fit in my life?
Do I let my family know how much I love them? How can I show them more?
(of course) Hey God! Do I get to start my OWN family someday?
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