Road Trippin’ Like Rockstars

It’s been many years since I have been on a road trip. Growing up my family wore a path between the Mitten and the southeast United States. Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolina’s. We drove everywhere… City to city, like rockstars in tour buses, except we had no tour bus and the Rockstar status existed only in my brain. I remember the few days before we would leave gathering all my most valuable possessions in a bag for when we hit the road. Mainly I remember my Babysitters Club books and super-duper cool cassette player and headphones (the awesome ones with the foam ear pads!) (Heyyyyy #throwback) I would record all my favorite songs off the radio and make the best mix-tapes known to mankind. We would hit the road and I would get lost in my music and books. It was heaven on earth, as I knew it.

Fast-forward two decades. (Woah, when did that happen!?) We are headed to Boston to visit my sister and her family. That same sister that just 20 years ago I annoyed that heck out of by my mere existence… Hey, what are little sisters for!? I am ready to go with my MacBook, iPad and iPhone. In place of the foam ear pads I am hearing the music courtesy of Dr. Dre… And it is fabulous… Except there are little things that begin to tug at my heartstrings. In these moments I realize just how much life has changed and how much it has stayed the same. It is beautiful and nostalgic all at the same time.

In true Thanksgiving fashion… I am overwhelmed with gratitude for where my life has taken me. That little tomboy girl is now a part-sporty spice, part-diva woman. Wisdom and vast life experiences fill my mind that 20 years ago was just a little girl with the whole Universe ahead of her to conquer.

I look at my life now and I am filled with gratitude:

– For Hubbz, My Champion who has become my best friend that steadies my soul.

– For our marriage. This alone takes my breath away.

– For our pup that brings us joy and smiles everyday.

– For my family that loves with more passion than you have ever felt.

– For Hubbz’s family who are some of the most loving, caring people I know.

– For my Ma because there are not enough words to describe her amazingness.

– For my nieces and nephew who have brought more joy than I thought possible.

– For cousins. Both blood and inherited. They give life substance and laughs.

– For our friends who are blessings to my heart.

– For my job that fulfills me to no end.

– For my boss and mentor who has taught me more than I can put into words.

– For the opportunity to pursue my Master’s degree in Higher Education.
– For my students who keep me young and vibrant on a daily basis.

– For my team of co-workers who make working fun.

– For our Life Group peeps that we do life with on Wednesday’s.

– For the Rozeboom’s and their love.

– For our church, Riverview, who reconnected us to this rock out guy, Jesus.

– For Grace that I cannot earn.

– For Forgiveness that I do not deserve.

– For my Savior who died so I could live.

The road winds on and the miles are stretched out ahead of us. I cozy into my seat with my pup curled up in my lap fast asleep. In twenty years, so much has changed but so much has stayed the same. The gratitude in my heart overflows. It is a time of Thanksgiving, and give thanks I do!

I am thankful that you read my blog and the words that dance on the walls of my heart.

Happiest of Thanksgivings to you and yours!