Car trips, Cutie-pies and Killer Coons

It is very early Friday morning, the house is quiet (for the first time in days). I am the only one up, I did not awaken for the early morning day after Thanksgiving shopping, but rather because I needed some time alone with the Lord. It occurs to me that on this holiday when we remind ourselves of just how blessed we are, that we often get so busy "enjoying" all these blessings that both the quality and quantity of our time with God is diminished. This morning, as I sit and talk with Him, I smile as I thank Him for looking over me, keeping me safe and making me happy. I wanted to share some of the incredible ways, He has blessed me in the past few days.

Most of you know that my friend and new sister in Christ, Stacie, came to Nebraska to spend a few days with me. We laughed and laughed, we painted a bathroom in the middle of the night and laughed and laughed some more. I loved seeing how much she has grown spiritually since her new birth and I loved introducing her to our dear friends here. After a couple of days here, she rode to Texas with me to get the grandchildren. We truly thought we were well prepared for the 10 (turned out to be 13) hour trip with three young children. Well, let me just say it was more than an adventure. You see, Madi is five going on thirteen. She is all girl, which means squeals accompany every emotion. She loves the Wizard of Oz and was totally impressed that Grandma knew where Dorothy's house was. (For those of you just dying to know--it is in Liberal, Kansas). Madi is very smart, she never forgets anything and has an amazing vocabulary. For instance, she was very excited to go to Worship because when she sang, she wanted to show me her "vibrato". Too funny! Kyle is three and as much little boy as Madi is little girl. He is a bit more shy but he loves to sing. He "composed" songs all the way from Lubbock to North Platte. He is ornery as all little boys are supposed to be and has learned the word, "but". Every sentence starts with "but . . ." He loves the Legos and the little cars and seems unmoved by big sister's constant, "Now Kyle, you be the king and I'll be the princess . . . Kyle, you be the Lion and I'll be Dorothy." He simply looks at her and replies "But . . . . . . . Mason is six months old and is not feeling very well. As his antibiotics seem to be working, he smiles and laughs more. He snuggles with Grandma and watches everything. He breathes better when I hold him and so I do. (smile). And although he can't yet speak, he is very able to communicate when he is hungry or needs changed or just plain old tired of being in the car seat, if you know what I mean.
The ride from Lubbock to North Platte should take about ten hours, however this time, it took thirteen. Imagine if you will, thirteen hours in a minivan with Stacie and I, Stacie's teenage son Dusty, and these three little adorable personalities! You are cringing right now aren't you? I am sure there is no need for me to tell you that the trip was very, very long. The children were good but thirteen hours is just too many hours to be in a car. We had many bathroom stops, many food stops and a few, "Let's play the quiet game". We did drive by Dorothy's house in Liberal, where we stopped to get gas and use the restroom. We did get to listen to Kyle sing "Awesome God" several times. We did get to eat and laugh and sing. And although tired and ready to be home, we were grateful to be safe and still reasonably sane. We were less than an hour from North Platte and all of us anxious to be out of the van when . . the most exciting part of the trip happened----and just miles from home. It was very dark and Stacie and I had been watching for deer, per instructions from Ned. Several times, he had reminded us that it was deer season and we should take extra care, especially after dark. We'd been watching and had not seen one live deer. All of the sudden, something darted out of the bushes on the driver's side, ran across the highway and SMACK--right into the passenger side of the van. Minutes before it hit, Stacie and I were both able to make out a GIANT raccoon. Simultaneously we said, "Are you kidding me?", Madi squealed, Dusty asked, "what was that?" and this horrible sound, the sound of a raccoon "the size of an elk" dragging on the van. Finally either it let go of us or the van let go of it. I drove a few hundred feet and then pulled over to the side of the road. By this time, we had Madi calmed down and Dusty, Stacie and I were laughing. We did not have a flashlight with us and so by the light of her cellphone, we got out to examine the damage, which was extensive. The plastic part under the bumper was cracked and dragging on the ground, the windshield wiper fluid hose was pulled off and dripping washer fluid.
Now, I don't know if that was some sort of Al-Quaida suicide bomber raccoon, don't know if somewhere he'd gotten into some plutonium that made him huge and crazy, or if he just wasn't all that bright-----but I do know that anyone or anything that messes with two women who have been in a car for thirteen hours with three little ones and one teenager, deserves to be run over!!!!!
We arrived home safe, happy, tired and grateful to God for giving us a safe journey. My prayer for each of you, if you have to take a long car trip, make it with some little cutie-pies and a good friend. Remember to pray, drive safely and watch out for killer coons!

Peace
Neva