Going Back

I am a week into a three week a road trip.

I am blessed to have the opportunity to take a little time to spend with my family as well as some time by myself.

Today has been a day by myself. Eight hours in the car driving in beautiful weather.

It was neat to drive through the snow covered ground of South Dakota gradually moving into the fields of Iowa where the snow was spotty, followed by Nebraska. 

The snow was pretty much absent in Nebraska revealing the brown grass. But once in Kansas everything started to green up...and warm up!

There was a 50* climb in temperature as I headed south and west.

There was also a gradual change from the unfamiliar to the familiar.

The accents started to change in the gas stations.
The gas stations themselves began to change. Gone were the Holiday and Kwik Trip's replaced by Love's and Casey's General Store.

Waysides were replaced by rest areas and Caribou by Starbucks.

              
                        

The trees still draped in snow changed to Bradford pear trees with the little white flowers on them already...you know, the ones that look beautiful but they actually stink?!

And then my heart started to hurt.

I thought about the spring days that I spent watching my girls try to climb the stinky white pear tree.

I remembered always going to Love's to get an ice-cold diet coke.
The accents brought back memories of people that I enjoy.
And seeing Chick-fil-A brought back the taste of their incredible sauce. :)

I was surprised at how quickly I was flooded with emotions and the longing to go back. It was kinda overwhelming and I barely made it to my hotel room before the tears started to flow.

And then I sat here on the bed for a while just trying to figure out how I could run from what I am feeling...and I couldn't come up with anything.

I can't blare my music because I would disturb the other people in the hotel. 
I can't ride around because I just spent 8 hours in the car and really am not wanting to hop back in.

So I sit here...and I write. Because, if I can't run from it, I am going need to think through it, and the best way I do that is by writing. 

So right now I hold on to this....

Isaiah 43:18-19...."Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?  I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

I hold to this promise and I hold to His grace.

...and I watch Michigan play Notre Dame in the Frozen Four :)