Spring Break 2010

There is so much to share about our Spring Break Vacation, so let me just jump on in and explain what the past few days have been like for our family!

Monday evening: first, imagine me slinging five overstuffed suitcases in the back of our suburban while crossing my fingers that the grocery bags at the bottom of the pile have not been crushed completely (Yep, I am the last person in the world you ever want packing your vehicle for a road trip!). From the sound of two Pringles cans popping, I quickly realize the snack bags have flattened like buttermilk pancakes on a warm-iron-griddle. I cringe, but unfortunately there is no time for a sit down and cry.

The kids are strapped tightly in their seatbelts, so I dash inside our home for a last minute view of my inbox before heading north for a weeklong trip with Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, and Happy.

Argh! My Yahoo mailbox is empty, but I convince myself that every agent I've submitted to is up to her eyeballs with Monday morning query letters.

Meanwhile, Trae (a.k.a. the hardworking and underappreciated husband) is on the other end of the phone, half-way listening to my rants and rages about being the biggest pushover mom in the state of Alabama. He silently agrees, then wishes me well on my two-hour journey.

Before I pull the rear hatch on our vehicle, the 18" T.V. I've packed (a necessity when going off with our motley crew) tumbles from the mound of suitcases and hits the garage floor like a ton of bricks. Thank God I'm a pro at biting my tongue, because the words that came to mind were definitely not appropriate for the little ears in the backseat!

After a quick count to ten, I lean my head on the driver-side door and glance inside to see Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, and Happy with their eyes glued to the 8" x 8" television screen in our vehicle.

My kiddos were completely oblivious to what I was enduring for their happiness (I think God gives us these moments to make us appreciate our own mothers even more) so I climb in the vehicle, strap myself in and allow my thoughts to drift to something pleasant: the book and a new WIP (Work In Progress) that's been brewing inside my head for the past few weeks.

And in that moment, all my troubles disappeared.

For the most part, the drive to Hill's Ranch was relaxing, and with the help of our energetic and enthusiastic Sumter County relatives, the next few days were nothing but sheer delight for our family. Trae and I were even lucky enough to attend a dinner date with one of our favorite Livingston couples.

Spring Break 2010 was definitely an event our family will talk about for many months to come. Hope you had a great one, too! Tory