Road Trip to Kansas and Nebraska

Hudson, Carson, Landon and Bella

Ben and the boys outside the tepee

Papas and his boys

Landon and I on the ferris wheel in Scheel's Sporting Goods store

MoMo and the big boys

We went on a road trip to see friends and Uncle JoJo in Kansas City and then drove on up to Omaha to see Papas and MoMo.  We left right after our VBS finale and drove for several hours and then continued the next morning.  It was so fun to visit our friends back in Kansas.  One of the families we saw were the Wolf's.  Their oldest son, Carson, is 2 weeks older than Hudson and the boys have been friends since they were babies.  When the boys were young, Kara and I would go to storytime at the library then lunch at Chick Fil A, we did a Bible Study together, and lots of playdates!  It was so fun to hang out with them.  We also got to go back to Cabela's and the DeAnna Rose Farmstead which is another place I would take Hudson.  

Right before we headed to Cabela's, I was with all 3 boys in the hotel.  Ben was out with his dad(Joy and Charles were in KC for a wedding) and brother and I was hanging out with the boys.  I think I was tired from traveling, but I had completely lost patience with the kids.  My kids are all very high spirited!  A friend of mine recently said, "You don't usually see all of the kids in one family have such personalities." Yes, the Lord chose to give me 3 boys that are ACTIVE, passionate, and strong willed.  This makes for a fun, but exhausting household.  On this specific day I was at my wit's end.  No one was obeying, kids were jumping from bed to couch in the hotel room and I needed more coffee!!!  Ben got back and we loaded up and headed to Cabela's.  My emotions got the best of me that morning and I was sitting in the car trying to hold back tears.  We got to the place and I kept my sunglasses on so no one would notice my tear filled eyes.  I waved to Ben and made a bee line for the bathroom.  What was wrong with me?  I couldn't keep the tears from coming.  I sat in the stall and the next song that played was some Carrie Underwood song about dad's and daughters. Now I was weeping!  It didn't help that Cabela's was one of the my Daddy's favorite stores and now this song was playing.  I took several deep breaths and prayed for strength.  I eventually emerged from the bathroom and was able to collect my thoughts on the 3 hour drive up to Omaha.  

Part of my problem, is that I want to be the perfect mom with the perfect kids.  Guess what - that is not going to happen this side of Heaven!!  We live in a fallen world and I am suppose to rely on a perfect God not myself.  This issue with perfection has really shone itself in raising kids.  I pray that the Lord will help me to rest in Him and realize that it is ok to not have it altogether.  Sorry for the digression from the happy vacation to deep thoughts... now back to the trip. :)    

After KC, we headed up to Omaha and really enjoyed our time with the grandparents.  After only being there a few minutes, all 3 boys were on their stick horses running through the long hallway of their apartment.  Papas would take the boys out for a walk in the wooded area around their place.  Ben and I even got to go out for an ice cream date!