At the beginning of April I packed up the kids and headed south. It was short notice, but I think it was the best thing I could've have done for us at the time. I look at the kids every day, even the really bad mommy days and think to myself, "I am so blessed to have these guys and watch them grow-up." I really feel like the trip was a way to surround myself with them constantly, out of our normal run-like-crazy days, just to be connected to the closest family we have left. One thing I thought on the way down was the further south we went the greener and prettier it became- like driving into a different season. The South has always been "home" in a way that I can't explain. My summers with my grandparents visiting family are my best memories. For this reason the sight of red dirt brings an almost painful rush of joy and tears to my eyes, knowing that my time south is precious.
This trip it was even more special...my first visit to Mississippi to see Jenny & her kids. Jenny is an absolute blessing to me and has been for several years (really, that long already?) and it was my first excursion down her way. And the added bonus was a visit with Denise & Keith, my second cousins one evening and a trip to the city cemetery to look up family markers.
Mississippi was nothing like I expected. I think I read too much...but as we crossed an unmarked state line (the only difference being the change in pavement, which was not for the better), I was pleasantly surprised by the lush green views that were rolling past the back roads we traveled on. Trees were in full bloom, some crops already planted and rural enough for everyone out to nod, tip their head or wave to us. We spent 2 wonderful afternoons playing at parks & a nature reserve, just letting the kids run. Jenny and I didn't get to talk any more than we do on a typical "Monday" night phone call, but it was enough to be in her calming presence for several hours.
We attempted, ahem, drove back toward Moulton to visit with Denise & Keith on Wednesday night and after an eventful 1 hour detour thanks to my phone's lacking GPS abilities in rural Alabama, made it in time for some delicious take-out BBQ. We all enjoyed hanging out at Denise's with them, just her sweet southern drawl makes me feel at home. And we brought home more canned pears from Keith and cucumbers pickled with red hots candy. We tried to take an alternate route home so we wouldn't be on the darkest of roads, but alas it was just not going our way. After our second serious detour of the night, we arrived back in Columbus, MS at our hotel at 4am. My only regret is not being able to see Jenny again before leaving the following morning. Lesson learned: Stay in Moulton with Denise for a few days straight, then closer to Jenny for a few days straight. No driving back and forth=more time with loved ones!
On our way home watching the season change slowly back from a lush, early Alabama summer to a dreary, not-quite spring of Kentucky I was thinking how my life has switched from one season to another and the timing of everything going on.
In more ways than one I can not wait for my summer to arrive! If it takes too long I may just pack up and drive until the red dirt starts creeping at the edges of the asphalt. God's timing it will be, but it was nice to see the glimpse of different season in myself and the reassurance of those that love me unconditionally.
It was a beautiful evening until about midnight when the wind picked up. Enough to wake me up, which says quite a bit when I have 3 sleeping babies and they aren't moving a muscle. Thank goodness for weather apps! We were in for gusts up to 40 mph and scattered thunderstorms. Well, the wind continued through the night so severely that I had to get up several times to re-stake the tent. That's pretty drastic considering all that we had in there and I had moved most of it around the corners to keep it weighted. All the time the wind is going it's also lightening- no rain, just spectacular lightening. And thunder, which the kids continued to sleep through. Jon is normally afraid of storms so his undisturbed rest is still a mystery to me! Along about 5am I woke up, not even realizing I dozed off. It was calm. Not in good way. I got a bad feeling and decided to act on it. Now have I mentioned that Leah was being a total turd and had slept in the van? Well, she got a rude awakening when I jumped in and started it. I pulled it as close to the tent as I could per Trinnie's suggestion. She had woken up just a few seconds after I did. Once the van was in position I woke the boys and had all 3 make a jump into the van. The heavens burst and the rain just poured! The wind picked up again and the tent started flapping like crazy- I never even stopped- I just started emptying the tent, throwing things like crazy into the van. I figured if it blew away it wasn't taking any of my stuff! Blankets and all were shoved and piled on kids. In about 60 seconds I was done, van doors shut and we sat for the next hour watching the sheets of rain pound the windshield and rock the van. After the storm finally blew over we made a restroom break then headed to McD's- someplace dry and didn't require a camp fire with wet wood.
After breakfast we made it back to the campground, showered and prepared for our day at the festival. It was sunny & beautiful! We browsed the shops, saw a couple shows and the best part~ the jousting! See more...