Today I was thinking about a good friend and one of the best gifts I ever gave.  The gift has to do with roadtrips, although I had no idea we'd be on the "mother of all roadtrips" when I gave it.  If you have a teenager that's near driving age or are close to one, save this post.  I'll give you step by step directions for one of the most memorable gifts you can give (and Christmas is coming...)

A couple of years ago our favorite babysitter was turning 16 and I wanted to give her a really significant gift.  What I came up with worked for her because A.) she was a very responsible girl and B.) her mother agreed to it.  Only you know if your 16 year old can handle something like this, but if so, it's something they'll remember forever!  I call it a Roadtrip in a Box.  Essentially, you decorate a box with maps, then fill it with everything your child needs to take an outrageous daytrip (with friends).  Hand them the keys (GASP!) for an unforgettable day of fun.  Let's get started.

Late last night, at an emergency pet clinic, we said goodbye to our companion of almost 14 years, Priscilla.  Among other things, she had recently developed a growth in her nose which had been making it hard for her to breathe.  While I was making dinner, the growth ruptured producing a steady flow of blood from her nose and mouth.  While the kids and I tried to stop the bleeding, Dan found an emergency pet clinic.  The staff was very kind, but ultimately, they could not make her better.  So, tearfully, we decided to love her and comfort her as the doctor gave her medication to put her to sleep.  We all said goodbye, then Dan took the boys to the waiting room and I stayed with Cilla for the procedure.  It was excruciating.  She was like another child to me.  The boys took it really hard - each of them coping very differently.  One of them clung to her collar and retreated to his bed.  He was very withdrawn.  The other drew pictures of her and taped them to his bed, then went around the RV collecting everything that reminded him of her to save.  He talked about her incessantly, and cried and cried.

Today has been a little better, but there is a huge absence here.  Our routine has been thrown off, it's too quiet, and we miss those big, brown eyes.  It's going to take time to get used to being without her.  In the end, we're just really grateful that she was able to come this far with us and grateful for 14 wonderful years. (Pictures of our beloved friend)

After 2 months, give or take a few weeks, our journey will be over.  We were hoping to make it a whole year, but money has just gotten too tight.  We need to stop moving and focus on creating a second income stream.  Sometimes the trip has been glorious and sometimes it's been stressful, but every moment worthwhile.  I would do it again in a heartbeat!  Now we're thinking about how to transition back to life in the suburbs (or wherever it is that we land).  We could move.  All of our things are already packed.  Plus, Dan and I will be switching rolls.  I'll be staying home with the kids and he'll be searching for the right job.  So the question is...what will this transition look like?

We've spent much time talking and sent up many prayers about all of these things, particularly the employment issue.  With the economy the way it is, this is a huge concern for us, and I'm sure for many other people who are unemployed right now.  I recently read a book called Driven by Eternity: Making Your Life Count Today & Forever.  In it we were reminded that our focus and energy should be spent on things that are everlasting, not temporal.  We don't want to waste our time here.  It's too short.  With that in mind, we are seeking a place to serve God and his people.  To invest our talents for eternal gain.  Instead of being anxious about finding the right job, we have to trust Him.  We have to be willing to do what He asks.  We have to believe that He sees the whole picture and that we are better off following Him rather than trusting our own limited knowledge.  Even when things look bleak.  Especially when things look bleak.   

As we try to discern the path that we are supposed to be on and begin searching for a job, please pray for us.  If you don't know what to pray, start here - Col. 1: 9-14.

They're here!  Visit our D2E Store and pick up your Driven to Educate gear.  If you're invested in your child's education, these are for you.  They're perfect for homeschool parents and make a great gift for teachers or tutors.  In the store you'll find t-shirts and sweatshirts in a variety of sizes and colors.  There's even a tote bag to make your trip to the library easier. 

Come take a look, and help support our journey by wearing the D2E logo.    

Blueberries in Washington are FABULOUS!  So are the blackberries, the raspberries, and the apples.  There’s a rumor that they’re even better if you pick them yourself.  We visited the South 47 Farm to test that theory.

Picking fresh produce at the South 47 Farm was one of our best days in Seattle.  The farm is very conveniently located near the city and provides an opportunity to dig your own potatoes, harvest vegetables, and pick fresh berries and apples.  They provide the baskets, the berry cartons, the shovels and knives and everything else you’ll need to gather all the produce you’d like.  It’s grown organically and the people that run the farm are incredibly warm.  They know how to make sure their customers have a good experience.  

Tuesday is Griffin’s Re-Birthday…time to party!  Cake, ice cream, gifts…  Two years ago we celebrated with our entire “life group” family when our oldest son was saved and last year I had the unforgettable privilege of listening to our youngest son pray to accept Jesus.  Those are, without a doubt, the biggest days of their lives and I didn’t want them to pass without recognition.   To mark them, we came up with the idea of celebrating their Re-Birthdays.

On November 4th we'll still be on the road, nowhere near home.  So how do we vote for President?  Absentee ballot. 

Who may vote by absentee ballot?

1. Out of the county
2. Full time student or the spouse of a full time student
3. Hospitalization, sickness, or physical disability (may also be the caretaker)
4. Permanent absentee voter because of health (must have a statement from a Doctor)
5. Juror in a federal or state court
6. Observance of a religious holiday
7. Candidate for office in the election
8. 65 years of age or older

If you too are on the road, now is the time to request your ballot.  The process is different in each state, but in general, you must request a form, in writing, from your county election commission that includes some or all of these items:

1. Voter's name as it appears on voter registration
2. Voter's address as it appears on voter registration
3. Social Security number or Registration number
4. Election that the voter wants to vote in
5. Reason the voter is requesting an Absentee Ballot
6. Address where the Ballot is to be mailed
7. Voter's signature