Our last trip out

Warm weather meant flowers,
butterflies and flip-flops!

The last six weeks have seen our Yukon traveling the highways and interstates of Colorado, Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Montana.  We've spoken with investors and continued preparing to start our businesses in Central Asia.  We've also had a little bit of fun along the way:

• Braum's Ice Cream and a homemade coconut cream pie in Wichita.
• Met a good 'ol boy in Texas with a 1959 Dodge Coronet for sale.  I'm married to a car guy…what can I say?  The car spoke to me and affirmed that I have finally found my fin car. :)  This particular one was too rusted to invest in, but I have fallen in love!
• Galveston and the waves.  Took a ferry to get there and dolphins swam alongside.  Totally embarrassed Aaron with my shrieks of delight.  When we finally got to the beach and into the water, Aaron surprised us with hermit crabs found along the ocean floor. We had a blast playing with them. 
• The Gator Farm outside Nederland, TX with new friends, Joe, Jeri and their two great kids.         

• A beautiful park in the greenbelt of Arkansas, laughing with our good friend, Christina, and reveling in her gorgeous new home.  Cried as we left.
• Jet skiing in the warm waters of Alabama and experiencing Fruit Tea for the first time.  
• Brand-new puppies.  I'm talking one-day-old Boxer puppies.  Need I say more?
• Time with Matt & Rachel.  We left after lunch on a Sunday and I cried…again.  The following days I kept crying as we said goodbye to more friends in Tennessee and Indiana.  I really appreciated my husband because he told me to cry and held my hand as I stared out the window.  It's easy to become callous or "Pollyanna" about the heartache of leaving friends behind, but I was reminded that there are times to weep.  We've had great times laughing…now was my time to feel sorrow.  I tried not to wallow in it and by the time our green beastie reached South Dakota and the "Visit Wall Drug" billboards, I was much better. 

                          

• The Tooth Fairy stopped by and dropped off some cash for Luke.  He lost his two top teeth!

• Found another great use for super glue -- not only will it fix the tears in one's leather car seats, it seals up a head wound quite nicely!  Titus bounced his head off a hard wooden bench and there weren't any urgent cares to be found, so Aaron and I doctored him up.  He's one tough kid and the scar won't be too bad when he goes bald like his father! :)
• Our last stop in Missoula, MT.  Good friends, good food, lots of snow.  As you can imagine, I was not prepared for the cold after living in flip flops.  I must say, however, there is nothing like the welcoming smell of cold, wet pine trees in Montana!