Well, okay . . . to be accurate, we made it here exactly TWO WEEKS AGO today, but we've been too busy getting my husband started at work, unpacking, enrolling the kids in school and settling in to reflect much on the journey.
As we pulled in to the Courtyard Marriott in Dunn Loring, VA, on Veteran's Day, the trip odometer read just over 4,000 miles logged during our epic nine-day, 13-state driving adventure across the US!
During this week of Thanksgiving, it seemed fitting to take a moment to reflect on the trip and the many small miracles that blessed us along the way, among them:
Miracle #1: Timing. By some huge miracle, the timing actually worked out so that we could make the drive across the country as a family, instead of via some separate combination of planes, trains and automobiles. Despite delays in military orders, etc., everything came together during our last week in Oregon so that we were able to schedule our household goods shipment to be packed and picked up a few days before we had to leave.
Miracle #2: Weather. We managed to travel during what was probably the last week of the year that the weather was good and worry-free for driving across the country. News reports of places we had been through made it sound like the roads were literally icing up behind us, but we managed to avoid any treacherous winter driving.
Miracle #3: The Trailer. Held together by duct tape and prayers, the "Rusty Scupper" survived the bumpy detours off I-40 on Route 66, the howling winds of west Texas, and the miles and miles of neglected interstate. We thought for sure we'd have a blow out because her tires had barely any tread, but the man at the Newberg U-Haul rental place said she'd make it, and much to our surprise, she did!
The photo below was taken as we were pulling away from a U-Haul lot in VA, where we dropped her off at the end of the journey. If trailers could talk . . . at least she has a few more adventures from our trip to add to her stories!
Miracle #4: Our Stuff. Even with a cable lock on the tongue and a lock on the back door of the trailer, we were convinced that either the trailer--or our car--would get broken into, and all our valuable possessions would get stolen. Somehow we chose the right hotels and lucked into well-lit parking lots, and our worst fears weren't realized. Whew!
Miracle #5: The Dog. How lucky were we that we didn't lose the dog in Flagstaff, AZ?!? Best dog ever!!!
Miracle #6: The Driver. Although the moving van driver transporting our household goods beat us to the East Coast, he (due to health problems he was attending to) had not yet offloaded our shipment into temporary storage, so we only had to camp out in our empty house for a few days before we were able to contact him in South Carolina and arrange to deliver our household goods. He was willing to deliver it to us on a Sunday because he was anxious to get it off his truck. What a blessing to sleep in our own beds and get a good rest the night before the boys registered at their new schools!
Miracle #7: Family Visit. Somehow we managed to stay enough on schedule that we were able to connect with family for a quick bite when we passed through NC. It was great to see family, and we're hopeful we'll get to see more of them during our time on the East Coast.
Miracle #8: Breakage. So far, we have discovered only one broken furniture item and one broken glass. That's pretty impressive considering how many boxes were packed and how crammed they were into the moving van.
Miracle #9: The Rental House. We lucked into renting a great house in a great location with great schools! We managed to negotiate and sign a lease right before we left Oregon, and the house was ready the day after we arrived in Northern Virginia. It's an easy commute to work for hubby. He walks just a few minutes to the bus stop, which is right around the corner. Visitors are welcome anytime! We have plenty of room for guests, so consult your calendars and book yourself in if you feel like a trip east.
Miracle #10: Changing of the Season. We arrived in time to see some beautiful fall colors, right in our own yard! And not too long after we arrived, we got to rake up all those beautiful leaves . . . but I can think of worse things to do as a family on a nice sunny day.
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