Two days and Fifteen hours later...

4 am came much too early on Monday. Groaning and mumbling, we stumbled out of bed. By 5:10 we were off on our grand adventure. 15 minutes later it dawned on us. Josh's sunglasses were sitting on the dresser. Back we went. But were soon on the road again.

Before we saw the last of the Valley of the Sun, we made our traditional good-bye stop at the Smiths. A cup of coffee and a pit-stop later, we packed ourselves back into the trusty 4-Runner and drove away. By 7:15, we were on the Interstate.

Our I-10 pilgrimage lasted for the next two and a half days, the majority of which was consumed by Texas. After 15 hours of driving, we called it quits and stopped for the night in Seguin, Texas. A small town 30 or so miles east of San Antonio. The Comfort Inn was true to its name and was spotlessly clean. Its claim to fame were the Texas-shaped waffles available at breakfast. Waking a bit later the next morning, we breakfasted, refueled, and by 8:30 am were listening to Laura Ingraham en route.

Miles and miles of Texas slipped by until at last we made it into Louisiana. Multiple traffic jams on its 18-mile-long bridge slowed us down a bit. Consequently, Mississippi didn't arrive until sunset. By that time McKenzie was trying to escape her car seat and Josh and I needed to stretch our legs. The Mississippi Visitors Center and Rest Stop was the solution. McKenzie was ecstatic to be free from her prison and laughed gleefully as she ran around in the grass. She was a happy camper until she spotted the grounds keeper's golf cart.

"Brrrm, Brrm," she said and made a beeline for the cart. Her daddy scooped her up just in time. Furious tears poured down her cheeks as she squirmed and gyrated, trying to free herself. We found a differed spot in the rest area to let her play. The golf cart was too big a temptation.

Playtime ended far too quickly for her preferences, but we were eager to get on the road. After refueling, Josh turned the wheel over to me and took a much deserved rest. We were off. The sun had just set. Time for headlights. 77 miles of Mississipi and then Alabama.

Alabama came and went. It was getting late. We were getting tired. Although in Florida, we were still a frustrating 600 miles from our destination. Stopping again couldn't be helped. So we did, in DeFuniak Springs. The Super 8 still had our names on file from when we stayed there on our way last year. Though not nearly as comfortable as our accommodations the night before, we got our $50 worth, and were refreshed and ready to go by 7 the next morning.

In Gainesville by lunch, we only had a 120 miles to go. The car was becoming a vehicle of torment. We couldn't wait to escape. Thankfully, the inimitable Rush Limbaugh was on the air to divert our attention from numb and cramped appendages.

At long last, we got to Orlando. And then, to our great relief, Melbourne. We were pulling into Robin and Lee's drive way at 3:30 pm.

Ahhh...to be in a house again. Not a car. Or a hotel. It was almost like coming home.

The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease. (Lamentations 3:22)

We are settling in and Josh has his first official day of practice tomorrow.