{The Heart Of Texas}

I'm in trouble!!



I’ve been absent from the blogging world. Sorry!! I could try to explain but I will just work on redeeming myself instead =)


Last week the kids and I took our first road trip. I will admit that I was nervous, a bit scared, and of course super excited! I am used to driving the average 2 hour trip around California with 3 kids and a dog in tow but this one was a little different (okay A LOT different).


First, I have never attempted a road trip with 3 kids and a dog. I was fully armed with a Venti coffee from Starbucks and I made sure to tune into my Starbucks locator.


Second, I have never driven anywhere I am not familiar with by myself. I absolutely love OnStar! Maybe it’s a little crazy to be dependent on a voice that lives in Canada but I figured with my navigational skills, I would take that leap of faith.


Third, I have never gone on a road trip without Jason by my side. Yes I have driven by myself to many places with the kids in tow but, this was 460 miles and I was driving through the state of Texas. Enough said, right?!?!


I know that you are asking yourself why I would attempt such madness. It’s actually very simple. I received a phone call explaining that one of my favorite kids was graduating from high school and that we had to be there to help celebrate this moment in his life. Let me first explain that we met this amazing family when this graduate was only 11 years old. He was just a little guy then. Between him, his twin sister, and his baby brother, my heart completely melted. There was no way that I couldn’t fall in love with all of them. I guess I should also mention that Trav shares a direct bond with the twins because after all, he was born on their 12th birthday. This family quickly became one of my favorite families in the whole wide world!! So see, it was an offer I simply couldn’t refuse.


We made our way out of Louisiana and then headed west where we spent all day driving through Texas. Quoting the great words of Kalyssa, “Why is this state SO long? Texas is too big for itself.” Somehow we managed to only make two pit stops along the way. By 6 pm that magical voice from Canada had led us right to the McKee’s front door.

We spent some time catching up. It is quite amazing how much children change in a matter of 2 years but it is even more incredible that they can fall into the same routine as if nothing ever changed at all. The first thing I learned was that you don’t always realize just how much you miss someone until you see them.

The best part about the whole weekend was being able to be in the kitchen with my sister from another mother =) I had forgotten what it was like to just do our thing together and to be able to share that with her family made it that much better.


The hardest part of the whole trip was not being able to share it with Jason. Our families are very close. We have shared so much together over the past few years. There were many moments where I had to take a deep breath. There was something missing the whole time we were there and that missing piece was Jay.


While we were visiting La Familia McKee, we attended a very special high school graduation. It was a little hard to accept the fact that the once cute 12 year old who held my son after he was born was walking across the field in his cap and gown. I was very grateful that he was still the same kid who liked to give hugs because I don’t think I could have handled much more of him growing up!

 {Graduation After Party}

We also managed to get in a few sightseeing trips. You can’t really go to San Antonio and not visit the famous River Walk.

Our first stop was Lackland AFB. I will share that Lackland and the River Walk hold special memories for Jason and I. Lackland is after all where Jason began his military career. In that eminent year of 1999, I flew to Texas to be at Jason’s side as he graduated from Basic Training. The very next day on February 27th, we made our way down to the River Walk and started our journey together as Mr. & Mrs. Jason Mall. A lot of memories flooded my brain as the kids and I drove through certain sections of the base. It was unexpected but I will admit that it was pretty neat to be able to share a little bit of how our life began with the 3 most important factors that truly complete our family story.

I kept my promise to Bryanna. The one thing she wanted to see was the River Walk. She wanted to see with her own little eyes where Daddy and Mommy were married. The kids and I took a boat tour around the River Walk. So much has changed since our visit 12 years ago.

The best part of our whole trip was being able to see our family!! We had a wonderful visit! Now that I have made the trip once, I am no longer scared or nervous, simply just excited that we are closer than I originally thought. So, I guess they are stuck with me, 3 kids, a dog, and Jason too. We will be around well...FOREVER!!!