Last Thursday, April 9th, it snowed a few inches here in Minnesota. I was so thrilled, that I wrote a little song about it:
“Oh, the weather outside is frightful
Snow in April is NOT delightful
But it’s better than 40 below
So let it snow, let it snow, let it snow….”
The next day, my family and I did the only logical thing—we drove to a state even colder than ours—North Dakota. It was the first time any of us had been to ND. We went there on another round of college visits with my older son. I love a good road trip: road snacks, truck stops, boys alternately sleeping and goofing around in the back seat. Good old fashioned family time. On Friday, we visited North Dakota State (NDSU) in Fargo. (Ya sure, you betcha, just like the movie.) It ended up being a beautiful 60 degree afternoon when we toured the campus, and we all liked it. (Though something tells me it’s not always so nice there.) 
Then we drove another hour north to Grand Forks and stayed overnight in a hotel to await the Aviation/Aerospace day at the University of North Dakota the next day. That one hour north really made a difference. It seemed to us the wind blew stronger with every mile and the temperature dropped. (It is only 82 miles from the Canadian border, after all.) We splurged on a steak dinner and afterwards the guys enjoyed the pool and hot tub while I did a little editing.
The next day, we visited UND, then headed home, the wind buffeting the car all the way. As we drove, my high school junior enthusiastically ranked the colleges we’ve visited so far, and I think even our younger son began thinking of his own future. I found it exciting (and a little daunting) to dream alongside these young men, to hope for meaningful, productive lives for them, to pray and ask God to direct their paths….
Back at home, what did I find in our yard that two days before had been covered in white stuff? My crocuses were 
up! What a lovely sign of spring. A sign that we have made it through another winter and can hope for warm and green days ahead. (And hopefully, bright and fulfilling days, too–for all of us.) What is it about a road trip? You come back to the same old home, but more hopeful and grateful than when you left it.
What about you—do you love or loathe a road trip? And what are you hoping for, or looking forward to, this spring?
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Hi Julie! I don’t particularly love road trips because I have a toddler, and you never know how that will turn out. Very iffy indeed. This spring I am looking forward to cleaning my house in preparation for my next little one’s arrival this summer! Sixteen weeks to go!
Oh, I feel for you, Courtney. Traveling with little ones is a challenge indeed! I remember the days when we counted minutes til the next playland instead of miles to our destination… 🙂 All the best as you await your special summertime arrival!
Cracked up at your little song, Julie! And I love road trips. We take them quite often to visit our daughters 8 hours away, and our youngest son who’s 6 hours away. I usually write in the car while Ken drives, and I get SO much done (because I can’t get online with my laptop!) Even the six-hour trip is almost always worth double my usual word-count.
The trip to see our kids is always filled with excited anticipation of seeing them (and our grandkids!), and the trip home is usually filled with joy that our kids are doing so well, and relief that we are going home to the peace and quiet of our empty nest! 😉
Hi Deb. Yes, I can imagine car trips to visit your grandkids would be worth every mile. Especially on your way back home to sleep! 🙂 I tried editing on my laptop this trip. But as I struggle with motion sickness, I couldn’t work for too long at a stretch.
I love roadtrips. One way we have always passed time on a trip is for me to read aloud. We have shared some wonderful books that way.
I am looking forward to getting a garden put in. Unfortunately we have had so much rain this year you would need a boat to pull the plow. So far all I have been able to plant is what you can plant in containers.
Reading aloud would be fun, Shirley. (I love audiobooks, too.) Though it would be a challenge to find something we would all enjoy–especially with two teenage boys in the car. 🙂 Hope your garden dries quickly!
Have you tried the Restorer series by Sharon Hinck. Christian fantasy is great for boys. Just read the first one and it has lots of sword play. I never liked fantasy until I read The Restorer.
Thanks for the suggestion, Nancy!
I am not fond of road trips. But necessary if you hope to reach your desired destination. Tomorrow we leave for Myrtle Beach. When we arrive back home I hope to plant all my seedlings I started in the winter. I did petunias and pansies.
That’s my plans for spring. Make the outside pretty and work on the inside too.
Ohhh… Myrtle Beach sounds wonderful, Shirley. Have a great time! And share a few photos of your flowers with us this summer!
When we lived across the Canadian border to the north in Winnipeg our family used to take road trips down “south” to Fargo or Grand Forks to warm up. Our kids have fond memories of North Dakota.
Ha ha! It’s all in your perspective, I guess. That’s right, I’d forgotten you’d lived up there, Lynn. My husband wanted to look at a college in Winnipeg, but so far, son is balking. Hope life in your new digs is treating you well!
Hi Julie, we’ve had a late spring here in New Jersey too. finally this week the crocus and daffodils are blooming. That’s exciting that your son is looking at colleges. That sounds like a fun family time too.
Blessings,
Carrie
Thanks, Carrie. Love seeing you here. Would love to see your daffodils, too!
Sounds like a fun road trip, Julie! (am still giggling at your little jingle about snow in April). 😉
Being a life-long Georgia girl, it’s hard for me to imagine snow in April (it’s rare for us to get a decent amount of snow even in January!).
I sure hope all goes well as your son makes that very important decision about college (and treasure every moment while he’s at home *sigh*).
My “baby boy” has been accepted to Carnegie Mellon for his Graduate work, and while we’re incredibly proud of him, I’m already having a difficult time thinking of my baby being so far from home (if only Pittsburgh was closer to Atlanta).
Thanks for sharing with us today. 🙂
Hugs, Patti Jo
Thanks, Patti Jo. Sounds like you understand some of my mixed feelings. All the best to your “baby” as he starts his new adventure!
I hear you. It’s fun to travel and visit new places but that same ole saying is still true, “there’s no place like home.” We don’t travel much but when we do, we usually go in our RV. That’s almost like taking home with you.
Good point, Gail. Enjoy that RV!
Our family loves road trips! It’s so much fun to see the diverse beauty God made, beauty you don’t see when flying.
When our kids were little, we’d pop an Adventures in Odyssey CD or two. Now we have the DVD player to keep everyone occupied. And, of course, we play all the silly car games too. For us, it’s great family time.
(FYI – NDSU is a great school … just saying …)
Thanks, Brenda! Can’t wait to hear what your son likes about NDSU.
This really spoke to me. I’m in Duluth where the weather can be crazy. I no longer have a car, but have always loved road trips. Now I just read about where others are going and try to enjoy it through their eyes. I am an avid reader so I travel through books to many different locations. Thanks for writing for those of us who are readers.
You’re very welcome, Nancy. Thanks for replying.
What do I look forward to this Spring?
Meeting you, Julie! 🙂 See you in a few weeks.
🙂 See you soon!
I love road trips! But I’ve always been the “let’s go somewhere” girl in the family. Anyone says the word “go” and my head’s on a swivel, trying to find out who said it, where they’re going, and if I can tag along.
Julie, I love that picture of you and your husband. Y’all are so cute together! And that pic really shows the joy y’all have in each other’s presence. Love it!
Blessings and hugs,
Andrea