Heading Towards Sunshine

God, in His providence, put all the pieces together for us to get our fingerprints done on the same day we were going to the airport. The fingerprint place and the airport are a few miles apart from each other and both are 2 hours away from our house. What a blessing to not have to make a special trip. Bob had already planned on taking the day off to take us to the airport.
The plan? I took the 6 younger kids to sunny Arizona for a wonderful vacation which included my birthday and Easter. The richest blessing was that we got to spend that time with my parents while Bob and Jerrod went to West Virginia on a mission trip to work with World Vision. Dearest Lindsey stayed home and held down the fort. College sometimes gets in the way of all this fun.

Our preferred mode of travel.
Practically painless.

Okay, Sandra, so shoot me now. We had a 6 hour direct flight. I was sure we needed every trick in the book to keep 6 kids including a 2 & 3 year old busy on the plane. Sandra is my amazing friend who traveled for 2 weeks with 2 kids and only a backpack. I kept that in mind while I was packing....oh boy, it could have been so much worse. Only 7 bags and 2 strollers. Um, this is what we carried on the plane, we also checked a few bags. I think I need to work on that simplify thing.

I begged Bob to get a gate pass and come see us off.

We had strategic assigned placement on the plane. Instead of counting sheep, I spent hours coming up with the best configuration in seating that would promote the maximum amount of harmony.

We went to see these wonderful folks,
Grandma Marcia and Grandpa Jere.

We had a fabulous vacation.

Other posts coming with pictures of all the fun in the sun. The only thing that could have made Easter in Arizona better was if everyone was there. But Lindsey was home being the best college student she can be and Bob and Jerrod were doing good work helping people and sharing the love of Christ in West Virginia.

I learned my lesson.
Only 4 bags on the way home.

I could write a whole post on my lack of "grace." If I had a nickel for everyone who told me I had my hands full... Here we were having an idyllic moment sharing Cinnabons in the airport and some guy gave me the "line." He was young and had not yet experienced the pure joy and love that we have been given.
By the time we got home, I was utterly convinced that I have the BEST kids in the whole world. They were great on the plane and I would travel anywhere with this set anytime.