Events of Saturday, August 7, 2010

How I strongly dislike these time changes! It all happens in just a blip. One minute we are in one time zone, and then the next we are in another. I was in a deep sleep at 7:40am when Jim awoke us all. Yes, that seems late, but it was 7:40am new time, which was just 6:40 the day before and it was 5:40 in California. Can you guess that I am NOT a morning person?

We had breakfast and the crew picked up and cleaned up Harvey while I dashed through the drizzle to grab a shower. There was a bit of a line, so everything was ready and waiting for me when I got back. We had our family devotions and then pulled out our map of the US. It was time to trace where we have been so far. We had last updated at Greeley, CO, so we started there and traced our drive through Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and then, Minnesota. Now it was time to decide what came next. We had only seen a little of Nebraska (Carhenge) as we cut through and skipped Kansas entirely as we re-routed our itinerary. We knew what the next week would hold, but where to go from there? So as a family we perused the map, consulted our list of places we wanted to see, and made our plan. After our time with our friends the Bjorlos in Minnesota, we would head north to visit to national parks, then south back through Minneapolis and on to Iowa, Missouri, dart into Kansas, then work our way back through Missouri and Illinois with Chicago as our next destination. That settled, we headed off to visit the Mall of America.

The Mall of America, the largest mall in America, covers 72 acres, 3 levels, over 500 stores and 50 restaurants and also has an indoor amusement park. Twelve years ago I rode the rollercoaster in the mall, and since rollercoasters are one of our “themes”, I wanted the kids to have that experience. But, oh my, how things have changed in 12 years! When I was there, the rollercoaster was all there was; now it is a complete Nickelodeon theme park. We checked out what was available, each of us choosing a few rides, figured out the point system and purchased tickets. We went on a few of the stomach-turning rides BEFORE lunch. Then we visited the food court. OVERWHELMING‼ Thankfully we had a Chipotle gift card (Thanks Ibarra Family‼) which made the choice and the cost easier, and then we did a little shopping. Jim and I had found during a rainstorm in Montana that our rain jackets were NOT waterPROOF and poorly water repellant, so we purchased some new ones, checked out a few wings and levels of the mall and then it was back to rides.

After exhausting our ride ticket, we headed over to the ropes course. For an additional $6 each, we could experience the tallest Sky Trail ropes course in the world, climbing 56 feet above the ground. Now, Jim is not much of a rollercoaster person, so he had spent the day patiently holding our bags and taking pictures. But he joined the rest of the family on the ropes course and we all agreed it was the best part of the day. The ropes course consisted of 4 levels, each getting higher and more technically challenging. There was no time limit so we spent the next hour plus going across rope ladders, swaying wooden slats or planks, balance beams that curved and dipped. From the ground I had “criticized” those I saw hanging on to their safety lines. But up so high off the ground trying to cross on a swaying tightrope, I had a different perspective! The entire experience was a great core workout and we were all tired but elated when we finished. As we exited the mall, my kids gasped and said, “What’s this, Mom?” My answer? “Welcome to HUMIDITY!”

We had planned to swing by Costco to pick up supplies and grab some dinner, but found that the Costcos in Minnesota close at 6pm on Saturdays, so we were out of luck. Luckily there was a Panera Bread nearby, so we were able to have some healthy fast food. Then we headed north to our friends’ home near Brainerd, MN. As I drove I noticed the sky ahead darkening. Pretty soon it was lit by the most spectacular lightning storm I have ever experienced. It was like a symphony of lights and flashes. As the night grew darker, the flashes grew even more brilliant. Occasionally there was a flash so bright and close that it blinded me and it took me a minute to readjust my eyes. Now my kids know that I don’t like driving in new places, in the dark and especially in the rain without Jim. So after helping the kids get ready for bed, and trying to settle them despite all the drama outside, Jim joined me up front to offer moral support. Soon the rain started and it got heavier and heavier. Between the lightning glasses and the windshield wipers going full tilt, I felt like I was driving in a strobe room. Finally I pulled over and let Jim drive, but I think I did better when I was in control of the RV. But it was good for me to work on my control issues and sit quietly and pray really hard. Finally, we arrived at our friends, the Bjorlos’ home.

Often I feel on this trip that God is giving me some glimpses into what heaven will be like. It has been that way whenever we visit friends on our way as we are welcomed and cared for and immediately just jump back into our friendships. Visiting Mark and Elizabeth Bjorlo was just like that.  We were greeted with warm, welcoming hugs and soon were sharing from our hearts what God has been up to and it was if only 12 hours instead of 12 years had passed since we saw them last. (We were blessed to get to know the Bjorlos the three years that they were in San Francisco and God has blessed our lives separately and together.) Their kids were eagerly waiting up to greet us and were disappointed that our kids were in bed as they had made a sign welcoming our family that had been destroyed by the storm. Soon their kids were in bed and we talked on into the night. We were interrupted around eleven by a knock on the door. Our poor kids had been out in the RV on a hot humid night with no A/C because we hadn’t plugged in yet and they couldn’t sleep. Lindsey and Abby had braved the dark to alert us to their plight. We quickly remedied the situation, got hooked up and slid out and settled into bed. The A/C did brave battle with the humidity all night, but we were very glad for cool showers in the morning.