Christmas isn't about gifts and vacation and travel aren't just about the shops and shows.
It's with a thrill of hope when luggage is packed with the promise of adventure ...
... it's the journey, the laughs, the smiles and the whole experience.
We couldn't wait to get into the mountains. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and those winding roads with magnificent mountains on each side, that's where I wanted to be.
Beauty surrounded us.
Lighthearted and relaxed, my daughter pointed for me to look at the ash on top of the mountains. I laughed and told her that was snow, snow-capped mountains. We laughed, but to give her credit, it did look like a dusting of ash.
Driving through tunnels in the mountains, we played the game we always do, and we held our breath. The goal is to make it through the tunnel without breathing.
Enjoying the countryside, the crystal clear waters of the rocky rivers that ran along side the mountains, seeing different homes, lifestyles and cultures. Just talking, laughing, and sharing.
The gasp of seeing something breathtaking and beautiful, the laughter of the ridiculous, the smile of this Momma when my little girl said she was sleepy and asked if I was okay driving while she sleeps.
This Momma is always okay, sleep well. This Momma also enjoys the quiet and am perfectly happy and content driving and taking in the views in the quiet of a vehicle surrounded by mountains and sunshine.
Driving home we planned to leave a bit early on Wednesday due to the high volume of traffic the day before Thanksgiving. I wanted to be through the winding mountains, before traffic and before it got dark. We successfully made it home with no traffic delays in 8 hours with 2 stops.
Sunny & 73 degrees in West Virginia, it felt incredible to crack the windows for fresh air and the sun was hot on my skin.
A thrill of hope for the trip, happy to get home to her babies, it wasn't about the shows and stores, "Maybe travel, ... perhaps ... means a little bit more!'"
