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Day 4 - Wednesday July 7, 2004

YEAH!!!! We made it to Phoenix today! We are at the North American Christian Convention.

This morning we woke to hazy weather in Gallup, New Mexico. Kelley and Korey were happy to color in their art book. (Kelley refused to get her picture taken this morning!). Once again, I couldn't have asked for better children traveling across the country.

About the time we got to Flagstaff, we realized what the haze was. There was a brush fire. We were able to see it from far off. Thankfully, it wasn't too close to the road. It seemed to be in an area that was not populated (at all!).

We saw some unusual things by the side of the road. Route 40 runs along side the Historic Route 66. This means that there were large dinosaurs, teepees, half-buried cars, and other oddities. Finally, when we went south at Flagstaff, we were able to get into the High Country of Arizona and see trees and mountains. Today we also got our first glimpse of palm trees and cactus (some are even purple!).

The trip in the car wasn't as long as the other days. We were still glad to get unpacked in our hotel. The Hennigs (minus Sam and Stephanie -- sniff, sniff), The Galleys, and The Whitsetts were all able to share an evening meal together. I can't remember the last time we were able to all go out to eat together. It was a wonderful evening.

I'm exhausted and headed for bed. Tomorrow "The Boys" will do their workshop. Please remember them in your prayers as they share their love for the Lord and Georgetown!

ttfn (tah-tah for now -- DAD!) 

~Cindy and the crew

[webmaster note: 
no update Friday morning because of my travel. Next update Saturday morning after waffles with the kids]

Ten hours in a car is a terribly long time, even if you do have angels for children!!  Today was the long-haul day.  Thankfully, it was the only day on our schedule where we would be traveling for 10 hours.  The kids are fabulous.  I haven't heard a complaint out of them, and they are quick to point out points of interest along the way.  They are making this vacation very enjoyable!

We woke up to yet another thunderstorm.  OH JOY!  Kevin had the Weather Channel on, and Oklahoma City was all in red.  I guess God just needed to hear from me first thing again :-) .  The map showed that it was clearing to the west.  Thankfully the map was right.  After we left Oklahoma City, it was a beautiful day on the road. 

We traveled through the rest of the Oklahoma panhandle and into Texas.  No offense to any of you that adore Texas, but it was not terribly exciting.  We did see a lot of windmills along the way, and a couple of oil rigs.  We were able to discuss how oil was important to the Texan and US economy.  Along Interstate 40, we were also able to see the largest cross in the Western Hemisphere (or at least that is what the sign said!).  It was a neat sight, and a nice reminder who made the flat land as well as the mountains and the prairies. 

Soon we reached New Mexico.  Here we saw adobe homes and pueblos.  This gave opportunity for a brief architectural lesson (not that I am any expert!).  The kids have an art through architecture project going on through this vacation, and were pointing out all the different styles of homes along the way.  We also were able to glimpse our first sights of mesas.  They are beautiful.  The red clay rock was just gorgeous in the sun.  It was interesting to see how the winds have rounded some of the rocks into beautiful settings. 

We are staying in Gallup, NM.  This is the where there are more Native Americans than any other place in the US (or so the sign says!).  It is warm, but certainly not humid.  We took a tour of the town, but unfortunately got here when most of it was closed.  I was very happy to find the hotel and plug in my heating pad.  I am doing MUCH better since leaving, but today was a very long time in the car and I am a bit sore and stiff.

Well, I have rambled on long enough.  Tomorrow should be a great day.  We will arrive in Phoenix and meet up with Scott & Sharon, and Jason & Kelly (and Joshua!).  I think we are all going to be able to eat supper together.  Funny, we don't get much opportunity to do that in G-town with our schedules.  I am really looking forward to it.

TTFN!!!  Thank you for keeping us in your prayers! 

~Cindy (and KSWx3)