Vacation Time Again

"Move over and get your head off me!” Daughter # 1 yelled.

“I’m not touching you so just shut up!” Snapped Daughter # 2

“MOM, make her scoot over. She is on my side!”

“I am not on your side! You’ve got your arm on my side!”

“MOM, she pushed me!”

“Did not!”

“Did, too!”

Ah, just the beginning of another wonderful vacation and another thousand miles to go.

“Girls, let me tell you a little story, okay?” I said as I glanced back at two frowning faces.

“About fifteen years after the end of the Civil War, they left their home in Kearney, Missouri and headed to the Ozark hills. According to stories passed down, your daddy’s g-g-grandparents lived, north of Gallatin, Missouri. His g-grandparents met and married there and then moved to Kearney, Missouri and became neighbors of Frank and Jesse James’ family. Your daddy’s g-g-grandparents had already moved to the Ozarks so his g-grandparents decided to follow them.”

“It was the middle of winter when the family loaded up their seven children and all of the belongings they could carry in a covered wagon and headed south. The family had to cross the Missouri river on the way. When they reached the river, it was completely frozen over and the family crossed it on ice.”
I turned around again to see if the girls were listening before I proceeded.

“It was a long, long trip in that old wagon and keep in mind, it was winter. Can you imagine how that would have been? They weren’t in a nice vehicle like we're in and all of their belongings were piled in the wagon among those seven children plus their parents. Do you think those kids were fussing all two hundred seventy-five miles until they reached their new home? Do you think they were yelling for their mom to make sister or brother move over and not touch them?”

Both girls shook their heads and glanced at each other.

“After reaching the Ozarks, your ancestors had to live in their covered wagon or with their parents until they could build a house. When the family was settled in , five more children were born into the family for a total of twelve plus their parents living in the house they build in the hills about eight miles north of where we now live. And, when the youngest son born after they moved grew up he helped your grandpa build the two room house where your daddy lived when he was little. Two of the brothers who were born after they got to the Ozarks grew up and married sisters.”

When I glanced back, both girls were sound asleep with Daughter # 2 leaning on Daughter # 1’s shoulder.

When I think about the hardships our ancestors faced in years past, I realize how spoiled we have become. God has blessed us with amenities that we enjoy every day without thinking; heat and air to make our homes comfortable; warm beds in which to sleep ; running hot and cold water , more clothes than most of our closets have room for and so much more.

Do we take time to thank our Heavenly Father for all of the blessings He sends our way or are we too busy complaining about the little inconveniences in life?

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV