It was the summer of 1972. I had just completed 5^th grade, my brother 3^rd. In the spring, my Dad had pulled out the road atlas and a KOA campground directory. The four of us would be camping for the first time. It was so exciting to plot out the itinerary and route we would take. We set out at 2 a.m. the week after school ended, Steven and me still in our p.j.’s. Cooler before the sun comes up; no traffic. First stop: breakfast at our friend’s in Tallahassee. We had to hustle as weather reports indicated that Hurricane Agnes was in the Gulf. It got very rainy and windy on that first leg of our journey!

I will now summarize, because this is a blog and not a travel diary!

Over the next six weeks, we would visit historic sites, the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, stay with friends and relatives, camp in KOA campgrounds (my brother and me begged for the ones that had the swimming icon; that meant it had a pool!). Visiting my maternal grandparents in Apple Valley, CA. Up the coast to San Francisco, all the way up to Seattle, where Mom was reunited with her three sisters for the first time in 17 years, meeting cousins, Olympic National Park, Mt. Rushmore, winding our way through the Midwest. That ‘67 VW Bus performed like a champ.

It is fun to reminisce. That was an unforgettable experience. Travel, vacations are good for our souls. It still gives me “goosies” when I see a young family on vacation. To see a family having fun together and bonding is so vital and nourishing. It is important to get out and see the world, to marvel at the natural goodness and glory of God. Even at the man-made, “touristy” spots, there is an awareness of the gifts, talent, and human imagination given by our Heavenly Father.   Summer may be “over” here in the Sunshine State, but there are still adventures waiting to be unwrapped. It was, and is, an unconditional love that made our enJOYment of all things possible.

Pastor Art