Saturday, January 19, 2008

Making Use of the Suburban

Ever since we got the Suburban, I have dreamed of the day when I would take an awesome road trip in it with my friends. That awesome road trip, in my mind, consisted of Janelle and Sunni and our three tots going down to Houston for a weekend. Totally awesome, right? Of course I've been telling them for two years now about this place and that place and what we could do here and there.

Fast forward one year. My hubby is on a ski trip with our church this weekend. I do not ski, nor do I ever care to take up skiing, so I had planned to stay in snow-less Texas and spend a long weekend with my folks in Houston. (Actually, I could have gone, but Curtis preferred not to have to worry that I might be bored while he was on the slopes. And I preferred not to waste my free babysitting days on a ski trip when I don't ski.) My friend Michelle, who was Janelle's college roommate, just had a baby and she lives in Houston, too. It was the perfect time for Janelle and Ella to come down with me. (If you're wondering about Sunni, she was in need of a calm weekend at home with her Hubs. We miss you though, Sunni!)

So this morning we embarked on the long-awaited road trip to Houston. We have been documenting the trip with our mad photojournalism skills. I can't wait to see what pictures we come up with. I'm sure they will look extremely professional. Anyway, it was a very smooth process getting the 'burban packed up and heading out. We immediately pulled through McDonald's because we were so hungry from lifting our enormous, overpacked suitcases into the truck. I was just telling Janelle that it was the first time all year that I've had McDonald's when lo and behold, snow began falling from the sky.

I felt in my heart that it was a spiritual moment. It was like finding a four-leaf clover. It seemed God was smiling down on us, His beloved daughters. Maybe He was glad for us to eat at the Golden Arches. Or perhaps this display of favor came because we were finally taking our road trip. Or maybe He wanted to bless me a little for not being a brat about Curt's ski trip. Or maybe the atmospheric conditions were just perfect for snow. At any rate, the fries were great and I do believe if I could only eat one food for the rest of my life, that would be it. Glory.

43 comments:

Nena said...

Hi Amanda,
I am someone who found your blog on bargainshopperlady's website. I hope don't mind that I am reading it. It has been such a blessing to me. You have a gift of writing. I live in the Woodlands (near Houston) and my best friend lives in Dallas, so I love reading about your favorite places. Have a wonderful weekend in Houston with your buddies!!
Nancy

Jessica said...

So glad you got to go! It's always fun to go with the girls and have fun! Reminds me of my college days! Hope y'all have a blast!

Fran said...

Well...have a fabulous time and enjoy every ounce of it!! Let us see pix when you can. Have fun!!

Jackie said...

Well ya'll have managed to make it here on a cold, wet weekend. But hey, it's Houston- it could change in a minute. I wish ya'll could stay for bible- study on Tuesday- that would be fun! Glad you are geting some fun time with your parents and with Janelle and Ella- HOW FUN!! Have a GREAT trip!

Aunt_Nette said...

Enjoy your weekend! Eat at all your favorite spots! And let Granny take care of the young ones!

Mel @ Studio MCA Designs said...

Funny. You sound just like your mom sometimes when you write. That is a compliment, BTW. You made me laugh. I hope you girls have a wonderful weekend.

boomama said...

There are few things in life I enjoy as much as a girls' weekend combined with good food. Y'all are going to have a ball.

Big Mama said...

French fries and snow are universal signs of God's favor.

Y'all have fun!

Kelly said...

There is nothing better than a good road trip with friends!!!! Have so much fun!!!

Sunni at The Flying Mum said...

OK, I'm already missing y'all, but hearing you ate McDonald's without me is just too much. I hope you Super-sized it.

Love y'all!

Kelly said...

There is nothing better than a good road trip with friends!!!! Have so much fun!!!

nancy said...

It makes me happy to think you are close by! I pray your weekend is full of delight!!! love you so....

Ang said...

I hope yall have so so so much fun!

Lysa TerKeurst said...

Oh my inner fat girl and my inner skinny girl have been having such arguments lately. My inner fat girl demands fries on Saturdays. My inner skinny girl thinks we'd be satisfied with carrot sticks.

You've inspired me. There are six days of the week that carrot sticks are appropriate- but Saturday is not that day. Glory back at you girl! And here's to the fries~

jamie b said...

Amen about Mickey D's fries! They are the best EVER!

Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend together. :) Sounds like a lot of fun!

Toknowhim said...

Having those special "girl trips" with out best friends are some of the sweetest moments I think we experience. Have a great time with your family, friends, and the babies (Or toddlers).

Unknown said...

I love those fries!

It's snowing here in AL, and I'm thrilled to have my husband (who is stationed in Texas) home for the weekend.

My oldest daughter is on a ski trip with the youth group. I hope she has fun...I've never had the desire to get that cold and then cause myself bodily harm!

AbbyLane said...

hope ya'll have an awesome weekend! road trips with girlfriends are the best! the last time i went on one though, my rock guard became 7/8 detached from the bottom of my car...so we got desperate, stopped at a food lion to look 'man tools' to fix it, grabbed a chocolate bar on the way out for stress management, and did what any 20-something group of girls does on a budget...

walked right past the tools to the cheap aisle, bought some DUCK TAPE and fixed that sucker right up!

and yes, mcdonald's fries get major props.

Holly said...

Have SO MUCH FUN!!!

I can't ski either...but I do appreciate the view, when taking the gondola to the top for over-priced food :) I think if I have the opportunity, I may just try to snoeshow, though. I can do straight and little bumps up and down. Straight down is just a really bad idea with my graceful-ness!

Praying for such good times...laughter and the whole enchilada.

My Chris is in Houston right now...flew in for the day with a friend to pick up his friend's new 'burban. He should be on the road home now.

Kristen said...

Praise the Lord! I have found another wife of a skier who does not ski. I am much more comfortable at home where it is safe and warm. Great bonding time for hubby and the kids to ski together - I can be a great chalet mom someday.

Yippee for the road trip. Sounds like a fun weekend.

~aj~ said...

I'm with you on that! McD's fries are the absolute greatest!

Hope you have a great trip!

AnnG said...

Hope you are having a great weekend with your friends and your parents!! Enjoy...and don't worry about missing the snow, it was just sporatic...and barely noticeable!

Darlene R. said...

Road trips are a blast! I hope you all are having a great time and eating lots of fries!

Bev Brandon @ The Fray said...

How cute is that! Reminds me of the verse that the Word melts our hearts like the melting snow...and this snow here in our area melted pretty F A S T...I hope you enjoy your moments with your precious friends and deep calls to deep.

Anonymous said...

Oh Amanda, enjoy this time with your sweet parents and friends.
Take some photos of Jackson and share next week. Enjoy it all, siesta!

Jan
threemenandamom

connorcolesmom said...

Amanda,
Oh that sounds like so much fun!
I look forward to seeing the pictures. I will be praying for you and Janelle to have a fun and blessed time :)
Kim

jen said...

Yay! Roadtrip! Hey, can you send us some snow please? :)

Anonymous said...

A road trip with a friend sounds like so much fun!! Glad you're documenting it with your mad photojournalism skills!

Profbaugh said...

You are too funny, Amanda!! Hope you had a great weekend in Houston. Can't wait to see the pix.

~Cheryl
(in freezing cold St. Louis)

McClure Family said...

I'm so impressed! I hope you have lots of fun on your road trip; I'm sure you will make lots of memories!

Anonymous said...

How fun!
I hate McDonalds now...I wrote about it a few post ago...Janelle might have read it:O

Anyway, hope your having a great time! I'm sure you are! Can't wait to see some pics:)

And no fair, why wont it snow in Austin...it's just cold and wet:(

Kristyn said...

Oh, the drive to Houston...we've made it many a times! With Jason from Dallas and me from Houston (Katy) we are at a constant competition of which is the better city!! If you ever have a chance could you write a list of your Houston favorites, like you did your Dallas ones? I almost have hubs won over by The Taste of Texas and Goode & Co. BBQ. ;)

Kara Akins said...

I love road trips! I am praying that the Lord will wrap you in His peace and pleasure; that you would be anxious for nothing, praising Him about everything.

FitzandMolly said...

I would eat at Taco C every day for the rest of my life if I could.

Lauren said...

hey girlie,
what a fun trip! this is a cute post, too. snow is always magical to us texans, myself included, even after living through four boston winters. it still feels like a miracle.

Anonymous said...

My parents were big believers in big vehicles. I even took my driver's test in the family suburban. It was awesome - my girlfriends and I had the best adventures in that thing!

Anonymous said...

okay this is off-topic...BUT did you get your RED COUCH?????? I love it too and i hope it is in your home right now!!!!! (this could have been a Q & A!!!!and...enjoy your adventure....i mean the houston one....as part of the larger life one!!!!

Kyle Taylor said...

Hi Amanda,
I hope you don't mind a stranger stopping by. I actually stumbled on to your doorstep just now through a link to it that was on someone's blog who reads the LPM blog (sorry, I hope that makes sense). I know you don't know me, but I would have felt really weird just stopping by and looking in your window and not knocking on the door and saying hi. Actually, this blogging stuff is all new to me, since I just set up a blog for my sister-in-law's ministry this past weekend. I have been checking out some of the girl's blogs who comment on the LPM blog, to just get an idea of what all you can do with a blog (thats how I found you). It is truly amazing the connections you can make with this thing. Anyway, I have enjoyed reading some of your posts and if you don't care I might stop back by again (I have loved getting to know you on the LPM blog and had I realized you had this blog I would have been reading long before now, but please let me know if you are not ok with that.)
Thanks for letting me visit, have a great week!

Anonymous said...

Delurking to finally say hello... I've been here for awhile, but have been a bit bloggy-shy. I do love your writing style though -- especially about your precious baby boy. I'm 23 and am (accidentally) running a ministry for young girls... we use college-aged girls as our volunteers, so I like hearing about what you do with YOUR girls. I finally got up the nerve to start a blog, mainly because I don't want to forget all of the random things that happen when you're my age and trying to do something crazy like this.

Now, to today's post: may I just say that I think it is incredible that you took your road trip and included McDonald's at the start of it. I think that shows that you have your priorities in order, Amanda. And, I think the Lord will reward your faithfulness and obedience. Hopefully He will choose to award this via your french fry cup running over.

I took 20 of our leaders on a retreat weekend this past weekend. It was l-o-n-g. It was also great though. :)

Thanks for letting me be here! I'm at www.ministrysofabulous.com if you want to stop by!

Ashley said...

I LOVE McDonald's french fries. I haven't eaten them in FOREVER, but I LOVE them. The temptation is calling...aaaahhhh!

Heather said...

Hope you guys had fun! Road trips with kids are always interesting ... at least they are in my house :) We also took a trip this weekend ... surprisingly it went really well ... we made more potty stops for mom than for the 3 year old :)

Praise and Coffee said...

French fries...I knew I liked you!

Hope you have/had a wonderful time!!!

Sue

Misslisslee said...

Girlfriend road-trips are the best. You can stop to go to the bathroom without having to persuade anyone that it's really, really important. Outlet malls are often a must-see stop. And the trip is just as important as the destination! (Or maybe these are just my issues?) Hope you had a wonderful time!