ROAD TRIP

Warning: Lots of words, few pictures.

Phew. After 24 hours of traveling back from Turkey (including almost missing a flight. Like, they-were-closing-the-doors-as-we-ran-up almost missed the flight), we spent one day back scrambling all over the Provo area trying to get everything in order, packed, and taken care of, and then we started driving.

First of all, I just want to say that Spencer is an AMAZING packer. We packed our car just as full I thought it could ever get, and then we realized we left out an entire tub. Oy vey. But Spencer took some things out, rearranged, got the tub in, and then put everything else back in. I doubted, I didn't think he could do it. But he did. Props to the hubby.

I forgot to take a pic from the back, but trust
me, it's COMPLETELY full.

First thing you should know about our trip- no air conditioning. If you are ever going to embark on a cross-country car trip, PLEASE make sure you have functioning air conditioning before you leave. Luckily it was only mid-May so it was sweltering yet, but still. Luckily we were smart and packed a cooler full of ice and cold drinks. We used most of the water bottles more as ice packs than as drinks, but it made for a much more pleasant drive.

When we were in Turkey Spencer's mom told me about how they would always stop at Little America and get ice cream (50 cents!) when they would drive cross-country. As we got closer I kept thinking that we should stop and get an ice cream, but Spencer wasn't sold, he wanted to just keep going. But I kept thinking we should stop. So we stopped (isn't that just how it works with marriage sometimes ;) ). And as we pulled onto the freeway exit the car just shuddered and stopped. Yikes. Tried to start it up, it sputtered...and then died again. Yikes again. Tried once more, and finally the engine turned. Phew. But every light was one: check engine, check oil, and something was blinking. Luckily there was a mechanics shop but wouldn't you know it, they didn't have the equipment to find out what was wrong. And they wanted to charge 60 bucks to check the car. So Spencer decides to just check the fluids and see what he can find. Turns out there is not a single drop of coolant. Bone dry. $20 dollars a few minutes later the car is up and running. Spencer and I were extremely grateful that Heavenly Father was looking out for us. If we hadn't stopped we would have been stranded in the middle of nowhere and probably would have had to replace an engine. We definitely felt His hand and know that He helped us out of a potential disaster.

After we were confident that the car was ok, we enjoyed a little of Little America.

He may try to hide it, but he definitely has an inner child.

A huge, ridiculously cheap ice cream cone later and we were off again.

1,289 miles over 2 days (about 19 hours of driving) and we finally pulled into Jacksonville. Road trip: success!