So tonight, as a group of weary girls pulled in to the front of “Grand Staff Bed and Breakfast”, I overheard the one girl say, ” You know, this van is starting to feel like home.. Like we are with other people, and then we get back in the van with our family and we are home..” I’ll have to confess if the first 3 days of this adventure are any indication, we are gearing up for quite the incredible time..

Day One consisted of tearful good-byes, driving along and discovering the love notes tucked here and there by my family… Driving hammerdown, without many stops across the eastern part of the US attempting to make it the Gateway Arch before closing time… It consisted of a few visits to “the pantry” as the food section at the back of the van has been lovingly dubbed.. Bless those of you who so generously contributed- its awesome.. And running through a number of cloudbursts.. Discussing our unique personalities, and the love languages.. And how birth order affect our personalities.. (I tell you what.. All on day one.. Just wait until Day 21.. We may have the World’s problems solved..) And just adjusting to travelling..

We made it to the Arch.. And up it for a brief view before we hurried down in time to get in on the last showing of the Documentary on how it was built.. Some in our group weren’t too sure about riding up the Arch in those little washing machine cars.. So, as has become traditional, we sang, “I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining every day, Still praying as I’m onward bound, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground..” We unfortunately missed the first part of the documentary, but got in on most of it. I’m non too fond of heights and I was rather concerned at those men whipping in the wind 630 feet in the air. Constructed in the mid 60s, the engineers estimated there would be 13 lives lost, but thankfully none were.. And they had a margin of error for building that thing.. 1/64 of an inch.. Is that anything at all?!

Highlights from Day 2 were definitely visiting “Dutch Country General Store” in Bloomfield, IA, where owner Levi Good looked very much like I remember him growing up.. It was so much fun to see him being everywhere in his very impressive everything store.. AND he likes to take care of drivers (so they bring customers back) , and we were blessed with a generous number of items.. The pantry runneth over. How kind! This stop was well worth the time!

The unplanned stop of the day was along Hwy 2, at “Little Flock Baptist Church” a mini church at a picinic area, that’s designed to be a reprieve for weary travelers.. We enjoyed crowding inside and singing and spending a little time in meditation.. I love these sort of impulsive finds.. 🙂

The girls had relatives in Chula, MO where we spent the night. I discovered a bit of trivia posted on her fridge. So we put our travel weary minds in gear, and came up with the answer.. Can You?

“Four men have an appointment in 17 minutes and all four men must cross a bridge to get there. All four men begin on the same side of the bridge. It is night and there is only one flashlight. A maximum of two people can cross at one time. Any party who crosses the bridge, either one or two people, must have a flashlight with them. The flashlight must be walked back and forth. It can not be thrown, etc. Each man walks a different speed. A pair must walk together at the rate of the slower man’s pace..

Ben-1 min to cross

Eddie-2 min to cross

Adam-5 min to cross

Larry- 10 min to cross

For example, if Ben and Larry walk across first, 10 mins have elapsed when they get to the other side of the bridge. If Larry returns with the flashlight, total of 20 mins have passed and the mission has failed.   There is no trick behind this, it is a simple movement of  resources in the appropriate order.. There is an answer to this problem..”

We’d love to hear if when you get this.. 🙂

And today.. After worshipping in Chula, we hastened onward towards Kansas. We feel like we’ve hit the divide and our now “experiencing the West”..  We have friends in Buhler, and spent the eve with them, their adorable daughter, and their horses..

I’ve rambled on long enough.. My heart is full tonight, thanking God, for all that He’s done for me… Hope to see you on down the trail.. Good night, Kendra

P.S I made a new friend out here.. He’s a real charmer 😉