We made it back to Colorado Springs yesterday afternoon...well we're actually camping a few more nights in Monument, Colorado just north of our house as we get the house ready to move back in. Final tally on the odometer is 39,494 miles between when we left this campground on June 9, 2014 and when we returned July 30, 2015! As a fitting book-end to our trip, we even crossed paths again with a couple here tonight that we happened to meet over a year ago on the very first day of our trip while we were camped at the same place in Gunnison, Colorado....they remembered this crazy family of 8 getting ready to travel for a year.
Everyone was excited to see the Rocky Mountains again, especially Pikes Peak, but I'll be honest, it's been an emotional return for me. Right after we got the trailer parked and setup in camp, I gathered the family for a prayer. My jaw was quivering, my voice was cracking and my eyes were tearful as we prayed in thanksgiving for completing our trip safely and for the beautiful blessing of spending this time together. I definitely needed a group hug after we prayed! I was just overwhelmed with deep gratitude and joy at not only being able to complete an epic journey, but especially to make this journey with those closest and most dear to me. So many things had to come together to make a mission like ours possible and while I think I'm a good planner.....I'm not THAT good. God really smiled on our family during this trip. When I think of everything we experienced along this adventure (the good and the not-so-good), the enormity of God's love overpowers me. There were many moments before and during our trip when I felt like we were in a raft in this immense current of God's love and the ride was exhilarating and awe-inspiring when we just let God guide the raft!
As we begin to re-integrate into our community and "spread out" again, our talents and interests will take each of us along more of an individual path...that's part of the growing process and rhythm of the family. Our kids will soon start spreading their wings and flying off to establish their own way in life, but the shared experiences and growing we did together on this trip will remain with each of us for our lifetimes. I am ever grateful for God's Grace and presence as we made the effort and investment to complete this trip while we had the opportunity! And I am ever grateful for everyone who has supported us in prayer and in person during our Hands and Feet Tour! THANK YOU!!