Sunday, April 19, 2009

We're Not In Kansas Anymore........


Hey wait.....I don't think I went to Kansas.

But we sure went to about every other state in the Midwest.....Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois.

Believe me......I sure WISHED I would have had those "Ruby Slippers" last night when we got so very lost on some crazy back roads in Missouri at 10:00 something last night night. I would have been clicking my heels big time.

Somehow something messed up with our GPS and instead of taking us to Branson once we left Springfield Mo. we ended up tired and lost on some dark and scary country roads going to God knows where.

Joshua was driving at that point and Ariel was up front beside him in the passenger seat. I was drifting in and out of sleep in the back seat of the truck.

By the time I woke up and realized......ummmm........"we should have hit Branson about an hour ago" (especially since it's only 45 minutes from Springfield) I asked Joshua and Ariel if they had seen any signs at all for Branson and they said they hadn't.

That is when....
I knew we were in some kind of a major FIX.

Long story short....we finally ended up stopping and sleeping in a small town called "West Plains" Missouri after going a completely different direction....totally south and EAST of Branson...out on some crooked and craggy country roads with names like "U" and "UU."

I know what those kinds of roads are since I grew up in Missouri and had family that lived on roads with alphabet names like that....so I knew that we would soon end up in some crazy maze in the "hollers" of the Ozarks somewhere.

That's when I told Joshua......."Turn us around and get us to the Interstate no matter what."

Let me give you all a huge TIP...."Always pack your trusty "road atlas" with you no matter what. Which was something I didn't do this trip....crazy me.

Because those GPS systems.....which I LOVE actually........often times go down in rural areas AND they also get messed up by humans that put wrong addresses in them and such. If you know what I mean.

Hummm...........
so it is true......"there's no place like home."

I will have TONS of photos of Baby Aaron, the "Cousins" and many other family members and other interesting tidbits of news and such from our 10 day road trip.......

I'm glad it's over.....even though I was sad to leave everyone I saw.

Now I need a cruise to relax.
And I need a road atlas at ALL times.

7 comments:

Andrea said...

My husband and I got on a wrong road and ended up in West Plains late one evening. We were on our way to see our son and his family in Springfield. So, I am a little familiar with those crooked, craggy roads of which you speak.

My son from Missouri and his sweet little family visited us for a week. They just left today after church and are now safe back at home in Springfield. It was such a blessing to have them. We miss them so already.

Take care, and God bless.

Andrea

The Urban Chic said...

Joyce, glad to hear you are home. Love the shoes. I hope you had a wonderful and Blessed Easter. Will try and stay in touch more, but right now, my plate is so full with dad's house and trying to sell things and it's very hard doing it alone, so I make people make appts to visit until the garage sale itself, so have sold $200 worth of fabric things so far and that is good for 4 people buying. Email me if you are using the po box for your mail. Love and hugs, Pat

Denise said...

Good to see you home...... and yeap we have found out the hard way about the GPS........that silly lady does not always know where she is going! Looking forward to hear how your visit went.......

Get some rest and check out that cruise!

Steph said...

Oh, I've been in that situation! I'm glad you're safe and with a sense of humor!

Anonymous said...

Hi there! I guess you thought I had forgotten about you. I havent I have just had some bad computer problems and they are still up in the air....ick. I hate computers...really I do! Im so glad that yall were able to make it up there and see the baby. Im so glad that he is doing well now and is up to 7 pounds. Praise God! Sorry that your stepdad is still feeling bad. I know that is hard on you not to be there with your family at this time. I am glad that yall did find your way. You were right by my Moms house. She works in Branson...take care and I hope to catch up with ya soon. ps ...Im feeling your pain about graduation....we are in the countdown now. My pockets are empty~

Teresa's New Life said...

Glad you made it home safe and sound and I am looking forward to picture and story time.

Anonymous said...

...and where is the post about our looong night talk? I am offended, I think...