Finishing the Trip We Started
Sometimes life has other plans.
Earlier that year, we had set out on what was supposed to be a three-week RV adventure. If you’ve been following along, you know we had to cut the trip short to head home and take care of some unexpected real estate business.
Three months later, we finally found a five-day opening in our busy schedule to finish what we had started.
There was just one catch.
Instead of traveling in our beloved RV, we had to fly.
We were disappointed because we had fallen in love with traveling in our new home on wheels, but we were determined not to let that stop us from seeing the people we had been looking forward to visiting.
Sometimes the destination is more important than the journey there.
A Lesson I Wish I Had Learned Earlier
As we drove from the Denver airport toward Watkins, Colorado, I found myself thinking about friendships.
Why don’t we understand when we’re younger just how valuable relationships are?
How many friendships quietly fade away simply because life gets busy?
How many people never truly know how much they mean to us?
The older I get, the more convinced I become that people are life’s greatest treasure.
I don’t care what someone drives, where they live, or how much money they have.
The people who love you, encourage you, laugh with you, and walk beside you through life…
Those are the people worth investing in.
Friends Who Feel Like Family
We arrived at Trevor and Stephanie’s home just a short drive from Denver International Airport.
Within minutes of arriving, life happened.
Their daughter Jordan had broken down on the side of the road.
Instead of heading out to dinner, everyone jumped into action to help.
And honestly…
We wouldn’t have wanted it any other way…..We weren’t there to be entertained….We were there to spend time with friends.
Helping retrieve a disabled car, watching a family work together, and then finally sitting down to enjoy dinner and local Colorado beer became one of the highlights of the trip.
Real life is where the best memories are made.
Doing Life Together
Over the next couple of days, we didn’t do anything spectacular.
And that’s exactly what made it so special.
We shared breakfast around the kitchen island.
The guys hauled Jordan’s car back to the repair shop.
We ran errands together…We grocery shopped for an upcoming camping trip….We loaded the toy hauler….We laughed….We talked.
We simply did life together.
Looking back, I honestly can’t think of a better way to spend time with people you love.
A New Adventure in Nebraska
When it came time to head toward Nebraska, Trevor and Stephanie invited us to join their caravan to the lake.
Originally, that wasn’t part of our plan.
But sometimes the best memories happen when you change your plans.
We met more of their family and friends, spent an extra night camping at the lake, enjoyed great food, wonderful conversation, and were welcomed as though we had known everyone for years.
Those are the kinds of people we’re grateful to have in our lives.
Time with Old Friends
While in Nebraska, we also had the opportunity to spend time with our friends Christi and Brad.
Every visit reminds us how important it is to nurture lifelong friendships.
Whether we’re visiting them in Nebraska or stealing a few hours together when they’re in Arizona, we always leave thankful for the time we’ve shared.
We also managed to catch up with a few other longtime family friends, enjoy some of Tracey’s favorite hometown foods, and even spend a little time dreaming about what life might look like if we ever owned property in western Nebraska.
Who knows…
Maybe someday.
The Real Reason We Travel
As I look back on this trip, I realize it wasn’t really about Colorado.
Or Nebraska.
Or flying instead of taking the RV.
It was about people.
Every mile we travel eventually comes back to relationships.
The places are wonderful.
The scenery is beautiful.
The food is memorable.
But it’s the people who make those places unforgettable.
Hold Your People Close
If this trip reminded us of anything, it’s this:
Don’t take your family and friends for granted.
Visit when you can.
Pick up the phone.
Stay connected.
Hug a little longer.
Love a little harder.
Life moves far too quickly.
We are incredibly grateful for every friend and every family member who continues to walk through life with us.
Thank you for making our lives richer than we ever imagined.
We can’t wait until our paths cross again on another journey.