Chapter 2
Finally Home
After nearly eighteen hours on the road, countless miles of desert highway, a few fuel stops, and enough snacks to feed a small army, we finally pulled into our son’s driveway in the middle of the night.
It was nearly 3:00 a.m.
The porch lights were on, just as they promised, making it easy to find our way after a very long day behind the windshield. Chris and Rachel came outside to greet us despite the late hour, and within minutes we were unloading only the essentials before heading inside.
The rest of the luggage could wait.
At that moment, all that mattered was finally being together.
Sometimes the destination isn’t a place.
Sometimes it’s the people waiting for you when you arrive.
Worth Every Mile
After finally crawling into bed around four in the morning, I still couldn’t resist setting an alarm.
I wanted to surprise our oldest granddaughter, Lilah, before she left for school.
Unfortunately…I lost that battle with the snooze button.
By the time I wandered into the kitchen, the house was quiet, and she was already gone.
I stood on the back deck for several minutes hoping I’d catch a glimpse of her walking to school, but no such luck.
I had missed her.
It seems funny now, but that’s what grandparents do. We happily sacrifice sleep just for the chance to steal one more hug before school.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long.
Before long the house was alive again.
Rachel returned home.
Tracey emerged from the bedroom.
Chris came downstairs.
Our youngest granddaughter, Norah, was awake and chatting away.
The dogs were racing through the backyard.
The smell of fresh coffee filled the kitchen.
Just like that…
…the house felt full.
This is why we made the drive.
The Best School Pickup Ever
Later that afternoon we all piled into the car to pick Lilah up from school.
Anyone who has picked up children from an elementary school knows the routine.
Teachers directing traffic.
Parents waiting in long lines.
Children looking for familiar faces.
Rachel handed Caitlynn and me the bright pink pickup sign and pointed us toward the first-grade line while she waited with the car.
It didn’t take long before I spotted Lilah walking toward us.
The funny thing was…
She didn’t see us.
She looked right through us several times while searching the crowd.
I waved the sign.
Nothing.
I smiled.
Still nothing.
Finally, I called her name.
Her face changed instantly.
Confusion turned into excitement.
Then she came running.
She wrapped her arms around my neck with one of those hugs that only grandchildren seem capable of giving.
The kind that makes every mile, every hour behind the wheel, and every ounce of lost sleep completely disappear.
Moments like that can’t be planned.
They’re simply gifts.
A Texas Welcome
With Lilah safely collected, we met up with Chris and Tracey for dinner at one of the family’s favorite local restaurants—Clear Springs Restaurant.
If you’ve never been there, picture generous portions, friendly Texas hospitality, and food that tastes like it’s been perfected over generations.
We enjoyed crispy catfish, great conversation, and a local beer while catching up on everything we’d missed since our last visit.
No rushing.
No schedules.
Just family gathered around a table enjoying each other’s company.
Those are often the meals that become the most memorable.
(We’ll tell you more about Clear Springs Restaurant in a separate review, because it definitely deserves one.)
Slowing Down
One of the things I love most about visiting family is that every day doesn’t have to be packed with sightseeing.
Sometimes the best memories are made doing almost nothing at all.
We spent the evening outside watching the girls play in the backyard while Papa chased them around the grass.
The dogs explored every corner of the yard.
Ki’Oni quickly decided that Texas was a pretty exciting place for a puppy.
Inside, we laughed, watched a little television, shared popcorn, and simply enjoyed being together.
Looking back, that’s one of the biggest lessons travel has taught us.
Not every vacation needs an itinerary filled with famous attractions.
Sometimes the greatest destination is a living room full of people you love.
And our week in New Braunfels was just getting started.