Taking a Ride

When we drive out of town for Bekah's piano lessons, we have a plan. We listen to a history CD on our way. (This year we have listened to this set: What in the World? Volume 2 by Diana Waring. Fabulous!) After Bekah has her lesson, we grab lunch and, depending on our time limitations, we go shopping or antiquing. On our drive home, we talk. 

So on Friday morning when her teacher rescheduled due to sickness, I thought we'd be home for the day. But after we talked about it, we decided that we didn't want to miss our little road trip . . . and off we went as usual. We just omitted the piano lesson part.

I had a list of things I wanted to accomplish on Saturday: the usual weekly house cleaning, yes, but also some extra scrubbing, sewing a swag for the library window, and trying a new recipe.

But Kati needed to find some new shoes for work. Long story, short: She has a stress fracture and is being fitted for custom orthotics, but the doc recommends a certain kind of shoe for her foot problems. She had explored all of the stores in our town that carry that brand and did not find the right shoes. The other possibility was a shoe store over an hour away.

So on Saturday afternoon, Kati and I went on a little road trip . . . in search of those shoes and a few hours together. There may or may not have been a Starbucks stop.

As we drove home, Kati remarked about how nice the afternoon had been. Neither of us was thrilled about shopping for work shoes, but Kati said, "The best part is the ride and having time to talk." I agreed!

There is just something about spending time together in a car. Oh my goodness . . . the things we talk about! Work. School. Relationships. Nieces and nephews (my grands). Qualities to look for in a mate. Future plans. Wedding gowns. Funny stories. Favorite this and that. Failings. Music. Movies. Houses. Decorating. Parties to plan. Parenting. God's Word. His perspective.

Sometimes we take long-ish trips like the two I just told you about.

Sometimes we just meander around town, sipping coffee and looking at houses.

But we can even make the most of a short jaunt. If I am just running to the post office or driving to the library to return a book or picking up a few things at Target or making a coffee run, I'll ask if anyone wants to go with me. Often, someone does!

And, by the way, the trip isn't always over when we get back home. We have been known to sit in the driveway and talk for 20 or 30 minutes more! (I wonder what our neighbors are thinking.)

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Forging strong bonds of relationship with my children is something that is very important to me. Of course, being your child's friend does not supersede the proper place of authority, but I do want them on my team. And I want to be on theirs. I value their friendship!

"Taking a ride" is just one of the ways that we grow in relationship together.

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk [ride?] by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)