Donna and I embarked on an unforgettable journey with our two dogs, driving our Toyota RAV thousands of miles to reconnect with family across Texas, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Over two weeks, we were blessed to reunite with all our children, most of our grandchildren, and some of our siblings.
Our adventure began with a heartwarming visit to Donna’s sister Jan in McKinney, TX, where we spent two delightful nights and dropped off Donna’s mother, Barbara. Next, we headed to Donna’s son – Chris’s home in Dallas, setting the stage for a memorable two-day drive to Pennsylvania to visit Carey’s son and his family – Steve and Dana’s place. There, we celebrated the arrival of our first great-grandchild, visiting granddaughter Laura, her husband Eric, and their beautiful baby daughter, Lucy, at the hospital.
Our journey continued in Pennsylvania, where we lent a hand to Kevin and Steph at Camp Tuckahoe Boy Scout camp, assisting Kevin and their sons. In Philadelphia, we enjoyed the American Treasure Tour Museum and a delightful breakfast downtown with Carey’s daughter Audrey and granddaughter Avery. An early morning hike through Wissahickon Valley Park was the perfect prelude to our next stop in Reading, PA. There, Donna’s brother Steve and his wife Cheryl welcomed us warmly. The following day, Donna and Steve enjoyed a morning of Pickleball while I indulged in nostalgia at the National Toy Train Museum in Strasburg, PA.
Days later, in Felton, DE, we celebrated granddaughter Bexley’s 3rd-grade graduation and enjoyed an afternoon at Sweet Sister’s Mini Golf course with Keith, Lindsay, and their children. A cozy dinner featuring Texas Roadhouse steak and Domino’s pizza was a fitting end to our visit.
Our final leg took us back to Texas, this time to Arlington, where Carey’s sister Carole and husband Dave hosted us. We joined them for a church service and a lively party at their home before driving the following day for a total of 650 miles back to our home.
This incredible road trip allowed us to reconnect with family we hadn’t seen (face-to-face) in months or even years, making memories that will last a lifetime.
