I got up early this morning to get ready for my wife and I to return home from Virginia after bringing our oldest son up to Liberty for his freshman year. I was playing around on the computer when I thought about it being a while since I have put anything on my blog. To my surprise I logged on to find out the last entry was the trip to Liberty for CFAW. It is amazing to think back since that blog and realize the blessings, love, and mercy of God on our lives. I am looking forward to great things from him and know that God has a plan for his life. Today will be hard as we leave him behind with his new life but I am excited about his future and his willingness to follow the Lord!
Life Changes
This week I am taking a break and taking our oldest son up to Liberty University for College for a Weekend, or “CFAW” as they like to call it. We drove up from South Georgia, leaving at 3am and arriving about 12 hours later due to a 2 hour hold up in Atlanta for a traffic accident. Even with the bad traffic, I realized that it was a special day- just my oldest son and I in a car for hours. We enjoyed talking about different things, laughed, and even shared a little road rage together LOL. It was something that I will always have as a memory and remember warmly for years to come. No computers, internet, etc. to bother us- just an open road (most of the time) and conversation. Nothing ground shaking happened- we didn’t solve the world’s problems, he didn’t have a miraculous decision on a major, I didn’t learn patience while driving- we just enjoyed being together as Father and Son. We arrived and went through check-in and I helped carry his things to his dorm room he will be sharing for the weekend with some current Liberty students. Up to this time, it had not really settled in that this is a dress rehearsal for a few months down the road when I will do this for real. My wife and I will drive our son to college- not for a weekend- but for a new chapter in life in which we will continue as a divided family. He will stay and pursue the calling God has put on his life and we will return to our home to continue to raise the other 2 sons that God has put in our care and trust. It’s exciting, it’s stressful, it’s scary, it’s sad- it’s life. As I walked away and left him yesterday I realized he is becoming the young Godly man that we have prayed for all our lives. I left a man desiring to get a glimpse of his future in a few months, Lord willing. A man that desires to follow God and know His will. A man that is more interested in the facts of God’s Word and promises than the fallacy of the world. I am a proud father- and I give all glory and honor to Jesus Christ who hold us all in His hand. Sunday I will pick him up and we will begin our trip back home after spending the night with our friends. I don’t know what the future holds for my son, but I do know my heavenly Father does and He is in charge of it. What a relief it is to know all of this is out of our hands. All I have to do is look forward to the days ahead and the drive home.
Filed under Family
Day 3 – Mount Rushmore and Needles Highway
It was a great day today- plenty of sunshine and great for riding. We went through Keystone and up to Mount Rushmore, which was a really unique place to visit. I read in an article that about 90% of all the carving in the monument was done with dynamite. That is amazing! From there, we went over and hit the Needles Highway and spent most of the day there, driving through the parks and seeing the majestic beauty of God’s creation. I got sunburned… again….. but it was a great day! Dad wanted to see the buffalo and there were plenty to see in a pasture on the wildlife loop. A long day for sure but full of great times and memories! This is a picture of one of the tunnels on the Needles Highway.
Filed under Family
Beautiful Morning
After a long afternoon of cold and misty weather, we woke up this morning to bright sunny skies and no clouds! We are heading out to Mt. Rushmore today and on to the Needles Highway so we should have some great pictures soon. It was in the upper 30’s this morning, but it is expected to be lower 60’s for the high today, so a great day to ride!
Filed under Family
A Long Awaited Bike Trip
After a couple of years of waiting, my dad and I are finally able to take our father/son bike trip! We had originally planned on going out to Laramie, WY but the weather pushed up to make some changes. We decided to go up to Rapid City, SD and arrived here last night. Our 6 hour trip turned out to be closer to 9 with the addition of lunch and scenery breaks but it was a great trip. We went the back roads through the parks and passed through several small towns including Hot Springs, SD. There are many beautiful towns here on the route and they have so many different things to do. This morning, we are sitting in the hotel as the weather today is 50% chance of rain and in the 40’s for the high. Tomorrow and Sunday’s forecasts are beautiful, so today will be a good day to rest and visit Cabelas next door!
Filed under Family
Father/Son Bike Trip 2013
Loaded up and ready to roll out to South Dakota (9-26-13).
September 27, 2013 · 9:00 am
San Antonio Riverwalk
From our 2013 family vacation- the Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX.
September 1, 2013 · 5:44 pm
Taylor's Calling 