Well, we've got nearly 4 weeks until we leave, but we're busily incorporating travel preparations into our daily routine. It's been a while since we've taken a real vacation. The last one was a road trip from Seattle to L.A. for Christmas in 2003 that was extended by a day when snow closures in the Siskiyou Mountains stopped our return journey in Redding, California. I made one brief trip to L.A. in 2004, but our family travel since that Christmas trip has been limited to weekend and holiday trips to see family and friends in Washington and Oregon. A lot has changed since that Christmas trip. We've bought and sold one house and bought a condo. We've both changed jobs and churches. My parents moved from L.A. to Lynnwood, Washington. And, most importantly (and joyfully), our
... read more