Seize the day.

    Well.  My friend Nicole recently posted the question,

"What's the craziest adventure you have ever taken? 

How do you and your Hubby make these decisions together?!"

 

    And I have to say, although the Mr. and I have gone on many crazy adventures and wild vacations, this up-coming one may just take the cake for last-minute-spontaneity/distance traveled.  Plus, it will just be Jocelyn and I, sans Daddy. :(  *Sad face*  I wishwishwish he could go, but we both knew it just made so much more logical sense for me to go alone, but now of course the closer I get to the day of departure the more I wonder why I ever go anywhere without the man in my life.  Things just aren't nearly as awesome without him around.

But then, in spite of missing him already, I remember why.

(Another little tidbit gleaned from Nicole's blog)

   "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sail. Explore. Dream. Discover."  -Mark Twain

   And suddenly, I am reminded of why I do such crazy things like packing up a 14-month-old and traveling by myself (2nd time of doing this) all the way across the country to Pennsylvania for a wedding, and then road tripping all the way down to Florida with the family.  

• Maybe it's because we don't live forever, and we're not even guaranteed tomorrow.
• Maybe it's because I'm pregnant with our second child, and I'm realizing that you just can't do things like this very easily with two children.  
• Maybe it's because Jocelyn will cost a full plane ticket the day after she turns 2, and so I feel like my one-ticket travel days have an expiration date on them.  
• Maybe it's because this travel-bug of mine bit a long time ago, and has never really gone away.
• Maybe it's because Jocelyn rarely gets to see her Graber and Maust families, and on this trip she'll get to see some of both. 
• Or maybe it's because I don't get to see them much.
• Maybe it's because a week in the sunshine is hard, nay, impossible for me to resist.
• Maybe it's because (while Oregon is quite lovely) sometimes it's just good to get away.

   Maybe it's for a lot of different reasons.  But that's not really the point.  The point is that I had a lot of reasons that I could stay.  (I can think of one very handsome one.) There were a lot of reasons not to go, but I am going.  I am carpe diem-ing.  And I refuse to reach the end of my life with a boat-load of "I wish"es or "What if"s.  
   
   2nd part of Nicole's question was "how do you and your hubby make these decisions together?"  Well, to be honest, normally our getaways consist of him brainstorming and planning, and surprising the socks off of me with all that he has lined up for us.  Most of our trips have been that way.  I'd say we're perfect for each other because he likes to plan, and I like to travel. :) Win-win.
  
   But this time, it was more like, "Honey, I have this crazy notion to go to that wedding after all...."  And then later on, "Honey, I have an even crazier idea...."  and then it all just sort of fell into place.   Do I wish my husband was going? D.E.F.I.N.I.T.E.L.Y.  But I am just thankful to the Lord above for a wonderful, generous husband who knows what time with family means to me, and fully supports (and encourages) me going, even if he can't.  

Seriously, how did I get so lucky?

And we're off on another adventure, Little Miss.  You ready?