we left Austin on Saturday morning. we'd not gone far, just a few blocks in fact, when someone flagged up down and informed us that we had lost a bike off the back of the trailer and that the rest of the bikes were dragging. we were so saddened. Margaret's was the one that was missing. Brian ran back the quarter mile to the intersection to check to see if it was still there, then ran home and got his truck and drove around looking for it. he came back with bad news. no bike. my bike was damaged, as was Brian's. Samuel's is a dirt bike and wasn't hurt at all. so Brian loaded the bikes in the back of the truck and stayed with the suburban and trailer while Margaret and i ran them back home. on the way, i decided to drive through a strip center near the intersection that we lost the bike. after circling through, Margaret hollered, "there it is!" it was in the back of someones truck! as it was early, not many of the businesses were opened, but the barber shop was. we ran in and immediately about ten black men and boys turned to look at me and i asked if that truck belonged to any of them. in a hasty, jumbled way, i blurted out our story and this barber drops what he's doing and heads out the door to help me unload the bike from that truck. we didn't know whose truck it was, but he said if it was my bike, he was gonna help me get my bike back. we loaded up with the rest of the banged up bikes and then this crazy-like woman comes storming out of the Such-and-Such Christian Center and attempts to take the bike back from me. i rose up in my pregnancy hormone aided mother bear fury and holler "thief!". she kept coming so i hollered, "i'll call the police on you, you thief!" she backed out a bit after that, so i jumped in the truck, put the thing in reverse and gunned it out of there.
after that, we were on the road for what seemed like three days, but was really 11.5 hours. a very long time to be in the car with cranky kids.
yesterday we hiked over to the hot springs, about 8 miles round trip. it was 8 very hot, very dry miles, and i really feared that one of us would pass out. we had only taken one water bottle per person, which was way too little. Margaret and i went on ahead on the way back and rationed our little bit of water between us for the last three miles. i was praying nearly the whole way. thankfully we all made it back safely.
today we went down to Boquillas Canyon. a cool front had come through last night and the wind out here is incredible, and made the canyon one huge wind tunnel. it was more than John and i could handle, so we spent an hour or so in the car reading books, which was fine with me because i've been pretty weary these days.
it's Wednesday morning now and i'm back at the laundry mat washing a few things before we get back on the road. we're heading to Seminole Canyon State Park for the second half of our spring break. yesterday we hiked out to the Window. we ran into a Maplewood dad out there. he works for a local non-profit, which is what about 75% of the parents of the parents at Maplewood describe as their occupation by the way. the other 24% are artists or musicians, and about 1% are engineers. anyways, this guy, Brent, had brought his environmental group out there. his son is in William's grade. so we had a nice little visit with Brent out there in the Chisos Mountains, ten hours from home. he was the second person we'd run into from back in Austin since we've been here. there is a City School family staying here as well, one of Samuel's former classmates.
Big Bend has been fun, though it's been hotter here than we expected. Brian and i have struggled with having patience with some of the boys, especially William. he has some much pent up anxiety and OCD behaviors. we weary of playing psychiatrist. it has driven us the prayer for sure. i've come to realize that we shouldn't look at him as something we need to fix, but as a blessing from above that we need to learn to love as Jesus loves. he's so needy, and i tend to push away from people who are needy. the Lord knew i needed a child like that i suppose.
i'm still feeling pretty good. i'm now 6 weeks along. i'm already experiencing physical changes which is so exciting, as every change is further evidence of this new life growing inside of me. i am convinced i was just made for having babies. i love being pregnant. i love the way it makes me feel. i love the way my skin shines, and the shape it gives me. i feel more even keel emotionally, sort of like i'm on some kind of mood stabilizing drug. and i feel so womanly.
it's Thursday morning now. we drove down to Seminole Canyon State Park yesterday. it took ever so long. after depositing the trailer at the park, we drove into Del Rio for some dinner and grocery shopping. Brian and i decided to set up the tent last night and spend the night "roughing it". i don't think i slept at all. i'm just a camping wimp, i guess.
well, i guess i'll go ahead and publish this post before i stretch it out over another day. sorry for any typos. i'm not in the mood to proof read these days.
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