Visit to the Buckeye State

Friday nights are family nights in our house. Usually, we are at home with no agenda other than to spend time together. Lately, it seems that as Friday nights roll around, we find ourselves on a plane rather than at home, at least the last three of five weeks. So whether we are at home or traveling, we relax together. Travel relaxing? You bet. It gives me the opportunity to get caught up on sleep or reading, with no place to go and no chance to cross off the million things on the to do list. Instead, I sit with husband on one side, delightful book in hand, and that's positively enjoyable for us.

Traveling has become a way of life and has also changed our lives. It has helped me to become more flexible. Instead of getting all up in arms about the house being clean, I have learned to relax a bit at least for the time being. The receipts float around, and M's piles of paper stack up, but I have realized that is okay to not have everything in its place. I may not wash our bedding every week anymore and stretch it to every other week (the horror, I know), but that's okay. We are living life in this season to the fullest, so the laundry and cleaning can wait for now. Or at least until M runs out of socks.

The more we travel, the easier, more efficient, and regular part of our routine it has become. Travel is relaxing, and Matt has helped it to be that way. He knows the easier it is for me, the more I enjoy it and the more energy I have when we are at home. This last week, we hopped on the bus, transferred to the light rail, and got to our gate just before boarding. From the time we arrived at the airport, got through security, and to our boarding gate in Terminal 2, it took three minutes total. There is no more wasting time on the front or back end of travel or in lines for a rental car. When we land, we walk out, go to the board, and grab our car. Simple. Sweet. And stress-free.

He also knows that if I do not get fed every couple of hours, I get cranky. And I am completely serious and not making that up. As soon as we hopped off the plane and grabbed the car, it was time for a quick dinner at one of our favorite places in Ohio.

So. much. cheese. The chili cheese coneys and three way chili covered with cheese make our Wisconsin and cheese-loving hearts happy. When Skyline is involved, it's worth the calories at least for the moment.

The U.S. Air Force Marathon and time with family and friends brought us to the Buckeye State again this year. The last two years, it has been a family activity, and I was supposed to run 26.2 again with Dad. However, with the crazy summer of traveling, time was short to train. Instead, with the urging of my husband, I decided it would not be the best idea, a very humbling decision indeed for this achiever. So this year, we came to support my dad, mom, sister, aunt, and cousin in their races.

The races are held at Wright-Patterson AFB with the start and finish lines near the National Air Force Museum. It was another beautiful calm morning for running events, especially as the sun came up over the airfield and hangars. 

Dad left my sister and cousin at mile 20 and finished strong. At age 53, he is amazing and so very patient. One of these times, I would love for him to run the marathon at his own pace, rather than ours. But it is so special to run with him, and we are grateful for the gift to run together, dad and daughters.

Then the girls came in, finishing their very first 26.2! They claim that they never want to do it again, but hopefully the aftermath and runner's high will catch up with them. For me, watching them run the final stretch under the fighter planes, gave me the itch and desire to do it all again.

Dad selected the plane for the family photo op of runners and non-runners this year.

Mom ran her very first 10k, and my aunt ran the half-marathon again. They both rocked it.

Marathon aside, we have two good friends, Adam and Taylor who live in the area. So in addition to the running festivities, we got to hang out and relax with them. From watching football, feeding the resident ducks, playing disc golf, taking a three hour afternoon nap, going out for an amazing breakfast, and worshipping at church together, it was such an enjoyable weekend to reconnect and catch up with these two.

As quick as we left, we were back, landing in our home city and catching the light rail. It was such a beautiful evening, so instead of the usual bus transfer, we strapped luggage on the city bikes and hopped on the Greenway, which is just as fast.

Thanks family and friends for lovely weekend adventure.