I suppose it should come as no surprise that in our advancing knowledge we are learning more about each other than anything this year. I have lived in many sized spaces and had many roommates in my "previous" life, but this "covered wagon" journey is something else! Up close and personal - living on top of those we love the most - those with whom we are most easily annoyed - those with whom we are more likely to be ourselves - the good, the bad, and the ugly! Our education is not just about the things we have learned in the places we have been. Our learning is at times, beyond what we had ever imagined it would be!
Having been married to the same guy for 20 years, you would have thought (or at least I did) that I knew Tim pretty well by now! LOL. (That's not "lots of love" mum!) On the contrary, at times I look at him and wonder who this strange man is and who let him into our little covered wagon! Running a home together where we are both absent for more hours than we are present doesn't really prepare you for the "togetherness" you find yourself in when you spend every hour of the day, for months on end, in a very tiny space!
The last time we took an extended don't-know-where-we're-going trip was our honeymoon! There's something divinely bubble-like about those days where being together had nothing to do with finances, schedules, or to-do lists. However, when you add years of distance, growth, change, adjustment, and children, you eventually wake up in an altered reality! (Don't get me wrong, it's been the most fantastic 20 years of my life! I'm just missing my bubble!) When you stuff that altered reality into a really small wagon, fill it with kids and expectations, then pull it around the continent for an indefinite amount of time - you can better 'appreciate' the hostility of the Wild West! Our little covered wagon can be quite a raucous ride.

I would like to give everyone in the expedition equal opportunity to assert their own observations so the following are the personal testimonies of the other Wild West Wagoneers:

Naomi: I think our family is one of the most honest and open families I know. It's not a bad thing but at times it can be awkward! (Mom is still hopelessly attracted to dad in his most natural form!) At times each of us more accurately represents a cow rather than a loving family member - but only sometimes. For example, all five of us possess a natural tendency to be leaders! This means on any given day we will have five different ideas of how something should be done, why it should be done, when and where... simply put, we all just want our own way. Thankfully, we all have a rather good, if not abnormal, sense of humor which is very difficult to explain to anyone else! Everyday things can at times be very humorous for us - which eases those intensely honest and awkward moments! We are also very eager to work together to accomplish anything we set our minds to (with the possible exception of chores).

Eden: I have noticed that Mum's dependence on coffee is stronger than I was aware of! Dad is an amazing cook - especially breakfast - which I have just discovered as this is the first time we have had consistent breakfasts together because usually he's at work before our breakfast begins. I have also learned that I do not talk nearly as much as Naomi or Eli - or mom and dad for that matter. They have tried desperately to get me to vocalize, share, articulate and express myself like they do, but I just don't work like that... Even for this blog, my mum is writing for me! (Ok Eden wrote the part about Me and Tim, but she is much more reserved than I thought possible of a Smith! She is indeed very much like her Grandfather!)

Eli: Naomi and I get along best when she's not grouchy, and sometimes a contributing factor could possibly, but not likely, be when I am NOT annoying. Eden and I get along best when she is sleeping... and sometimes not even then as she can be a very grumbly sleeper! However, we do get along 80% of the time during waking moments of the day. Dad and I get along best when we play games together or work together. We are both hard workers and enjoy each other's company. We also get along when I am beating him at chess, however, not so much the other way around. As for mom and I... when mom's not happy - nobody's happy! Enough said! Life is overall GRAND! Review: I laughed, I cried, two thumbs up!

Tim: Well... in my more lucid moments, when I have quieted the voices telling me I have lost my mind, I find myself intensely thankful for all the opportunities I have been given in the last 42 years and particularly in the last eight months. God has given me a family that is exceptional in almost every way and an opportunity to enjoy them in a manner that 99.9% of this culture doesn't get. Here are a few observations. Roz is patient. Naomi is deep. Eden is creatively gifted. Eli is determined. Each of these are things I knew in the past, but have become reacquainted with in a more meaningful way seeing it all day every day. I am very thankful to be surrounded with these wonderful people all the time, even when they drive me up the vinyl brown walls of our 400 square foot home.