(We just hit the 2,000 mile mark!)
We marveled at the fact that we were in a busy city full of tourism and consumerism, and less than 24 hours later we were on a quiet farm without a stop light or storefront in sight! As we drove through miles and miles of sprawling countryside, Ty and I shared thoughts about what a great country we live in. Throughout our travels so far, I find myself thinking about how lucky we are to be Americans, to live in a country where you have the freedom to decide how and where you will live your life. The diversity of lifestyles that exist in our great nation is truly remarkable. It's also given me a lot of food-for-thought about how I define happiness, success, and family. It's easy to become so accustomed to our environment and to our lifestyle that we often neglect to remember that there are many pathways to happiness and many different definitions of success.

I find myself appreciating every new place we visit because each has a unique story to tell. Each person and family we've visited is just trying to live their lives the best they can, and ultimately, aren't we all?

It is 11:00 at night right now on Thursday, July 7, and we are on the road again. We are en route from Creekwalk Farm in rural Missouri to Denver, Colorado, which is about a 12 hour drive. We plan to drive through the night, and right on until morning. The thought of an overnight drive sounds crazy, but the thought of driving through the flat state of Kansas in the blazing heat with a squirming baby fussing to get out all day long sounded crazier. So, we decided that driving all night long through Kansas while Noah slept was the only way we'd make this long stretch in one sane piece! The dark highway is quiet now, with very few cars on the road. We have an iPod full of great music, cans full of energy drinks, and freshly picked peaches, so it's really not so bad.