The day after we got back to Ankeny from picking the Byrd up from Camp Carson in Indiana, the most incredible thing happened — they were taking out the recycling, and all of a sudden this torrential rain just came out of nowhere! It was ☀️☀️☀️☀️ sunny ️hot and humid out, and they looked back at me with these longing gazes and I could just see the pure excitement and feel the joy that was so obvious in their eyes! 😍 Of course, they didn’t say a word … they didn’t need to. I knew what they were asking me with their mischevious smiles, so I hollered from the steps — “Go dance in the rain! I’ll be right there!” And so we did, and it was magical — this is what childhood looks like, unplugged.

The Bug wanted to feel the rain fall upon her, so she laid down on the sidewalk in front of our house – It made her feel alive!

We got an Autism Spectrum diagnosis shortly after we moved to Iowa … she was 6. For the longest time, Dr’s called it this or that. Behavioral issues, she’ll outgrow it, she’s just wild, etc. Then there was GAD, ODD, SPD, a huge speech delay they thought was Dyspraxia. We signed for her first two years, and partly into her 3rd. She perplexed everyone because she seemed so, well … what they called “normal” … but no one ever bothered to take the puzzle pieces and glue them together to see the bigger picture. Through our struggles, we’ve grown stronger … our love is fierce and our courage is ever evolving. Through her, I see the world in a completely different way. She’s amazing and inspiring!

She called out to her sister — “YOU’VE GOT TO DO THIS TOO!! LAY DOWN! IT FEELS SO GOOD!” They laid like that for a good 5 minutes …

Then the Byrd ran up to the house for a break … and to show me the worm she found. Eeew. They have this fascination with worms … and anytime they see them out on the sidewalk, they rescue them … and put them back in the grass or dirt. Worm rescuers!

The rain eventually slowed, and the puddle fight began … it really is the little things in life that seemingly bring you the most joy … like playing outside in the pouring down rain. It doesn’t cost a thing and I’m certain this is something they’ll share with their children MANY MANY MANY years from now. 😉

Seriously … this was one of the BEST days of our lives.

The Byrd got accepted to an Operation Purple Camp at YMCA Camp Carson back in May … it was a week long camp in Indiana … states away from home … brave little thing.

She had the most incredible time whilst she was there … met people from 9 Nations … learned a bit of German and got to practice her accents. She earned 5 levels in Nature — girl has survival skills! She can build a fire all on her own … she’s looking forward to showing off this skill when we go camping. 🙂

The day we picked her up from camp, the leaders brought in their troops … Byrd was in Chippewa. They were singing chants and being goofy and dancing and it was just epic. When I caught a glimpse of her, she looked ten feet tall and full of adventureous stories to share with us. She looked as though she’d aged an entire year in that week … gawsh, I was so happy to see her again. This was our first time apart for more than a day or two, since she was born. It was hard … definitely a learning experience, and for sure something she wants to do again!

When I got to hug her for the first time, I squeezed a bit too hard. 😉 That was an incredible feeling … this gangly thing before me had been eaten by mosquitos, had cuts and scrapes, her hair was in dreadlocks (well, it looked like it anyway) … and she stunk like camp and sweat. lol So beautiful!

It was a long drive home from Indiana, but we stopped in St. Louis along the way for a break. 🙂 We saw the Gateway Arch, which let me tell you … is INCREDIBLE!! So beautiful! I was enthralled by the architecture in this city … so many different styles all meshed together in one city, amazingly beautiful!

Oh, and it happened to be game day when we rolled through …

Now for the real reason we stopped in St. Louis — Pappy’s Smokehouse! I’d looked up a place to stop for dinner when the Bug and I were on our way back, and found Pappy’s — it was closed when we got there!! Ugh. They’d sold out by 5pm. The reviews on Google were insane … 5 stars? Really? We had to go … we LOVE BBQ!! 😀 We decided to make it a lunch stop on the way back from picking the Byrd up instead, and made it … whew! The line was out the door. Crazy! The food was incredible … the flavors … the environment … it’s a great place and a must-see if you like BBQ.

Ugh … don’t even get me started

We took the scenic route along the old highways and had to stop for some time in Illinois … at first we thought there had been an accident, as two state troopers were in the middle of the highway, but then we heard the rumble of the bikes and realized what was going on. A funeral procession was underway, and the Patriot Guard was leading the way. Lord, I am so thankful for this group and all that they do. The funeral had been for a fallen soldier … God, bless his family, and be with them through this difficult time. He was far too young.

The clouds made the drive soooooo much more interesting. <3 <3 <3

Many more hours into this drive, the sun was beginning to set … it was a truly incredible view out the windshield — no, I wasn’t driving. For once, I was the passenger. 🙂 We slept like rocks that night.

Till next year, St. Louis!