It has been a week. From a road trip to Arkansas last Saturday and back the same day, to another road trip to Arkansas on Wednesday and back the same day, to a road trip to small town USA yesterday and back to KC today, less than 24 hours later, to a third road trip to Arkansas tomorrow and back the same day…I am tuckered out.

Sam said, “tuckered out” yesterday and I laughed hard on the inside, but then I thought about it and yes, that describes me at the end of this week.

Throw in 5:00 am wake-up every day, thank you Banana and/or Split aka my new alarms, and 5.2 miles walked by 7 am every day, I am tuckered out.

However. I am so grateful for a comfortable vehicle to ride in.

I am grateful for a husband who is a joy to travel beside and drives the whole way(s) so I can work on this laptop.

I am grateful for changing landscapes, from the manicured lawns of Overland Park to tree covered hills that my brother calls Ozark mountains, to the gorgeous beauty of the Flint Hills, and finally, miles and miles and miles of farm fields dotted with cattle.

I am grateful for the woman who walks her baby every morning, pushing her little stroller. Sam pointed out to me yesterday morning to look inside when she walked by. Her baby is a cat. That might be bizarre to Sam, but I thought it was adorable. He nixed the idea of ordering a stroller for our babies.

I am grateful for a morning that included gentle thunder and big raindrops, even if I was a mile from home.

I am grateful for the pre-dawn views that are the best backdrop for quiet worship. Most days now we have this view:

But this morning, I had this view:

I do not understand how people can sleep until almost noon. Or even 9 am. I used to be that people. I am no longer that people, however. The best part of the day is the beginning, full of promise and hope for a great day. Until the best part of the day is the ending, when the day is done and I can put the road trips to rest and crawl into a comfortable bed.

That is what I am looking forward to tonight…since I am tuckered out.