Feels like HOME

Today, started with a light drizzle. We oozed out of bed to greet a gray, heavy sky. Managed to somehow find the energy to give the girls their breakfast and make a cup of coffee while we tried to let Tanner sleep. Searched for some milk to make his breakfast and realized that we were out. Found some canned milk and used that. Decided to try out some of my homemade corned beef, so out came the crock pot. Cut up cabbage, potatos and realized that I was out of carrots. Tanner was awake with brushed teeth. He looked at the sky. Looked at me. Decided that it was time for the family to go to Target.

I wondered aloud if he should perhaps finish up the exterior wall when an ominous roll of thunder came to our ears. Turned off all electronics except for the crockpot and went to Target. For some reason it's such a happy place for me. The girls ate a pretzel with cheese dip while we downed tea and coffee. Then we browsed the dollar section and found great after-Easter deals, so we spent a whopping $3 on "stuff". Then we took a turn around the store and found milk and trash bags. No carrots. That was fine by me, so we went to the check out counter. I had to find out how much this little toy cost that Kate wanted to buy, so she and I went to find one of those price scanners. When I came back with her to Tanner, I asked, "Where's Reggie?" He said, "Isn't she with you?" I stayed remarkably calm as the missing child alarm was called, so calm in fact that several of the staff wondered if there really was a missing kid. The explanation is very easily explained though: I had Katie. She was wailing, and I knew that if I showed any signs of stress, I would have a basket case on my hands. It was all over in just a few minutes. Apparently two good natured college girls followed Reggie just to make sure that she was okay. They saw her go to the dollar section and then hear her say, "I have to show Mommy." And then Reggie walked down one of the aisles and then another. I'm glad I didn't panic, but I don't ever want that to happen again.

So, after we went through the check out line, we headed for the car, and got stopped by a sheet of rain. When I say sheet, I mean a sheet. Tanner ran to the car and brought up to the the exit so that we could pile in. It was less then 20 feet away. By the time I got into the car, my hair was dripping, my pants were soaked (I wringed out about a 1/4 cup of water) and I was thankful that I wasn't wearing makeup. We sat in the car and just looked at the rain, and didn't feel like getting out of the car again because we knew we would get a similar soaking. So...we went on a drive. Meandered down to Navasota and then out this highway and stumbled on the Sam Houston National Forest. And it was a good ol' fashioned pine forest. That's all I needed to complete my day. It had rolling hills, high reaching trees, gray skies and rain. I felt like at any moment I would see Mt. Hood or perhaps I'd crest the range and stumble onto the Pacific Ocean. So, now, when I get homesick, I can find a small bit of Oregon right in the heart of Texas.