Way Out West Part 2

April 5 & 6, 2022

We had Tuesday, April 5, off, and then sang in nearby Lovington on Wednesday night. That meant we'd camp in Hobbs for a couple of days.  After Justis finished his school in the hotel room on Tuesday (minus the history), we visited the Lea County Cowboy and Rancher Hall of Fame.  There's not a lot to do in Hobbs, New Mexico, and we figured that would be just about the most exciting thing for our cow and bull lover, Justis.  Then back in our hotel room we ate our chili and enjoyed an old movie and popcorn.  We brought kernels, popcorn salt, brown paper bags and even a stick of butter from home.     

                                                                           

Wednesday night we sang at Revolution Church of God.  It was a reacquaintance for Bobby and Faith but a first-time meeting for Grace, Justis, and myself.  Pastor Kevin Dalton came straight from work, shortening his hour-long drive to 45 minutes. Pastor Jeff ______ and his family were the ones to let us in and help us get set up. 

Just as we were surprised on Monday night in Hobbs, we were thrilled once again to see the elder Mr. & Mrs. Neufelt walk through the doors and they brought more friends with them.  We had the privilege of meeting Canuto and Alvina Elias and had a brief but good visit with them before and after church.  

To travel the way we do may not make a lot of sense to people.  When Bobby traveled for a couple of years with our daughters, Hope and Faith, it worked well.  The three of them were able to travel faster in a smaller vehicle, eat quicker and cheaper and sleep more soundly when Grace, Justis and I stayed home. When Hope left for school last summer Bobby was considering just taking Faith with him on the road.  Yes, Justis can sing a melody well but he doesn't seem to hear harmonies. I told Bobby that if he wanted to travel with Faith, I'm happy staying home.  However, if he wanted me to sing, keeping the trio, I'd be happy to do that but it would mean that Grace and Justis would come too.  It would mean traveling in a larger vehicle, sometimes pulling a trailer, spending more on gas, sometimes requiring 2 hotel rooms, sometimes asking for a handicap accessible room in order to shower Grace, and of course taking longer for stops on the road to take care of Grace's needs.  My husband and the father to our children decided to go with the latter choice.  It's not easy to travel with Grace when it comes to caring for her needs on the road nor when it comes to sharing a hotel room with her.  She awakens many nights and disturbs our sleep.  Because she will not tolerate sleeping with anyone, we usually buy a suite with a pull-out couch so that Grace can have that to herself while Faith and I share a bed and Bobby and Justis share the other bed.  Justis interrupts Bobby's sleep often too so it can really take a toll on a 3-week trip like this.  

In light of trials and challenges we have in traveling with Grace, it made my heart happy to catch a glimpse of Bobby spending extra time with Grace, after we got her ready for bed on Wednesday night. You can sure tell they love each other.