Happy Campers

Happy Campers.

According to Jim Gaffigan, the ones leaving the campsite.

Well, we don't quite agree with that definition, being a family who really loves camping together.

But there are times when camping—or trailering—isn't quite as fun as it otherwise could be. Since no cross-country trip is complete without some character-building moments...

We have made it thus far on our trip in good heath, in good spirits, and with a decently working vehicle.

Okay, there was that time in NM, but fortunately we just had Wesley Jackson take a look at the van, and it all worked out (and we got some much-needed info that proved valuable a few weeks later, when we had to take it in).

Alas for us afflicted mortals, though, things can't go smoothly forever, or else we wouldn't grow, right? So it was only fitting that, as we wrapped up our time in Tennessee, the younger girls began to feel a bit ill.

Trust us, people, it is seriously difficult to maintain a state of semi-neurotic cleanliness (desired by part of the family during times of sickness) in a 28-foot trailer with eight family members.

That being said, on vitamins and a whole lot of prayer, the rest of us stayed healthy until our first night in Williamsburg.

This is where God showed Himself so particularly faithful, as we had reserved a cottage rather than an RV site (super cheap at this particular place). And when you're feeling a bit (okay, a lot) down in the dumps, it's waaaay nicer to spread out around a small-but-infinitely-larger-than-the-trailer living space.

Sooo...in addition to having a number of Grants wake up very much under the weather, the van began having issues as well and Dad had to take it in to have some repairs done at a local dealership.

Which left the healthy bunch stranded for an unknown amount of time at Williamsburg, while some of us lamented our ill state back at the cottage and Dad waited for hours at the dealership. Now, as you'll see in a coming post, Williamsburg is not a bad place to get stranded—in fact, quite the opposite! But this particular afternoon was ridiculously hot, we're not used to much humidity, and the clan did not have water bottles with them inside the park.

All this to say, we very quickly became very grateful for a rapid return to good health, a resolution of the van issues, and the purchase of some ridiculously overpriced and horrendously ugly but WELL-worth-the-price bottomless refill drink cups to keep us cool in Williamsburg.