I have loved having so many of you tell me about your summer.  I have read the comments aloud for the kids and Dw to hear.  Thank you for sharing your hearts, you guys always bless us so.

And thank you to each who prayed for us throughout our road trip.   We have been so blessed by so many of you.

While in New York, Dw got an email from the homeowners association where our new home is located {that we just moved in to before leaving on our trip}.  It basically went like this:  “Due to the Haboob we had in Phoenix, your trees are down on your front lawn.  When will you be removing them?”

We didn’t know there had been a haboob {pronounced huh-boob}, let alone what a haboob was!  Here’s a picture of one.  Peak at it.  You won’t believe it if you’ve never seen one.   Maybe slightly bummed we missed it actually.

For those who, like us, had never heard of a haboob, here’s the definition:

A haboob is a wall of dust as a result of a microburst or downburst. 
The air forced downward is pushed forward by the front 
of a thunderstorm cell, dragging dust and debris with it,
 as it travels across the terrain.

Haboobs occur mostly during the summer months in Phoenix, 
but are not restricted to the monsoon period. 
These dust storms are much more serious than dust devils. 
The wind during a haboob is usually up to about 30 mph 
and dust can rise high into the air as it blows over the Valley. 
A haboob can last for up to three hours.

Phoenix experiences various degrees of dust storms, 
but the haboob is the largest and most dangerous.

We clearly missed all the excitment, but we do have to go home and
clean up the 2 trees the haboob took out and clean up the dusty/gritty mess.
 {Our only 2 trees on the front “lawn” I might add.}

I keep thinking we are returning to the rental, completely forgetting that we have moved.

Anyway, Miss Ruby has done well today.  She’s happy and ‘talking’ and playing with us.  As the Lord would have it, tomorrow Ruby has a routine appointment with her neurosurgeon.  Which is just pretty sweet in our estimation.

As we were traveling through New Mexico this morning I noticed the beautiful landscape.  Of course, I love America and I love the landscape.  No matter the state, I think it is spectacular.

Many of you mentioned in your cross-country comments that you had not been out west.  I think New Mexico gets a bum rap, yet it is extremely beautiful.  I took pictures to prove it.   And the sky this morning over New Mexico?

Spectacular!

Now we’re in the mountains {which are spectacular} East of Phoenix, winding our way toward home.

About 45 miles till home.  What a blast we had.

When it’s all said and done we will have driven somewhere around 6200 miles covering Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and back through New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and back to Arizona.

I rolled down the window just now to take a picture of the Sajuaro for you guys.  The warm air filled the car as I tried to get a quick picture.   Isaiah {who is sitting behind me} said, “I’m so glad we are back in Arizona.”

Me, too, buddy.  Me too.

Any one want to help unload the car?