"DU"

"DU" means Destination Unknown. My husband came up with the idea of 'destination unknown' when our Rob, Nathanael and Matthew were little boys. They had so much energy, I used to say we would be millionaires if we could find a way to bottle all that energy and sell it. Money was tight during those years, very tight. We had so much fun yet we had very little money for 'fun' things. Our idea of fun was pop-corn and a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi on a blanket in the living room. When a couple has very little money they need to become very 'creative'.

I remember when Dave and I were first married, we had zero money. Our date nights back then consisted of going to the Park and swinging on the swings (in Texas), long walks in the neighborhood (Salinas, CA), picnics at the lake, or going to the local Fire Station (Texas again) and climbing all over the Fire trucks for fun (allowed). Cost---zero.

Back to our DU's. It was a fun and creative way to enjoy being with our boys. Dave would spontaneously say, "We are going on a DU! We all went wild with delight! We would pile into the car with all sorts of questions.... none of which he would answer. We would buckle up, and drive away. Let's GO! Turn right, go straight, turn right, turn left....oh, turn around. We would ride sometimes for 20 minutes, sometimes for 5 minutes. Everyone would guess where we were headed on our DU. Most of the time I didn't know where we were headed either, but sometimes I did, secretly. We might be heading for ice cream at a new joint. One time we rode around for 15 minutes only to pull into our driveway and go inside for a special snack and movie! We went to TCBY or to visit friends. We went sledding, or to the park to ride on the merry-go-round. Our boys still talk about all the fun we had doing our DU's. Whenever we needed a pick-up or encouragement.......a DU would appear ! It was fun just being together. We were always surprised to arrive! Dave never was though...he always had a plan of fun just for us!

In life we have DU's too. Sometimes they are surprises, like the one we had today. A surprise dinner out with friends---their "treat". Or sometimes they are not so nice, like illness, a big disappointment or a death of someone we love. Sometimes we arrive quickly and sometimes we are in 'process' on the long drive. We are always surprised where our DU takes us! Yet, GOD is never SURPRISED! He has a plan just for us! He is trustworthy and HE IS GOOD! HE is with us. We can 'ride' in the car of life and enjoy the getting there, because HE loves us and WE love HIM!!!! Do you see the connection?

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)

I am so thankful for all the DUs my fun loving hubby took the boys and I on. What great memories we made together. Funny stories we have to remember and laugh over. YET even more thankful I am for the DUs I've experienced walking with my GOD. And I am thankful ahead of time for the DUs GOD has planned just for me as I 'ride along' in His Love and Grace! Are YOU thankful too?

Delighting in Jesus, hugs, Lynette