Road Trippin: #2 Indy Race Car Style

I spend A LOT of time selling Mac on what a great city we live in and have been blessed to live in for the past 6 plus years. I often refer to our fun friends, the great temps, and the amazing location. You know, you can ride a cheap bus to places like NYC (my fave) or drive just about anywhere. Or so we seem to think. Indianapolis, home of the Colts and if you think really hard about it, the Pacers, is about 10 hours from our house (12 if it's raining and there's traffic and you're the only girl with 2 guys on the phone and one who may or may not be criticizing your driving the entire time...YIKES!) It was a long trip. But well worth it.

Growing up Mac had two besties. Oscar, who was his age. And Groupie, who was a year younger..hence he was a groupie? (or so they flattered themselves) I wasn't there, so I might be telling tales. But Mac refuses to blog so I'll do my best. Newho, the threebies were great friends and had many adventures together. Some of the bigger ones were with an organization called Kings Kids. Again, don't go fact checking. With this group they traveled the globe singing and dancing for Jesus. I kid you not! But we can't laugh, cause we've all been there (or wish all boys had?). Well not the countries they went to. But the missions part....trips that work to turn young boys into Christ centered men. (who when together may or may not regress to the maturity of their yonder years) Almost 20 years later they are still great friends. And the Groupie proved he was more than a little guy, and got real big! I mean jacked-up muscles. HUGE! It served well in putting the other two in their place.

The past is important to understand the present. You see, earlier this year, actually right after we had a fun night with these guys and their wives in Austin, Groupie was diagnosed with some pretty aggressive cancer. You can read all about his fight here. Or follow his beautiful words and videos here. What you will quickly learn from both sites is that it was the past that has brought him to this point. His faith that was so well established and grounded long ago has given him hope and peace and joy and love even amid great confusion/hurt/weariness. And his big muscles would have to be one of the reasons that his body can sustain such high doses of chemo! right?!?!?! That's what I like to think.

Since July Robert, better known to you as Groupie, has been in Indianapolis receiving the most intense chemo (ever)! When he left Texas for the treatment his cute wife was way preggo and couldn't go with him. We decided that we would use this as the perfect excuse to go visit. And the Labor Day weekend gave us that extra day we needed! Aimee has since delivered Baby Egan and the family is living with her sister in Kentucky, visiting Robert as much as possible. It is obviously the biggest blessing that his family is with him now, but we feel pretty blessed ourselves to have had such an amazing visit. Indianapolis is an awesome city (who knew?!?!) We took in delicious croissant french toast, lots of belly laughs, and some really intentional time amongst the brother kind of friends. I never had a brother growing up. And now I have a ton! Real good ones too. The kind you want to be with you for a real long time.

We started a yearly trip tradition with these special friends. First stop Mexico, second stop Austin, and third stop is Aimee's parents new lake house! As Ethne, Robert's oldest daughter says "as soon as daddy gets done with cancer"! We can't wait!!!!