Two Christmases and a Mystery. Part 3.

For the last 15 Christmases, Skip's dad has planned a special vacation for the whole family. We are gone for about a week and have absolutely NO IDEA where we are going.

On Christmas night, we all gather together to collect clues for our annual Mystery Trip. Skip's dad plans the trip throughout the year and reveals bits and pieces to us that evening. He tells us what the climate for our destination will be. He tells us if there will be scuba diving available and he always has a picture that he cuts up into a puzzle.

We can ask him questions only if we are OK with "North Dakota" being his answer. We put together the puzzle piece pictures, evaluate all of his clues and make our first guess as to our destination. No one knows what he has planned, not even his wife. Everything is TOP SECRET. Only Papa knows the answers. One year, we were boarding our third plane when we finally found out our final destination.

The roads he has taken us down have been very memorable. This unique opportunity has provided fodder for conversations year after year. We are still laughing about the 18 hour trek into the Costa Rican jungle to find a volcano. Two flat tires, men with guns and a rain shower later, everyone saw the stinkin volcano except Skip's dad.

Or, the time we were at Pearl Harbor and a bird pooped all over my brother-in-law.

Or, the time we were in Wal-Mart with sick, vomiting kids bathing them in the sink.

Or, the time we had mutiny on a bus headed to Disney.

Or, the time when we couldn't get home because of a huge ice storm that grounded all flights.

Or, the time when we discovered that The Alamo was really a stone's throw from the Dillards in San Antonio. Just wrong.

Or, the time when we all smooshed our faces together in one window to see the New Year's Eve firework display over New Orleans.

Or, the time when we fed sharks in Curacao.

Or, the time when we played Scattegories in Grand Cayman and "someone" threw a temper tantrum and now we can't play that game anymore.

Or, the time when we had a High School Musical marathon that led to massive fall-out.

Or, the time where everyone in our family was offered d*r*ugs on the beach. Even my 5 year old boy!

Or, the time I almost died scuba diving in Barbados! One must really leave the regulator in their mouth in order to breathe under the water! Just FYI.

Or...

Or...

Or...

I could go on forever. Each trip holds its own memories for all of us. The details and the stories get told again and again with each person adding their own spin on it. Some stories just get better with time.

Here I sit on the eve of our next Mystery Trip with full anticipation. What will this year hold? Where will we be going? What new adventures await us? How will my kids adjust? But most importantly, how soon will it start?!

Thank you, Papa! I know it is your biggest thrill to provide this opportunity for your family. This is your legacy...your gift of love.