76,000 Miles of Memories

Over the years, our family has traveled more than 76,000 miles for sports.

Yes, you read that right — 76,000 miles.
That’s the equivalent of driving coast-to-coast across the U.S. 27 times.
We’ve played in 14 different states, competed in 35+ cities, and made countless memories on the road. And we don’t regret a single mile.

Because it wasn’t just about the games.
It was the hype music before a tournament. The road snacks everyone had a favorite opinion about. The girls-only volleyball trips and the boys-only weekend in Bakersfield for a flag football regional. The laughter in the car, the late-night hotel conversations, the side adventures that turned into full-on family vacations.

I can’t remember the score of every match or game.
But I’ll never forget the way these trips brought us together.

And behind every one of those miles… was a prayer.

Before every long tournament weekend.
Before the girls boarded a flight.
Before the boys piled into the car at 4 a.m.

We prayed.
We stood together — sometimes bleary-eyed in the kitchen — and asked God to cover the journey.

Because whether it was two hours to Las Vegas or twenty minutes across town, I knew the only thing more important than showing up was arriving safely.

That’s why I wrote the prayer “Praying for Safe Travel” in Prayers from the Sidelines.
It’s a reminder that no matter how far we go, God goes with us.
He covers the road ahead — and the hearts inside the car.

And in the middle of all those practices, tournaments, and championship weekends… we’ve also gotten to do some really fun things.
The boys played at The Star (Dallas Cowboys practice facility), we sampled our way through Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market, hopped on Red Bus Tours, and relaxed in Centennial Park. And there’s more. These trips have given us more than game time — they’ve given us time with family and friends, and moments we’ll never forget.

If you’re a fellow sports mom who’s packed up half your house for a weekend tournament, you know how much we carry — gear, snacks, nerves, and expectations. But what I’ve learned is this: what matters most isn’t what we carry, but Who we carry it with.

And we’ve never traveled alone.

— Stacey

📍 Want to see where sports has taken us?
Check out the map below with every city we’ve traveled for our kids’ games and tournaments.

📖 Find this prayer and more in Prayers from the Sidelines
💬 Share your own favorite sports travel memory with me on Instagram @TheSportsMomma — I’d love to hear it!