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Just Show Up for Your People

As parents, we figure out rather quickly that it’s not what we say but what we do that ends up leaving a mark. If we’re not backing up the things we say with actions, kids realize it doesn’t matter what you say. Your actions don’t follow.

My husband and I come from pretty small families. My mom is one of two kids and my Paw-Paw passed away when I was just 4. That means aside from our little family of 4, on my mom’s side of the family, there’s only my parents, my granny, and my uncle, John.

Just Show Up for Your People

With such a small family, showing up matters. It’s not just an important gesture, it’s backing up your words with actions. So when my uncle John decided to get married—and the girls to be flower girls even—with little notice, we knew we had to be there. No matter what.

Even at arguably the busiest time of year for our family. The girls are still in school, Brady is doing state testing, field trips and awards and parties abound, conference season is in full swing, and I’m busier than ever at work.

Coming up with so many reasons why we couldn’t go was easy. But it wasn’t an option. We had to be there; our family needed us. And when your family needs you, you do whatever it takes. You just show up for your people.

And we’re down to just one vehicle. A vehicle we bought before having kids. All four of us along with luggage would not make for a comfortable road trip. Since flying wasn’t an option, we needed to figure out the logistics. Brady had to be at school for her testing on Monday and Tuesday, at the wedding on Saturday, and home by Monday morning for Colby’s kindergarten graduation ceremony.

It’s a 14-hour trip in each direction.

It was obvious we needed a bigger vehicle. Since we weren’t ready for another new car, I reached out to my Kia family for help. After my road trip around San Diego in the Kia Stinger, I was tempted to ask to drive that but we needed to go bigger.

2019 Kia Sorento

Aside from a quick trip around the block at the Dallas Auto Show in the Sorento, I hadn’t spent any time in it. I knew it was roomy and space for luggage and beach equipment wouldn’t be a problem. Aside from the Sedona minivan, the Sorento is the largest Kia. Since we needed space, I knew it was exactly what we needed for this trip.

The 2019 Kia Sorento was amazing.Not just as an SUV, it became more like an unlikely fifth member of our road trip. The charming, people-pleaser in our group that wanted everyone to have exactly what they wanted and needed.

Would you like something to drink? The Sorento is the perfect host and will route you to the nearest Starbucks to fuel your trip with the built-in navigation system.

Want to set the mood for your trip with a rockin’ playlist? The Sorento has Apple CarPlay, so you can set up your playlists and have your own concert with the HarmonKardon sound system. Don’t worry if you don’t have an iPhone, the Sorento aims to please and has AndroidAuto too.

Are you chauffeuring other wedding guests? No problem, the Sorento has an optional third row and can seat up to 7.

Need to move a little faster? Switch over to sport mode.

Or, is saving money and getting better gas mileage more important to you? Change to eco or smart mode. At the highest, we got 27 miles per gallon on the highway!

Are you anxious that your devices might die while you’re in the middle of nowhere? The Sorento won’t let that happen, no matter how many devices you have. Well, unless you have more devices that can be charged by two USB rapid-charging ports, four 12 volt outlets, one 110 volt inverter, one AUX/USB port, and my favorite…the wireless induction charger! You just lay your phone on the mat and it charges without plugging it in!

Do your kids want to test out the theory that the stars at night are big and bright in Texas? Just open up the panoramic roof so they can see for themselves.

Are the kids getting sleepy but you don’t want them to take off their seatbelts? The 2nd row in the Sorento reclines making the trip for every passenger comfy. Although truth be told, the Sorento definitely gives preferential treatment to those in the front row with heated and cooled seats (heated is also available on the 2nd row as well) as well as lumbar support.

The Sorento can even lend you a hand. With the press of a button on the remote or above the license plate, the Sorento will magically open for you giving you that third hand you need.

The only downside about the Sorento is once you’ve experienced life with it, you don’t want to be without it.

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