Wow. The time is finally upon us and it still hasn't quite sunk in yet. But here it is, going on 1am, and in 4 hours we'll be on our way. I spent a good chunk of today packing up Connor with all of our food and supplies, and after spending some time with the second famm, I drove up to Kayla's to pack her stuff in too and prepared for leaving in the a.m. Like I said, it still has not sunk in at all, and I doubt it will until we get to the campsite. So here's the plan: first stop when we head out is get gas, ice, and bread. Then we're off for 12 hours of driving. Checking into our campsite on the shore of Lake Michigan, driving the hour to Chicago to check things out a little before calling it a night and going back to camp. The next morning involves more touring of Chicago and then more driving. We'll keep you updated as things unfold, and try to get our next postings up as soon as we find ourselves with some internet. Until then, keep us in your prayers for safe travels and everything else!
By the way, for those who may be following my blog but don't have or know Kayla's, her blog is: http://germanvagabond5.blogspot.com (I can't figure out how to make that a link, so just copy/paste the url to check it out). This way, anyone who may be following this can also follow her point of view on everything we experience. We hope to hear from all of you who are sharing this experience with us through our writings!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
3 Days Left!
It's been longer than I wanted since I've updated this, but it's been a crazy week. So here's the rundown: I FINALLY finished out the semester when I turned in my paper on Monday night. Ever since then I've been running errands galore in preparation for our departure this Monday morning. I've had to spend so much money it's killing me but I'm hoping the experience will all be worth it. Connor officially has a cover for the bed so we can load it up and keep it locked and safe. He got a check up this morning, and has two new tires and otherwise is inspected and safe and sound for the trip. I still have to change the oil but that'll wait until the weekend. I got a hair cut (as did Kayla) so we don't have to manage with long hair (for the guys out there-you'd be surprised, but yes, it's quite a pain to deal with, lol). Started packing, still have some last minute laundry to do and all that but got a good chunk of that out of the way. I think we're set with food-ridiculous amounts of water bottles and soda and all that, the last thing left is to grab some sandwich stuff. So basically we're set. All the final preparations will be finished over the weekend and Monday we're off! It still hasn't sunk in that it's really happening, but I'm excited regardless. I doubt it'll even sink in until we're on the road for me, but that's just how I function.
It's come to my attention recently that there are a few groups of people out there who are concerned for our safety considering we're two girls taking on the country alone. I just want to say to everyone out there that both of us have a strong faith in God and truly believe He will watch us and keep us safe. We're not naive, we're still taking precautions and all those could-go-wrong things, but we're holding strong to our faith that anything that happens on this trip is part of God's plan for our lives. All I can say is for any and all who have concerns for us is to know that we'll have our cell phones with us at all times, and while we will be in national parks and things without service form time to time, you're more than welcome to text or call and we'll let you know we're doing just fine as often as possible. The goal is to update these blogs on a daily basis, however that depends on finding a place with wi-fi, but we will certainly update as often as possible which will also let everyone know we're doing ok. So keep us in your prayers and trust in God as we do to let us have an amazing adventure across this country.
I guess that's all of the updates for now, we'll keep you posted as Monday arrives!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Surprisingly Good Advice from 'Glee'
I have to admit, I have sadly become addicted to Glee, a musical show on TV. It's a lot of drama, and is completely ridiculous in so many ways, but I just get sucked in each week because I love the music. This week's episode was about finding your own voice, which naturally in Glee terms means a lot of drama, but there were a few insightful moments. Which is what brings me to the point of this posting. The teacher said to one of the students, "Don't lose track of who you are just because it might be easier to be someone else." I think it is so easy to fall into that trap. I know I do, daily I'm sure. Sure there are plenty of things that are "me" but there are plenty of things that I avoid because I'm afraid of what others will think or whatever. It's just easier to fit in with the crowd instead of standing out and being who you really are.
I'm not sure who all will be partaking in following this blog as Kayla and I make our way across the country. So I don't know if I will upset, offend, or surprise anyone with what follows here, but this is going to be a common theme so if you're not interested after reading this post, you might as well not bother to continue reading further posts. I do know however, that one of the "me" things that I tend not to project in certain circles is my faith. I know that the majority of my friends don't care about church or religion (which is another topic in itself--HUGE difference between 'religion' and 'faith' which I'll address at some point later I'm sure) or anything like that, and that doesn't bother me so much because that has to be a choice you make in your heart; the only thing I can do is share how it has changed my life and let you make your own choices.
Anyway, I digress, the point is, I don't lie about my faith by any means, but I certainly don't wear it on my sleeve all the time. Honestly? Yes, it's easier NOT to be a Christian in today's society. There are plenty of times at school or work or wherever that it's easier to blend in rather than coming right out with it and have people treat you differently. Being a Christian these days is harder than it used to be. There are so many people who claim to be Christians and do not even remotely follow what it means to be one. I mean sure, we're all screw ups, but there's a difference between screwing up from time to time and intentionally living an immoral life. So if you ask me, Christianity is an all or nothing deal, and all of these "luke warm Christians" give us a bad name. Being a Christian is about love. You love everyone, whether you agree with them, disagree with them, whether they've hurt you in some way, whether you've never met them before, and so on. You don't judge because hi, if you haven't noticed, there are millions of things you could/should be judged for too--so what right do you have to judge someone else? So these "Christian" protestors who point fingers and preach condemnation are hypocritical because they aren't loving. There is a way to tell someone you think what they're doing is wrong but still care for them and be there for them. The people who say they're Christians then go out and party and sleep around all the time are only kidding themselves. Basically, all of these people ruin the name of "Christian," so those who truly follow what it means to be a Christian are already so discriminated against based on beliefs that aren't even what we actually believe!
It's really frustrating to me because I feel like sometimes that's why I don't wear my faith on my sleeve. I feel like the second I come out with the title people think of all the negative perceptions they have and will never take what I say seriously. And you can tell me as many times as you want that that's not true, but I'm in a political science program at school. I've seen more slander about conservative views than I knew existed, let alone the crap I hear about church and other religious groups. Yes, it's disheartening, yes, it's frustrating beyond reason, and do I say anything? Do I stand up and say this is who I am and how I feel? No. Sad, annoying, but true. I don't mean to badmouth anyone or judge anyone, I love the people I go to school with, I think they're fun and cool and illuminate me on so many things I never knew about. But it's hard to see what people classify you as when they don't realize you're "one of them." With time it's gotten easier and I have slowly started telling people more about my beliefs, but it takes so much explaining. It's not just a matter of coming out and saying, "I'm a Christian." It's saying "I'm a Christian, but this is what that actually means..." Basically there has to be an entire teaching of what that actually means before people look at you and say, "Exactly! That's what it should be about!"
There is so much slander and discrimination that accompanies being a Christian that it's easier to blend in and lose sight of what/who you really are inside. I know I'm guilty of it, I'm sure every person on the planet is guilty of it in one sense or another. I guess what I'm trying to say after all of my babbling here is that I don't want to let things make me lose sight of who I am. Being someone else is easier, fortunately however, that's another "me" quality--I never turn down a challenge. So this is me, a Christian and proud of it. Say what you want, do what you will, but I'm not going to let myself be swayed off track. I'm not perfect, never will be, so I'm going to screw up, but I'm going to hold my head high the whole way because those moments will only solidify what it is to be me.
I'm not sure who all will be partaking in following this blog as Kayla and I make our way across the country. So I don't know if I will upset, offend, or surprise anyone with what follows here, but this is going to be a common theme so if you're not interested after reading this post, you might as well not bother to continue reading further posts. I do know however, that one of the "me" things that I tend not to project in certain circles is my faith. I know that the majority of my friends don't care about church or religion (which is another topic in itself--HUGE difference between 'religion' and 'faith' which I'll address at some point later I'm sure) or anything like that, and that doesn't bother me so much because that has to be a choice you make in your heart; the only thing I can do is share how it has changed my life and let you make your own choices.
Anyway, I digress, the point is, I don't lie about my faith by any means, but I certainly don't wear it on my sleeve all the time. Honestly? Yes, it's easier NOT to be a Christian in today's society. There are plenty of times at school or work or wherever that it's easier to blend in rather than coming right out with it and have people treat you differently. Being a Christian these days is harder than it used to be. There are so many people who claim to be Christians and do not even remotely follow what it means to be one. I mean sure, we're all screw ups, but there's a difference between screwing up from time to time and intentionally living an immoral life. So if you ask me, Christianity is an all or nothing deal, and all of these "luke warm Christians" give us a bad name. Being a Christian is about love. You love everyone, whether you agree with them, disagree with them, whether they've hurt you in some way, whether you've never met them before, and so on. You don't judge because hi, if you haven't noticed, there are millions of things you could/should be judged for too--so what right do you have to judge someone else? So these "Christian" protestors who point fingers and preach condemnation are hypocritical because they aren't loving. There is a way to tell someone you think what they're doing is wrong but still care for them and be there for them. The people who say they're Christians then go out and party and sleep around all the time are only kidding themselves. Basically, all of these people ruin the name of "Christian," so those who truly follow what it means to be a Christian are already so discriminated against based on beliefs that aren't even what we actually believe!
It's really frustrating to me because I feel like sometimes that's why I don't wear my faith on my sleeve. I feel like the second I come out with the title people think of all the negative perceptions they have and will never take what I say seriously. And you can tell me as many times as you want that that's not true, but I'm in a political science program at school. I've seen more slander about conservative views than I knew existed, let alone the crap I hear about church and other religious groups. Yes, it's disheartening, yes, it's frustrating beyond reason, and do I say anything? Do I stand up and say this is who I am and how I feel? No. Sad, annoying, but true. I don't mean to badmouth anyone or judge anyone, I love the people I go to school with, I think they're fun and cool and illuminate me on so many things I never knew about. But it's hard to see what people classify you as when they don't realize you're "one of them." With time it's gotten easier and I have slowly started telling people more about my beliefs, but it takes so much explaining. It's not just a matter of coming out and saying, "I'm a Christian." It's saying "I'm a Christian, but this is what that actually means..." Basically there has to be an entire teaching of what that actually means before people look at you and say, "Exactly! That's what it should be about!"
There is so much slander and discrimination that accompanies being a Christian that it's easier to blend in and lose sight of what/who you really are inside. I know I'm guilty of it, I'm sure every person on the planet is guilty of it in one sense or another. I guess what I'm trying to say after all of my babbling here is that I don't want to let things make me lose sight of who I am. Being someone else is easier, fortunately however, that's another "me" quality--I never turn down a challenge. So this is me, a Christian and proud of it. Say what you want, do what you will, but I'm not going to let myself be swayed off track. I'm not perfect, never will be, so I'm going to screw up, but I'm going to hold my head high the whole way because those moments will only solidify what it is to be me.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
T minus 13 days!
The countdown has officially begun. Just a few days left of school for me and then before we know it we'll be off! The last...well, year (on and off) has included preparations and planning and way more excitement than two college girls should have during midterms and finals and whatnot. We've got junk food stock piled, playlists galore, journals, blankets, and loads of other nonsense waiting to be packed in the bed of Connor (Connor is my pick up truck for those who do not already know him by name, he will be escorting us across the country). I'm doing the best I can to stifle my excitement long enough to finish out my semester. There will be plenty more updates to come before and during the trip, but for now let me say the general plan is to head west from PA more or less right across to the Pacific coast, drive down the coast, and head back east through New Orleans and other places before heading back north. Monday, May 24 is our official day of departure and even though there is plenty we still need to get done by then it can't some soon enough!
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