Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is incredible. After spending hours wandering through the plains of Wyoming and winding through the rockies to peak my way through the crevases, I landed in a beautiful place known for its mormans and mountains. The moon rose high above the snow capped peaks tonight. It was a gentle reminder to a long day that God is present everywhere and good all the time.

Yesterday I had the pleasure to spend time in Denver. When I arrived I was surprised to be greeted by snow and sleet - but hey, it is the mile high city. Good news about the car, the Mazda people tell me it's just the tred on my new tires..?/?.. i pray they are right - still a bit more to go. I spent last night with new friends, we chatted over late bowls of ice cream - Asia, the dysfunction in public school systems, religion, family - it was wonderful to be with great people and in a warm home, not a lousy Days Inn in the middle of no-where Kansas. Tonight I will sleep on Red Lion Inn sheets - which don't smell like smoke and cheap aftershave, thank God.

I am nervous over many things that aren't important - Will my car make it through the mountain range tomorrow with all the weight? Did I loose my disposable camera at the lookout point in Wyoming? Will I run out of 'trip cash' before I reach Portland? Instead, I want to focus my mind on what matters, on being the woman God is creating me to be - to think of the future without worry or anxiety, to love though hard moments in grace and with compassion, to trust that the God that is leading me thousands of miles into the unknown will not leave me there, that the people I care about and miss will be with me in spirit, that all things are in the hands of God and all I need to do is be obedient.

Perhaps I just need to go to bed, wake up in the morning & shower, find a starbucks and hit the road headed with confidence for Oregon under the watchful eyes of God my Father. I am to arrive there tomorrow you know. Tomorrow I will be in my new home state. Tomorrow.

Middle Earth

I am currently in the center of the United States. I'm not sure if you can get any more centered then Salinas Kansas. It is flat here but beautiful, trajic but wise. Lots of hills and cows, silos and truckers- and the OZ museaum I had to pass up to make it to my Days Inn Hotel before nightfall. It has been a long day. My car needs work - tear, and the morning will come soon to get me back on the road headed for Colorado and her mountains. Each mile takes me further from the south and closer to the mountains, further from my past and closer to my future and in the present I wait silent in the tension.

I hope Frodo brings me some coffee in the morning.

St. Louis

Yesterday I left Tampa to move to Portland Oregon. It's a strange feeling of excitment and sadness, apprehension and joy. I have been blessed to have my best friend Janelle do the trip with me thus far. Yesterday we traveled from Tampa to Atlanta and today Atlanta to St. Louis. She will head back to Philly tomorrow and I will travel through Kansas alone. In many ways I am looking forward to the time alone, -reflection time on what I have left and what I am heading into. I am so grateful for my time in Tampa and have forever been changed by my time there-my cup truly over flows.

Sunflower state here I come and then onto the Rockies.....what an adventure.

The Countdown

In 10 days I will leave Tampa to move to Portland Oregon
Can life be this beautiful?
I was never made for palm trees.

Oh Augustana...

she said i think i'll go to boston...
i think i'll start a new life,
i think i'll start it over, where no one knows my name,
i'll get out of california, i'm tired of the weather,
i think i'll get a lover and fly em out to spain...
i think i'll go to boston,
i think that i'm just tired
i think i need a new town, to leave this all behind...
i think i need a sunrise, i'm tired of the sunset,
i hear it's nice in the summer, some snow would be nice...
boston...where no one knows my name...