"I don't think finding God's plan for you has to be complicated... God's will is that you love him with all your heart and soul and mind, and also that you love your neighbor as yourself. Get busy with that, and then, if God wants you to do something unusual, he'll take care of it." - Rich Mullins
"Interesting how we often choose the comfort and habit of something faulty
just to avoid the effort required to adapt to something new. Something Better."
-Priscilla Shirer
The air is clear, and the temperature is cool the green hills of Vermont are in the distance. This is a time when living in the present truly is a gift! I've spent the last 5 days exploring the New England area for the first time and so much has come of it. I have had innumerable God sightings, and many unpredictable exciting adventures as well. Over all I have been growing in my ability to enjoy the presence and make it count even when it's not the most pleasurable thing, but also keep in mind that there is always something next!
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| Stowe, VT |
I started out my trip in Lynchburg, VA visiting some incredible friends of mine. Soli and KJ really made my time there a restful time of fun, and comfort! The unsurpassed hospitality that they showed me made me feel loved, and cherished. There was one specific act that reminded me to always be looking for the little ways I can make someone feel loved. When I first arrived I got out of the car so excited to see Soli for the first time in two years. As we started to go in the house I started to put Pippin back in the car as I will never assume that my dog can stay in someones house and he has a pretty comfy set up with the windows down giving him plenty of ventilation, however Soli and KJ insisted he come sleep in the house. But it doesn't stop there not only did they immediately offer me food and water, and cook food for me even though I wasn't hungry yet so I would have some later, KJ started looking around for something and proceeded to pull a bowl out of the cupboard and ask Soli if it was a good bowl to give Pippin water! While I had a bowl that I ran out to the car to get, it was genuinely the thought that counted in my mind. KJ showed pure, above and beyond, hospitality and this is something that is a true representation of his and Solis character. I enjoyed my time in Lynchburg, and it was with a heavy heart that I made my departure, I even contemplated canceling part of my trip to stay longer. The fact that the next leg of my journey was new and out of my comfort zone played a part in those feelings too, So I sucked it up, and put on my big girls pants, and moved on to what was next. On the way out of Virginia I stopped at the Manassas National Battlefield Park where the Manassas First Battle (Bull Run) was fought. This was a great historic remembrance of the civil war.
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Driving through Maryland, where I stopped at a Nagadi Coffee Roastery, where Purchased a Columbia pour over which was one of the best cups of coffee I have every had in my life; Delaware where I did not much more than drive; New Jersey; New York where I drove through Manhattan causing my my appreciation for the country to flourish; and Connecticut. My plan was to stay the night in Boston but I did not make good enough time for that. I stayed in Hartford, CT. I arrived after dark so I made the choice to stay in my hotel room instead of exploring for safety reasons. It was a very cozy room which was a great experience. I woke at 4 am. With little to nothing to pack I was soon headed down to check out. When I exited the elevator I walked into a commotion at the front desk. I patron had attempted to check in however he said his girlfriend had his wallet with his ID and credit card inside. These are a must have for the check in process, as you most likely know. He was quite angry that he was not getting every things his fully entitled heart desired, and he began picking things up off the desk and throwing them at the hostess who the called law enforcement. fortunately I walked up after he completed his fit of violence, he was walking out the door trying to evade the situation and get out of taking responsibility for his actions. Wouldn't that be nice if we could just throw things at people we were upset with, and not face any repercussions. I guess if my two year old niece can't get away with it we shouldn't either. All of that being said, I checked out, and walked out the opposite direction of the angry man, and prayed my way to my car. After this adventure I was ready to accept anything that could come next.
Nagadi Coffee Roastery - Silver Spring, MD-
You can visit www.Nagadicoffee.com to order some of their coffee
which is all of assorted origin, and is all roasted in house.
Rhode Island came next it was beautiful however nothing extremely interesting came of that portion of the drive. I stopped in Boston to have coffee and breakfast at a homely hole in the wall diner, Patty and Mike's, walking back to my car I stopped in a doughnut shop, Blackbird Doughnuts, while I was paying for my doughnut The cashier complemented my wallet and when I explained to her I had gotten it from a antique shop in OK that led to conversation about my trip. She was able to give me some great suggestions of places to go in New Hampshire and Maine. I continued on through New Hampshire to Maine where I had a driving experience in Acadia National Park. The view from the summit of Cadillac Mountain was a picture perfect sight where the ocean, and the mountains came together making for a pleasurable experience. Then due to the suggestion of my friend in Boston I drove down along the coast and stopped at a beach park in Camden, ME, where pippin experienced the Ocean for the first time. Then I stayed in a hotel in Freeport, ME. This Maine experience was lovely, and no where near long enough. But I continued on to what was next.
Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory - Bucksport, ME.The Tallest Bridge Observatory in the world and the first Cable Bridge Built in Maine. Est. 2006This Bridge was built to replace the Waldo-Hancock Bridge,
which was named the most beautiful steel bridge of 1931.
The Waldo-Emerson Birdge sustained a great amount of structural damage
limiting its weight carriage from 100,000lbs to 24,000lbs.
I woke up fairly early in Freeport planning to head to the White Mountains. The weather was less than desirable with it being cold and wet threatening to conjure up a storm that was not great for hiking. I continued on anyways. After stopping for gas breakfast, and coffee I made it to the Kancamangus Scenic Byway where I stopped at the visitor center to ask about which hike I should go on. I bought some books about the White Mountains that I'm extremely excited to read (or try to read) throughout the summer. As per suggested by the park rangers I drove 13 miles to the parking lot of the UNH Trail which would lead me to the top of Mt. Hedgehog. this trail was 5 miles round trip and had some lower views so if it started storming I could bail without the hike being a total bust. I parked my car put a few things in my back pack and realized I was missing two very important things. First I only had half a bottle of water. Second I had not communicated with anyone where I was going, and I didn't have any cell service there. I got back in my car drove back toward the visitor station until I was out of the dead zone. I texted my dad and informed him the trail I was going to be on and the approximate time it would take me to hike it and then get back to an area with cell phone service so he could alert the authorities in my area if he didn't hear from me. I also pulled into one of the campgrounds and filled up my 3 water bottles. I then returned to the trail head. By the time I got hiking I realized that the weather had completely cleared, if was practically perfect in every way! I hiked up to the east ledges and the summit where I experience some of the most incredible views I have every seen in my life! Along the hike I also experienced some crazy cool God sightings which I will have to explain another time, but I really appreciate how there are so many different things God uses to teach us. I am not in the greatest shape of my life right now so when I got done with the hike I was extra sore and tired and decided to sit and have a bison burger at a burger joint and then stay in a hotel in the nearby town of Lincoln, NH.
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| The view from the East Ledges of Mt. Hedgehog |
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| The View from the summit of Mt. Hedgehog |
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| The view from the recreational bike trail in Stowe, VT. |
"And He said to me
'My grace is sufficient for you my power is made perfect in weakness.'
therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities
that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs,
in persecution, in distresses, for Christ's sake.
For when I am weak, then I am strong."
-2 Corinthians 12:9-10-
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