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Tag: Traveling
Day Twenty-One: I’m Thankful For…Traveling.
Preface: Last year I decided to express my thanks during the month of November for something new each day, as so many others have done before me. I never finished this series, so that’s my goal this year. I am re-posting the ones I wrote last year and adding new ones. This was originally posted on 11/21/12 (with slight changes made today).
One of my greatest passions is traveling and exploring God’s beautiful and wondrous creation.
God has blessed me with opportunities to travel to three continents, six countries, and thirty-eight states in my first thirty-one years of life.
I love experiencing new cultures…learning from them…enjoying them…photographing them.
There’s a whole lot of the world left to see (including Guatemala in February!), and I can’t wait to experience it with Brennan!
So thankful that God has created such a diverse world for us to enjoy…
Day Twenty-One: I’m Thankful For…Traveling.
Preface: I thought it was fitting to express my thanks during the month of November for something new each day, as so many others have done before me. I’ve never taken the time to do this, and it will be a challenge to blog each day, but it’s so important to recognize the blessings God has given us! 🙂 These are in NO particular order…
One of my greatest passions is traveling and exploring God’s beautiful and wondrous creation. God has blessed me with opportunities to travel to three continents, six countries, and thirty-four states in my first thirty years of life.
I love experiencing new cultures…learning from them…enjoying them…photographing them. There’s a whole lot of the world left to see, and I can’t wait to experience it with Brennan! So thankful that God has created such a diverse world for us to enjoy…
Whirlwind July…
Is it really mid-July already?!
To say that July is a crazy month would be an understatement. I will only be home for 15 nights the entire month. While I can’t say where I’m traveling, I can say that I will be leaving Pennsylvania for the last two weeks of July, essentially. Between California, being at Milton Hershey for two weekends, and Sunoco, I’m really missing my bed already.
I am loving being a spotter for Sunoco again this summer. It’s a great job–being outside, traveling, making people happy (by giving them gift cards and contest entries)…and I really love doing it. Plus, it’s market research, which is something I’ve wanted to get into more, and this is great field experience.
This year is much more intense than last year, and it’s requiring four overnight stays in order to be as efficient as possible. I have 68 total locations to visit in July, and 11 in August. I’ve done 23 so far this month, and will have completed over half by the time we leave for California next Tuesday evening. I’m so thankful for a boss who truly supports my career development enough to let me have most of the month off!
So thankful for this opportunity, as stressful as it can be at times. 🙂
Much Needed Weekend Away…
Brennan and I had the opportunity to get away this weekend for a much needed break from our busy schedule. We had a Groupon to use for a bed and breakfast in New Holland, PA (about one hour from Hershey), so we made our reservations a few months ago and began to plan.
We started our adventure by going to the National Watch & Clock Museum in Columbia, PA (using another Groupon that we’d had). It was fascinating, and I can definitely say that I’ve never seen so many time-keeping pieces in one place before!
We checked into our lovely room at the Country Hearth Bed & Breakfast in New Holland that afternoon, and we were not disappointed! The owners are very friendly and knowledgable, and the 219 year old house is in great condition! We had a great dinner at Vinola’s Restaurant & Bar in Leola, PA at the recommendation of the B&B owners.
On Saturday, after a lovely breakfast and great conversations with our fellow travelers, we headed down to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. I had been told by my friend Shannon just how wonderful this place was, so when we realized how close we’d be to Longwood Gardens this weekend, we decided that we had to head down there. It was well worth the $18 admission! I was excited to get to use my camera after many months of it sitting idly in our room…and I took about 700 pictures. Granted, I only kept 161 out of those, but it was SO easy to find great photographic subjects! I am excited to go during other seasons to see the different trees and plants that will be blooming/changing!
Since we were so close to Delaware (a state we hadn’t been to together), we had picked up a Groupon for a pizza place earlier in the week, and we had a late lunch in Wilmington. We didn’t realize how large their “large pizza” was, and it was definitely enough for us to also eat dinner later. We took our time getting back, and spent the rest of the evening reading, playing Scrabble, enjoying the jacuzzi tub and talking.
This is the first Easter Sunday in my life (that I can remember) that I did not go to church. We had decided to not rush home to go to church, and we didn’t want to try to find a random church in the area to attend. Instead, we enjoyed our day and continued to relax and be refreshed.
We had a wonderful weekend, and I can see why it is so important for married couples to get away every once in awhile. It gave us time to let go of our “to do” lists, let go of chores that need to be done, and focus on what really matters: our relationship. We met almost three years ago and time has certainly flown by. I can only imagine what the next few decades will feel like!
From California to Pennsylvania…
On July 14th, 2008, I drove away from Glendora, CA and the life I had known for seven years (and the state in which I had resided my entire life). My mom and I headed east, with maps in hand and a great adventure in store. But the biggest adventure awaited me at the end of the journey: building a new life in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania practically from scratch. With no job, no church, and a few friends in the Harrisburg area, I trusted the Lord and I took the first step with faith that He would prove to be faithful. Eight states and 3,000 miles later, I arrived!
A year ago today, I was saying tearful goodbyes to my best friends, and the people who had walked beside me through so many experiences. We had an evening of bluegrass and fellowship, sharing music and memories, and it was the perfect way to say goodbye to those I love. Today, I am surrounded by new friends who have blessed my life beyond my wildest dreams; friends who hold me accountable in my walk with the Lord and who are seeking Him fervently; friends who are so genuine, so loving, so encouraging…and God has shown His faithfulness through them.
A year ago today, I left my church in Glendora after being a part of it for six years. I came to Pennsylvania praying that the Lord would bring me a church where I could serve and grow, a church that was seeking to love Jesus more and to be Jesus to the community in everything they did…and He, again, blessed me beyond my wildest expectations! My church has truly become FAMILY to me…I love serving there, I love worshiping there, and I am SO blessed to be a part of East Shore Baptist Church! And God again showed His faithfulness here…
All of this came after I had spent many months praying for the Lord to make me uncomfortable–for Him to present situations that would create growth in my relationship with Him…and I never dreamed that would mean moving across the country to a relatively unknown place (I had only been to Harrisburg three or four times before I moved), leaving everything behind. But, that is sometimes what He requires of us! And I am so glad that He answered my prayers for discomfort, for the joy that has come from these experiences and from my deepened walk with Him is immeasurable.
People consistently ask me why on earth I would leave “wonderful California” for Pennsylvania…and the best answer I can give is this: God said to go! 🙂 Pennsylvania is where I am called to be, and I love it more each and every day! Each state has its pros and cons, and no state is truly better than any other, in my opinion. After living in California for 25 years, I was more than ready to experience something new.
God is faithful, and when we listen to His voice, we are blessed beyond compare. :0)
Looking Back at 2008…
This has probably been the most crazy year of my life thus far. It has been filled with trials and challenges, but also with joy and growth…I’m 26 years old today–and I’m now closer to 30 than 20. Such a strange thought! I don’t feel like I could possibly be nearly 30, but I guess that’s a good thing. 🙂
In December 2007, I began praying that God would make me “uncomfortable.” I realized that I was not growing in my faith because I was comfortable where I was in life…when you look at the example of any biblical character, they grew the most when God challenged them and presented new situations to them. So, I began to pray that He would do the same with me. And He did not disappoint. The most obvious example of that is that I now live in Pennsylvania, where I’m experiencing my first “real Winter”. 🙂 The growth that has occurred this year is remarkable, and I can’t wait to see where I am at this time next year! I have learned that being comfortable is overrated–and boring, actually. 🙂
In 2008:
I attended the “Passion” conference in L.A., by myself, and was forever changed by that event…I was given an opportunity to teach in Dubai for the 2008-2009 school year…I had to quit my job at ADP because they changed their mind about giving me time off to lead my mission team to New Orleans…I decided to move to Pennsylvania without a job, trusting the Lord in His guidance…I spent six days driving across the United States with my Mom (and saw things like the Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, and other things in the nine states we drove through)…I went to seven new states this year, bringing the total to 31…I had pneumonia for 13 weeks…I spent an amazing month in New Orleans, serving the Lord and serving others…I took about 15,000 pictures…I spent 5 months unemployed and watched the Lord provide for me in miraculous ways…I now have an incredible job with a growing lobbying firm, where I can finally use my degree and my passions…I got in my first car accident, and had to buy a new car…I learned a valuable lesson about friendships–it’s okay to let some go, because some people are “toxic” to our lives…I drove in snow for the first time…I’ve lost some friends and gained new ones, and my life has been so blessed by my new friends in Pennsylvania…I’ve learned that it’s okay to accept help from others…I found a new church here in PA that is healthy, missions-focused, and I’m ready to dive in and serve…
2009 is going to be an interesting year, that’s for sure. Two of my good friends and I decided to give up ice cream (defined as anything that is “frozen dairy”) for a year. It will most definitely be the hardest thing I’ve given up! However, it will be a constant reminder that I’m trying to be even more healthy when it comes to food than I already am, and I am going to succeed this year in losing the weight I gained while I had pneumonia. 🙂 So, I’m eating a lot of ice cream today! If the Moravian shoe thing I tried (see prior posts) is accurate (Ha!), then I’ll be engaged by next Christmas. Not counting on that, but I wouldn’t mind! 🙂
Most of all, I’m excited to see what the Lord is going to do in my life and in the lives of those around me. He called me here to Central Pennsylvania for a reason, and I’m excited to see what He has in store! 🙂
I’m Going to Alaska!!
I’m really excited, if you couldn’t tell…I’m going to be in Alaska for 10 days in May, for my cousin’s graduation from high school. My aunt is planning on moving to California next summer, so I wanted to go while she still lived there, anyway…and I got an AMAZING deal on airfare, so I just couldn’t resist! Plus, my parents and grandparents (and probably more of my family) are going to be there, so that will be great family time as well…
I can’t wait to spend time taking pictures up there. I was there when I was 8 years old (17 years ago!), so it’s been awhile…and all I really remember was it being -2 one day…seeing a moose in my aunt’s backyard…going around to places like Kenai, Homer, etc…going to the zoo…but I don’t have vivid memories. Now that I’m older–and much more into photography–I can’t wait to go!
I also decided that I’m going to try to get a meeting with Governor Sarah Palin. She should be in Anchorage when I’m there (based upon the legislative schedule), so I figured it’s worth a shot! 🙂
I leave for California in nine days…so I’m very excited about that as well. But, right now, my trip to Alaska is definitely all I’m thinking about 🙂
Visit to Centralia…
If you’ve never heard about the small town of Centralia, PA, you should definitely read about it. This town has had an underground fire burning for 46 years! Amazing…
I like this guy’s storytelling abilities, so I’ll recommend his site to you…he tells the story very well!
And you can see my pictures here…
Weekend in Bridgeport…
We had a great weekend in Bridgeport/the Eastern Sierras. We spent a lot of time exploring the beautiful area…Rusty and Mindi’s wedding was beautiful (pictures here)…and it was a great weekend overall!
Check out the pictures–it is beautiful up there!
Even So, Joy 