Lexi Goes Camping

On this final day of May, I thought I'd start telling you about our inaugural camping trip of 2022! As I mentioned yesterday, we are approaching our camping outings a bit differently this year, mostly out of necessity. Everything about our lives looks different than it did during our first camping season in 2021. Our weekends are real weekends now, which means campgrounds are crazy busy. Abby the RV doesn't live at our house, which means we have to be much more intentional about packing and unpacking. And we have a dog! All these things require adjustment, but that's okay!

Since all the campgrounds around here (and probably the entire United State) were booked for the holiday weekend, we asked some friends of ours if they minded if we plugged in our camper at their house! They already had plans for the weekend, so we knew we wouldn't be in their way. They were so kind to say yes, and that was how we enjoyed our first outing right here close to home. That was a HUGE blessing with the gas prices being so high.

When Ryan came home from work Friday, he stopped to pick up Abby, and we started packing up that evening. We were actually both super exhausted from a long week of busyness, so we didn't finish packing until Saturday morning, right before we left. 

We've taken Lexi out to the camper several times, so she knew about it and seemed very excited to get in and take a trip! We made our short commute, got all plugged in, and then it was time to explore!

Keep in mind that when we lived at WillowBridge, it was almost always snowing, and now we have a mud yard, so Lexi was enchanted by the idea of GRASS. A yard is new to her! And then there were chickens. And there was a pool. And a garden! SO. MUCH. TO. SEE.

She was so excited while Ryan set up the campsite outside and I made lunch inside. Where to look first!?!?!

Ryan used our friends' grill to grill up lunch, and then we ate at their picnic table! We were so hungry that we failed to get pictures WITH lunch, but here's a picture OF lunch!

After lunch, we drove into Decatur (which is a whopping one town over from where we live - ha!) and had coffee at the Java Bean coffee shop. They have a great patio behind the shop, so we could have Lexi join us. (They may or may not have had a dog treat bin out there, and we may or may not have taken full advantage!)

After coffee, we took a walk around downtown Decatur, and I would just like to mention the beauty of the courthouse! Look at this!

We spent the bulk of the rest of the afternoon walking on this gorgeous trail that runs throughout town. Once we got into it, it was shaded and pretty!

He carried her though the mud that went around a flooded part. Less to clean up later. :) 

And then there was a bridge. It was so full of character!

And then back to regularly scheduled trails. The day was quite pleasant in temps, but we did take along water for everyone!

Bless those of you with allergies. It would not have been fun for you.

I feel like I've rattled on long enough, so I'll save the rest for another day. Hope you have a great beginning of a short week! :) 

Slowing Down

I can't wait to tell you about our weekend. It was absolutely grand in the slowest of ways. 

The whole purpose of camping, I think is to be able to slow down, retreat from real life, and enjoy some rest. Unfortunately, with the increase in popularity of camping, it feels like campgrounds are the hub on weekends like the one we just had. 

I follow a bunch of full time RVers on Instagram, and last week one of them asked what everyone planned to do for Memorial Day weekend, and I think the response was nearly unanimous: HIDE!!!!!! Hide until all the rest of the campers go home!

It's true. 

We didn't know where we would be living or working or what our schedules would be when the time rolled around to start making campground reservations for this season, so therefore, we did not make any. By the time we knew where we would be and what our work days would be like, it was too late. Anything in a respectable driving distance was booked more than solid for this weekend. 

Even if we found a spot, we were pretty sure that wasn't how we wanted to introduce Lexi to camping life. Oh, the overstimulation. She wants to meet everyone she sees. If there are 200 campsites and each one has anywhere from 2-8 people...oh my. Poor girl would never sleep, would she? 

And so it was that we took part of the weekend and did a trial camping run at our friends' house. We asked if we could hide on a back corner of their property, plug in the RV and just hang out for a couple of days. And they said yes! 

We've made so many memories this weekend, and we've learned the pros and cons of camping with Lexi. It was absolutely the right move to do a trial run away from the masses and the chaos. It was much more enjoyable!

But in addition to that, Ryan and I enjoyed the chance to simply slow down. We sat outside every chance we had, coming inside only to cool off from the sun. We had long conversations together, brainstorming for the future at Ryan's work, dreaming about our 10th anniversary, and talking about things we're learning from the Lord about our lives.

Ryan told me that he had enjoyed the weekend of resting, since he hears that is something he's not great at doing. ;) I loved WATCHING him rest - and Lexi, too!

I am not sure what we will do for camping locations for the rest of the season. It is most definitely true that gas prices will keep us from going very far. And we may not be able to find anything any of the times we can go. But we are trusting we'll have chances to get away and rest somehow...somewhere. 

Slowing down is a true gift.  

Sunday Sentiments

One year ago today (according to the date on the calendar...yesterday according to the day of the week), Ryan and I packed up everything we hoped we would need for our first long adventure in Abby the RV. 

We started our trip in our Sunday best and a stop at our friends' wedding, before we switched to proper travel clothes and a long drive down the open road from Indiana to Colorado. What a delightful trip it was! My only two regrets from the trip were linked to a lack of margin in the time we allotted, prohibiting us from making random side trips on a whim. Because of that, we didn't get to stop at a roadside chapel that would have had a stunning view out a wall of windows, and we missed stopping at the famous American Gothic house for a photo opp. (You remember that house, right? The angry looking couple with the pitchfork?) I was mostly angry with myself for not realizing that one was near our route before we left home. Rookie mistake in travel planning!

We left home that day full of excitement for our first big RV road trip and all the trepidation of not knowing if we were really cut out for this. We absolutely skipped over ANY kind of trial run in an RV before buying and renovating one, so that was a risk, right? 

I have thought back to that trip time and time again in this past year. I have so much fondness in my heart for the memories we made and the true joy and rest we experienced after weeks of intense solo work at WillowBridge. 

I've also wondered what it would have been like to do that trip with Lexi! (Parts of it would have had to be modified, because not all the places we went were dog friendly.) That girl loves the outdoors and the chance to go for a ride, so I have no doubt she would have adored it. 

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend here in the States, and while culture seems to lean toward camping trips, opening lake cottages, and having picnics, the point of Memorial Day is to remember those who gave their lives defending our country. 

Last night, as I thought back over that beautiful road trip we enjoyed and as I rested from a nearly perfect day with Ryan, I had two specific thoughts about the brave men and women who died for our country. One was that because of them - and the many who lived, too, - I was able to enjoy a road trip last summer and a practically perfect day yesterday. The second was that I know there are many military families who don't get to keep making memories in the same way anymore, because someone didn't come home. 

My heart aches to think about those losses, and it makes me grateful for every person who was willing to go and bravely fight.

When Ryan and I lived in Kokomo, we were part of a patriotic program each summer, and every night of the program, they would invite the veterans from every branch of service to the stage. I never got through that once without crying. Not once. And they were the ones who came home. How many more didn't get to stand on a stage to be recognized?

This Memorial Day, I'm thankful for the sacrifices of those who gave everything, and I'm grateful for the memories those sacrifices allow so many of us to enjoy.

The Saturday Six

 

This weekend kicks off the official travel season, it seems, in the States. I'm sure this year's travel seasons will look very different for many because of the insanely high price of fuel, but it can still be fun to dream about traveling even if we have to dial it back, right? I was scrolling through my travel Pinterest board this week (cleaning it up) and found a few gems to share. So if you're not able to travel in real time right now, perhaps you can travel virtually here! 

One.

Speaking of virtual travel, this post is just that! A gentleman made a time lapse video of his drive across the US and back. It only takes about five minutes to watch and is fascinating! How many places do you recognize as they fly by in the video? 

Two.

And since gas prices are high, perhaps this is the perfect time to plan a staycation instead of traveling far away. I found this post from back in 2012 when gas prices were, apparently "just coming back down." I remember that time! I was a commuter then! The article may not be new, but the info is still applicable! Plan yourself a staycation, my friends! 

Three.

Last year, on our big trip out west (which actually began a year ago today!) we stopped to visit two of the locations where Laura Ingalls Wilder lived. The first place we stopped was near Independence, Kansas, which was the setting for the book Little House on the Prairie. We also stopped in Mansfield, Missouri, where Laura and Almanzo lived most of their married life - also where she lived when she wrote all the books. I have the official Little House passport and am hopeful that eventually we'll get to all the sites. It blows my mind how far and wide they traveled in a time when travel methods were so uncomfortable and primitive! If you want to see what that looks like on a map, check out this post! 

Four.

I'm always on the lookout for destination ideas for our anniversary. One of the grand things about the timing of our anniversary is that wherever we go, it's always decked out for Christmas! I am not sure if any of these items have changed, since I found this article quite some time ago, but I marked it because it could be a great trip for our anniversary some year. (Not this year.) Look at all the pretty lights! I think the only down side to this is that even though it isn't far in miles, some of the stops all need to be done at night to fully appreciate the lights! 

Five.

I have a BUNCH of road trip itineraries saved for future reference, but I had forgotten about this one! The US from corner to corner - from the bottom of Florida to the tippy-top of Alaska. I giggled while reading the article (from 2015) that talked about taking advantage of the lowest gas prices in five years. Okay, so perhaps this is not a trip for THIS year. But still!! Dreamy!!

Six.

And finally, though my deep desires are typically not for international travel (nothing wrong with it at all - there's just so much I want to see right here in the States!), I do want to one day visit Prince Edward Island in Canada. To see all the Anne of Green Gables inspirations, locations, and recreations would thrill my soul! I've been saving some ideas and recommendations, and here's an example of some of the things I definitely want to see! 

MOST Thankful

 

I was scrolling through Instagram last night while I drank my evening coffee, and I happened upon a post by Winshape Marriage. It ended up inspiring today's blog. (Fun fact: I have always thought Winshape would be a fabulous place for the two of us to work. No idea if God has that in our someday future or not, but either way, I'm thankful for the many things I learn from their posts!)

Anyway, the question post said this: Take a few moments to reflect on your current season of marriage. What are you most thankful for?

Even though it's May and our anniversary is not until December, I'm already in full-planning-swing, because this year is our tenth anniversary and this crossing into the double digits in years has me all sentimental. I've been pawing through old pictures and memories for weeks now, so in some ways, this question should be an easy one.

But then there's that one word: most. What am I most thankful for? How do I possibly narrow it down to one thing? I am not sure I can.

The list of things I admire, love, and appreciate about Ryan goes on forever, and you read snippets of it on the regular here. (Or at least I hope it comes across that way. It's my hope.)

* I admire his determination to persevere to the very end on every single thing he does. He literally never gives up on anything - to his own detriment, at times. Whether he's fixing a toilet, working for his employer, troubleshooting a technology issue, or praying for something, he simply does not quit. Ever. I've never known anyone else who pushes through as hard as he does. 

* I love his great compassion for people and how God has used that in different ways in every job he has ever had - and He's still doing it now in this new job he has just begun. He will sit with you, pray with you, give you anything you need that is in his power to provide, and remember to follow up with you after the moment has passed. 

* I appreciate his vast knowledge of everything. He can fix things around our home. (Like all the things.) He can cook. He can wrap gifts WAY better than I can. He can plan a stellar party. He is frugal with finances. And if there's ever an area he doesn't understand, he researches it until he knows it. 

* I'm so grateful for the leader he is in our home, for the way He follows the Lord's call on His life (and our lives together), for how unconditionally he has embraced my family as his own, for how tenderly he cared for his mom in her dying days, for his deep wisdom, and so much more.

There is so much I love. And all those things are a "most" in some way for me. But when I think about this season of our marriage, I have to say that the thing I am most thankful for is the story God has written with and for us over this last decade. 

You know, there were times in those single years when I didn't think I'd ever get married. To be at a decade at all is a flat-out gift. Ten whole years together is a wild, gracious gift that I will never get over. 

And as I've looked through the memories, I am just so grateful for each piece of this story. 

* We have traveled places I never dreamed I would see with my own eyes. And we didn't just travel to those places. We soaked up our stays in those places. I can see each of those destinations vividly in my mind. I can taste the food, smell the flowers, see the sunsets. Those trips for us were an investment of time and money, and sometimes both were very tight for us. But the stories we lived in those travels have cemented memories that I will cherish always. 

* We have had SO much fun in this decade. There were times when I worried that perhaps it appeared from the outside looking in that we were too self-centered. We weren't doing enough for or with others, maybe. And then we had the last two years, where everything was all about everyone else, and we had to sometimes remind ourselves to make time for us. And as I look back now, I see that even though it may have looked to others like those early years were selfish, they weren't. We were building a foundation in all the fun. In all the date nights. In all the hours at home working on projects and making our house a home. I'm glad we chose to do what we did. It made us who we are. I'm grateful.

* We've grown in our faith. We've studied the Bible together. We've prayed together. We've taken faith-risks together. We've worked within our church homes to hopefully leave an impact on the Body of Christ. In this area of our lives, we are not who we were the day we were married. We are stronger, deeper, and hungrier for Christ. And I love it.

* We have walked some hard, hard, hard roads in this decade. Some you know about. Some were so deeply personal, we kept them sacred to our souls. In ten years, we've said goodbye to jobs that we loved with our whole beings. We still grieve those endings. We've said goodbye to two step-grandpas, a mother, and a step-father. (Those were actually all in the last five years.) We've had surgeries and ER visits and dental drama. We've lost friendships that we didn't anticipate ending, and those were unspeakably hard. We were misunderstood by people we thought knew us better, and that was devastating. We've been wounded by people and situations and while we recognize that God shaped us in the wounding, we also recognize that we will forever daily see our scars and pieces of our hearts will never be the same. And while I would not want to do any of these specific hurts over again, I also do not wish them away, because they have shaped our story and our souls. 

We have ten years of memories and story together. Sometimes people don't get to see that come to pass. A couple of days ago, I read a Facebook post by a gentleman who was also in his thirties when he got married. Just after their first anniversary, his wife was killed in a car accident. Knowing what I do about him, I think he's the sort of man who would have deeply welcomed ten years of story. He would have appreciated it and recognized it. But he's missing the zero off that 10 years. 

So I'm most grateful for the stories. The memories. The gift of almost ten years of marriage. 

Love you, Ryan!

Take Your Wife to Work Day

A couple of weeks ago, I had a conversation with a gentleman about employment with the ministry organization where he worked. In the end, they didn't have anything for me, but we had a great conversation! He asked a bit about what work I had done in the past, and after I told him about our work at WillowBridge and how our desire had been to continue working together in some capacity, he said that was pretty incredible to hear. He said most people who work together in a high-stress and/or fast-paced environment don't want to continue working together. They want a break from each other. I told him we did not at ALL want a break from each other. 

So when I went to visit Ryan at work earlier this week, it was kind of like the olden days, and we were both pretty giddy about the whole opportunity.

Though I am not on staff where he works, I am helping out as an unofficial volunteer, so we declared it take your wife to work day and it was so grand!

I actually didn't go with him in the morning, but I made our lunches and baked some treats for the staff and put on real clothes and headed over to meet him for lunch! We ate at his desk, and then it was such a pretty day that we decided to take a walk on the nearby trail!

I stayed for the afternoon, doing some computer work while he did his regular work. I took pictures of his specific office so I can begin my strategy of decorating it so it looks and functions just like home.

(The organization is housed in an actual house, so making it feel like home shouldn't be too challenging!) 

His office manager wanted to know if I brought Lexi, and I think she was disappointed to find out Lexi stayed home that day. (We are easing in slowly. She can come next time.)

It was a fun afternoon, and I'm so glad we were able to spend it together. I'm sure it's the first of many trips to the office to work together, and nothing makes my heart happier. Truly! 

When You Have No Words

 

I sat down last night to write this post and found myself unsure of what to say today. I went to work with Ryan yesterday and didn't look at much online while I worked beside him, so news of the school shooting in Texas was several hours old before I even knew it. 

My heart hurts beyond what words can say for all these families who are forever changed in number because of those moments. My heart hurts for those whose children came home, but the fear that took root (or deeper root) yesterday will stay forever and mark them. 

My heart hurts for those on the front lines who saw the unimaginable and had to say unimaginable words to parents.

My heart hurts with grief and anger. 

And there aren't words. I tried coming at this from several angles, and though I know the intention of my heart, there is great danger in assuming those reading will know that intention. To say something that could unintentionally hurt another because of the murky translation of the written word to a hurting heart isn't something I want to do (ever, but especially today).

So today, I stop the writing early and encourage you to take the time you would be reading here to instead pray for these hurting families. Read aloud the names of those lost (whenever the list is released). Take action to speak out/make contacts so we can see change against these horrific events. 

My heart hurts, and it should, so today I put aside words.

I Love a New Planner!

 

If you've been reading here long, you know one of the things I adore most in life is NEW PLANNER DAY!!!! A few years ago, I started doing academic year calendars, so now my new planner day always falls in the summer, rather than in January like the rest of the world. 

As seems to be the case regularly lately, I went back to the drawing board to search for a good planner that meets the needs I have. One thing that I know works well for a lot of people that does NOT work for me is the presence of an hourly calendar on the daily pages. My days aren't such that I have things that need done at specific times TOO often, so I feel like those parts of the planner pages don't get nearly the use that they should. 

I hunted around, read some blogs with ideas, and landed on one I really liked, and today I want to tell you all about it!

My new planner is called "The Prayerful Planner" - and it offers a day planner/monthly planner/habit tracker/notebook all in one. Here is the link to the shop! Let me tell you about what they have to offer!

* They have undated planners, which was perfect for me, since I needed to start mid-year. It's even more perfect if you want to start a new planner in a very random month - like November - when even the academic year calendars don't align with your needs. (Note: you do have to write in or use stickers to add all the dates throughout the calendar, and yes, that does take more time. I don't mind it. It's a creative outlet for me.)

* They have a variety of covers to choose from, and some of them are especially super cute! They just released a whole set of new covers, and there were a couple in there that I loved, but I opted for an older cover that was marked down. I couldn't justify spending the extra money just for a different cover, when all the functional parts of the planner with the same. That said, I don't hate mine at all. I think it's cute! The name of my cover is Sweet to My Soul. (Note: the new-cover planners were $49, which is still a great price for everything you get, but this older cover version was $25.)

* You can also find, in the shop, case-bound planners (which means they are bound more like a regular book, rather than having spiral binding), journals, notebooks in big and smaller sizes, pens, highlighters, washi tape, sticky notes, and printable (digital) versions of planners, too! There's even a men's version in the printables. 

I loved what I saw online, but let me tell you about the extra-mile things that have won me over even more!

* After I placed my order, I received the obligatory "thanks for your order" email. I have to tell you it was the most creatively well-written email I have ever received from a company! I read it out loud to Ryan because it was THAT good. I even responded to them just to thank them for making my day with a better-than-average auto-response. 

* Then I received an email that gave me a couple of printables to hold me until my planner arrived. The email included a printable version of the daily page in the day planner. I was able to print enough to use for the remainder of May so my planner can start with June. That was a sweet and unexpected perk. There was also a daily Bible reading list included!

* My planner arrived much faster than I expected, and it was a whole sight to behold in and of itself. Fancy sturdy box and everything! This is the gift box inside the shipping box. It seriously was like getting a gift in the mail.

* It came with a sticker page. One set of the monthly stickers fit on the blank tabs and then the other set fit on the month calendar layout. Then there were some other fun stickers included that I can use however I wish! 

* It also came with a card to give ideas for how to effectively use the planner:

* Then I received another email with access to a freebie page that allows me to print my own stickers and Bible reading pages for each month! I figured if I wanted their art/stickers, I'd have to buy them, but they come as freebies. You can either purchase sticker paper to print them on or print on regular paper and use double-sided tape to put it in the planner!

Now! Here's what I love about the planner itself!

* The covers are sturdy and thick, which is important, because it'll be handled frequently. The corners have metal pieces to keep them safe and keep them from fraying. I purchased the spiral bound version, which allows me to open it and fold it back for easier writing. The book itself is 9 inches wide and almost 10 inches tall. It's also very thick, which makes me feel very productive. :) 

* Inside the front cover is a pocket, so I can store papers as needed! 

* Before the planner part actually begins, there are pages for prayer requests, with columns for the date you wrote down the request, the prayer request itself, and then the praise when it's answered. HOW MANY TIMES do we tell people we will pray for them, and then we forget? This gives you a way to keep track of what you've promised to pray for, as well as a way to boost your faith as you see answers come to pass! 

* There is also a page where you can write about your word for the year (if you do one) and your verse for the year (if you have one). 

* There's a place for a vision board if you want to keep track of some of the dreams God has put in your heart.

* And there's a page for lists of goals in multiple areas of life: 

* If you like to keep track of how often you're working toward something, there are multiple habit-trackers throughout the planner. The first one is to keep track of whether or not you've read the Bible each day! 

* Each month has a planning page, where you can earmark a verse for that month, prayers for your own life for that month, things you're grateful for, what you're praying for, some specific goals, and three habit trackers for whatever you want to track! 

* Each month also offers a two-page at-a-glance calendar, which I love. Here is one I haven't filled out yet. (That way you can't see all the appointments - ha!) But here's also a sneak peek of one I've started filling in with dates.

* Then there is the daily page, where you can keep track of your priorities for the day. (This is where I write in any appointments I do have, the times I need to be there, and the locations.) The long plan-it section is where I make my daily to-do list. There is a box for praises, and let me just tell you, I see God working so much more in my life when I make a point to write down praises. He isn't working any more than He ever was! I just see it more now! I use the physical health box to make note of what I did to be active and how much water I drank, but you could use it however you need. The "post-it" section is sized to fit a post-it note, so I'll make different chicken-scratch notes and place them in there. You can also just write notes/ideas directly in the square! And then the prayer box can either be for writing a prayer or for writing down additional requests. (I have been writing in things on specific days if I know something is coming up. For example: one of my friends had a doctor's appointment yesterday, so I wrote that in on my prayer box with the time of the appointment, so I wouldn't forget to pray! 

So there you have it! The new planner! I do love it and am excited to see what God teaches me as I infuse prayer INTO my planning in more specific ways.