Travel Recap #8: Our First 60 Days

 

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'” 

~ Isaiah 30:21 ~

Our first two months on the road was a whirlwind adventure. We learned a lot and moved often. We traveled through 7 states and a handful of National Parks, visited with family and saw a few friends. We drove on beautiful roads, camped at serene locations and spent more time together than ever before. We had only two places on the map that we planned to be at certain times when we started out; other than that, it was by the seat of our pants and the grace of God as to where we stayed and how/when we got there. And, funny enough, we ended right back at our original launch point exactly 60 days from the day we left. It wasn’t planned, and much of the trip was a great deal of “unexpected,” but we wouldn’t change it for the world. 

I never once imagined living full-time in an RV. Even after we bought our fifth wheel, I could not wrap my head around living in it until we were actually “moved in.” I had all these insecurities about not having a real “home” or piece of property we could always come back to, and what about all our stuff (and friends, and mail, and stability, and extracurriculars, and work, and church, and the unknowns…)?? As it turns out, most of my worries were unwarranted, and this life is even better than anything we could have anticipated. We do still have some things in storage (books, furniture, etc.), and of course there are a few things we miss (like snow and occasional childcare), but the longer we’re on the road, the more we want to stay out here. What we thought would be a fun way to see some neat things on our quest to find a new landing spot has turned out to be a full-time adventure with no end in sight. So THIS is what freedom is: having the ability to roam freely, stay as long as we want, determine our destinations and make our own schedules? Yes - even with insanely high diesel prices - it exists, people. Despite all the faults of the people steering this ship, it is still the greatest country on the planet and we are abundantly blessed to be able to enjoy it. 

Where will our next 60 days take us? (Actually, I know where, because ironically we’ve had EXACTLY 60 more days on the road as I write this… I know, I know, I’m a little behind. But it’ll be fun to see if you can catch up!) The places we go don’t really matter. There will always be beauty to behold, lessons to learn, and friends to find. Wherever we are, it is my prayer that we would instill in our kids a love of learning, an appreciation for creation, and a heart to serve. I hope that we are a help and an encouragement to others; that our travels would not just be a benefit to us, but a shared source of joy and adventure for many. Most of all, I wish to see my Heavenly Father glorified. In the words of Brother Lawrence (from The Practice of the Presence of God), “Believe me, count as lost each day you have not used in loving God.” That is our chief aim.