Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Week 2 Review-Part 2
Posted by Benjamin & Jessi at 11:40 AM View Comments
Labels: adventures, weekly review
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Week 2 Review-part 1
It wasn't the best campground/park. The showers didn't have doors or curtains....I know, weird! We left after not too long there.
Posted by Benjamin & Jessi at 8:26 AM View Comments
Labels: weekly review
Friday, July 23, 2010
Week 1 Review
Posted by Benjamin & Jessi at 1:03 PM View Comments
Labels: weekly review, Wildlife
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Pueblo
Hey friends,
We're hanging out in Pueblo, CO at Benjamin's Dad's house for now. We'll be here for a few days 'til Benjamin's his bro and sis-in-law come out and we all hit some national parks together.
It's been a good visit so far. Pueblo is a nice town/city...not sure what it should be called...but anyway, it's nice. We enjoyed a trip to a raptor/nature center today and are working on some projects on Benjamin's Dad's house. It's a nice little break in our journey...cooking in a real kitchen and showering in a real bathroom! It's almost like a vacation :)
I'll update soon with where we've been up to this point but while I've got internet right now, I've got some research to do on National Parks and a rodeo going on in town!
~Jessi
Posted by Benjamin & Jessi at 12:48 PM View Comments
Labels: family, random update
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Home
Part of the reason we came on this trip was to figure out where home will be. We will probably head back to Murfreesboro...or somewhere on the outskirts of Nashville but we're not commiting to it right now. I'll admit, I have a sort of fear of settling down somewhere. Maybe because my family moved so much growing up, maybe because it feels so permanent...whatever the reason, I needed to travel first. To be free to go wherever and not feel like I belong to a certain place. I've wanted to journey like this for so long and to now be doing it...it's overwhelming but oh so exciting.
We've barely scratched the surface of a trip that will likely end around Christmas...but we make no promises. Part of me would love to jump ahead and see where we are, who we are, how we've changed...if we've changed. But I'm content to wait out the journey and am practicing patience as we figure out this new camping life of ours.
We're in a town now that both of us love. The mountains are beautiful, the town small, the trees big and green. Whether it's that we actually love this place or that we were just overjoyed to finally see green grasses, mountains and trees again I'm not sure but we're loving this area. It's highly doubtful we'll ever call it home permanently but for now...the campsite in the woods, where the little scamp with the green curtains sits is our home...and we're happy here.
I know some people need a place they call home. A place that is theirs, a place for their stuff, for their memories...a place they feel they belong. I'm not saying I don't need that in a way too...I guess I just know that stuff will not make me happy. That nothing here really ever is mine and that what I want isn't here at all. This earth isn't my home. Will never be my home. I'm beginning to believe that this longing for travel and freedom, this fear or hesitance of being somewhere permanent...is my spirit crying out, “this world is not where I want to be!” I believe the deep longing for a place, a safe haven, something more...is our soul crying out to be at home with God. To know Him more deeply, trust Him more completely, to be filled with Him...and as I keep trudging along on this journey of life, I pray that I will be able to focus on filling my souls desires for a permanent home with Him.
~Jessi
Posted by Benjamin & Jessi at 9:00 AM View Comments
Labels: God lessons
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Work, Work, Work
So far this trip has been a definitive test. A test on both of us to make sure this is really what we want to be doing for the next few months. There has been frustration over dishes, flies, bugs, shower houses, sleeping/sunburns, deciding what to down-size AGAIN, and what things we need to buy for this journey. Don't get me wrong, I love being able to do this, but I guess I had more of an idealistic idea of what things would be like.
Even with those frustrations however, it has been great. Right now we are in this state park in Texas and we love it. I think we kept traveling until we found a place we really liked. No chance to really have our "Sabbatical" just yet. No time for anything. I guess the first few weeks are supposed to be like this. But once we get our routine down, things will get even better.
It is weird not working. I think I have usually been so defined by what I do. It is nice to no longer have all the stresses of a business. That being said, I still do have some stresses I have to deal with, but they are no where near as bad as hoping to get the next client, etc.
But then again I am working! Apple decided to come out with their new iphone OS 4 and now I have to update over 40 apps so the audios work! My older apps had a different kind of media player and no longer work. : ( So I will be spending the next few days updating all of those. This update will be made in a way where I don't ever have to update them again (I hope).
So as I am definitely enjoying this trip so far, right now I have to work but at least I get a great view.
For those of you that don't know, I have to work every Tuesday and Thursday for most of the day in order for us to be out here like this. Our apps and Christian Hypnosis programs support us but they need lots of attention.
If you're wondering what apps I have out on the itunes store you'll have to go check them out because I have lots but I will direct you to my Ultimate Hypnosis App. It is probably my best app and has the best value and it is only .99 cents. You can also check out my apps on Windows, BlackBerry and Andriod.
-Benjamin
Posted by Benjamin & Jessi at 6:56 PM View Comments
Grandma
While camping in OK we realized how close (4.5hrs) to Abilene, TX we were and since Benjamin's Grandma lives there, we headed in for a visit. Thinking we'd stop at a campground that night and visit the next day, we left later than planned but also arrived later then planned. With nowhere to stay, we experienced our first night of boondocking.
If you're new to the camping/rv-ing thing (as we were) this means you park your camper and stay for free. Generally there are no hook-ups but at least there's a free spot to stop and sleep. We arrived at Wal*Mart around 11 and settled in for the night. Yes, Wal*Mart allows boondockers. Ever notice RV's and big rigs parked on the sides or at the back of the parking lot?...now you know why they are there. After some initial fear and worry, I fell asleep and slept 'til morning (I think). Then it was off to Grandma's!
Benjamin hadn't seen her since he was 13 so it was a happy reunion! We enjoyed lots of old family photo albums and stories of her life as a military wife living in Vienna after the war and moving around with six kids. We had dinner with her in the cafeteria where she lives and headed out after that.
It was a great visit! We plan on stopping back in again and staying for longer next time.
~Jessi
Posted by Benjamin & Jessi at 12:27 PM View Comments
Labels: boondocking, family
Thursday, July 8, 2010
The Makeover
Let's get right down to business here, friends! We present...
the kitchen area
Posted by Benjamin & Jessi at 1:33 PM View Comments
Labels: the camper
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
...oh, by the way.
After traveling near and far...we found it! OUR camper. Our home for the next few months. And we love it! It was love at first site really...
exactly what we were looking for. A Scamp. We've had fun fixing it up and getting it ready...well, it was camp-ready but NOT cute inside. So with a few touch ups of paint, new floors, new cushion covers, and curtains...she's now officially cute. I don't have pictures yet though, sorry...haven't gotten the after shots and I can't fully show her off without her make-over.
We started our journey a week ago today. Stopped off at my sisters in AR for a visit. LOVED seeing my family. My mom is visiting from Honduras and my brother came in from OK City for the weekend. It was wonderful. My nieces are growing and oh.SO.cute. See...
And I guess that about sums it up for now. We're in OK now (decided against the beach and are heading West already!). We'll be staying around Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge for a few days then will continue on to wherever the road takes us!
Posted by Benjamin & Jessi at 9:28 AM View Comments
Our Story
- Benjamin & Jessi
- We're semi-newly weds, traveling around America in search of ourselves and a deeper understand of God. Spending time in His creation in order to learn to love Him better. Join us here for stories of our journey to self-discovery, greater love for each other and knowing God in a deeper way.
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