Farewell

Welp. The time has come my friends.

Blogger, thanks for a good start. You've been (mostly) good to me... but we're movin' on.

You can find me over here now!

Check, check, check it!

That's http://melissaguthrie.wordpress.com

Peace and love, hope you continue reading!

Roadtrip 2010: Some Things I Learned Driving Across the Country

• nun's play ball. and i think about it all the stinkin time.
• i'm not very good at making up songs. but it's ok, Caroline and Casey are.
• next time you think a bear is outside your tent, you're probably wrong
• don't talk on your cell phone and pump gas
• it's true. i can write 15 paragraphs about my love for a tree while some famous building does absolutely nothing for me. i'm ok with this.
• when driving across the country, pack as light as possible. and a cooler of food is extremely necessary.
• when trying to enter canada, remember to shower and not look like a hippie in general
• sometimes i think i live in the middle of nowhere. next time i think this, i will think of Kansas and remember that i'm wrong
• gourmet chocolate is freaking good. anytime you have an unlimited supply of it at your fingertips, eat as much of it as possible, as fast as possible, for as long as possible.

• a part of my heart will forever belong and come alive in small town, Clemson, SC
• Denver feels like home
• i have to get back to Montana. who's coming with me?
• my heart still starts racing uncontrollably when i even so much as think about Portland, OR
• the rain in Seattle isn't all that bad.

• the Lord is diverse in the beauty of His creation, which is a beautiful expression of His heart both for us in the present but for also as He is forever about the work of changing us...
• visiting people i love is probably one of my top 3 absolute favorite things i love in life
• talking about scripture is sweet (not like that's sweet dude, but like. sweet, precious, wonderful)
• often times, i choose to only see what is exactly like me and makes me comfortable. even more often, i choose to judge that which is different from me and keep it at an arm's length
• i love that we never, ever, ever stop growing or learning about the Lord. His character, His love, His heart... there is more and more to discover and have our eyes opened to every single week, day, hour, moment.
• we can't out-do the God of the universe. nice try though.
• there are a lot of people in the world. and we all have the same broken story.
• it's not about us and in the same breath it very much is. and we have to believe both.
• sometimes there really isn't anything more hilarious than making inside jokes.
• i'll sleep when i'm dead. no, really. (ha!)
• we don't have time to waste.
• i'm desperate for hope.
• sometimes we just don't freaking get it. and it's okay.
• for the love. let go. death grip kills you.
• we are holy creatures. breathing and seeping with the Spirit of God. and when we choose to truly carry that with us wherever we go and offer it to others there is the potential for nothing to ever be the same.
• live out of who you are. not who someone else is. everything will be much better then. and i mean everything!
• when you have good friends in the car with you... riding for hours on end isn't all that bad.
• the beauty and simplicity of simply doing life with others, or witnessing it from afar - makes my heart beat wildly with joy and at the same time become totally overwhelmed and calmed with peace.
• the moment our dreams die is the moment our souls do as well.
• letting your heart be healed is a process. and pieces can come slowly sometimes. but true freedom and redemption is the best thing i've ever tasted.
• we can't even begin to comprehend how much love the Father has for us. Good grief.
• we only need courage. and it's always right there for the taking.
• change is good for us.
• the Lord so intimately calls out for our souls it's absurd.
• His promises are true.
• sometimes, you gotta dance
• His grace is abounding. His mercy really is new each morning.
• choose to see the good in people.
• people will yell at their kids absolutely anywhere. and it's heartbreaking.
• we desperately have to believe we are the Church. now.
• the Church is everywhere. truly. and thankfully.
• this is only a taste of what's to come.
• in order to tell a good story, you gotta live one first.
• REI is awesome no matter where you go.
• living in the past robs you of everything.
• people serve Jesus in the most beautiful, powerful ways. it is both a gentle push and a swift punch in the face.
• the moment we let go of fear - everything is far better.
• i can't wait for Heaven.
• you can learn a lot about a place by sitting in a coffee shop for awhile.
• i want more. desire more. desperately need more.
• when we wake up in the morning, we have little control over what happens and every bit of control over how we receive it.
• creation truly is groaning and crying out.
• in a friendship, speaking something is far more powerful and life giving than holding it in.
• i feel alive when i laugh.
• we're small little finite beings. with a big God. who loves to let us play in His creation.
• God protects us. probably more than we'll ever know.
• God is faithful.
• sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is let yourself feel.
• praying is the most important thing we can do. and i forget this every single day.
• stop making plans. they'll get ruined. but if that happens to you, it will be the best thing that's ever happened in your life.
• the lilies. God clothes them. so what do we have to worry about? the sparrows. He feeds them. surely He will care for us too.
• The Lord means it when He calls you beautiful. and He'll show you over and over and over again until you start to believe it for yourself.
• everyone is searching for something. the hard part can be getting someone to admit it to themselves.
• i want to be careful when i say this - adventure for purely adventure's sake can leave you empty. chasing down one adventure after the next isn't the point. when we do that, we're either running from something or desperately looking for answers in all the wrong places.
• if you love God. love people the way He does.

Roadtrip 2010: Part 16 - Vancouver, CANADA

ok. first some pictures from Vancouver. (have i mentioned blogger drives me crazy?)

i was a little obsessed with this map. not really sure why. but here it is!

ignore my face.

the bigger question is WHAT IS THIS THING I'M HOLDING?!

i didn't know squash could get that freaking big!

and yes, pure maple syrup please!

incredible.

giant statues of the same man laughing. kinda funny, but mostly creepy!

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Vancouver. What an interesting place.

I'm not really sure what I expected, but Caroline's family said several times before we left "make sure you don't leave anything in your car. the property crime in Vancouver is really high while violent crime doesn't exist" uh. ok. we took everything out of the car, all our food, our camping gear, and all the other random stuff. The things I recall being left were: a shoe box, some books, a foam sleeping bag, a towel.

So we drove a couple of hours and entered into Canada. The idea alone that you can just do that whenever you want is weird.

This was the approximate conversation with the customs guy at the border... we'll call him "french/canadian guy on a power trip" (fcgpt):

fcgpt: your passports*caro and i hand him our passports, he takes a long time with them.*

fcgpt: you're from florida. you're from south carolina. how do you know each other?
caro: from college
fcgpt: where?
caro: clemson university in south carolina
fcgpt: (to me) you went there?me: yes sir

fcgpt: (to caro) and you?

caro: yes, i went to school there

fcgpt: what do you two do now?

me: i work for a church.

caro: i just graduated.

fcgpt: open your trunk

*trunk opens. he digs around at the random contents left over from DRIVING ACROSS THE FREAKING COUNTRY, comes back to the window*

fcgpt: what is this stuff in your car?

caro: we just drove across the country and have been camping some along the way.

fcgpt: where will you sleep tonight?
caro: in seattle.

fcgpt: you're visiting canada for the day?

caro: yes sir.

fcgpt: where are you staying in seattle?

caro: with my cousins.

fcgpt: but WHERE? what is the address?

caro: (tells him address)

fcgpt: why do you have this stuff in your car? it just doesn't make sense. it doesn't add up. it doesn't make sense for you to have this stuff.

me: we drove across the country. we took most everything out and left it in seattle.

fcgpt: when's the last time you had pot in this car?

*after caroline and i almost choke and gasp and clear the cobwebs out of our ears. surely we have entered the twilight zone. did he just ask us when was the last time we had weed in the car?!)

caro: what? never.

fcgpt: just be honest with me. when's the last time?

caro: i've never had any drugs in this car.

fcgpt: don't lie to me. just tell me. (he's getting angry!)

caro: honestly, i don't do drugs.

fcgpt: (to me) what about you? when's the last time you've had pot in this car?

me: never

fcgpt: you've never had pot in your friends car? even without her knowing?

me: no sir. (IF I HAD DRUGS I WOULDN'T HIDE IT IN MY FRIEND'S CAR CRAZY FRENCH MAN WITH A WEIRD ACCENT. GET OFF YOUR HIGH HORSE!)

fcgpt: so you've never brought drugs into this car, even if they are not in here right now?

me: (is this real life?) ... no!

fcgpt: you two. you've never had pot in this car?

both of us: no sir.

fcgpt: what are you going to do in Vancouver?

caro: explore. i don't know, we've never been here. we just want to come for the day!

fcgpt: and you're coming back through tonight?

caro: yes.

fcgpt: get out of here.

WHAT THE...? that was such a bizarre experience. i think it speaks for itself.

So moving on...

We drove to Granville Island, which is a part of the city under a bridge. That sounds strange, but is the only way I know how to explain it. Come to find out, it is actually the more touristy part of the city, but oh well. We walked around the market and figured out after stupidly asking this woman that we needed to exchange some of our money. (dumb question in hindsight, but at the time it seemed like a reasonable question).

Then we got some AMAZING Indian food and ate out on this boardwalk type thing that was FULL of people from all over the place! I don't think we said much during our meal but were just so excited about all the languages beings spoken around us, and the beauty of where we were, and just all the fun stuff going on all around us!

We then walked around some and went into some of the shops, which was enjoyable! The two things I remember from this were (1) a yarn shop with good music and (2) lots of left over Olympic memorabilia.

Then we drove through the city to a GIANT park where we changed clothes and went on a run. That was an interesting way to experience a place. Saw lots of people roller blading, playing instruments, laying on the beach, running, biking, and so forth! And I think it was good for both of us after so much riding around... so so much riding around! Like around 4,000 miles worth of riding around!

Afterwards we spent awhile trying to find a place to eat but didn't really know where we were going so we ended up making our way back too Granville island where we went to this fancy restaurant and enjoyed delicious food! And we had just enough Canadian money to pay for our meal and leave a good tip with a few coins left over to save for keeps! woohoo!

By that point we were tired and decided to go ahead and head back to Seattle since it would take us about 3 hours. This was the conversation on the American side of customs.

dude: just went in for the day?

caro: yes

dude: buy anything to bring back?

caro: nope

dude: have a good night.

seriously?

amazing. but we didn't get stamps for our passports! bummer!

Overall, Vancouver was a very peaceful seeming place. I enjoyed it. Very friendly, helpful people (BESIDES CRAZY MAN AT THE BORDER!) And so so beautiful. Wouldn't want to live there I don't think, but would definitely go back!

A day or two later after some final moments in Seattle... I flew out back to South Carolina.

An adventure doesn't even come close to accurately describing this trip... more thoughts to come!

Roadtrip 2010: Part 15 - West Coast part 2

Happy New Year!

As promised... some pictures!

The first two are from Portland when we went and walked around a rose garden. and that's all from that place, you already know why! The rest are from around Seattle... enjoy!

Being miniature just like the sign says!

And no, I have no idea what is happening to my hair here.

fun people playing some music in Seattle!

yummy and delicious! walked by these things and couldn't help but stop!

we also had some really delicious cheese in Seattle. wish i had gotten a picture.

i thought this was funny.

on a walk in the park. it was really windy on this point. so this picture is kinda goofy!

forrest gump? yes.

we made it to the west coast! literally!

the troll under the bridge

hiding from the troll!

Roadtrip 2010: Part 14 - West Coast Part 1

You thought I was lying when I said I would be lucky to finish these posts by the end of the year... well I guess I showed you! ha!

Thanks to:
(1) a computer that sometimes works and then when it does decide to work only wants to connect to the internet in certain locations (one of which is NOT my house, which actually has been a blessing)
(2) breaking the friend's computer I was sometimes using (yikes. terrible feeling)
and (3) the fact that my life will not CALM THE FREAK DOWN

blogging has been pushed aside dear friends. never fear faithful readers (err, hi! all 2 of you!) I'm still going to try to persevere through these road trip posts! (if for nothing else to say i'm finished. b/c let's get real - we're all a bit over it.) and in even more exciting news - i've got some blog changes up my sleeve (or really bouncin around in the creative (small) part of my brain) - so get excited!

so now... on to the west coast!

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After our beautiful stint in Montana we hit the road to Seattle. We pretty much drove until midnight to get there - but it was worth it. That part of the drive I remember being hilarious. We laughed a lot. But due to the fact it's 4 months later - I can't reallllllllllly tell you at what b/c I don't remember!

Except I do remember that we stopped in a parking lot and cooked macaroni out of the trunk. People kept driving by and had AWESOME responses! Some people gave us the "crazy fool!" look, other pretended to not be watching but had a look that said "HUH", and some pointed and laughed. Funny. The other thing I remember from the drive is seeing a sign for a canyon, but it was about 11 o'clock and we couldn't see it. but we tried to look and we pulled off and there were signs everywhere about rattlesnakes. gross.

Seattle completely surprised me. I honestly didn't really expect to like it - but we shot out of these tunnels and Seattle just totally welcomed us! Seattle was really fun. We enjoyed going to the market, checking out the different parts of town, eating in different restaurants, going for a run through a park, visiting with Caroline's family and two of my friend's from high school. We went to a giant REI (hm, probably our 3rd or 4th to visit on the trip!) We were in Seattle for a good 5 days which was like heaven. To not have to constantly be picking up and packing up but to have somewhere semi-permanent. It was glorious.

Probably my favorite part of Seattle was just hearing what it was like to live there from Caroline's family. Just hearing someone else's perspective on life and hearing what their day to day life is like for them stirred my heart for deeper living amongst people. At one point Caroline and I also got to share with them what dcf is like, what it means to us, and how it has shaped so much for both of us. It was kind of crazy explaining something so dear to my heart to someone who has not one concept of what dcf is. It was actually pretty difficult at first but the more I was able to get my thoughts in order, the more I was reminded of how much I truly love that place - it is home. Looking back now, it is actually incredible that the Lord took me further and further away from Clemson and taught me numerous things along the way. Then once we were pretty much the furthest we could get he started to draw my heart back home, back to what I love, the people I cherish dearly, and the place I am currently called to be. Hm, there's a lot of life goodness in there isn't there? We have a good Father who does beautiful things.

We also spent one day in Portland. I hated it. I mean, I'm willing to say we had a bad experience but it would take A LOT to convince me to go back there. It seemed like everywhere we turned there were people doing drugs, talking about drugs, stoned out of their minds, drugs this, drugs that... PEOPLE! I know I live in a small southern town but LAY OFF THE REEFER! I also met a woman who upon meeting her bashed the south after the words that had just come out of my mouth were, "I'm from South Carolina" THAT'S SOUTH. CAROLINA. SOUTH. SOUTH. SOUTH. what? seriously? Her reasoning was that in the south people are "fake" and that at least in Portland if someone hates you they will tell you to your face. Dear lady, I understand what you mean with your fake comment. but do you OFTEN have people telling you that they hate you - because that sounds terrible! It was also creep central - the entire time I felt like someone was following us. buhh! I think that's all I need to say about Portland. I'm done with the bashing. And no, you guessed correctly, I will not be going to seminary in Portland. Although, it should be noted that the Lord did work on my heart a bit in Portland and make me realize that I don't have a lot of grace for people who do drugs. Workin on it.

Anyways, I am all worked up now. Gonna go - but I will have pictures for you soon (that's assuming blogger decides to be friendly and not pull it's usual crap when I try to post pictures). Then a little bit about our day trip to Vancouver. Some final Road Trip reflections and then PEACE OUT 2010, HELLLLLO 2011!

Roadtrip 2010: Part 13 - Glacier National Park

Well... it would definitely appear that I have disappeared into a black hole. Never fear though! I am alive!

Life has been pretty insane - mostly in good, rich, beautiful, fun ways. But busier than I ever imagined it could be! Hopefully that will slow soon.

I need to finish these road trip posts, since it happened 3 months ago, but also because I have many other things I'd like to write about. So back to the regularly scheduled program!

Also, just a fair warning. My mind is moving at Adderall pace this morning - get ready for chaos to explode, hope you can follow it!

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I forgot to mention in my last post that the river we rafted down was the one where A River Runs Through It was filmed. No big deal, just a minor detail! I've actually never seen the movie, but would like to very soon especially after being on the river!

So after staying in Big Sky for a couple of days we headed over the mountains... to more mountains, particularly the ones in Glacier National Park!

Glacier was beautiful and seemed to be a very diverse park. We drove in and through a winding dirt road for about 30 minutes to get to our camp site. Then we cooked dinner by a lake and took it all in. No bear sightings!

The next day we got up and drove the Going-to-the-Sun Road which basically is a road that takes you to the top of the mountains and goes from one end of the park to the other. Since we didn't have much time, and wanted to see as much of the park as possible, we decided this was our best option. It was freaking incredible!

Please see the album and you'll know what I mean! I started to upload some pictures and then realized that I wanted to share them all and that would take forever and make this post incredibly long. So we'll go with the album. I probably should have done this all along, but oh well!

Four other notes about this particular day:

(1) This day happened to be the ONLY DAY of our trip that it rained. Incredible? Yes, thank you Lord! But the rain didn't spoil the fun or the beauty!

(2) Also, a lot of people have asked me if Caroline and I ever got sick of each other or got in a fight or anything like that? The day we drove the Going-to-the-Sun Road was also the only day we got in a minor ... I wouldn't even call it argument. Just had to have a conversation - and it wasn't even a big deal. I can't even really remember what it was about! Good friendship? Yes, I'd say so!

(3) This was the first day that I truly started to feel like we were living out the car. Before we started the drive after camping we stopped at this fancy lodge full of all these well-dressed (and really by that all I mean is clean) people. So we walked in in our camping clothes, haven't showered for... awhile, and found the bathroom where we washed our faces and brushed our teeth. Lots of funny looks. It felt a little rebellious, and of course I was worried about getting in trouble, but it was fuuuun!

(4) I just can't get over the wild flowers. They were everywhere. EVERYWHERE. And I was obsessed with them. The Lord continuously used them to teach me of my beauty, of how much more He cares for me and rejoices over me and loves me deeply, and oh what they say of His character! If you ever meet a boy who thinks he's going to marry me - tell him about the wildflowers - and he will surely win me over! (Again, see the picture album!)

Just like with the Grand Tetons, I will definitely be returning to Glacier one day... If you ever go, let me know and I will SO be there!

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Next Up: The West Coast

Roadtrip 2010: Part 12, Surprise! Montana!

At this rate I'm going to be lucky to finish these things by 2011. Geez. I never knew my life could be so busy... anyways, on to the glorious Montana.

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Montana was another one of those places where the Lord surprised us with His beauty and His love for us in every single way. And the best part was that I 100 percent didn't see it coming. It was an absolute treasure of a surprise. It blew me away.

Now, for most of my life I would say that Montana has been a place not ever on my radar or a place I ever considered a "must visit". I mean, Montana? That seems incredibly random and 6,000 miles away from anything you've ever known (and it is!) Who goes there? But after visiting - I could move to Montana! It is beautiful beyond words... with gigantic mountains, wildflowers galore, and a simple just... being or presence. Just breathing the air felt divine and perfect and made life slow down!

We arrived in Big Sky, MT with the thought that we would stay for a day and then head on our way to Glacier National Park. But when we arrived those plans quickly got abandoned!

We stayed with Caroline's family friends in their mansion on the top of a mountain that overlooked the most gorgeous sunsets, roaring mountains, and of course - some big sky! Cheesy, I know... but if ever a place has been aptly named, it's that one! When we walked into the house and were shown the room we would be staying in (complete with the largest bean bag chair you could ever fathom) we squealed with excitement. I mean shrieks and giggles like you can't imagine! There was jumping up and down and some rolling around on the ground too if I'm not mistaken.

We traded in our rice and beans over a small camping stove for wild elk, gourmet sweet potatoes, lots of wine from the vineyards of California, and the glories of fresh fruit. We traded in our ground pads, sleeping bags, and tent for warm beds and a night in the hot tub looking up at the stars. We traded in our normal camping and driving routine for two extra nights and one extra day that included whitewater rafting, hiking, and dinner on the porch overlooking it all. It was incredible.

I felt spoiled in all of those undeserving ways... full in all those you just can't hold the joy in type of ways... alive in all of those I want more of this and yet I could just sit in this forever type of ways...

It was in Montana that the Lord probably spoke most deeply of His love for me. It took getting all the way to freaking Montana - probably the furthest from anything familiar or comfortable - for the Lord's whispers to finally break through. For His love to sing wildly and my ears to listen with great anticipation instead of fear. For His joy to be restored in me. For His words of daughter, beloved, beautiful, and intimate love to finally break through the rusty, beat-up, chains around my heart.

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Next Up: Glacier National Park