Michigan

On June 15, I picked up my rental car, packed up my things, and drove to Michigan for a six day retreat.  The few times I've needed to rent a car, I've gone to a Hertz office nearby.  They have been so helpful and friendly (and cheaper than the competition), and this time was no exception.  They even gave a little upgrade of a GPS, the Hertz NeverLost system.  I was so excited because our GPS, Edith, is actually "Sometimes Lost."

The retreat was to include a "technology fast," which is quite challenging for me!  I warned my family that they wouldn't hear from me for a week, and I planned to do my best.  However, technology really is a part of my life.  For instance, I planned to read.  Most of my books are on my iPad.  I don't own a watch.  Why would I need one, when I can look at my cell phone for the time?  Being single and living abroad, most of my communication is via technology.  Once I got to the retreat location, some of those challenges took care of themselves.  Our location was remote enough that I didn't have a signal for my phone or internet!  I chose to still take my iPad, because the reasoning for the fast was to be resting, not working, and since I was using it for rest, that seemed appropriate.

I've gotten ahead of myself.  The drive out was pretty nice.  We had a lot of rain the days prior to my departure, and I kept thinking, "I do not want to drive 700 miles in the rain!"  Thankfully, the rain cleared up and I had a gorgeous day to drive.  I love driving through the mountains of Pennsylvania.  I drove through four tunnels, over many other mountains, and then I reached Ohio.  And it was flat.  And then I got to Michigan.  And it was flat.  It was still pretty, but wow, it was flat.  

I drove most of the way on Friday.  The retreat started on Saturday, with an arrival between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.  Once I drove through Detroit, I figured I should start looking for a hotel.  I decided to drive to Port Huron, which would leave me with about 80 miles to drive on Saturday.  When I stopped for dinner, I called ahead and booked a hotel room in Port Huron.  The closer I got to Port Huron, the more nervous I got.  I kept seeing signs for Canada, and instructions to use the highway I was using to go across to Canada.  And my GPS, the NeverLost, kept telling me to go straight!  Three miles before the Canadian border crossing, I reached my exit.  And there was construction.  And a detour.  The detour was taking me even further on the Canadian bound highway!  

Now, I was back on the highway, my GPS was telling me I missed my exit, and I was thinking, "I didn't bring my passport.  I can't go to Canada."  I got off at the next exit, figuring I would just do this the old fashioned way and find a local to ask for directions.  Instead I found the hotel, which was great, since it was now 9 p.m. and I was pretty tired!  

The next morning, the NeverLost and I began our journey again.  I checked out of my Comfort Inn and turned on the GPS.  It told me to get back on the same highway.  I was muttering to myself at this point.  With a big sigh, I turned on the car, got back on the same highway, and headed even closer to Canada.  And the NeverLost told me to take exit 2.  Fortunately, I was paying very close attention and there wasn't any traffic, because the exit the NeverLost told me to take was marked with a big orange sign stating CANADIAN CUSTOMS ONLY.  I did not take that exit.  I carried on straight and took the next exit and prayed to God that I wouldn't be crossing any bridges.  

I did not cross a bridge or end up in Canada, thank the Lord.  Instead, I found M25, which was the highway I needed.   Now this made me giggle, because the M25 is also the name of the Motorway around London.  However, this is the Michigan version:

There was significantly less traffic than one might find on the London M25.

But before I got too far from Port Huron, I (wisely) thought I should fill up the car with fuel.  As Leslie said when looking at the map, "Oh my goodness, Port Huron is the last town before the final frontier!"  I stopped at a gas station and began to fill up the car.  I used the little clicky latch on the handle so I wouldn't need to hold the handle the entire time, but as regulations state, I stayed with the car.  Thank goodness I did!  I heard a "glug glug" and thought, "Oh, it's full."  But the little clicky latch didn't release!  So, I grabbed the handle (leaving it in the fuel tank because fuel is still coming out!) and frantically fiddled with in.  After a few tries, it released.  Now I had fuel down the side of the car, on the concrete all around me, and on my hands, and I was having visions of gas stations exploding.  The practical side of me was also thinking, "Oh man, I had to pay for that fuel!"  Clearly I am capable of thinking many things at once!  I very calmly closed my fuel tank, printed a receipt, and walked into the gas station to ask for help.

I'm so glad two girls were working.  I stated the problem, wanting to tell them more about the handle and that it should be fixed.  I suppose my Eastern directness was too direct for her Midwestern-ness because the girl seemed to think I was complaining and she gave me a complimentary voucher to take my car through their carwash and hand sanitizer for my hands.  I clarified, but she assured me that she would have someone look at the handle.  I took my little Nissan rental through the car wash, and was back on my journey.  I was driving north, along the "thumb" of Michigan.  There are some really lovely roadside parks which are along Lake Huron, because the M25 runs parallel to the edge of Lake Huron for some distance.  

And then there were more detours, which took me away from the coast and further inland.  

All in all, it was a very nice (albeit long) trip.  I arrived at the retreat around noon and used my barely there signal to text my family that I had arrived safely.  After that, I dutifully turned off my phone and took my book down to the lake, prepared to relax.  Vicious horseflies interrupted that with their biting, but I did last about an hour.  After that, I unpacked, took a nap, and before I knew it, was headed to another lodge for our dinner and first meeting with the other guests.

I'll write more about that later :)

Lovers Leap in Tennessee

When I returned to the USA, I started to get the idea from a lot of directions that people were concerned about me because I don't have a plan.  If you know me, I like plans.  But at this point, I don't have one.  Actually, if you know me really well, you know I normally have about twenty plans and I just have to pick one!  And  yes, I do have a lot of different plans right now, but I don't know which one to follow yet.  I can't explain it.  I just have a strong sense that I need to wait.  Slow down.  And just take the one little baby step in front of me.

I have probably mentioned this before, but I have often been recalling a line Robert Redford speaks in the film version of Out of Africa.  He says, "God made the world round so we couldn't see too far down the road."  (Actually, that may not be exact, because it has been ages since I watched the film and I have a tendency to switch words around!  Also, I love the story, but have never actually finished the book, so I'm not sure if it is a line from the book originally.)  Back to the quote.  I just love that reminder.  It tugs at my adventurous side when my detail loving side gets anxious.

A few months ago, I started to get a very strong mental picture of my waiting.  I had a friend who frustrated me when she said I seemed "lost."  To me, lost is not at all the right word but I didn't know how to explain what I felt.  I mulled it over for a while, and this is what I've come to see.

I feel like I know exactly where I am.  I feel confident that I am where I should be.  But I do know that this is a temporary situation.  Whether I stay or go, something more permanent has to happen.  This picture in my mind is so clear.  Near Chattanooga, Tennessee, there is a place called Rock City at Lookout Mountain.  At one spot, the caretakers have placed a marker, pointing out that from this vantage point,  you can see landmarks in seven states.

I feel like I'm standing at that marker.  I don't feel lost at all.  I know where I am and it is the right place for me today.  There are so many directions I can see, and the view is amazing.   It is as though God is holding me here.  It is not a punishment or a lack of hearing His voice, but rather a chance to take in the beauty.

There is a waterfall there, 140 feet tall.  It was created when Rock City became a tourist spot.  I have a love of waterfalls, and for some reason, I've always loved this picture, which either Dad or I took in 2003 when our family visited Rock City.

The High Falls of the Lookout Mountain

The High Falls of the Lookout Mountain

Rock City has a legend of a Native American man who fell in love with a woman from another tribe.  When their love was discovered, he was executed by being thrown from the cliffs.  She was forced to watch, but escaped her guardians and jumped over the cliffs herself.  You can read the story for yourself, found on a old Tennessee postcard.  The lookout point is also called Lovers Leap because of this legend.  It is a very tragic story for such a lovely spot.

In my waiting, I have come to a point of having one step more certain.  I have finally bought a plane ticket, which helps to settle my plans for the coming months.  Mid July, I'll be making a ridiculously long 40 hour journey to Mozambique.  My parents are using their connections to find several opportunities for me to keep busy.  The really exciting part is that I will be staying in Mozambique for four months, returning to the USA about a week before Thanksgiving!  

The month until I leave will be pretty busy.  This Friday, I'm driving out to Lake Huron, for a week of retreat and prayer.  I will be taking my camera, but sadly, you'll have to wait to see pictures.  I'm not supposed to be using a computer or phone during the week I'm there!  After that week, I will be back in Pennsylvania, but then going to Massachusetts and perhaps Maine the following week.  Before I know it, it will be July and I'll pack and go to the airport.  Of course, I'll be keeping you posted on my travels!

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog tails...

Last week, my good friend asked me to take some family pictures for her.  We found a morning this week that suited her family and my schedule, and I drove to their farm.  I was really excited by the opportunity, but a little nervous.  I enjoy photography and I know I've captured some great pictures, but there is a certain amount of pressure when I feel "expected" to get great pictures.  I love photography for the experience, the moment, the art of seeing the picture and then snapping the shutter to save that picture.  I was a little worried about being able to create the moments.  The impromptu pictures are always my favorites.  Fortunately, Amy's two little boys know me and we were at their home, so I knew I could count on them to playful and relaxed.  

I had a rough morning, and I ended up being late and in a mood when I pulled into their driveway.  But my heart melted when two boys came screaming out the door, shouting, "Hope's here, Hope's here, Hope's here!"  It's awesome when someone is that excited to see you! :)  Ron and Amy corralled the boys, I grabbed my camera and lenses and we started shooting.  I've pulled out a few of my favorites, and I noticed that most of them aren't the planned ones.  I have better ones, where everyone (or 3 out of 4!) are looking at the camera and smiling, but I like the ones with the movement, the craziness of life with two little boys evident.  

Amy wanted to get some pictures with some of the farm equipment, and we tried to get some on the combine.  (I only know the name because they called it that!)  But I loved the idea of having the boys in the tires.  Colin wasn't so thrilled, but Gavin loved it.  

These boys are farm boys, and they love love love being outdoors and running around.  It is doubtful that photoshoots are high on their fun list, so keeping them from running away took considerable effort!  I started snapping pictures while two boys wriggled and giggled.  This is one that I really love but there are others that also looked great!

The boys also climbed into their play-house.  I love this picture.  It is impossible not to smile when Colin turns his grin towards you.  Those dimples get me every time, and Amy says they are his saving grace when he's been naughty!  I also really liked the shadows of the play house because it just makes his smile that much brighter.

Of course, the day before family pictures, Gavin got bonked in the head with a toy truck.  Here he is showing me his battle scars from playing with his cousin.  

I love the colors in this picture, but more than that, I love the fierce look on Colin's face!  He wasn't angry or upset, just very very focused.  

What a great family.  It warms my heart to see my lifelong friend so happy.  While she may not be a vet for a huge game reserve in Africa, or a number of other things she thought about as a kid, she loves her life.  

At the end of the morning, my concerns had been proven pointless.  There were no forced smiles.  (Maybe some forced stillness, but no forced smiles!)  I took over 500 pictures, and while not all are fantastic, I have a number of  great ones and many good ones.  The entire time, it was very plain that these two kids were just thrilled to be outdoors with their parents and just having fun.  I'll be more than happy to do this again :)