If you think the World Race stops once you hit American soil, well you’ve got another thing coming. I think I may have slept on more couches/random beds since being back in the US than I did around the world. Well…perhaps not, but it would be a good toss up. Needless to say, since being home I’ve been quite the little traveler. I guess it takes awhile to get it out of your system? Here’s a short…ish rundown on where I’ve been and what I’ve done since being home post race. Enjoy!____________________________________________________________________________
To kick things off right, Thanksgiving was only TWO days after our arrival stateside. Talk about a quick recovery time! A few days to sleep in, get over the jetlag and put together a slide show for the fam. It was a great time to reconnect with everyone and Oh my Gawsh, the food!! Don’t even get me started! 🙂 soooo yummy. God bless America.
A week later and I was on the open road headed to Cairo to see my second family at Two Rivers. What a reunion…just like old times!
A quick stop in Nashville with Jess to see Nickel Creek’s last hurrah at the Ryman. (amazing!)
Back to Cairo for a week looking at real estate, catching up w/ the fam, and spending time processing and praying through my last year.
A quick jaunt up to Naperville to speak at a church about the WR—what an awesome connection!
A ‘lil side trip to Indiana to see my favorite-soon-to-be-married-WR-couple, Chad and Erin
Straight up to Milwaukee to reconnect with a college buddy and her new ministry
A stop in Madison to visit one of my college girls and another couple with a cute baby! I even squeezed in enough time to take their Christmas photo. (I’m that good.)
La Crosse was next on the list and I couldn’t even record all the people I ran into. That’s just what happens when you go back to your college town! I love it!
And then, the beautiful trek up to Minneapolis where I slept on a random person’s couch at the place my friend was house-sitting for—sooo nice…and weird. A great time of reconnecting with some long lost friends…much needed and so good.
I swung by River Falls to pick up my brother at college (didn’t I just do this like 2 weeks ago?!) I finally got a break from driving and a bit of company on the ride back to Rib Lake. Whew! What an awesome Midwest roadtrip.
A few days to chill at home and hang with the locals that I love—Angie, Aaron, Sarah, Brittany, and before you know it—it’s Christmas!!
I had about a week at home before I left for the One Thing Conference in Kansas City. Third year running. I actually left for the World Race from this conference last year…crazy.
This year though I tacked on another conference called the Luke 18 Project which was also in Kansas City. Talk about amazing…this was just what I needed and God knew it. It was as though people were putting words to things that were already planted on my heart.
Shawna and I headed back to Cairo for one day. It was a bummer that we didn’t have longer to hang out, but we had a plane to catch so we drove up St. Louis to catch our flight to Seattle.
In Seattle, we met up with Jenny, Telfer and Aragorn and drove to Abbotsford, BC for the Secret Place conference with Todd Bentley, Jason Upton and Heidi Baker. After all the world traveling you’d think everyone would bring their passports, eh? Well…with some prayers we made it across the border.
We stayed a few days and rested with Shawna’s Auntie Gertie and took a quick tour of Vancouver, almost made it to Victoria…but decided against it at the last minute (sorry jon). We decided instead to drive down to Seattle where we met up with Casey who saved us from sleeping in the truck that night. The next day we met up with other racers Kari, Jenny and Candice—good times.
After a day on the beach where my expectations were exceedingly and abundantly MET, Shawna and I continued on to Portland so I could visit with an old college roommate of mine. We stayed at her cute place, spun some yarn, drank some tea and took some whacky pics on the macbook just like old times!
Soon enough it was time to head out and journey south on Highway 1. Beautiful coastline. Redwoods. Awesome.
We spent one night in Redding, CA at Bill Johnson’s Church—Bethel. The first night we slept in the truck. I wouldn’t suggest it and neither would the parking lot attendant at the prayer room…so we got a hotel the second night. Our time here was a great eye-opener to what God is doing around the nation and in different tribes.
San Fransisco was the next stop so we could pick up my Cairo friends, Jess and Heather, who flew in to meet us. We spent the night with an old Youthworks friend at a church and toured the city, reenacted the Full House scene, didn’t pay to take the ferry to Alcatraz or drive on the Golden Gate Bridge, or ride a street car. Ok. so we did the cheap version of San Fran…we’re on a budget. What can I say?
Cruised down to San Jose to visit with another house of prayer. We participated in a Fire in the Night worship and chilled with some great people!
After a quick refueling we headed back to Redding for a few days because Heather was attending the writing conference. We stayed with a Bethel Student who Heather and Jess met in Mozambique…who is actually Australian. Random and awesome…wouldn’t have it any other way!
Next we booked it to Atascadero for a pit stop at another Youthworks hook up—even toured some vineyards and saw some pretty ocean views.
Hollywood was the next stop and we had NO hook ups this time. Good thing we made friends with some Christians that night so we had a place to stay! Thanks God! He’s really awesome at providing. I love random new friends! We partnered with a Hollywood ministry and got to tour Paramount pictures. Pray for Hollywood!
Now here’s a real long shot…in Long Beach! I had no clue the C-squad World Racers were in town for a 48 hour layover. Divine? I think so. AND it just happened to be Shawna’s birthday. So we planned a pretty rad surprise partay with 50 or so special guests. It was awesome to see these guys again and hear more stories face to face!
One last night in Costa Mesa with some lovely ladies Heather knew and we were off to San Clemente for a final view of the beach. We dropped Jess off with some San Diego friends, left Shawna to find her way back north and Heather and I hopped on a plane in Santa Ana headed to Cairo.
And at the end of it all…the purpose in it always, always is LOVE.
