Appreciation and Connection

We spent our remaining time in Arizona in Sedona and Phoenix.  Sedona, because it is just so beautiful, tranquil and a spiritual place to hike.  Phoenix, because of friendships, warmth, sunshine, and our flight will take us from here to Toledo in a few days.

Our plan is to leave the RV out on the west coast, flying back to Toledo one week a month to spend time with our family, and make appointments that are necessary health wise.  This trip back is a big one – our oldest daughter Hayley is getting married.  So, we are full of joy, anticipation and happiness.

This leg of the trip feels a little like acclimating back into civilization.  And we appreciate what that brings.  We have gone to a restaurant.  We have checked out some beautiful exhibits.  And, we have been spoiled rotten by warm long showers, a cozy big bed, unlimited use of flushing toilets, and free flowing WIFI to get our work and calls done every day.

We have continued our desire for an appreciate for nature with sunrise hikes, hour after hour outdoors, and late nights outside watching the beautiful moon.   I literally sit in a chair outside chasing he sun rays across the grass.  The heat from the sun warms my bones.  The shine from the sun warms my heart.

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Sedona Crowds Left Us Running for the Hills

We love Sedona.  The rocks, the vibe, the canyon climbs, the crisp blue air with puffy clouds.  The energy and crystal magic.  And we were able to experience this full on during most of our Devils Bridge Hike.  The hike winds through the woods as you see the beautiful rock faces around you in every direction.  The straight up rock climb to the top was strenuous and rewarding at the same time.  

What we weren’t prepared for was such a huge crowd at the end of the hike to get THE PERFECT Instagram photo.  Literally, lines of 20-30 people to get to a very specific part on the hike, mostly kids taking selfies and group pics from multiple angels until they were happy with just the right shot.   More people than we have seen at any of the other places we have visited this entire journey.  

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We thought about hitting up a vegan/GF restaurant since this is such a cute, funky town with a sweet vibe…. but the crowds were honestly overwhelming.  Selfishly, for the most part this trip is about connecting with nature and beating/avoiding the crowds.  So while we love Sedona views, the busyness of it just wasn’t for us.  

Cacti, Chihuly, and a Full Moon…Oh My!

I find the desert cacti so interesting, and I had no idea before my time in the Southwest the many different varieties that existed.  If you ever go to the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens, you will see a plethora of plants, positioned almost like they are growing and floating from the bottom of the ocean like seaweed.  Add to that the juxtaposition of the rich, vibrant glass forms and colors from Chihuly; they almost look like birds, or fish, or reeds within the setting.  On top of that, it was a full moon.  It was heaven.  Eye candy and an overload of photo opportunity.  Highly recommend.

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Precious Time with My Bestie

The best part about Phoenix is I get to catch up with my best friend, Stephanie Espinoza.  She is my bonus sister.  We grew up together in Muskogee, Oklahoma and have stayed very close over all these years.  I never pass up a trip to see her and her family in Phoenix.  And we love to go on girls hiking trips together.  The love and hospitality John and I have felt from her, and her family has been overwhelming and comforting.  And I consider it no coincidence that last year when our daughter needed some help to work through things at a recovery clinic, the only facility she was accepted at was right here in Arizona.  God does work in mysterious ways.

We have been able to hike daily, make meals together, visit farmers markets, share real estate stories, and just chill in the sun.  I feel so lucky to have this time.

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CouchSurfers Reunite

Ok, for some people this may sound a little crazy, but for some of the time while we lived in EU, we participated in Couchsurfing.  Couchsurfing is where you stay at someone’s house for free, and you let them stay at your house for free.  It is a great way to meet people, make new friends, and get a sense of what really to go see and do in a country you are not familiar with.  We did this (all 6 of us) in Amsterdam, Berlin, Athens, Rome, Venice.  It was scary and fun at the same time.  The flip side of that is we then allowed people to stay with us while we were living in Paris.  We were able to meet people from other European countries, China, and Americans.  

One of our favorite visits was with the Wells Family – Kate, Jeff, Phoebe, and Tesla.  Kate and Jeff took a yearlong sabbatical to do an around the world backpacking trip with their young daughters.  They were so adventurous, and I was in awe.  We have stayed in touch throughout these years, and it is always so fun to reconnect with kindred hippy spirits.

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The Mutual Admiration Society

It is so hard to believe I retired from my career with OC almost a year ago.  One connection I had to make on my Phoenix visit was a dear work friend – Sherry Smith.  Sherry is one of the most upbeat, friendly, open, and positive people I have had the honor of knowing.  We were able to compare retirement notes (we both love it) and our significant others were able to meet each other.  Oh, and we had to give them a van tour.  She made the leap of faith to leave Ohio and settle down in a warmer climate several years ago.  I admire her for it and am envious of the view from her home!

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The Ultimate Reconnection…Family

We head out January 19^th for our trip home to Toledo.  We are beyond excited to welcome Chris Kirk officially into our family, and we look forward to the extended family we will gain.  It is so wonderful to see your children happy.  And who doesn’t like a wedding, am I right?

I don’t take lightly that 6 months ago to the day on July 19, 2021, John’s heart chose to stop and our lives changed forever.  I also don’t take lightly how far we have come in a mere 6 months.  It has been so fun to watch our friends embrace John, after they prayed for him so hard.  And it has been so fun to be able to make this trip and grab a taste of what the rest of our life will be.

I won’t be blogging for a bit while we just enjoy our time at home.  Our next leg will take us chasing the warmth and sun in California, and maybe a little bit in Utah and Nevada. 

Stay tuned for February, and thanks for your interest in our journey!