Chasing the Sun

Whenever I flew out to see my husband during our dating years, I'd think of it as "Chasing the Sun." It was especially true when I'd fly across the country at sunset, when the sun's descent seemed the longest I'd seen. So what do you call flying out east? "Chasing the Moon?" It felt that way just a few short weeks ago when we flew out east for a friend's wedding, and to begin another adventure. I loved flying into Boston at night, seeing all the lights reflected in the harbor. And of course, the people awaiting us were even more lovely! It went so fast--the wedding, seeing old high school friends, going to church, and having a spectacular party at home with relatives. (It was like the Memorial Day or Fourth of July gatherings I missed/will miss, and what I so desperately craved!) And as the sun came up on our third morning in New Hampshire, we heard the call...

"GO WEST YOUNG (WO)MAN!" This seemed to be our motto as we headed out again from my parent's house, car full of the last of my belongings in my "gutted" old room. (Did I mention how bizarre and awesome it was to be in my old childhood room again? Waking up to that same, glorious view of the green-leafed trees in the morning light was as invigorating as I remember.)...ah, getting a little sidetracked. But that happens on every great road trip! *cue Bonanza theme music*

I've always wanted to drive cross-country, and see all the "in-between" places I've missed in my travels. So the prospect of driving over 3,500 miles to get my car out to Washington didn't seem so horrible when I considered all the good things that were in store for us. First, it was revisiting the area around our old alma mater (where our journey together really first began) and some of our best friends from college. Then it was on to the flat, farmland between Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Driving through Chicago was an unexpected part of our route, as was the traffic we'd hoped to avoid. But seeing a mid-west city up close gave us another point of reference for our long trip across the U.S.

Having finally left all familiar territory behind, we headed to South Dakota. The beauty and variation of this state was thrilling to me! Going from flat fields to grassy, rolling hills in the plains takes you by surprise, as does the sudden dry, rocky landscape of the Badlands. Exploring these colorful, desert, natural rock formations was like stepping on to another planet. And the change continued when we headed farther west to the lush, green areas around Mt. Rushmore. This national landmark truly inspires patriotism, as my husband pointed out, and the whole journey west increased our appreciation for the natural (and cultivated) beauty and uniqueness of our nation. It's incredible to see how far we've come and the way certain areas of our country have developed, thanks to the service of dedicated men and women.

Wyoming was another gem we hadn't expected. After miles of more flatland, the mountain pass recommended to us by a visitor's center employee sounded blissful...and it was! From 10,000ft elevation, the blue sky, bright and sunlit snow, and all sorts of natural wildlife continued to charm us. It wasn't until stumbling across a juniper scented valley, with hidden waterfalls which suddenly appear, that we finally laughed in incredulity. Who knew these echoes-of-Heaven would be a part of our journey? Or even that such places exist outside our little bubble? And standing on a secluded bridge in that valley with my husband, I appreciated having a travel partner all the more...someone to share in the wonder of God's fingerprints.

From the old west feel of Cody, WY (named after the Buffalo Bill Cody) to the "wild" of Yellowstone (sleeping grizzly anyone?), our trip continued to feel like something straight out of a movie. Of course, we had to stop at some of those tourist traps boasting "The world's only..." or "Famous for..." because it wouldn't be a genuine road trip without them! However, the natural spots were our favorite, which is why we chose to camp all but one night. We'd thought the geysers of Yellowstone were the last "wonder" of our trip, but were pleasantly surprised by the real Montana cowboy riding with his hat and bandanna along I-90, and the fresh apples we bought at a roadside stand in eastern Washington. Even the familiar Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, and our very own Space Needle seemed new and fresh to us.

All along the way, God plopped little gifts and signs of His glory in our laps, until we began to wait expectantly for them with open hands. That's what I learned from chasing the sun.