One State At A Time

I have put away my Dutch Costume. Pella's Tulip Time has come and gone for one more year. The spring in Iowa has been cold and miserable, so therefore, the town's tulips were unusually beautiful. (If that's what it takes, we might want to consider another flower!) Cal and I tandemed around town to check out the tulips yesterday...(maybe that will be the first step to lose the 20 pounds I gained this winter.) Anyway...back to the trip planning of the Renewing Spirits Bicycle Tour.

I am very excited about the possibility of pulling an basic 8 foot pop-up. It will give us the sleeping space we need without taking away from the adventure of "camping." We have camped in a pop-up for years with our kids. Now I know how to deal with all the details that have been teasing me.

Did you know that it's only 31 degrees in Yellowstone right now! I am monitoring temperatures in the Western United States to make some decisions about our living needs...looks like we will need warm layers as well as cool layers. When we went to Italy I was able to pack all my personal clothes in one carry-on suitcase and I liked living that way. Simple...and I am hoping to be able to pack in a similar way on this trip without looking too much like a bag lady.

Last night I looked at maps...it was so exciting and I started getting curious about all these little black dots with names and the squiggles of ink that connect them! In less than 6 weeks, the dots and squiggles will have faces to go with their names. I only let myself look at one state at a time so I won't get overwhelmed by the bigness of it all. (My computer has no trouble with "bigness".) "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day (or each state) has enough trouble of its own." From the book of Matthew.

Cal, in his blog, mentioned "Pressing On" by Bob Dylan. Other song that I will carry with me is "I See You" by Rich Mullins. Especially these lyrics.

Lord, You're leading me (Lord, You're leading me)
With a cloud by day (With a cloud by day)
And then in the night (And then in the night)
The glow of a burning flame (The glow of a burning flame)

And everywhere I go, I see You (And everywhere I go, I see You)
And everywhere I go, I see You (And everywhere I go, I see You)

And You take my hand (And You take my hand)
And You wash it clean (And You wash it clean)
I know the promised land (I know the promised land)
Is light years ahead of me (Is light years ahead of me)

And everywhere I go, I see You (And everywhere I go, I see You)
And everywhere I go, I see You (And everywhere I go, I see You)
And everywhere I go, I see You (And everywhere I go, I see You)
And everywhere I go, I see You (And everywhere I go, I see You)

Well, the eagle flies (Well, the eagle flies)
And the rivers run (And the rivers run)
I look through the night (I look through the night)
And I can see the rising sun (And I can see the rising sun)

And everywhere I go, I see You (And everywhere I go, I see You)
And everywhere I go, I see You (And everywhere I go, I see You)
And everywhere I go, I see You (And everywhere I go, I see You)
And I see You, Lord, I see You

One State at a Time.