Well for me I was no where near the sunny shores. From Tuesday to Sunday I traveled through 8 states and spent four days on a road (two days there and two day back). What a journey. Myself, my momma, and my daddy all pack in "Barbara Jean" (that's my car, a blue Ford Explorer). Over the hills and through the plains to grandmother's house we went, Moline, Kansas. The name of the town brings so much truth to all the excitement that goes on in the town..not much. The biggest time we have ever had there was when we were there in May one summer and there was a parade for all the local alumni. They walked down main street and didn't even throw our candy!
These few days in Moline were different though. 1. I had never been there without my brothers. I had no one to share in my humor of this place or laugh at dad with because of his obsession with barn yard stew (toasted bread soaked in pudding and heated. its as gross as it sounds) 2. I haven't been to Kansas in almost 4 yrs! I have changed yet the town not so much.
Since I was in training for my half marathon I went running all through the town which has a beauty all in its own. But I ran across this old house...
To you this could look like an old beat up house. A yard with no color. A house that was once white now covered and has a tint of grey. This house was once my heaven. This house was once a mansion to me. This dirty driveway was once my interstate. This yard now with barely any grass was once my field to roam. As I ran by I couldn't help but stop. I looked forward to summers in Kansas. It was such an adventure to me to live in this house. I learned to ride a bike in that driveway. This is the place I first hopped up onto the back of a horse. This was the place where you couldn't stop my imagination! Pure joy.
As I stopped and thought of all the memories that were had both in and out of that old house I almost began to cry, because for some reason this house just didn't seem quite so grand. I thought to myself... Is it just because I am now 24 and not 7? Have I really lost my child like perspective on life? Or am does everything on this earth just seem small to me know because not only have I experienced more of life, but I have experienced more of Christ? This is where I settled and am still reminded of each day since being back. My God is so big. Bigger than any thing, any circumstance, and any being here on earth.
My prayer as I look at the photo of that old is house is that I will strive each day to not make much of this world but continue to make much of my Jesus.
a few more photos of our trip...all taken with my iPhone so don't judge the quality.
Driving out of St Louis. Snapped one more picture and I like it!
The view for miles!!
The moment we arrived in the great state of Kansas!! (GO JAYHAWKS!)
