Saturday, June 15, 2013

Full Circle

I can't believe it's been almost 4 years since I've posted to this blog. Time goes by fast, but a lot has, and is happening. When I started this blog in the summer of 2009 it was to log our journey from Cape Cod to Alaska and back. Many of my friends and family followed our trip here on this blog. The trip was amazing of course, but even 4 years later I'm still feeling the affects of it. I'd be remiss if I didn't report back that the trip was life-changing. I don't think I'd be the person I am today if not for that adventure. For some reason, prior to that, it just seemed like such a far-fetched idea to me. It seemed like the kind of adventure that other people had, not necessarily me. After completing those 12,500 miles by motorcycle I was left with a sense that anything was possible. That I didn't have to be the person that said, "I wish I could...."

Many adventures have followed since. And I've been lazy in recording all the amazing things life has offered. I spend two months in Japan, James went to OCS, we bought our first home, traveled Spain by motorcycle, volunteered for a Sea Turtle conservation program in Costa Rica and shared beers at the Lazy Lizard bar on the beach in Belize.

Life is good. Of course, it does have it's ups and downs. James lost his grandfather, Lavoy, and I lost my grandmother, Barbara. And our two Australian Shepherds, Sydney and Shelby, both passed over the last few years. But overall we are blessed beyond measure.

I've recently run in to some inspiration. And that's what brings me back to this blog. After anticipating that we'd be staying in the San Francisco bay area for another couple of years, the news that we'd be transferring wasn't initially well received. Even if it was to Alaska. There's something to be said for digging in some roots. My stint here in our home in the bay area holds a record for me - three years in one home. I was enjoying my little nest and I had to have a serious attitude adjustment about the whole thing. But now, armed with my big-girl pants, I'm embracing the change. And it's hard to imagine now why I wasn't excited about it from the start. Let's be honest... set me in one place too long and I get thinky and start pondering the meaning of life, and that's just not a good rabbit hole to fall down.

So back to the inspiration - our new journey and adventure. We'll be leaving for Alaska some time mid-July. Don't ask me for a specific date because, well, we don't know just yet - big planners that we are. I can tell you we'll be out of our home on the 27th and bouncing around spending time with people before we head up to the wilderness.

If moving to Alaska wasn't enough adventure for the next couple of months I'll be leaving for Uganda in August. I'll be traveling with an organization that takes water filters and digs wells for communities in need of clean water. It's amazing work really. And enough cannot be said about the desperate need in Uganda and other developing countries around the world. I'll be volunteering to help on the trip, but also to film a documentary about the need and the work being done there. It's a dream really - and I can only imagine the ways it will change me. I'm humbled to be a part of the work they are doing, however small a way. And I'm hopeful that in making a documentary, highlighting the needs there, giving them a voice, and showing what people are doing to help will inspire others and help change even more.

I'm inspired, overwhelmed, excited, nervous and anticipating. With the first Alaska trip inspiring so much, I can only imagine what the move there will hold. The journey continues.

Carpe Iter Itineris!

P.S. stay tuned for a new blog site.