My Breakfast

Here is the story of my morning (as I'm sure all of you are sitting at home on the edge of you chair waiting to hear about my breakfast). I woke up and came down the stairs and found my brother in the kitchen. After the usual "Good morning, Grumpy!" I grunt back and asked him what he is doing there. He claims he is waiting for his breakfast sandwich that mom is bringing back to him. Mom is bringing him a breakfast sandwich. Where's my breakfast sandwich?

Well I decided that after my chiropractor appointment I would go and get my own delicious breakfast sandwich and it was going to be better than the one he got. Ha!

So I go to one of my favorite places in the area, the Java Cup in Claremont, NH. As the patron at the table next to me said, it is a little piece of Nirvana. The perfect place to meet a friend for coffee and a scone, or grab your lap top and finish the 20 papers that are due before the last day of class, or to get breakfast sandwiches! (They also have other foods like omelets, sandwiches, and other deli type foods along with the BEST pastries and cakes in the world)

Mission complete. Let me tell you, my breakfast sandwich was way better than Tim's and I even got an iced coffee. :)

OMG

I am in lunch heaven.

So I'm driving a client home today and I see a sign for maple creamies and maple shakes. Obviously I had to stop. Once inside I see they have other food as well so I order the chicken tender combo which includes chicken tenders and french fries. Well let me tell you, this was no ordinary chicken tenders and fries. Hand cut fries deep fried to perfection and fried chicken sliced into strips. Oh. my. god. I repeat: lunch heaven. Top that with a maple shake and I could have died.

If you want to experience this utopia go to the Route 4 Country Store and Deli between White River Junction and Quechee, VT.

Walking on Water

Matthew 14:28-33

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹ “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” ³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

God often asks us to completely trust him and take a step, even when we do not see the next step in front of us. If you ask me I will tell you that I completely trust God with my life. Whatever He asks I will do. Well, He asked something of me and I really had to ask myself if I completely trusted Him.

I quit my job today. July 1st will be my last day. I have known for quite some time that I was to move this summer and find a life else where but I wasn't ready to leave one job until I knew I had another one lined up, not in this economy at least. Well, I was told to walk out onto the water. At first I panicked but God has given me an overwhelming sense of peace. I don't know where I'm going or what I'm doing but I know that God will open the right doors and show me the way.

P.S. Although I have complete faith that everything will fall into place, prayers would be much appreciated. I'll keep everyone updated.

Mountain Top Experience

Have you ever heard people refer to an enlightening moment as a "Mountain Top Experience?" It typically comes after one has had an epiphany of some sort. In my continual search for direction in my life I went out looking for my own "mountain top experience."

Yesterday, May 1st, was a beautiful day and it was much appreciated after the winter we have had in New England. The sun was shining and the temperatures were in the 60's-70's. There is just no way I could have sat inside all day with those types of conditions. I decided to go for a hike by myself (something I did not classify as dangerous until my way back down when I recalled a Criminal Minds episode in which people were being hunted in the woods), to Cascade Falls on Mt. Ascutney.

Since I was two I have lived with a perfect view of Mt. Ascutney. I have been hiking this mountain as long as I can remember. The hike to the falls is beautiful and I was excited to get out there after a long winter of being inside.

I brought the book "Crazy Love" along with me. Once at the falls I sat down and read for quite awhile with only the sounds of the birds and the rushing water. I didn't exactly have a moment of clarity but I was able to spend time with the amazing God that created this beautiful world.

You can't tell me, after seeing something like this, that there is no God.

I've been getting complaints.

I've been getting complaints from people, mostly because I have not posted a new blog in over six months. Well, quite frankly, I have been busy. As most of you know (because you could hear me screaming this from miles away) I am done with school!!! This was the main reason I was so busy. So with this new found sense of freedom, more blog posts will come.
In addition, the blog will be taking on a new purpose, in light of some developments in my life. First, I am graduating. Second, my brother is getting married and is planning on moving into the house I was raised in. I honestly do not know where I will be come July but I guess I will be moving out. I could be in New England. I could be on the other side of the country. I could be in a foreign county! I really do not know. Because of this uncertainty I am leaving this blog open to whatever God leads me to. If I am led elsewhere I will keep everyone informed of the new adventures. If I am to stay here then you will hear about that.
I am excited for the next chapter of my life. God is leading me somewhere great and I know it. I only wish I knew where. This is no longer a blog about discovering what is around me locally but it is now about discovering my future and my purpose.

It's been awhile...

Where has the time gone? Summer is winding down and I am frantically trying to grasp at any fragment of the season left. It seems that August flew by and now we are a week into September already. Most of my friends have gone back off to school and I myself will be starting my senior year this weekend.

It's strange to think that next summer those I spent this summer finding adventures with will all be thrown out into the real world to find their own way. I will also be added to that mix of fresh college graduates navigating to our place in this big ol' world. It's something that my friends and I rarely talked about this summer, we wanted to pretend, even for a few months, that the harsh realities were not imminent. Although the sheer terror of next year can be seen on the horizon I am grateful for this summer. I will hold onto this summer in my memories as I move forward in life. I would like to thank all of those that made this summer a great one. I can't even count the amount of smiles and laughs that I had over the past three months.

I recently took a stroll down memory lane to a time not to long ago. I read a journal I had kept during a very dark time of mine, so dark I never thought I would get out. Although I had started to heal from that time this summer helped even more and has revived me more than I expected. I've learned, I've stretched, and I've grown stronger in relationships and in faith.

When I opened my computer tonight I fully intended to tell you all about my trip through 16 states in 7 days or my end of the summer fun such as a picnic at Saint Gaudens and BBQ's with family and friends but I started typing and this is what came out and I'm okay with that. I started this blog to let people know of fun things to do in the Upper Valley but the truth is, it doesn't matter where you are, you can have fun no matter where you are as long as you surround yourself with those that care about you.

I know that the decisions I have to make in the coming months will be scary but I also know that I will be okay because of the wonderful family I have, the friends that I have grown closer to this summer, and my loving savior who is always looking out for me.

Travel

I'm sitting in the Bradley International Airport right now thinking that I may have gotten a little away from my local project. In an effort to connect the local and the travel I will tell you about last weekend.

My sidekick had left me for a trip to Chicago (her aunt had to get married or something like that) so I was left to my own devices. The event of the weekend was Harpoon Summer BBQ Festival. This was a huge event with thousands in attendance. People came from all over New England to taste the award winning BBQ and beer. The BBQ competitors also came from all around claiming their meat was better than anyone else's. You could get anything from ribs, pulled pork tacos, nachos, deep fried Oreos, chocolate covered bacon, to a whole turkey leg (which is what I had). It was quite a picture: Me walking around through crowds of people holding a turkey leg in one hand and a UFO Raspberry Hefeweizen in the other.

I went to the festival with Bryan and some of his friends then meet up with my dad partway through the day. Dad really wanted to try the bacon wrapped in sausage wrapped in bacon sandwich but was to full by the time we made it to that tent.

The different tents also had a life a their own. Each team had a different and unique name. My favorite was from Yabba Dabba Que located in Bedrock (Bedford), NH. There was also a tent that incorporated a wizard somehow that was willing to take pictures with those who dared to sit next to him.

At the festival they were having a strong man/woman competition which was amusing to watch for a while but it was best to keep moving otherwise it got to hot sitting in the sun. A band kept the crowd entertained on the other side of the field playing bluegrass.

The day was lots of fun and other than the strange tan lines I got I had no complaints.

Now how am I connecting this to my travel you might ask. Well I am off to Texas where they are known for their BBQ. I was just preparing myself for this endeavor. If you get the chance I would highly recommend going to this event next year. If you don't enjoy BBQ or beer it's worth it just to watch the people. For instance the old man who had a disposable underwater camera but couldn't stand upright long enough to take a picture. I'm sure when he develops them each picture will be a blur off people. Trust me, it was definitely the place to be.

As for me I'm off to Texas to see if their BBQ compares to New England's. I'll let you know!