Memorize:

"But My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19 (KJV)

Saturday, March 31, 2012

My Perspective; Chapter 5: In Which we see the Last of Texas

Monday night was rainy and exceedingly stormy. None of us got very much sleep. Every subsequent night, we’d wake up and decide whether to stay out the storm or make a run for it. I was glad we decided to get away from it, we might never have made it to the wedding otherwise. It was a bit touch and go there for a while, but usually, the storm lulled right when we had to make the decision. I’d call that the hand of God right there.

We took a short jaunt just past San Antonio that day and stayed at Colorado River, Tx.

Bluebonnets on a cloudy day. (Courtesy Google Images)
It had been extremely windy and stormy that day, and I experienced severe car-sickness. I remember how happy I was to get parked and get out of the motor home and  get some fresh windy air. Did I mention that I really like the wind. During all the time that it stormed, it never really did get windy enough for me.

Also, that was the day that I realized what a ‘high-profile vehicle’ was. Contrary to my belief that it was probably either a police car, criminal get-away car, or a movie star’s car, I discovered that it really meant tall vehicles…why don’t they just say that!?

Anyway, it was a cloudy stormy day. While we were parking that night, it wasn’t raining or anything, just a bit gusty and definitely cloudy.  As we looked out the window, we saw at some small distance a gorgeous sea of blue.

Grandpa: I think those are some of those blue-bonnets over there.

Me: Really? I thought it looked like a lake.

Grandpa looked at the park map.

“Well, I guess it could be, there’s supposed to be a big pond over there. That must be it.”

However, throughout the day, none of us could decide. First it looked like flowers, then it looked like water. We got to calling it the Lake of Flowers.

Finally, that evening, we walked over. Sure enough, it was flowers. A great big very irregular field of them gently waving in the wind. It was one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. I wish you could have been there. I think the grey skies and the irregularity of the field must have made it appear like a body of water, because my brothers passed  through this week and said it looked nothing like a lake.

The storm caught up with us that night. And, it was worse than ever. And even more beautiful. The lightening truly lit up the whole sky. I woke in the early morning as a great big crash of thunder rolled directly overhead. I’ve never been afraid of thunder storms, so, I popped the blind open a bit and watched for a while. It was very neat.

What was not neat, was the next morning. The motor home had been parked slightly un-level. As a result, it had leaked in the bedroom, under the door, into the bathroom. Over the week, it just got worse and worse. If you stepped in it, the water in the carpeting squished over your toes. And beware if you were wearing socks!

Visibility was horrible, but as we neared Houston on Tuesday, it seemed like we might be outrunning the storm...for now. Houston was…interesting. It was also very large.

Houston, where there are billboards proclaiming blatantly Christian movies…(Fireproof). That was cool. I don’t think you’d see that anywhere but the Bible Belt.

(Speaking of the Bible Belt, I loved that most of the churches had steeples in the south.)

Houston, where they appear to spell advertisements with a southern drawl. At least, that’s the only way I can figure this sign: We buy and sale used trucks and cars…

Houston, where the street soup kitchen thingy selling Asian Chicken is written in Spanish and English as opposed to something Asian…”Pollo Asian”

Houston, where their was a Kroger’s freight truck turned over on its side…L It slowed us down for a while.

As we got out of the (seemingly endless) city and the hill country, the landscaping became a little more on the slightly boring side, but their were still beautiful blue bonnets and the main observation that I made that morning had to do with something I’d unconsciously been noticing the whole time.

Texas, where all those beautiful, verdant, green fields were really mere weeds instead of the grass they at first appeared to be.  And stinky weeds at that. It was amusing to realize that, for the most part, I could pick out what was really grass or not by how brown it was.

This post is getting long, so you'll have to wait to hear the rest of my Tuesday's drive. Suffice it to say that we safely reached the Louisiana border in spite of the tremendous storm which caused us to pull over for a while at Louisiana's very first rest stop.

Friday, March 30, 2012

My Perspective; Chapter 4: In Which Some More of Texas is the Central Figure

Remember that beautiful sunset I was talking about? That was *almost* the last day of sunshine that I saw for nearly a week. There were two more days of partial sun as we traveled central Texas to our next stopping location near San Antonio.

I must say. I loved the ‘hill country.’ It was so…country. I love the country. 

Texas, where there are beautiful fields of yellow wildflowers.

Texas, where there are gorgeous yellow trees. They looked like Washington scotch broom, except, they were trees. And, the flowers were very soft, delicate, fuzzy balls. It also had thorns and smelled like chemicals. :D

Texas, where there are MILLIONS of freight trucks. For every one car, there were literally 50 trucks.

Texas, where the speed limit is 80 mph

Texas, where two lanes one direction is sufficient to handle said millions of trucks at said speed.

Texas, where the roads are straight as a dart. (As opposed to ‘crooked as a thief’)

Texas, where pine trees have much longer needles than pine trees in Washington.

We stayed at a little RV park at Medina Lake Texas. The GPS apparently doesn’t think that that is a real place. To get to it, you have to go a bit off the beaten path on a very twisty, winding road. The speed limit was between 50 and 60. That’s all well and good for a small car. With the motorhome, we pretty much went 40. Except for when we went 3mph.

Why did we go so slowly? The route we took happened to be the same route they were having a bicycle marathon or something. Each contestant. (we only saw too, so that might be too general of a statement) had it’s own private car following along behind.

The first contestant we ran across was, well, rather rude. Although there was a fairly wide shoulder in that particular spot, and several driveways to pull into, the byciclist and her escort decided to drive/ride in the middle of the road. Did I mention that it was a twisty road? There weren’t very many places to pass legally. And, while others passed illegally, we weren’t about to do that in a motorhome. It just wasn’t that safe. 

However, the story ended after all with us passing illegally. But, only after several miles of slow going.

The second bicyclist/escort was much nicer and pulled off onto the shoulder to let us pass.

When we finally reached the campsite we drove around for a while looking for a place to park. As we did so, we got a good look at Medina Lake. Or rather, at what used to be a lake. According to my grandparents, Texas had been going through a drought for three or four years. It was a beautiful lakebed with great stretches of beautiful green…doesn’t that sound nice? There was also a herd of cows out to pasture…

We spent two nights there. That way we could go to church with my big brother in San Antonio. Yes, the same one who would, and did, get married the week afterwards.

I’ve been to San Antonio before, and I liked it just as much this time as the last. When someone asked me if I liked it, I admitted that I did…It’s a very organized city. The roads make sense. I know that sounds like a terrible reason to like a place.

San Antonio, where there are newspaper hawkers on the street corners!!!!! I didn’t know such things existed anymore in this age of internet and television!

San Antonio, where many of the street lights are still horizontal instead of vertical. It drove me nuts. (and it made us almost run a red light…)

I very much enjoyed my brother’s church. The pastor preached an excellent sermon from Galatians Chapter 1 through part of Chapter 2. I also got mistaken by more than one person for Sarah, my brother’s then-soon-to-be wife.

It would run like this:

“And this is Sarah! You look a lot like your fiancĂ©!” It was amusing.

We went to a Chinese Buffet afterwards, where I used a chocolate fountain for the first time and also managed not to overeat. Then, we went to see my brother’s house. Since he had been robbed a few weeks before, it was rather empty and messy, but a truly lovely little place with a nice view of a large green field.

This is my brother.

This is his nice view.

This is me and my brother. Don't we look nice? It was the only picture the entire time that didn't turn out. It was also the only picture of us together. Isn't that sad!?


That evening, back at the RV park. I saw one of my favorite sights of the whole trip. There were hundreds of mule deer. Possible up to 500 hundred. And, they were ALL RUNNING together at a distance of less than a football field! 

It was truly beautiful to see.

Then, on Monday, we continued our travels. And, because I’m running out of adjectives and things, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow for that.  Suffice it to say, that with Monday, all sunshine was gone for almost the rest of the trip. That is why I don’t really have a tan after two weeks in the south. :D

Thursday, March 29, 2012

My Perspective; Chapter 3: In Which I add to That Which was Written

I knew I was forgetting something noteworthy regarding New Mexico. Very close to the Texas border, we began to see our first signs of extensive life, and smell it too.

New Mexico, where there are millions of cows in one single pen, (or two or three)

New Mexico, where said cows truly do seem to believe that the grass  (non-existent) is greener (or browner) on the other side of the fence.

It was absolutely hilarious to see hundreds of thousands of cows sticking their heads through the fence and trying to reach the ground to eat…(although, I’m pretty sure that’s the way they were supposed to eat since there were a couple of guys scatter hay on the outside…but, it was still funny)

See what I mean!? (Picture courtesy of Google Images)


Anyway, on to West Texas.

I had been told that Texas is a large state. I believe it. It took us nearly three full driving days to cross it. West Texas was almost as boring as New Mexico. There was a bit more greenery I think, but not enough to count for much. As we really got into it though, it did begin to get more interesting.

West Texas, where there are oil drills moving automatically up and down and up and down. They looked like robots. They also looked as though they had a boring job. Up and down and up and down. One couldn’t help but wondering if they would ever accomplish anything in their lives.

West Texas, where I first saw the famous bluebonnets. And now I know why it’s famous. Goodness, they’re beautiful. If I’m ever rich, they will be in my dream landscaping.

Side Note: Local citizens throughout the south often didn’t know what their wildflowers were. It was very sad. Texas had some yellow wildflowers fields of it, and New Mexico had some…pink? Ones, and Louisiana had pink ones and no one knew what they were.

We stayed in Fort Stockton the first night in Texas. It was there that we first met up with our sub-adventure. A thunderstorm. It was very very very cool. Up where I live, thunderstorms come maybe once every two years, they last for 10 minutes, and you may or may not see lightening.

It also hailed. Large, pea-size hail. That was pretty cool too. (Especially since we were inside and safe from getting hit.) It hailed for maybe 15 minutes and then the sun came out. We watched a stunning sunset, (I didn’t get a picture, but my grandparents did, but I don’t have it…yet  :D)

After the sun set, it began to storm. The lightening was purple! Up here it’s always kind of blue-ish. It was gorgeous. And there were great big claps of thunder and heavy rain. I loved it. And you’ll be hearing more about it later because this particular storm followed us, with greater and greater intensity, all the way to Mississippi!

So, there you have West Texas! See ya tomorra!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

My Perspective; Chapter 2: In Which I speak of my Travels Through New Mexico

New Mexico, where there are beautiful roadside yellow poppies scattered here and there.

New Mexico, where everything is flat, dry, dusty, and barren
(Picture stolen from Google) It's the pineapple palm from Arizona.

New Mexico, where the palm trees are two feet high and the flowers on the palm trees are an additional six or seven feet high. (it may have been a 'palm yucca.')

New Mexico, where I now see the beauty and charm of a mesa with my own eyes

New Mexico,  where there’s a small town by the highway. So small that it consists only of a single street highly advertised as ‘Main Street’ where there are 5 buildings all in a row with false fronts.

New Mexico, where the huge billboards are every 20 feet for several miles before the exit

New Mexico, where the traffic lights are placed horizontally on the poles. It made me feel distinctly that I was in a foreign place. (Frankly, I don’t think they’re as safe, because your eye is not always attracted to the light in directly in front of you, but more often towards the one two or three streets down.)

New Mexico, where there are bars on the windows and a general feeling of un-safeness in the real towns.

New Mexico, where the population is almost 100% Indian

New Mexico, where said population is highly obese. (I could pick out the tourists from this… And I’m not being racist, I’m just stating my observations :D)

New Mexico, where I didn’t get any pictures because it’s difficult to do at 63 mph. By the way, for the whole trip, with a few exceptions, we did cruise control at 63mph. :D

New Mexico, where I was never more glad to see the Texas border because I was not at all, (other than the 
mesas) impressed with New Mexico. I don’t think I would want to live there.

Also, I thought you’d all like to know that I, the adamant won’t-take-a-nap-er who has never taken a real nap in my life, took a nap almost every single day of my trip, and actually fell asleep too.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

My Perspective: Chapter 1; In Which I Speak of the Desert Among Other Things

They say the best place to start is at the very beginning. I believe that. So, I launch into the story of the wedding trip, with the beginning. As some of you may know, I traveled to Phoenix first to drive to Mississippi with my Grandparents. For this reason, I left nearly two weeks before the wedding. It was my first real trip by myself. Going through airport security was relatively easy, although I did have to step out of line for a brief moment because I had forgotten to put my toothpaste in the liquids bag. Thanks to wonderful parental directions, I navigated the tram/train thing with ease, and reached my gate in plenty of time. (Thankfully, I had no interactions whatsoever with the dreaded TSA)

Upon boarding my plane, I discovered with great pleasure that I would not be seated next to creepy and/or noisy/rude people. The couple beside me were elderly, pleasant, thin, (always a good thing in those cramped seats) and kept largely to themselves. I was almost the last person on the plane, and the last off. (It comes of sitting at the back of the plane.) I subsequently discovered that most of the airplane’s occupants where either very elderly or young families. I think this is because they were either retired grandparents or grandkids going to visit their retired grandparents. (with a few who may have been going to spring training.)

The most interesting airplane moments on the way down:

I was reading a WW2 book, when the gentlemen next to me peered over my shoulder.

“Ah! Are you reading that for history, or just because you like it”

“I just really enjoy history”

Shortly afterwards, he pulled out his own book. (I guess he got tired of his crosswords :D) He was obviously very excited to let me know:

“See, I’m reading history too!” (His was Rule Britanicca or something, and mine was Operation Mincemeat…:D)

The other interesting moment took place when we were landing.

The young family, a mom and two or three young boys) seated behind me had been fairly quiet throughout the 
flight. When we began to descend however, they became very excited about several things.

Boy1 to girl?: We left Porky home. Poor Porky. (insert long monologue about Porky)

Then,

Boy1: Agh! My ears are popping.

Boy2: Yes! It has something to do with your saliva! (insert long monologue regarding the medical/scientific explanation of popping ears as relates to saliva.) Whether true or not, it’s funny. If not true, funny because of it. If true, funny because an 8-10 year-old can explain it so well)

When I landed, and connected with my grandparents, I found myself talking to myself in my brain. It was rather like a running commentary on just about everything. And, I found myself doing it for the entirety of the trip. From here on, I will transcribe this commentary in as accurate a manner as possible.

“Arizona is beautiful! Oh! A white barked tree. My favorite. Wait, it’s only white partway up.

‘Grandpa, why are those trees white only a little bit’

‘Those are citrus trees. The paint them to keep the sun off.’

!!!

“Oh, so those are mesquite trees over there, I’ve always read about those, and now I’m seeing them.

“Wow, the air smells so good. Must be those orange trees over there. It smells like spring. I love spring. It’s my favorite.

“Hey, it’s not too warm like I thought it might be. It feels like summer! Ha! I’ll bet it’s snowing in Washington! (it was)

The day after I got to Phoenix, my granparents took me to the Sonoran Desert, to the White Tanks (National?) Park. Here, we took a half-mile walk through the desert. There were many different kinds of cactus. But, my favorite were the Saguaro. My Grandma made a comment about how there weren’t very many two-armed saguaro like they show in all the pictures (in fact, the only classic saguaro I found was the one on the Arizona licence plate). I also found myself naming the cactus and trees.





"Tall Saguaro"

Short Saguaro

Baby Arm Saguaro

Celebrating Saguaro

Beautiful Tree. It had white, soft, fuzzy balls in the center of the yellow.

"What's the Right Perspective" Saguaro

One Arm Saguaro

My Grandparents! Don't they look purty!?

Holy...I mean, Holey Saguaro

The Squid

Desert Military (Otherwise known as the jumping choia)


Smiling Saguaro
Mistletoe hanging up there!

Frowning Saguaro

See, there are other types of cactus. The small round looking one is a fish-hook cactus.

The One-eyed Monster Ironwood tree.

When we left, all I could think of was:

“Arizona, where the only (pretty much) two-armed cacti are the ones on the license plates.”

Throughout my time spent in Arizona I would think things using that type of phrase.

“Arizona, where there are golf courses on every corner.”

“Arizona, where there are parking spaces! for golf carts at  the local grocery stores and businesses.” (I got to 
drive a golf cart. It was fun!)

“Arizona, where there are palm trees that look like giant pineapples. (those were my favorite palms, followed by the great big tall ones)

“Arizona, where there is no such thing as grass, (except on the golf course) but rather a reddish gravel.

“Arizona, where there are indoor-type decorations outside.

“Arizona, where wood must be scarce since there isn’t a single house made of it. (It’s all stucco, or sometimes that sheet-metal-ware-house material)"

We left Arizona three days after I got there. On our way to the border, we traveled most of the way through the desert, and I did actually see two or three two-armed saguaro. As we left the desert and the cities, the palm trees became much smaller. If I didn’t know Arizona gets much hotter than it was while I was there, I would say I could live there.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

March! 2! 3! 4!

I just thought you'd all like to know.

Today, is my half-birthday! Also, it is the five year anniversary of:   http://servantofjoy.blogspot.com/2010/11/stories-of-my-life-pride-goes-before.html 

Furthermore, it is just 5 days until I leave for my big trip to my big brother's wedding!

So happy half-almost-going-to-leave-for-a-few-weeks-birthday to me!

Oh, that reminds me. This blog is taking a vacation. Incidentally, said vacation coincidentally coincides with my own personal vacation! :D