a desert scrub // tx-ca
2020 was a tough year for everyone, including our lil crew in this corner of the hill country. There was a lot of grief, loss and confusion for us in many different ways. So my drive across the country to move the rest of my stuff out of school became a traverse across the desert to listen, to be present and to catch a breathe. This is the narrative of our humble venture… //
Grindstone Lake gave us a chance to stretch our legs after an early start. It had already been a long day of foggy roads and sweet hours of maverick city music worshiping alongside our pilgrimage. This was the first stop that felt like we had reached the adventure. Hill country was behind us. Mountains and valleys stood before us. We hiked along the rim, embracing the cold air. Almost jumped in the water but then realized it wasn’t August anymore.
On our way back to the car, I stumbled on the trail and somehow ended up rolling down the side of the mountain. Nothing was hurt, except my pride ;) we had a good laugh. One of those laughs that makes you cry and then you laugh about crying. I don’t think we had laughed that hard in a long time.....
“Rooted and grounded in love” (Eph 3:16-18)
...and a common affection for random things we find in nature.
We camped in Las Cruces (town outside White Sands) on the first night. I slept in the open air under the stars. Other than the cold temps and dreams of trains running us over, it was a rather peaceful night. We woke up before dawn again to get to White Sands at sunrise. We made pour overs on the hood of my car with much haste...the steaming caffeine brought warmth to our hands and souls.
White Sands was just as surreal as I remembered. I had been there almost exactly three years before during walkabout. I remember sitting on a dune, pondering the lyrics of “How Great Thou Art”...the silence and the grandeur of the landscape brought me into a place of quiet worship. I remember feeling so small but so known.
This time around, I knelt in the sand with nothing else but gratitude. Thankful that God is unchanging...that he is completely and fully and totally my King and Father, three years ago and now. That this place was molded by His hands for us to see and honor His majesty.
We did just that. We stood in the midst of the endless powder and read Psalm 19 aloud together. Then ran to car for warmth and the pursuit of the next destination (more coffee)...
We found coffee. We couldn’t go inside because of covid restrictions, which was honestly so weird to us since we come from a small town where barely anybody wears masks. So we gazed into the windows like creepers, trying to absorb as much as we could from this sweet little corner of happiness...imagining what it would be like to spend our days sitting in their comfy hipster chairs, under their beautiful desert landscape murals...writing for hours and drinking rich coffee.
The owner walked outside and greeted us with stickers and free mexican cold brew. In a world where people seem to be so overcome by fear, his hospitality and kindness was so refreshing. Our lattes were SO good too.
We crossed the border into Arizona. Prayed for a lost man outside a grocery store. Found a giant saguaro. Andi’s stoke about the giant saguaro could not be tamed so we pulled over to take a few photos. Then drove into the depths of Tonto National Forest...laughing hard about almost nothing...the road trip high is real...
We slept next to the largest lake in Arizona (supposedly). Amber went for a tiny hike and got covered in prickles. On our way out of the campground, we found a cool bridge that was blocked off so naturally had to stop and pull out the longboard.
After grabbing more coffee and wandering through a few bookstores, we headed west once again.
Much of the day was spent in bumper to bumper traffic in the middle of the desert. The stop was so long that people began to get out of their cars to stretch their legs, to share snacks and exit strategies. Unfortunately the coffee took its toll on my bladder in the middle of all this and resulted in an urgent escape of the car onto side of the road.....awkward. We had good laugh about all of it.
Despite the frustrations of the day, not one of us felt defeated. The joy we felt from being together and worshiping the lord next to strangers in the middle of the desert was such gift.
After a few hours, we finally started to move. The sun began to melt into the horizon as the moon rose over the mountains. We drove long into the night and eventually made to Joshua Tree...
“All are welcome” — the words scripted underneath a sign for the Good Shepherd Lutheran church. We had searched high and low for a campsite with no luck. After what seemed like an endless stretch of desert miles and a quick burrito dinner, we were totally exhausted and completely cramped. So we threw all our gear in the front seat and opted to sleep inside my car in the parking lot of this lovely church. We prayed away the anxiety of possibly getting kicked out in the middle of night and slept semi-soundly...
Morning came. It was hard to muster up the motivation to rise out of our pile of sleeping bags and coats. But the day held such anticipation.
We wandered amongst the boulders and the oddly beautiful Joshua trees. The feeling of being so rightfully small never gets old. Our God is so mighty and splendid...we enjoyed Him so much on this day.
As we frolicked among this strange landscape, I was reminded of a quote from Glass Castle, “It's the Joshua tree's struggle that gives it its beauty....” I love that the Lord allows us to see resilience in nature.
The Joshua tree must sustain the forces of wind and weather...it stays grounded and continues to reach up towards the sky, no matter how treacherous their surroundings may get.
This trip wasn’t just an exploration or a chance to “get away”. It was a sabbath. We have sustained a season of refining. A time of hardship in so many different ways...this desert drive was time to brush the dust off...to go into the a landscape of desolation and struggle to see the beauty of it. To listen and be so present.
We left Joshua tree grateful...the ocean was within reach...
The ocean. We finally made it to the edge of the west. I unexpectedly cried at the sight of the blue horizon.
The last time I was here - the virus had suddenly turned all our lives upside down. Jobs were lost, zoom university was born, I was semi-homeless for a few weeks, ramen shelves were empty.....nothing made sense. I came to ocean to pray at 4am the day I left to go quarantine with my family in Texas. Just me and the vast darkness. Even the tide seemed pissed off at the world as it crashed onto the shoreline. I drove away sad and confused...but still trying to lean in.
So I cried. because God is steadfast. And he makes all things new. He redeems the lost, the broken and confused...still trying to heed that daily. But little did I know how different life would be when I returned to this place....
We ran into the water...like little children. A pure embrace.....there’s nothing quite like it...
After getting thoroughly soaked, we walked the pier then came home to seconds and thirds of Sara‘s glorious chili. Amber decided it was time to cut her hair...hence bathtub and kitchen scissors (and a brave friend :) )
Home cooked meal + haircuts + hot showers + lil worship night = hospitality at its finest. Thank you so much Sara and Iva for being our home away from home.
The next morning my beloved road trip bums would be on a plane back to Bandera...our sweet venture together came to an end, but my time in CA was just beginning...
Tuesday - Andi and Amber flew home. I missed them instantly.
I went for a (slow) run on one of my favorite trails, spent too much money on a bowl of greens then headed to the Hill household to do laundry.
It was so restful to be still for a day. Sara and I’s friendship was born from the intense culture the resides in racing triathlons...which then bled into our surf Saturdays before the virus shut down everything. Being still was not part of our dynamic...until that day. And it was so good, to watch a movie on the couch with the dogs and just be.
But not for too long...our evening bike/ skate to the bay resembled a scene from an indie movie.
We caught up on life...celebrated the good and prayed over the bad. So thankful that this simple sisterhood is not easily shaken by distance or time.
Then Shelby finally made it...
Wednesday - We went to school. Nerded out in the studio for a few hours with Raymond and David, who pursue their craft with a passion that is contagious. So honored to be learning and creating alongside such pure talent.
Picked up some organic fruit from a roadside grove. All our citrus dreams came true.
Last stop was picking up the rest of my belongings from some sweet friends who offered to help out in a time crunch back in march. The generosity of people never fails to amaze me. To Andrea, Haley and April thank you for being there for me in a time of need! So glad it gave us an excuse to come see you!
Once upon a time, two western wanderers snuck into a fancy beach hotel courtyard, ran down a long wooden staircase and found themselves on the most cinematic cove you could ever imagine. We shoved our clothes in a cave and welcomed the chilly water with open arms. December began in the same way every summer should...running towards the sun.
It was day of sweet simplicity. Woke up to Sara‘s savory pancakes.
We drove past smoky skies to find a shoreline to explore. We ran and climbed and swam. A kind barista gave us free coffee and a fist bump.
We drove past smoky skies to find a shoreline to explore. We ran and climbed and swam. A kind barista gave us free coffee and a fist bump.
Myah came over for a home cooked meal...it was such a joy to catch up with a good friend and hear about what the lord is doing in her life. Cool things are happening!
Grateful for pals that are not afraid to live in a genuine state of surrender to God. No matter how dark things get, they each fight for His goodness no matter what. It’s so beautiful. It teaches me so much every time I get to be with them...so thank you for being you (Shelby, Sara and Myah) !!
We said our goodbyes to our new and old friends the next day...stopped by Trader Joes because we could then headed back into the desert once again...
North. The grandest of canyons awaited...
We were not prepared for 9 degrees. The sun couldn’t come soon enough. Our faces managed to age 50 years in one night from the bitter cold. I’m astonished Shelby is still my friend after making us camp in such conditions.
Yet, it was completely worth it for this lil hike.
The Grand Canyon. Beautiful doesn’t even begin to describe how wondrous this place is. It was like watching a painting wake up...vibrant and full of dynamic life. The shadows slowly danced into the abyss as the sun crept over the ridge line. I was envious of the elk we saw along the way who get to bask in this sight every morning.
I was also envious of this year’s walkabouts who stayed a few campsites away from our lil set up the night before. They were embarking on a much longer hike around the time we had to pack up and hit the road.
But it was such a blessing to see the camp crew for a bit and study scripture together around a fire that night...those small moments felt like home...
I missed home. We were getting closer...one more stop to go...
You can always count on fellow wilderness guides to take good care of weary travelers. And these two went to great lengths to make the most of our short but sweet time together.
We came into a warm home with Friendsgiving on the table then ventured to the tree house for game night and homemade pineapple sorbet.
After sleeping in the sky, we hit the road before the sun rose to head up farther into the mountains.
In few hours we were playing a classic game of “throwing stuff at stuff” and chillin in a hot spring, reminiscing on good ol camp days. The mountains allowed us the space and time to be simple and slow down...
To be back in the wilderness. To be with camp family. To be present. To breath in brisk mountain air. It was a day that I didn’t know I needed...
Never thought I would eat a charcuterie board as a trail lunch or sift through snow to find the good holds but I guess there really is a first for everything...
The sun finally came out. We climbed for hours. Sent everything. Ran around barefoot. Laughed a lot.
Meanwhile, Shelbs went on hike that resembled the magical landscapes of Narnia. She came back with the biggest smile on her face...
It was a beautiful way to end this journey...
This trip didn’t “fix” us nor did we expect it to...but it did shift perspectives. The wilderness is good for that...a place to slow down and listen. To be reminded of the lord’s immense power reflected in the ocean or the sheer wonder portrayed in a mountain face. The wilderness brings me back, keeps me close.
And grateful to have brothers and sisters to come back to along the way. Thank you for being part of this journey and many others to come.
