My Journey Through Part of the United States

If you read my two, previous posts on this blog, you know that I was in California for almost 3 months this spring, working for some Christian friends of mine who live there. 

Before going, I debated whether I wanted to fly or drive. Admittedly, flying is much easier. But there is nothing like having your own vehicle with you, plus, you're able to take a lot more along. That being said, I decided to drive instead of fly. It wasn't the first time I'd driven my vehicle out of state.    

During the ten years that I made my harp recordings, I drove from our home in Colorado all the way to a Christian recording studio in the state of Pennsylvania. I did that for four of my six recordings. For my first two recordings, I shipped my harp out in the crate it was originally sent to me in, and I flew to Pennsylvania to join my harp. That worked well. But for my last four harp recordings, I drove my minivan with my harps. The drive was long, but worth it. I included the cost of driving to and from Pennsylvania in with the total recording cost. 

An added perk of all my recording trips was getting to see family and friends along the way. (we have family in Michigan) Driving from Colorado to Pennsylvania (and back) gives a delightful view of the changing scenery from state to state. (I admit, some states are more enjoyable to drive through than others.) Even Nebraska and Wyoming, with their boring, flat, open prairies, have their own beauty. Every state is truly beautiful in its own way. 

The first time I drove from Colorado to Pennsylvania with several harps in my minivan, I had church friends (sisters) join me. I had lots of company and we took turns driving. That was so nice! But the second time I drove to Pennsylvania to make another recording, I was alone for two out of the three days of driving there. I had to get a hotel one night alone. Staying at a hotel, alone, as a single, 28 year old woman at the time was not fun. I had to do the same on my drive home, and on that trip I told myself "never again". Although everything was fine, and I was in frequent contact with my Dad on my phone, I didn't like staying in a hotel by myself like that. I was kind of scared. 

True to my word, I never stayed in a hotel alone again during my harp recording trips. My Mom went with me for my last two recording trips. 

Almost four years ago, I went on another, long road trip to visit friends in the states of Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee. I drove alone but stayed in the home of friends every night. On that trip, I drove through Kansas and into the states mentioned above. I saw states and scenery I'd never seen before. I enjoyed that!

Since that trip, I hadn't gone on any road trips, and I'd never driven to California before. I rode with my family when we moved from California to Colorado almost 24 years ago. And I was with my family when we drove back to California to visit my Grandpa once, and another time, to attend his funeral. 

But to drive to California myself, all alone, was something new for me. The two day drive seemed easy enough, but I didn't like the idea of having to stay in a hotel all alone in Utah somewhere. I hadn't done that in a long time and hoped it wouldn't happen again. 

The Lord blessed my trip. He was with me and gave me peace. Everything went just fine on my way to California, including my one night hotel stay in Utah. I enjoyed the scenery along the way! 

I took a few pictures while driving to California in early April, but on my drive home to Colorado in late June, the weather and scenery was spectacular! Other than being extremely warm outside, the weather was absolutely perfect!

Normally, I never use my phone while driving. But, I used it as my GPS for most of my trip, and in places were there weren't many vehicles on the road, I decided to quickly snap a few pictures. 

I drove through the desert of California going through Nevada, a smart part of Arizona, Utah, and then into Colorado. Although I didn't relish the idea of staying a night alone in a hotel in Utah somewhere, I was excited about my drive home.   

I've seen the United States going east to states like Michigan and Pennsylvania many times. But this time, I was getting to see part of the United States from the western side. 

Many Americans enjoy traveling to other countries of the world, so much so, I think we sometimes forget how beautiful our own country is. Anyone who knows me well knows that I love traveling to the country of Israel. However, the United States is my home, and I'm thankful to live here. Our country is so beautiful! 

If I was married and had children, I think it would be so fun to take the children on a road trip through different states. It could be educational as well as enjoyable! (that is, if the children weren't too young)     

I will put a brief description below each picture.  

    

Large, giant mirrors in the desert of California!
Quite something to see! 

  

The desert of Nevada - incredibly dry and barren! 

The desert of Nevada, very close to entering Arizona. 

Beautiful Utah! I had no idea Utah was so beautiful! 

Desert region of Utah. 

The large structures in the desert of Utah were spectacular! 

It was so much fun to drive through Utah! 

The barren desert of Utah. Photo taken on a stop.  

A rainbow cloud was over me and in front of me when I was driving from Utah into Colorado. I'd had a dream about a rainbow while sleeping in a hotel in Utah the night before.
In my dream, the rainbow represented God's Presence. 
To see this while driving the next day was simply:
 "Wow, Father!" Thank you!" 
God reminded me that He was with me
and was watching over me. So special! 

"Welcome to Colorful Colorado!"

Western Colorado

Colorado is, indeed, colorful and very beautiful! 

The Colorado River! Western Colorado. 

Driving through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.  

The mountain scenery in Colorado took my breath away! Truly majestic! 

A quote from Laura Ingalls (Little House on the Prairie) summed up my thoughts well about driving home:  

“I knew there would be rivers to cross and hills to climb, and I was glad, for this is a fair land, and I rejoiced that I would see it.” ~ Laura Ingalls