The Neverending Story

While looking through our pics from the AT hiking trip, we realized there was an ongoing story throughout the trip that we had never even noticed. (Disclaimer: The story I'm about to tell is not really true, but it WAS absolutely hilarious to us as we started making up our own story while looking at the pics.) Enjoy!
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There's a legend of a girl who once ventured off into the mountains with her dear friends. However, something occurred in the hills that the group of friends has never recovered from...something terrible and unexplainable. This is the story of the fateful weekend...

Once upon a time, a hiking trip occurred. There was lots of time for thinking and reflecting on God's creation. That is, until "the neverending story" began. The story is said to go something like this...

Marsha: Hey, let's take a pic on this bridge...and then I'll tell you a story that I was just reminded of..."

Marsha: So, one time when I was in the Philippines...

(15 minutes later...)

Bill: (thinking: wow, this story is amazing, but it sure has been going on for a while. I think I'll start walking and she can finish telling it on the way to the waterfalls.)

Marsha: blah, blah, blah.....

Bill: (thinking: ok, so it's been 45 minutes and the story is still going. It HAS to be almost over.)

Marsha: Wait, Bill. Come back! I'm not finished yet.

Marsha: blah, blah, blah, Philippines, blah, blah...

Mari: (thinking: Wow, Bill was not joking. This story is STILL going on!)

Marsha: Bill, Mari. Are you up there? I have to finish my story...

Bill: You don't understand, Mari, I CANNOT listen to any more stories.

Mari: I know, but just try to be nice. We only have 46 hours left. Or, maybe we can lose her on the trail...

Marsha: Hey, listen to this...

Bill: Jump, Mari! Let's get out of here!

Mari: Wait for me, Bill!!!

Later that night, Bill wrote in is journal...

"Dear God, I know I've been praying for patience and perseverance lately, but seriously? Having to listen to Marsha is a little extreme don't you think?..."

The group did have a one night break between hiking, and they were seen out in the square resting and having a good meal. Legend says that one person remembered seeing the group that night and overheard the following conversation:

Marsha: That was so much fun, but I'm glad to be out for the night and rest a little. Hey, that reminds me of a story...

*cricket, cricket*...

And that was the last time Marsha was ever seen again. People sometimes say they can hear her at night...laughing and telling a story. Mari and Bill, on the other hand, also hear her at night, but only because their therapists haven't helped them work through all of the memories and the nightmares continue. Perhaps one day we will find out what really happened in the mountains that weekend. But until then, the legend lives on.

~THE END~

A Lake Runs Thru It

I realize that usually lakes don't run through anything, unless you are in New Orleans when there's a tropical storm warning. Needless to say, we received nothing from Hurricane Ike compared to Texas. However, the lake did decide to leave its comfort zone (& ours) to come play with us, and the crazy winds were actually a little fun. (Except for the time the wind almost blew us off of the levee, which would have led to certain death...or two wet and muddy girls.)

The morning started w/ our fence blowing into the neighbor's car.

Don't worry-MB & I fixed it :) :)

The city did close the gates to keep the lake out...

but yes, that is water coming thru & under the gate. Oh well.

But don't worry. The drain is catching the water leaking thru the gates...

Reason #57 that the city floods when it rains, and when it doesn't...

The mailman actually came while we were there. Someone offered him their kayak if he wanted to keep going, but he refused--not exactly what I call commitment to the job. Apparantly, the saying "neither rain nor sleet nor snow..." does not apply during a tropical storm.

Yes, this is the lake. But it's supposed to be the parking lot!

Ridiculous-crazy wind does not equal cool hair. But it does equal mucho fun!

P.S. Meanwhile, back in the car, a lonely carton of Edie's ice cream melts away. (Can I write that off as a disaster-related loss?). . . Ah, the price you pay for being a fox news correspondent. Dang you Fox News UReport!

What's Your Purpose?

What is it that you want to do, and what is it that you were meant to do? One of the mega trends of the past few years has been finding purpose. Obviously, there is an innate desire to have and fulfill a purpose, to find the meaning of life and what your role is in it. We are all here for a reason, and every person, whether they are a believer or not, can sense it.

But the real question is, when you find out what that purpose is, are you going to be willing to do your part, even if it means doing something that is hard or dangerous. Many people will ask you why you would be willing to go overseas or confront someone or do anything that seems unpleasant when you could choose not to do so. But what everyone forgets is that if we are doing what we were called to do, then we are much safer in that place or experience than we would be anywhere else. My mom used to worry about me going places and doing new things, but then she would always say, "But I know that God can take care of you there just as well as He can take care of you here."

My desire to be adventurous, to truly live, and to fulfill God's purpose is there for a reason, just as your desires and goals and purposes have been given to you for a reason. Don't back down from doing what you know you are supposed to do just because it doesn't seem safe or because other people don't understand. People will never fully understand. That's just part of the test of obedience.

Being the quote freak that I am:), I have a quote that often challenges me in these areas--to do things that will enable me to live and not just be alive but also to do what I am called to do, even when I don't want to, when it seems dangerous, or when other people just don't understand. And I hope you accept the challenge to do what you are called to do.

"The ship is safest when it is in port. But that's not what ships were made for."
- Paulo Coelho

More than Alive

So I've said it before and I'll say it again--

there is a difference between living and being alive.

We all need to be reminded of this on a regular basis, and since this idea was one of the reasons for starting this blog, I thought I'd remind us all. So...this is your friendly reminder :)

"May you live all the days of your life."

Pack It Out

Ok, so I may not do the whole hiking series I had planned on, but I will add some more pics. Also, we took some video clips as part of our documentary and are planning on making a "movie" of sorts. Should we ever finish it, I might be persuaded to add it, also. But don't think you're getting off the hook that easy. There will be one more day of pics after today that tell a story--granted, it is a misleading story, but still, who's going to know if you weren't on the trip :)

The 3 Amigos (Aaron wasn't w/ us yet)

Oh, hey Aaron. There you are!

Mari & Bill pumping water

The sun is setting between our heads...

...nevermind. Bill caught it :)

"Simba, one day all of this will be yours..."

Everything was really not this blue :)

But the water was FREEZING!!!


Our reward when we finished:

going to Amsterdam, aka Helen, GA :)

And I saved the best for last. While at the falls, we came across Gollum, from Lord of the Rings. It turns out he is quite the acrobat...




Tune in tomorrow for another episode of "What Not To Do When Hiking" with your host, Marsha :)

It Is Finished

We finally made it out of the mountains, and we're all still alive...barely :) It was an extremely challenging week but the kind that you look back on and remember as mostly good.

I'll add more stories, pics, and details later, but I have to read a 500 page book and do a book review in two days, so I'll just give highlights for now. Here goes:

~ finally seeing Bigfoot in the GA mountains - we have video to prove it
~ climbing waterfalls
~ mice running around our heads
~ sore muscles and blisters
~ watching Gollum from Lord of the Rings play in the stream
~ networking on the trail
~ 26 miles! (which feels like 72 for those of you who don't hike) :)
~ new friends

It's hard to see, but Mari & I are sitting on the rock

half way up the falls

T minus 1

So, I haven't done a very good job of keeping you updated about our training experiences for the AT Experience (from an earlier post in case you missed it). But tomorrow is the big day. FINALLY, we're going hiking. It came close to not happening several times, but we have overcome! :) Despite Hurricane Gustav and lots of other obstacles, we are still planning on going. I guess it just makes it part of the experience. AND, the best part is that we actually achieved all of the training goals we set for ourselves, even though we thought there was absolutely no way we could reach them by the time we were supposed to leave. Unfortunately, we never got to practice climbing steep hills with our packs on, because our plan was to go climb the levees this past weekend. Obviously, that didn't happen. Although if it had, I think we would've been much more prepared than we ever needed to be. :) :)

All this to say, all of our hard work will be tested over the next few days as we go on our hiking extravaganza. Just like the levees, we'll see if our hard work and preparation pays off. Hopefully, it will. Otherwise, this might be the last post I ever write...just kidding. I'll be sure to post pics when we get back, but until then be praying for us. Pray for new friendships (since I only know one person going), endurance and stamina, lots of learning experiences, and tons of fun!

So, until next time...