Thursday, July 24, 2008

HAPPY ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY FINDING NOWHERE!


abandon. explore. find.

it's been exactly one year since we started this online journal. we were hesitant that we'd be able to keep up with it...and keep the audience interested. it's been great laying down our thoughts for family and friends to read. thank you.

we remember driving across the country [kansas to be exact] this time last year, brainstorming names for our journal. we pulled an old arby's napkin out of the glovebox and started scratching down names. we just found that same napkin a few weeks ago; still in our glove box. here are the titles that didn't get used. we're very pleased with the name 'finding nowhere.' a close second was 'the world can wait.'


it's been one year since we've left cincinnati, and we've seen more then we could have imagined. we've taken some time to reflect on all the miles we drove, all the photos we've taken, national parks we've visited, events that happened and people we've met.

in the past year...
we've driven through 19 states. and 2 countries [usa and canada].
and seen 4 of the 5 great lakes.


visited 8 national parks: rocky mountain np, grand tetons np,
mount rainier np, yellowstone np, glacier np, pacific rim np,
badlands np, and theodore roosevelt np.


we've taken 4089 photographs.


driven 22,871 miles
9106 miles were for trips between ohio & washington and
washington & montana. we want to be better about this next year.

price of gas in 7/07: $3.09 per gallon
price of gas in 7/08: $4.50 per gallon
average price of gas: $3.80 per gallon

27,871 miles @ $3.80 average gas price = $4138.56 spent on gas.
we definitely need to be better about this next year!


we've gotten three nails in our tires. all of
which we ran over in our parking garage.


we've tried to eat better. andrea hasn't had 'fast food' once.
brooke's eaten taco bell three times.


andrea hasn't had starbucks once! brooke has had way
more espresso than he should!


felt freer than ever!


all this to say... we're not done yet! andrea still has many more mountains to explore and brooke still has a lot more espresso to drink! we feel we've changed a bit; we feel a little wiser...about each other and the world. but our core values are still the same: we love god, we love each other, and we have an unquenchable hunger for this creation. our travels continue...in search of 'nowhere.'

don't worry... we'll keep you posted.

2 comments:

Mom K2 said...

I think I can speak for both sets of parents when I say that I hope you keep this blog going! It's a race in our home as to who can get to the computer first on Monday morning to see what new adventures you have posted! It's a great way to keep up with you two! We always enjoy your postings - some are funny, some are informative, some cause concern (like when Andrea talked about her exploring by herself!, and some bring back fond memories! Keep up the good work - I guess we can say that we live vicariously through your and "finding nowhere!"

Mom T. said...

You have reflected so eloquently on your year!

This has been a reflective summer for us also... retirement, leaving the farm, our 38th anniversary, Judge's noticeable move towards his sunset, our changing island.....

Don't rush through life. The world can wait while you find nowhere.... You are so good at it!