"I hope you find what you're looking for!"

That statement has been said repeatedly to me by friends and family and even strangers when my story comes up.  And at first I am taken off guard bc I think, "I'm not looking for anything?" So if I'm not looking for anything, what am I doing? I started pondering this whole journey and have jotted down things that have come up regarding this question.

1. For the adventure of it all---how many people can say they were able to do what I'm doing, when they want to do it. To see new and exciting things....and even boring!

2. To meet people & experience life.  Hear their story...

3. To focus on me--get to know "me" really well. 

4. To take on the FULL responsibility of the boys...whew!  that's been the hard one.

5. To figure out what I want to do next in my life and career.

6. To love myself FIRST and MOST.  I know that sounds selfish but everyone should do this.  You have to love yourself fully first before you can love anyone else wholly.

So far that is what I've got going on!  I'm sure more will come to mind and I'll pass them along...maybe :).

We are in an incredible setting now. The BEST campsite to far.  A very nice wooded and secluded campsite in Livingston, MT.  It's called Paradise Valley for a great reason.  I believe some of the most beautiful countryside in the US is here.   All the pics below are from very near the campground.  We did a hike today in the Gallatin National Forest. Just beautiful.. But I have to admit, when you see a sign like the orange one below, every stump or rock is a BEAR!!  You're definitely on high alert.  The river in the pic is the Yellowstone River. 

And I totally understand that some of my grammar has not been correct after publishing the post!  Spellcheck doesn't let me know when I use the wrong word. 

And please shoot me a comment (which you can do below each blog) or an email.  I would love to hear from everyone.   That helps me stay connected to the world!!

I am not the pack leader...:(

Thought I would send an update as we sit on the  porch while a gentle rain falls.  We have been on the road a week now....just over 1000 miles traveled.  From Vernal, UT we stayed in Dubois and Cody, WY.  Both are quaint small towns but nothing compares to where I am now---Red Lodge, MT.  Probably the CUTEST, MOST QUAINT and BEAUTIFUL town in MT.   I have been to several places in MT in prior years so I feel comfortable saying this!  The mountains that surround the town and BIG and the famous Beartooth Hwy is here.  The Hwy goes to 11000 feet and the views are breathtaking.  The stores are better than most....not just crappy t-shirts shops or food here.. Real quality.  I would recommend everyone visit and feel the small town hospitality.  Tomorrow we head out to our next great adventure after staying 4 days and it's been great.

I have met yet another wonderful pair--a mother and daughter from just up the road in Billings.  Kim and Elise (shes 11) are here for a mother/daughter summer trip and staying in the cabin beside me.  We clicked instantly yesterday and Kim and I were able to talk at the pool a while today.   Kim and her husband foster children and currently has a 9 month old that they are madly in love with & talked about the possibility of having to relinquish her soon.  Elise is way past her years in maturity and sweetness....you can tell she genuinely cares about people which means her parents have done an amazing job. She has brought the boys treats from the main office so they life her a lot :).   Thank God for people who have that calling and purpose in their life.  I'm thankful for meeting them as they have enriched my life.

The boys and I have been doing 3-4 walks a day but today we ventured out on a hike to Wild Bill Lake.   A very picturesque, small lake nestled in the evergreens.   We did 2 loops around the lake and started on a 3rd when the boys were picking up on a scent so I decided to turn around.  There, about 40 feet off the trail stood a HUGE moose staring at us through the bush.   My heart raced knowing that if the boys saw him and barked or lounged, he may charge.   Luckily--they didn't and we proceeded quickly to the car.  I went back for a picture and he was gone.  It definitely had me thinking of future encounters with wildlife and how we should react.    A nice adrenaline rush though!!

I have realized I am not the leader of my pack but am working on it.  We bark when we shouldn't, we don't really like kids (J), we don't ride in the car well, we are protective of our camp and the list goes on....BUT we are working on it and hopefully by the end of our trip we will realize that mama is the boss :).

Do you know what I miss the most so far??? You would think my bed, my shower, a TV maybe....nope ---a refrigerator!!  It's been really tough keeping ice in the cooler everyday or 2 and all I have wanted is cold stuff like: yogurt, salads, cheese,etc.  If I could have only packed a fridge we would have it made!!  Daily I look forward to the formality of dinner---if you can call it that!  You will see a pic below.  A tablecloth & music with dinner, what a concept.  Speaking of that----if anyone can dry some peppers for me when they go on sale at City Market that would be AWESOME!!  I have enjoyed my dried fruits and veggies with each meal but already out of the peppers. 

I am definitely living a more simple life and appreciating it. I have traded my perfume for bug spray & makeup for sunscreen. I always have dirt under my fingernails--no matter how hard I try to keep them clean.  I sweat ALL day long! I have an injury on every limp and appendage! The boys have never stayed this tired in their lives & love it!  At about 6pm---after dinner they are ready to hit the bed!  And life is GRAND!!

Below are pics of  Beartooth HWY, Red Lodge, my dinner table, Wild Bill Lake and Red Lodge countryside.  

Off and running.... and driving...

We have successfully stayed 2 nights (tonight being 3) and settling into a nice familiarity at the campsite.  Jackson (or scardy dog as he should be referred to going forward) has already tested my patience multiple times.  It is amazing where a dog can fit in a vehicle where he really doesn't belong when something spooks them.  He literally got wedged in between my seat and the plastic median (seat belt holder) when we had stopped for a pee break Tuesday.  Monty will occasionally thrown out a "hack" which sends Jax scrambling!  I had to push on his chest while pulling on his rear!  It took about 2 min. to finally free him and for a brief period, pictured him there the rest of the trip!  No GOOD!  BUT was finally released and had a look of "oh crap, that was close!" About 4 min down the road is when I actually started laughing at the situation.  Another time (after a hack attack!) he crawled from his back seat to the very BACK.  On top of coolers, totes, etc. and plopped himself on my pillow for the next 1 1/2 hrs.  Hopefully he will calm down and start enjoying the riding but we can only see. 

We stayed in Vernal, UT Monday night and then left for what ended up being 8 hrs in the car!!  We were all exhausted when we arrived yesterday afternoon but are here for a few nights.  Today we didn't get in the car once!  We had 3 walks, I hit town alone (which was great!), took an afternoon nap during a thunderstorm, sat for hours reading in the sunshine and then ate some dinner.   I was invited to hit the town with my camp neighbors who I met this afternoon, 3 very cool couples/kids from Massachusetts.  They first fell in love with the boys and then took me under their wing when they found out I was alone.  Pretty neat experience.  I want to be OPEN to people and places so I said yes and we ended up laughing a lot!! You never know who you may meet....could be a new friend.  

I have already learned a few things in the 3 short days on the road:
1. You should have soap on a rope or liquid soap when taking a shower with open stalls. :)
2. You should drink caffeine prior to driving 110 winding miles......uuuhhhhh..
3. Don't underestimate where bugs can and will go.
4. Monty will never get tired.
AND I am proud of myself for the first 3 nights......

Well, I am off to a campfire at my new camp neighbors. Sunset was amazing tonight. Looking forward to tomorrow and whatever it holds....

Pics are of scardy dog, first 2 campsites, Flaming Gorge Reservoir, a church sign that I loved :) ....and the world's largest fake elk.   

Well, I never said I was RUFFING it!!

Well, here I am...packed and ready to go.  The boys and I are leaving out on Monday, at some point and heading North.  I have it mapped out through Aug. 2 and will keep everyone posted along the way.  My plan is to blog after I leave a location for safety reasons.  I have already learned so much about myself just during the short time I have been off and the next month will be even more "life schooling". 
The packing process has been quite intense.... I am a person who likes to plan and organize so you can imagine what you think you might need for a 3 month trip!! Then I did remember there were these things called towns and stores along the way that I could buy what I need but it was to late!!  I had made a trip to a super store and bought tons of canned beans, food and dried 20 #'s of fruit (gonna have the best GI system in the West!)  I have purchased some great, can't live without items along the way, i.e. a portable toilet, a portable hammock, a Thule storage case and a new tent. I made my own first aid kit bc I didn't like the one's our there! (not first aidy enough)  I have 4 Totes, a cooler, a large duffel bag and numerous small bags, sleeping bag, camping chair and DOG FOOD....  Yes, hopefully the tires won't bust when we start driving due to weight!   And the boys!!  As you can see, they will have it made.  Heck, I want to sleep back there!  Their water bowl travels well and the lattice is plastic.  Just a little reinforcement if the doors comes open, they won't bolt.... Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers along the way. I need and appreciate them.  I want to especially thank my best and dearest friend, Lori.  She has helped with so many things along the way---it would have been hard to accomplish all this without her.   

Additional traveling companion....

I have wanted a new tattoo for a long time now...just didn't know what I wanted or why.  After taking a trip home to AL, I was reflecting on my Granny Boatfield who passed away almost 20 years ago.  She was this AMAZING woman in my life..Her strength, humor, laughter, joy for cooking and independence are all qualities reflected in me.  There are many qualities that she possessed that I don't have but work on daily.  I always referred to her as a cute little frog because she indeed favors a cute little frog ;).  Hence the FROG QUEEN....  A frog symbolizes rebirth, renewal, life transition and opportunity.  In Japan, the frog is good luck for the traveler.  I wanted her in a yoga meditation pose as I am reflecting inward during this time of my life.  I wanted nature all around her...and of course her body is adorned w. jewelry because I am a SHINY PERSON!! and really don't do plain!!  She sits on my left forearm and I smile every time I see her.....  I think of my grandmother with me on this journey and how happy and proud she would be for me.  I think about how I don't want to waste a single minute of this opportunity I have been given.   I think about how precious life is and we need to appreciate it everyday.... 

Goodbye my dear friend......

I lost one of the dearest people in my life this week, Rod Anders.  In reflecting on Rod, it occurred to me that he was the # 2 man in my life behind my dad.  I never told him but I really think he knew.  I was supposed to see Rod and Pam when my journey started this week but missed him by 13 days…. I was just reading the last email he sent on May 28^th… “Can’t wait to see you little one!!”    Rod’s passing only reinforces my decision to GO LIVE LIFE! He was so excited for me when I told him my plan and about my blog.  But he did say, “Blog, what the hell’s a blog, just call me”….  For those of us that knew Rod, that does not surprise!  We had nick names for each other---he called me little one bc I reminded him of Pam and I called him Pappy… bc he was going to walk me down the aisle alongside my dad if I ever  married.  We worked very closely together for 4 years—traveling thousands of miles and many hours in the car.  He taught me so many life lessons… treat people as you would want to be treated, always know a person by their name and red meat and whiskey will cure your cold.  He was the consummate southern gentleman.  And the love he had for Pam was as genuine and deep as I’ve ever seen.  Rod will be with me throughout this journey, wherever it may lead.  I love you my dear friend.