Month: February 2018

So there I was waking up in what would now be my new home away from home. You know when you try something new and your heart beats like crazy because of the excitement and fear that you are feeling? That was me. I was sooo excited to be there and I wanted to see what the area had to offer. I had a few days to drive around and check it out before my orientation with the company that I work for. But I will get to that later. Right now it was about getting to know the area.

I was talking to young Martin (who is like a brother to me) who was living there in Elkhart as well. He told me about some of the places to go and see. And when he told me about visiting the Amish community that was only 15 miles down the road I knew that’s where I was headed. I have always heard about the Amish community but living in California I had never gotten to experience it for myself.

The drive was absolutely beautiful. I made it back to Indiana October of 2016. I was 26 years old and living out one of my dreams. The fall colors out in Indiana were to die for. All the trees were vibrant in color. The skies were blue with some clouds and I just remember thinking this is amazing and exactly where I need to be at this time in my life.

All of a sudden I see a buggy in front of me and I remember my heart beating with a little more with excitement. Because I had never seen a horse and buggy jogging down the side of an interstate before. I realized that I had made it to the Amish Community.

Now there is an amazing store in Shipshewana Indiana called E&S sales. If you are every in the area take the time to stop. Not only is it a grocery store it is also a place to buy hand crafted outdoor furniture, cabins, and many other amazing handmade items. One of the neatest things to me is that aside from a normal parking lot for vehicles the side of the building is dedicated to buggy parking. The horses and buggy’s are a sight to see. And the homemade goodies that the Amish make are amazing. The breads and pastries are to die for.

Across from E&S Sales is a pretzel shop called Ben’s Pretzel and that is also always on my list when I am in the area. I mean how do you pass up a homemade pretzel? The answer to that is you don’t.

Driving around I saw some of the prettiest colors, amazing farm land and was just soaking it all in. I had no idea how amazing the fall colors could be and seeing them in person is something everyone should do. Little did I know that in a few short days I would get to see even more of those amazing fall colors.

I will never forget the feeling I had leaving. I was nervous, sad, and excited all at the same time. I had an amazing last dinner with my family and gave them all a hug good bye. As I was pulling out of the parking lot of the Palomino Room I remember looking back at my nieces and thinking how am I suppose to go two months without them? Without their hugs, smiles, laughs and conversations. Anyone who knows me knows that my nieces have a huge part of my heart. So there I was driving out thinking how can I leave them? I had to remember that it was just a few short months. That this wasn’t good bye it was a see you later.

So there I was driving down Highway 36 out of my small town I had absolutely no idea on what I was doing. I remember thinking it’s not to late to turn around, you don’t have to go. And then I remember thinking you are already 40 miles down the road and you HAVE to go. This is an opportunity that not everyone gets, so you have to make the best of it. Pretty soon I was 100 miles from home and then 200 miles from home which is where my first stop was. Reno Nevada where I was staying the night with my friend from home Jessica.

Day 2 of driving was across I80. Anyone who has traveled on I80 knows it is a LONG interstate and sometimes you definitely find yourself saying “am I there yet?” But then I would remind myself this isn’t something everyone gets to do. Find the beauty in the Desert, look at the scenery, and take every moment in because this is a moment you will remember forever. After driving all day I ended up in the beautiful city of Salt Lake. I pulled up to my cousins Ashley’s place and thought ok day 2 is done and now you get to spend time with Ash. Ashley always has a big warm hug to offer every time I get to Salt Lake. She is definitely one of my favorite stops when I am driving through.

Day 3-8 I was going to end up in the small town of Hamlet Nebraska at Uncle Brian and Aunt Heidi’s. Now every year they have a pumpkin party. Uncle Brian plants pumpkins and all the local kids come out and pick them with their families. I have always heard about it but living out in California I have never attended until now. Getting ready for the party included of course a Wal Mart store run and the rebuilding of a turnip launcher. Yep you read that right a turnip launcher. Eventually the day for the party showed up and a party it was. Uncle Brian’s place has always been one of my favorites. The memories there are priceless.

Day 9 I was back on the road again with the final destination in sight Elkhart Indiana. Now the farthest I have ever driven east was Hamlet Nebraska so back on I80 I got and headed east. I pulled into the town of Elkhart at night. Had no idea what was there or in the surrounding areas but I was excited that I had made it and was ready for this next chapter of my life. I got to Martin and Jenny’s town house and snuggled in for the night. Little did I know that the next day I would wake up to what is now one of my favorite states and places.

The road less traveled is an amazing one. And getting to Elkhart Indiana was just the start to this step of the journey. .

Being raised in a small town like I did you always look at photos of other places and wonder what is life like out there? I always had the want and need to travel, see new things, learn about other cultures and just see what this world had to offer.

Growing up I always felt expected to go to school, graduate high school, go to college, fall in love, get married and have babies. But that was never me. I loved high school and all my experiences in high school. I did some time in college but changed my mind about what I wanted to be so I decided to drop out and learn a little bit about life and myself. Then next on the check list was to fall in love and get married. But this wasn’t high on my priority list and to this day isn’t. In the moment I realized that I wasn’t in any hurry to get married and settle down the gypsy in me came out. I had to be ok with the fact that I wasn’t going to be a statistic. I wanted to be one of the independent girls that traveled and lived. I still had to figure out how to do just that. I had to figure out what made me happy, I had to decide where I wanted to go and scarier then everything I had to be ok with not following the normal.

Before I started on this amazing and crazy journey that I am now living. I ran a couple offices, helped watch my nieces, spent time with friends/family, started a woodworking business. I had a great life but I felt like I was just going in circles. I felt like I was under water during part of it. I just wanted more out of my life. One of my nieces went to daycare and her daycare lady Tiffany was amazing. I would go to pick up my niece and one day we just got to talking. We talked about life, what I was looking for, and most important to me was that she took the time to help me pull out this other side of me. She listened to what I longed for which was to travel and see this country. She told me “Izzy (which is what my nieces call me) you have to do something for you. You have to live your own life and if you feel like you need to do something else find a way to do it.” Hearing those words was all it took. This lady that was once a stranger that I didn’t know helped me realize I needed a change in my life to help me become the best person I could be. Tiffany will always have a special place in my heart and I will always be grateful for her friendship. She still will randomly text me when the theme song she gave me comes on.. Is there life out there by Reba McEntire who just happens to be my all time favorite artist.

It took me about 2 years to finally get the nerves up to change my life and for the good. The hardest part was I would have to leave that circle I was stuck on and jump into the unknown. Luckily for me I have an amazing support group that always has my back no matter how crazy of an idea that I have. One day I got a phone call from a family friend that is like a dad to me. When I answered he said “I have this crazy idea. I think you should come out to Indiana after fire season and go to work hauling travel trailers for the company I am hauling for.” I told him that I needed to think about it. This was a huge jump into the unknown but after thinking about it for about a month I called him back and told him I would be there in October. Now this gave me 2 months to get ready to go but I was so excited about this journey. I told my friends/family the news and told them that I wasn’t sure how long I would be back there. Well the date for me to leave came and leaving that small town, friends and family that have always been there for the unknown was one of the hardest but best decisions I have ever made. And this is how my gypsy journey began….