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Everywhere

June 8, 2018 Liz's Gypsy JourneyLeave a comment

The month of May had me feeling like I was a little bit everywhere. I brought in the month coming home from an amazing trip that led to friends moving back home. It also brought more softball with the team I truly enjoyed coaching and more memories with friends. But what is a month without a little bit of traveling?

The second weekend of May brought a trip to Fortuna, Ca. My best friend was graduating from college and it was a moment in her life that I wasn’t going to miss. I went over on a Friday. She graduated on Saturday. Getting to watch her walk was a moment in our friendship that I will never forget. I am so proud of her accomplishment and so thankful to be a part of her life. After she graduated she was headed to the San Luis Obispo Ca area to start her next chapter.

After the graduation was over it was back on the road trying to make it home for Callie’s 30th birthday that also brought the KOSC dinner in our hometown. Callie thought I was on the coast and had no idea that not only myself but 3 other people would be surprising her for her birthday. The night was another night with the girls that we just got to laugh, drink and have some fun. The dinner went great and the memories all though some are a little bit of a blur will be with us. Happy Birthday Cal!

176f86eb-8e05-4712-8d66-70356bebd4d4 The third weekend in May brought the Redding Rodeo. Shi, Alecia and I with a group of Shi’s friends went out and enjoyed the rodeo. You never know who you are going to run into at rodeo. For the first time in a long time we actually called it early and went home to get some sleep. Even calling it early it was a good time.

That next week brought a graduation to our family. My little cousin Maranda graduated 8th grade and is officially high school bound. Along with the graduation the family also had the end of the year Red Bluff FFA Banquet. I wasn’t planning on attending the banquet since it was Maranda’s graduation but after texting with the ag teacher it was apparent that I needed to be there. Little did I know I would be awarded the FFA Pride award. FFA was a huge part of my life in high school and I still continue to spend time and volunteer time to the Red Bluff FFA. Receiving the award was a huge honor to me.

The last week of May would be spent road tripping with my dad. We left on Friday the 25th for Michigan. I have a friend that needed a puppy picked up in Michigan and my dad wanted to see some of the states he had never been to. So we loaded up and our first stop was Portland Oregon to drop off some items for a couple of friends. Then we headed to Toppenish Wa to drop off a pup to be trained and the end of our first day was Wallace Idaho. Day 2 brought driving from Wallace Idaho to Fergus Falls Minnesota. I had no idea how pretty Montana was. I had never been to Montana, North Dakota or Minnesota so I was excited to get to see them. We even stopped at The Badlands National Park in North Dakota and took in the sites. The badlands are definitely neat to see. Day 3 brought the drive from Fergus Falls Minnesota to Escanaba Michigan where we would pick up the puppy. After getting the puppy we drove to Lagrange Indiana to Martin and Jenny’s.

Once we got to Martin and Jenny’s that meant that we were able to take a break from the road and it allowed my dad to spend some time at one of my “second” homes. Martin, Jenny and I took my dad around the Amish country let him see the big store that we shop at. We ended up at the flea market which I had never been too. Jenny and I definitely had fun there. After the flea market we ended up at one of the petting farms that is right around the corner from one of our yards. We were able to feed and enjoy seeing some exotic animals. My personal favorite was Leeroy the camel. After an hour and a half there the boys went back to the lake house and Jenny and I got to enjoy some girl time shopping. Once everyone was home we took a little boat ride on the lake and just enjoyed each others company.

After the day off the road it was time to head home. I picked up a horse trailer for a friend of mine and we were west coast bound. We made a pit stop at my uncles in Nebraska, another stop in Las Vegas Nevada and then home. In 7 days we traveled through 15 states. My dad definitely was able to see some of the country and hopefully enjoyed the whirlwind trip.

May was great month full of memories and time spent with loved ones. Those months are definitely always welcomed. I’m definitely grateful I was able to take my dad on the road trip. Even with it being a super fast trip it was still a good one.

Man In The Mirror

May 22, 2018May 22, 2018 Liz's Gypsy Journey1 Comment

Growing up everyone is raised differently. Everyone has their own beliefs, morals and standards and even views. A lot of the time those aspects of people are taught to us. Some of them are definitely learned but a lot of how we are as people in my opinion is a taught trait by someone we look up to or the environment that we are raised in.

I feel so lucky to have been raised around strong women and by a father that never told me I couldn’t do something. One of the life lessons that I was taught early that my father would always say was “Can’t never did anything.” Every time I used the word can’t around my father it was followed up with that statement. I remember it use to drive me crazy but now looking back I realized it pushed me to try and do my best whenever something tried to get in my way. Whenever I wanted to try something knew my dad has had my back even if he thought it wasn’t the best idea he still supported me. I was raised by a heck of a guy that yes definitely isn’t perfect but he helped form me into a independent women that knows that the sky is the limit if I want to reach it.

The women in my life that also helped shape me into the independent driven women that I am helped to teach me that it is ok to lean on someone if you need to but it is also ok to stand on your own two feet and be ok with who you are. I have had such an amazing village help raise me and I will forever be grateful for that.

Being raised to be independent is a curse as well as a blessing. Some find me to be cocky because I truly believe that I can accomplish whatever I want. Some find me selfish because I don’t want my own children. Some find me to be to independent because I am not constantly on the search for someone to date/marry because I truly am ok with who I as a single woman. To those people that think that about me I thank them and also feel for them.

I thank them for seeing me as a strong women that knows that I am not just on this earth to just survive but on this earth to live. I thank them for saying I am selfish because when they get to the bottom of it I know what I want and how my heart and head feel. I thank them because they can see that I am ok on my own and not sad or lonely. I feel for them because deep inside 9/10 times your haters hate something about themselves that they haven’t worked out.

This world is hard and this world can suck. People can be your friend at one point and turn around and prove to you that they actually aren’t. But that is life. Sometimes life is hard, sometimes you have to push yourself to get out of bed, sometimes life is incredible and you want to yell from the rooftop. Every morning I try to thank God for another day on this earth because your day is what you make it. You can wake up hating life but why? Why not find the good in the bad? Why not be a friend to someone who needs you? Why not yell from the rooftop how good you have it even if you think that your world is falling apart? Everyone goes through things. Sometimes they are good sometimes they are bad but overall even at your bottom you are still doing good because you have still have the chance to live and change.

From the amazing people that helped raise me I also have a heck of a support group with my friends. There are a handful of people that I know I can call at any time day or night and they will be there for me. Even the friends that I have grown apart from and that I am not super close with anymore I know still have my back because I have theirs. Aside from your blood family I truly believe that the people you surround yourself with turn into your family. They turn into your tribe, your ride or dies, the ones you can call in the middle of the night and know that they will come to you if you need them. They know you better then you know yourself most of the time and can tell by the look on your face if you are ok or not. Those are the people that you hang onto a little bit harder because even in the crappy times you know you have each others back. To say I’m grateful for my tribe is an understatement because they truly know me and the independent person I am.

Aside from being independent and having an amazing support system that yes I realize not everyone has I also try to be kind and volunteer. As Ellen Degeneres would say “Be kind to one another.” That little statement has stuck with me since I first heard it. Why not be kind? Why not say hi to the random person you pass or even just a simple smile can go a long way. This world has so much hate in it why not be the person that helps bring joy? Volunteer for something not to make yourself feel better but because you want to make a difference. Take the time to find your happy, support your people that support you, help a person in need, make a difference in someones life especially a child’s and overall just be kind and love one another. When you look in the mirror make sure you are happy with the person that you see because in the end if you aren’t happy with yourself are you truly doing what you are meant to be doing?

This Is Me

May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 Liz's Gypsy JourneyLeave a comment

Over the past couple of months I have worked on getting my readers caught up on my travels. But it hit me just recently that some of my readers I have never met. I have promised to be an open book and let people in. That being said some people have asked questions about myself. So I am going to try to get those questions answered. This blog post will hopefully give my readers more an insight of me. A little Q & A if you will. So here we go! img_8410-1

What is the biggest lesson traveling has taught you? I love this question! When I first started out on this journey I knew myself pretty well I thought. But little did I know that taking this journey would teach me so much more about myself. When you decide to load up in your vehicle and drive 1,882 miles one way by yourself you learn so much more about yourself and life. I can honestly say that the biggest lesson that traveling has taught me would be that anything you want to do you can achieve. If you want to travel the country find that opportunity that allows you to do that. If you want to find yourself take the time to yourself to do that. Allow yourself the time to answer your own questions. I have also learned that being independent is absolutely amazing and ok. It’s ok to not need someone 24/7. It is ok to answer your own questions and follow your own dreams.

2. What’s the craziest thing that has ever happened during your travels? That’s a difficult question because nothing super crazy has happened. In all my travels it has been pretty smooth sailing. I have blown a tire on the east side of LA in the concrete jungle so that was a crazy experience. I have also had part of a trailers skirting pull off in the middle of Kansas. I have seen some crazy semi wrecks that left me praying for those involved but aside from that nothing to crazy has happened to me directly and that I’m ok with.

3. Does traveling alone scare you? The answer to that is no. When I first left I was definitely nervous but it wasn’t because I was by myself but because I was headed into the unknown. And sometimes the unknown is nerve-racking but it is also so exciting. Sometimes the unknown is just what people need to find out more about themselves. I learned that I could travel across the country and would be ok.

4. Where is your favorite place you have traveled to? That is one of the hardest questions because I find this country to be amazing. In the matter of hours you can be in the mountains, flat lands, cities and country. It is incredible to me. If I had to pick one of my favorite cities it would be Nashville TN. One of my favorite states is Indiana it is beautiful. But all in all everywhere I have been has made a difference in my life.

5. How many states have been to? Since I started working for the company that I haul for I have been lucky enough to see 32 states. Most of the states I have seen multiple times. I am excited to get more knocked off check list tho.

6. Out of the states you have left to see which one are you most excited about? I am super excited and can’t wait to check New York and Maine off my list. I am hoping to be able to check them off by this fall. So if you have a suggestion of what to go see send me message.

7. If you weren’t hauling trailers what would you be doing? This is a question that is hard for me to answer because I believe in living in the moment. I believe in soaking in every day and following your heart. This opportunity has helped me so much the last couple years and I still love it so until I don’t I will continue to do what I do.

8. Do you want to get married and settle down? The answer to that is yes eventually. Right now I am so happy being single and with where I am and what I am doing that I am taking this time to be me. One day when I meet the right person I’ll settle down but until then I’m going to follow my heart and live my life. I don’t want to have any regrets about what I wish I would’ve done before I settle down.

9. What is your go to TV show that lets you just relax and enjoy? That answer is Grey’s Anatomy and Chicago Fire. They are my go to zone out shows that I could watch over and over again.

10. If you were to move where would it be and why? Boise Idaho hands down. I fell in love with Boise and am planning on moving there. It feels like home to me now. It has everything I could want in one area. Hunting, fishing, kayaking, snowboarding, mountains, hiking, city life and so much more. It’s an awesome city in a beautiful setting.

11. How long have you lived in the town you grew up in? I have lived in Red Bluff my entire life. My dads side of the family has been here for a long time. I am actually a fifth generation Red Bluff resident. Most of my family still lives in Red Bluff.

12. What do you enjoy doing for fun? I love to hunt, spend time with family and friends and am currently coaching a minor girls softball team for little league. I definitely like to be on the go all the time.

I hope that I answered some of my readers most asked questions. If you have a question you want answered just send it over. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and following me on this journey. I am so blessed to live this life that I am able to. Now that my blog is up to date I will continue to write about not only my adventures but also about the things I am passionate about. So until then This Is Me.