Signing Off

Will be signing off the blog for now.

Please check out my trail journal at www.trailjournals.com/blissful for updates on where I am.

Thanks for reading and God bless!

One Week to Go!

I sit here pondering the fact I have but a mere one week before my feet hit the AT to complete the trail this year. I don't care to ponder the fact that I still have a zillion things left to accomplish. But I do ponder how the journey first began as a teenager thirty years ago and now has come to this momentous point in my life. And I'm even more excited and in awe when I hear of others who are sharing in my thrill of this journey - from my family who visited or e-mailed encouragement, to friends who have been praying, the neighbor next door giving me postcards to send to her son's 2nd grade class, to the people that have already volunteered along the trail's route for us to stop by and stay with them (from VA to PA to CT). All point to a trip in stages but one that must and will be completed, by the grace of God in Whose strength I can do all things.

I have enjoyed writing down tidbits of this pre-journey in my blog. Now the journey and its wonders will turn to my trail journal site. So be certain to check it out where I am and what's happening when the journey begins March 1st, 2007.

Two weeks and counting...

In two weeks we will be doing the Approach Trail to Springer Mtn. Hard to even comprehend. Even harder when I think how long a journey it has been to get me here and then what awaits me. I wonder if I will just be in a state of shock during it, like this is not reality. I mean, I will certainly have the reality and the pain of the hike. But the idea I am really doing this, from Georgia all the way to Maine. Five and a half months. Amazing.

I like to think of the old Michael Card song when it comes to this adventure. "There is a joy in the journey." And that is really what I want to have. Joy in the journey.

Getting gear and mail drops together

Time is Growing Short...

Hard to believe in only a little over three weeks I hit the trail. Trying to tie up loose ends and finding myself in a place where I need to trust God more and more - especially with my upcoming books releasing in the fall. There will be editing to do while I'm on the trail and not certain how that will fit in. So I will be calling my editor tomorrow to see what can be done while I have 3 weeks left. That isn't something I want to do, but I need to let her know my position. I have a feeling as the time is nearing I will be scrambling with last minute editing, but such is life. And I may very well be carrying galleys with me on the trail. That will have to be a first!

On another front, it is very cold and projected to stay cold. Thus I am considering some revamping of gear - getting a silk liner for my sleeping bag, maybe even some warmers, etc. All these unknowns and it's hard to plan. At least the food prep is well underway and the freezer bursting with homemade goodies.

Check out my trail journal link for our latest hike on the snowy AT near the Priest in VA which we did this past Saturday. Another adventure to be had with many, many more to come.