Dear friends, Thank you so much for your kind understanding and support these past weeks... words fail at how grateful I am for your love as we have stumbled along in our grief. I have received numerous emails about the December Caravan shop and I appreciate your patience as I honestly have not felt like creating recently. Grief is a funny monster and it sometimes makes things difficult and hard to do.
Typically in the late spring I take a "creative retreat" away as we prepare to move into the cabin for the summer and prepare for the upcoming late summer, fall and holiday season. I then re-open the shop with new boutique items on June 1st. This obviously did not happen this year.
After taking a lot of time to think and pray through it I knew that my heart needs a bit more time in this process as we continue to adjust to a difficult "new normal". So I will be re-opening the shop on Saturday, July 20th.
Thank you so much for your sweet support of my shop and all my artistic creations! The shop will re-open on Saturday, July 20th and I will share about the re-opening here on the blog!
We have cozied up on the porch each evening with warm white lights, soft pillows and cozy blankets...even on the afternoons when it has stormed it always seems to break off as night approaches and this has been a beautiful blessing...to be outside, cozied up and surrounded by light and so many prayers and love... especially as evening approaches...
As I shared last week I have been struggling with intense nightmares and difficulty sleeping since my daddy died and I was starting to dread nighttime and the dark...
As I shared last week I have been struggling with intense nightmares and difficulty sleeping since my daddy died and I was starting to dread nighttime and the dark...
Robin sent the most beautiful verse last week and I just wept reading it. It was so perfect for my hurting, broken, and fearful heart. It has brought such healing.
A huge answer to prayer is being able to sleep so peacefully for several nights this week! I am so grateful for all of your prayers about this specifically (and for my health). If you are struggling through the nights in whatever you are walking through I hope and pray this verse meets you in your pain today...
The moon will be as bright as the sun...so it will be when the Lord begins to heal his people.
The moon will be as bright as the sun...so it will be when the Lord begins to heal his people.
-Isaiah 30:26-
Happy Tuesday friends! I hope that you are having a wonderful week! Today I am excited to share with y'all a bit more about the #ADK50falls challenge and specifically about Rice's Falls, a waterfall that I visited back in April. I mentioned and shared a picture on instagram from my visit (you can see it HERE), at the beginning of May... but with everything that has taken place it has been hard to focus and write on the adventures around that time period. I know that y'all are so supportive and understanding during this incredibly difficult time.
If you aren't familiar with the #ADK50falls challenge, you can read about the entire challenge HERE, but simply put there are 50 waterfalls that you hike and visit (5 require proof with photo that you were there) to complete the challenge. Participating in this is so fun and exciting and I am looking forward to doing this and the another challenge I will share more about in the next few weeks.
If you would like to know just basic facts about the falls please just scroll down to the bottom of the post where I will be sharing basic information to help those who want to know more specifics about each of the falls in the challenge.
Rice's Falls is located right outside of Elizabethtown on the way to Blueberry Hill Trails in upstate New York and is approximately 40 minutes east of Lake Placid and about an hour north of Lake George. The falls are about 15 feet high and are considered "narrow falls" and have an upper and lower area.
The Key "landmarks" of the area is that you are about 1 mile from the Blueberry Hill Trails. As a note of warning if you follow your GPS (like we did) and turn to go over a small bridge the GPS is leading you to Blueberry Hill Trails NOT the falls which it doesn't seem to distinguish.
While the falls are not big the history behind them is a bit fascinating as at one point Rice's Falls were used to give electricity to Elizabethtown so that they could have lights.
The top of the falls are easy to see (after you walk straight in from the dirt parking area) - but the way to get to the lower falls is a bit more tricky. To see the upstream area (above Rice's Falls) it is a short 25 feet from the pull-off parking area, but if you want to see the downstream area -where Rice's Falls is located and where this picture was taken you are in for a bit of an adventure. It's not far- I would say approx. 500 feet, but depending on when you go you in the season it could be different experiences. There was no evidence that anyone had done these falls yet & we were bushwhacking our way in. Haha!
I can't recommend a visit to Rice's Falls enough and hope that y'all will join in on this very fun challenge! PS- If you are interested in reading more about each of the waterfalls - I recommend reading Adirondack Fifty Falls (click HERE to purchase) which lays out all of the falls in a concise and easy manner. It also groups the falls in the challenge by area so that you do not have to do that research!
When I was extremely sick I used to grieve not being able to be outside in nature as much as I wanted to be and if this is where you are at due to health reasons I hope that the information I provide about each of the falls in this challenge will encourage you to explore as you are able.
.
......RICE'S FALLS INFORMATION......
......RICE'S FALLS INFORMATION......
LOCATION:
Approximately 1 mile from Elizabethtown (on the way to Blueberry Hill Trails (approx. 1 hour north of Lake George // 40 minutes east of Lake Placid)
TYPE OF FALLS:
TYPE OF FALLS:
15 foot falls
KEY LANDMARKS:
KEY LANDMARKS:
approx. 1 mile from the Blueberry Hill Trails.
COST:
Free
PARKING:
Not an official one per say- It is a dirt pull off from the road.
CROWDED?:
We spent about an hour at Rice's falls exploring and in that time we never saw anyone.
DISTANCE TO FALLS FROM PARKING AREA:
To see the upstream area (above Rice's Falls) it is a short 25 feet from the pull-off parking area, but if you want to see the downstream area -where Rice's Falls is located and where this picture was taken you are in for a bit of an adventure. It's not far- I would say approx. 500 feet, but depending on when you go you in the season it could be different experiences. There was no evidence that anyone had done these falls yet & we were bushwhacking our way in. Haha!
DISABILITY FRIENDY?:
DISABILITY FRIENDY?:
No. The parking for this waterfall is a dirt pull off & is not wheelchair friendly & the ground is very unstable & the "main path" mentioned in the guide was non-existent. This may be a discouraging & difficult waterfall to experience depending on your condition. If you are wanting to see one of the other #adk50falls in this area I would check out my page dedicated to the waterfall challenge by clicking HERE!
Thank you so much for reading today friends! Please let me know if you have any questions about the challenge or Rice's Falls! I am happy to answer and can't wait to hear about your waterfall adventures!
If you would like to read about other #adk50falls that I have written about on the blog click HERE!
Have a wonderful day!
Happy Monday friends! I hope that you had a wonderful week! Ours was okay as we are stumbling along finding our shaky footing and we are so grateful for your prayers and support during this time.
As I mention several weeks ago, with summer quickly approaching I wanted to share some recaps from my trip to Alaska last year as I hope it encourages each of you to take a road trip in this beautiful part of the world! I am deep in preparation for our upcoming trip this summer and am so excited to see so many new things and share them with y'all on Instagram and here on the blog!
Also- please take a moment to read about the #10000in7days campaign (click HERE) that I am hosting this year as part of this trip! Thank you so much for considering donating to this!
Today I am so excited to share the first part of our trip on the Denali Highway. (If you want to watch a video of the whole Denali experience check out the YouTube Video HERE!) As I have mentioned numerous times I loved my experience on the Denali Highway. It is simply breathtaking!
The Denali Highway is something that I can't even begin to explain how incredible it was. In all honesty it was probably 5 of my favorite hours of the entire trip (hahaha- yes, yes, it was a favorite!). Words almost don't do this remote and beautiful area of Alaska justice.
After stopping briefly in Cantwell to get some gas and use the restroom (two things I definitely recommend before you take the trip on Denali Highway!), we began the drive east across the Denali Highway. It took about 5 hours of driving (partly because of the rocky and bumpy highway road, but mostly because I kept stopping to take pictures and just to explore where we were) and it was worth every single second.
The Denali Highway was so vast. So remote (no cell service at all) and perfectly wild in every single way you could imagine Alaska to be.
I had already said this several times on the trip by this point, but as I stood here overlooking this beautiful river I had no doubt that I had fully fallen in love with Alaska. The beauty is so indescribable and it sweeps you up in it in a way that is hard to put into words.
For some people, like my traveling companion, Ali, the feeling was the exact opposite. She expressed that while she appreciated the beauty, she was very anxious to return to cell service, be connected to her social media, have city life, shops and stores, and was ready to be off the highway after only a little bit of time.
As I have thought back on this trip, I realized that I learned a very big lesson in this regard. Traveling for different people looks really different. Some people love to get out of their comfort zones, fully immerse in a new culture or experience, and others don't. Whatever works for you is awesome, but you definitely want to keep that in mind for your trip plans.
I say and share that as a bit of a word of caution for those who are considering a similar road trip in Alaska, and one that includes crossing the Denali Highway. Those of you who know me well know that this would totally be my element. I LOVED every minute. And this highway- the disconnectedness from social media, the beauty, and nature aspect, etc. were all an incredible adventure that I wanted to grab hold of and not let end. Had I been with someone else I would have camped right there just to experience it for as long as possible.
But if you are more like my traveling companion, a person who likes to visit nature briefly, enjoys city life, or likes to be constantly connected to your social media, than this span of the trip may not be as enjoyable for you.
It is completely rural, completely vast and very very remote.
But I can't recommend it enough y'all. Seriously. I absolutely loved it.
But if you go, and I really really hope you do, than this area of Alaska is unforgettable. I read before the trip that they say that this is one of the most spectacular drives in the world and one you should do before you die, and I couldn't agree more.
A couple of quick practical notes about this drive:
(1) As I mentioned above the road is mostly gravel so the maximum speed limit is approximately 35-55mph in most parts. This can vary due to different road conditions, but while the Denali Highway is only 135 miles, it will take you longer than that to drive.
(2) If you are renting a car, you will need to make sure that you can drive on this road as not all rental car companies allow you to do so. Make sure that you talk with them before your trip so that this is all in order for you!
(3) This probably doesn't need to be said, but as I mentioned at the beginning it definitely is a wise idea to get gas in Cantwell as there is no gas stations along the Highway.
(4) If you are visiting Alaska in the winter, the Denali Highway closes every year from October through mid-May (depending on weather), so you wouldn't be able to travel it during this time.
(5) You can definitely do the Denali Highway in one day (as we did), but depending on your time I would recommend staying a night along the way. As I mentioned in the last post, there are plenty of places to pull off and do so, and in the future I definitely plan to do this on a trip.
(6) Depending on when you travel the highway you may only see a few dozen cars- if that. I counted about 17 total that we saw along the entire stretch (which included 2 trucks and 1 cop car that was working on an area of the road). Often times we would be passing the save RVs or cars as all of us were stopping at different points to take pictures or get out and explore. Despite this and despite the vastness and remoteness, I do want to say to girls traveling together that I felt completely safe in all of my travels in Alaska, including this highway. On this road would definitely be people who could help you if you needed it.
Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today! I hope that this introduction to the Denali Highway encourages you to start planning a trip there soon! I can't wait to go back!
PS- If you are curious about the specific details of the road trip that we took throughout Alaska or if you are planning a similar road trip (or just want to see and dream about visiting the beauty!) I hope the information below is helpful. You can read all of the posts from the trip by clicking on the links below:
// 5 Reasons You Need to Take an Alaskan Road Trip//
Chugach Mountains (Alaska 1-South Drive): // Scenic Seward Highway Drive (Turnagain Arm Drive)// Along the Matanuska River on Alaska 1-South// A Beautiful Lake Adventure Near Chickaloon// A Cloudy & Beautiful Drive on Alaska 1-South//
Chugach Mountains: // Eklutna Lake//
Cooper Landing (Kenai Peninsula): // Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge Nature Hike//
// Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge //
Denali State Park Area:// Denali Highway Video// One Last Adventure on the Denali Highway//
// The Denali Highway: Part Two // The Denali Highway: Part One//
//The Drive to Cantwell// Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge //
General Alaska Tips: // 5 Things You Must Know Before Driving in Alaska //
// Best Alaskan Books to Purchase for Your Road Trip //
// What to Pack for an Alaskan Summer Road Trip //
// Why You Should Dream About Visiting Alaska //
Girdwood: // Winner Creek Trail Video// Winner Creek Trail //
Hatcher Pass Area: // Hatcher Pass Video// Hatcher Pass // Little Susitna River //
Homer (Kenai Peninsula) Area: // Homer Video// Homer Spit// Homer Lighthouse// Bishop's Beach//
// A Brief History of Homer //
Thompson Pass Area: // Thompson Pass Area Video // Worthington Glacier Hike//
//Worthington Glacier//
// Among the Alaskan Fireweed on Alaska 4-S: A Beautiful Symbol of Hope in the Hard Seasons of Life //
// A Brief History of & Drive on Alaska 4-South of the Richardson Highway//Klutina River//
// The Beginning Drive to Thompson Pass//
Wrangell-St. Elias Park Area: //Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge //
Yesterday marked another painful and difficult "first" as we welcomed in the first official day of summer (one of my daddy's favorite days)...a summer that held grand and beautiful plans (including celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary)and adventures of all kinds...all changed & difficult ...and all having been replaced by a deep darkness...
earlier yesterday evening I saw my mom looking at a "rescue plant" (those who know us well know we love the beautiful flowers, but always bring some sad and dying rescue plants to the cabin each year to nurse them to health)...
I asked her what she was doing & she said "looking for new growth... looking for another symbol of hope"...
and that is how I see my amazing mom living in her deep grief and sadness... looking for symbols of hope & life...
so many of you have asked how we are doing...and it is difficult to answer ...but we are spending these minutes...these hours & days... looking for hope, marveling at the words that come "at just the right time", the answered prayers of big & small things...
so many of you have asked how we are doing...and it is difficult to answer ...but we are spending these minutes...these hours & days... looking for hope, marveling at the words that come "at just the right time", the answered prayers of big & small things...
trusting our broken hearts to the one who loves us and is carrying us through, fighting the fears of "what will happen next" by clinging to truth, crying and weeping in the pain and fear of our shattered worlds...tears falling more often than not...and trusting the Lord for our very weary hearts and bodies as we take each new step of a day... drawing into the darkness where light can still be found.
If you are walking in the darkness like we are...I am so so sorry...it feels like the "bright light of summer" is such a stark contrast to the pain... clinging with you to the grace that will continue to meet us in the deep darkness.
Moses drew into the deep darkness because God was there...
If you are walking in the darkness like we are...I am so so sorry...it feels like the "bright light of summer" is such a stark contrast to the pain... clinging with you to the grace that will continue to meet us in the deep darkness.
Moses drew into the deep darkness because God was there...
-Exodus 20-
If you or a loved one have been unfortunate enough to be involved in a vehicle accident, this may be one of the most traumatic experiences you and your family will ever face. While it’s well understood that physical injuries can be life changing, emotional trauma often goes undiagnosed for months or even years after the incident. It is understandable that you would prioritise treatment for physical injuries in the immediate aftermath, but it is important to consider the profound psychological consequences of the trauma as well.
Life may never be the same again after an accident. If somebody has died, the weight of guilt can be crippling for survivors, and not only for the driver. If you have sustained injuries that change how you are able to function in the world, you may have to approach life differently. Because of these and many other factors, countless survivors of car crashes experience depression long after their injuries have healed. They may also struggle to sleep, gain or lose weight drastically, withdraw from society, or suffer bouts of crying. If you are suffering in this way, or if you’ve witnessed this in somebody you love, remember that post-accident depression is a real thing, and it can be healed. These tips will help you take those first steps towards feeling normal again.
Photo by Nathan Cowley from Pexels
Get Professional Help
A mental health professional can be a key figure in the healing process. They provide a forum for open discussion and the processing of emotion, without your having to worry about burdening them or hurting their feelings. It is not unusual for car crash survivors to display symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and if you’re already in treatment, this is likely to be picked up on and treated appropriately. Therapy is often called the ‘talking cure’ because the act of opening up and verbalising one's feelings helps to spur on the healing process. Talking really helps, even outside of the professional therapy room, but not everybody finds it easy (or even possible) to speak freely to their friends or family, especially if you feel responsible for their wellbeing. Calling in the help of other professionals can help ease your burden in other ways. If the cost of treatment for your injuries is keeping you up at night, in such cases, it would be best to seek legal assistance from professionals who can help you receive financial compensation for your damage. You can put experienced personal injury lawyers on your side. If you’re busy and stressed in your work life, consider hiring a personal assistant, so you can focus on your recovery. Whatever the sources of strain are in your life, there are professionals out there ready to pick up the slack.
Join a Support Group
It’s common for people who have survived car crashes to feel alone in the world, as the experience of trauma can be extremely isolating , as any auto accident attorney will tell you. . You might feel like nobody understands what you have been through, and therefore nobody can help you through. However, literally millions of others have gone through similar experiences. Whether you connect with others online or find a local group in your area, it can be helpful to listen to others' coping stories, and start to share your own. Signing up for a support group or forum might feel strange at first, even a little uncomfortable, but the support you receive will equip you to cope better with your situation. As a participant, you might share encouragement and coping strategies, while drawing inspiration from others like yourself.
Mindfulness Meditation
It’s normal to feel swamped by unpleasant thoughts and feelings after an accident. The incident itself may play over and over in your head like a video reel, you might be questioning your role or fault in the accident, or you might be experiencing acute negative emotions such as rage, guilt, hopelessness and fear. It’s important to remember at this time that these negative thoughts and feelings are normal, and they do not have to dominate your existence. Mindfulness meditation is an ancient practice that can help you identify and distance yourself from the negative thoughts and emotions that rear up after an accident. While you may not see results overnight, it is likely that you will feel calmer after only a few meditation sessions.
Photo by Paola Chaaya on Unsplash
Stay Busy Doing Something You Love
If you’re struggling to free yourself from unpleasant memories of the crash, sometimes the best thing to do is distract yourself by engaging in activities that tie up your mind. For example, performing a challenging task like playing a musical instrument can be engrossing enough to make the unpleasant stream of memory stop or at least slow down for a time. While it’s great if you can get into something rewarding and satisfying, don’t feel like the activity you choose necessarily has to be constructive: when you’re recovering from a trauma, it can be beneficial to take the pressure off, and give yourself to space to process and recover. Doing activities you really enjoy will encourage you to feel good about life again. Whether it’s watching a film, doing a painting, or building a picnic table, doing a hobby or leisure activity can provide some welcome relief from the racing thoughts that can lead you into a dark place. Solitude is important for coming to terms with loss and trauma, but spending time with friends and family can be a key part of recovery, too. If possible, try to balance solo activities with enjoyable things you like to do with others. Simply watching a light-hearted comedy with someone you love can do wonders for the mood. Don’t under-estimate the power of laughter!
Getting Back into Regular Routine
Being involved in a vehicle accident is one of the most disruptive events in life. Even a solid routine can be blown to pieces by the aftermath of such a traumatic incident. Following recovery from injury, it’s important to try, piece by piece, to return to normal life. While you may not be able to dive right back into the life you had before, it’s worth slowly re-introducing habits and routines to give you a sense of normalcy and continuity. Whether that means taking the dog for its daily walk around the block, cooking dinner, or going back to work part-time, you’ll be amazed how grounding these day-to-day routines can be. Don’t push yourself. Sooner or later, your life will begin to come together again.
Whether it’s been one day since the accident, or one year, dealing with the psychological and emotional trauma can be just as challenging as recovering from physical injury. These suggestions may help you gradually return to normal.
*contributed Post*
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