the journey.

Hello all!

So, as most of you may already know, the girls and I just completed our trek from Nashville to Los Angeles.

To be honest, it wasn’t the most thought out thing we’ve ever done. We just decided one day that all three of us were going to drive there together, and we went for it. We didn’t really map anything out along the way, (aside from visiting my boyfriend's family in Oklahoma) we just jumped in Julia’s 4runner and started to drive.

Before we left, the realization hit that it was the first time just the three of us had taken a road trip for something other than music. Seemed kind of sad at first, that we have never had the time, or taken the time, really, to just enjoy the trips instead of driving through to get to a show or interview or what not. I think we always felt like we weren’t allowed to just take that much time for ourselves. So anyway, we set off, and in record time, after a day and a half, we were over halfway through our trip! How did that even happen?

As the girls were sleeping in our hotel room somewhere in Arizona, a thought hit me so hard. ‘why are we treating this like a band trip? Rushing to get somewhere because we had a deadline and a schedule, when we don’t??’ I started getting upset at ourselves because we were missing the entire point of this journey together. Instead of enjoying every moment, living in each moment, if you will, we were trekking through, trying to prove a point to ourselves that we could drive that far and not die of exhaustion! Haha.

So I decided, while I was doing pushups, that I would tell the girls what I was feeling…when they woke up, of course. So as we sat and enjoyed our eggs at Denny’s, I explained it all to them. It came out a little more frustrated sounding than I had planned, but what can I say, I was tired! As I was saying ‘when’s the next time we will be driving across our country, just us three, with no schedule or plan, just an adventure ahead of us?’ I saw the lightbulbs go off over their heads and they got it. So…we decided to drive about 70 miles out of our way to the Grand Canyon.

That was quite possibly the best last minute idea we have ever had.

If you have never been there, please go. It is a breathtaking, humbling site. Makes you realize how small we are, and how huge our God, the Creator of it all, truly is.

What a beautiful sight.

As we stood staring over the edge, with Julia’s dog fella tagging along, I started to see the point of this trip. It was about us letting go of everything we have always known, letting go of having to get somewhere quickly, letting go of being kids and embracing the fact that we are now young women who are learning more about ourselves and the ones we love everyday!

The trip was about the journey as much as it was about the destination.

Feeling fulfilled in the small moments, instead of always waiting for the big moments to hit.

As I stood on that edge and stared down, (a little too close for Amber’s comfort) I felt like one of the most blessed people on earth. I was on a trip with my two bestest friends in the universe, being able to enjoy the beauty of our world and the beauty of the girls' hearts as well.

After the canyon, we drove on to Los Angeles, and on the way stopped off somewhere in the desert to gaze up at the stars and watch a meteor shower, while singing songs to our God and thanking Him for such an amazing journey, and that we realized before it was too late that we are allowed to slow down and enjoy the ride.

All that to say, I challenge you all to stop today and look around.

What are you most focused on? Are you missing the small moments that God has placed in your everyday lives for you to stop and enjoy what you have, to stop and be thankful and to find those things that truly make you come alive?

Please, for your own sake, make sure you don’t miss out on those things, make sure you stop and visit the Grand Canyon, if you will. Don’t let life pass you by as you try to fit things into your agenda and complain that you don’t have enough time to enjoy what you want to enjoy.

That is just an excuse. We all are capable to stop and watch and listen and learn.

So take a moment everyday to do that. Make it a part of your everyday routine and soon it will be second nature.

You don’t want to miss the journey folks. It’s what makes us who we are, and gives us the strength to understand the destination when we finally get there.

Thank God for that stop to the Grand Canyon, and for such an amazing trip with my two soul mates :) Forever together ladies. Together forever.

-Sarah