Bumper stunts. Travel. Laughter. Ugly Crying: A Quick Trip to Michigan.

This weekend ruled.so.hard. I went on a really rad trip with some friends to the Detroit area:

Here is a picture chronicle of the trip and some thoughts/stories to go with them.

"Jenn let's take a UHaul bumper stunt picture!"

Jenn: "What are bumper stunts?"

"You know, things like this..."

:)

  

Memorable tweet: "I've never moved states before"... "Jenn, you're from Alabama".

Long story short, I started the day with two coffees. It ruled. Also I was jittery for a minute.

Time to go! But first, let us take a selfie. Seriously, the weekend with these girls ruled so hard. So much laughter. I think all of our souls really needed that.

Memorable tweet: "Natalie: LT I think you should write a book titled "The Ride or Die Gospel". I literally couldn't even.

Sometimes people just need to stretch and do yoga in the parking lot of a McDonald's. No shame in our game. #rideordie

                                       

I was really glad to get to spend half of the trip in one car and the other half of the trip in the UHaul. I got to hang out & chat with everyone which made my heart so happy. This friend here isn't in this country a whole lot so I was glad to get to catch up.

                                        

I love mountains and waterfalls and fields. Let's go on record & note that this is the ONLY part of Ohio that I like. The only part. The traveling vagabond bug has been reactivated.

                                                  

Oh Tim Horton's, I've missed you so. Glad to get this treat & introduce friends to new things!

                                 

We made it! It was fun to be like "hey, welcome to my home state everyone".

Memorable tweet: "Natalie- Your state has nice commercials. Me- I know". 

                               

 Somehow I became Deb's elf on the shelf. What started as "Hey LT get on this shelf and help us with this rope" turned into the below: sass. Not even ashamed. We also got the entire UHaul unloaded in less than an hour. #gohardorgohome

                                 

Memorable tweet: "You know you're tired when you and two other girls are still awake talking about #harrypotter #spells".

These ladies know how to get stuff done. Also we felt a little like Breaking Bad with the masks. 

                                   

In the afternoon we got to take a tour of the city. It ruled. This is referred to as the Hamtramck Disneyland. This man collects things and yes, this is his house. Yes, there actually is a charge to look through.

                                   

Jenn also took us to Shatila's, a local Bakery & Cafe'. We had the best baklava... ever. 

Between moving, unpacking & touring we had time for many yoga sessions. Huge shout out to Natalie for helping me get the basics of a head stand. I've been practicing and getting frustrated but now I got it started!

We've never found a coke with our name on it! Of course we find it in a really small town. #victory #stokelevelachieved 

Saturday night hangs. No words. 

Memorable tweet: "First group cry. Life lesson: even good change can really suck. #friendsthatarefam #changingup #moving" 

Mosque. 

                                       

                                           

8 mile in Detroit! Of course we listened to "Lose Yourself" on the way. We want Eminem to love Jesus.

We spent some time in the city hanging out and eating amazing food.

Murals.

It is unbelievable how much we were able to do in 2 days. Between the drive, unloading & unpacking we got to experience a lot of the city and also have a ton of time together. Somehow most of these times of talking, laughing & crying happened in Jenn's room. We all kind of found our way to her room... sometimes when she wasn't there. So thankful that the Lord seemed to extend our time together to have moments of #realtalk. 

Memorable tweet: "So we introduced Jenn to Sufjan Stevens. memorable. #newmusic" #notamused

Memorable Tweet: I've found myself in 4 random situations with Deb today & it wasn't even awkward. She knows" Her reply: "I'ma cuddle you so hard"

So we ugly cried in the airport. For someone who doesn't cry, I started it! Memorable moment: 

Jenn: "Dang it LT"!

LT: "Sorry! Just give me a moment & I'll get it together"

*moment*

ugly crying continues. #couldntstopwouldntstop

I love traveling. Having great traveling companions makes it even better. 

 How I spent the first flight. Jenn had written cards for us & told us to read them later. Sneaky Jenn.

We got to Charlotte right at sunset. For those of you that know me, you know I love all things encompassing earth, wind & fire. Getting to see the sunset was legit. 

Memorable tweet: "I didn't get upset & I didn't take off my clothes at the Charlotte airport" http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2015/05/21/man-strips-naked-at-charlotte-airport-upset-about-overbooked-flight/27704309/ 

-LT

Mountains, fields & expectations

This weekend ruled. Most of my time was spent outside, by a fire, in the mountains or running around in a field catching fireflies with people. 

One of my favorite places in this town. A good place to just chill. A lot of thinking goes down here.                 

                                      

So I saw a firefly on the way home & made my friend run in a field with me to catch them. Real talk: sort of like in Harry Potter when the crazy aunt runs around in chaos and just laughs. Yeah, that was me.                                                                                                                                                           

                                    

A lesson I'm learning is to be free from the unrealistic expectations I've set in my mind for how I should be or the mile markers that I should be reaching. So, I'm 24 and I like running around in fields and catching fireflies. Not ashamed.

Excuse the ratchet picture quality... #androidlife. I like them.

                                     

 [A shout out to this friend. She's the sidekick to most of my shenanigans].

What do you think about when you hear the word "expectations"?

Friendship: Ride or Die Style

On Sunday I heard a legit sermon on friendship. Check it out here!

Later on Sunday, I got a feeling that it was going to be a bad week. A sense that bad things were coming, to be ready. For those of you who know me, I'm a self-proclaimed realist but not a pessimist, so I thought it was weird! Anyways, to say the least, this week has been horrible. I'm overwhelmed. Lots of weird, hard & heartbreaking things. By 4 pm on Tuesday, I started to cry because I realized it was only Tuesday. Yes, that kind of week. I know you feel me.

Here are some fun but real talk things from this week with precious friends [they may or may not have also been tweeted about]:

- an extra long hug from one of my youth girls' mom as she says "it's okay sweetie, we're all a little crazy"
- being beaten with a pig eraser pencil because I said something about myself that was untrue.
- a friend looking at me straight up saying "that's a heart issue". Knowing her love for me, I could only laugh & agree. I laughed because there was no way out ;)
- same friend saying "yeah, I know you're having a rough week. You look like it"
- getting fun surprises at my door step that included a coloring book.
- being told 10 really nice things about myself in one sentence... Actually, within the same breath. Reminders of who I am in Christ. Regardless if I could believe it about myself or not.
- walking in to work to find a bag of Twizzlers, which were half eaten by 9 am... no judgment.
- a Chik-fil-a cookie!
- a care package of glitter, tea, yoga things & a shark cup... my fave!

I don't think I would have made it through this week without them!!! And although I hope that none of them go through bad times, if they do I hope I can love them at least half as well as they have loved me. So thankful to God that He uses people to display His love and encouragement. He is the legit #rideordie  
         


                                         

[The person who beat me with  pig eraser requested an appearance :) ]



What memories do you carry from a time when you hated your week & a friend loved on you?