Because so many of you care, and I had people asking me at church today (which I appreciate soooo much--you have no idea) I figured I would update quickly.
As you know, Friday afternoon wasn't good. I sent out an emergency cry for help from my peeps who pray!! Last night as we were driving to the UT game, I got a text from Trand. It was a picture of "The Barn" restaurant. He made it. He was there, at his destination of FOOD! He told me that he wanted to call me later because lots of things happened Friday night after we stopped talking. I told him I was going to the UT game and couldn't talk probably before he went to bed so to call me this morning (he didn't, but that's okay.) I asked him if it was good stuff or bad stuff that happened. He said, "both." He asked if he could stay in a cheap hotel to get a bed for the night (since parents and grandparents are funding this thing now, I guess he feels the need to ask--which I appreciate.) I told him "of course."
Later we texted (since the UT score ended up 55-3 I wasn't too into the game.) He said that he saw some flip-floppers that he met in NY had been at that restaurant at lunch yesterday. After he was finished with dinner he sent me a picture of his nasty motel room, and I was very afraid of bed bugs. Yuck!! He said he was going to drink an Arnold Palmer and eat powdered donuts while taking a shower. WHAT??? I guess some friend of his has a tradition of pizza in the shower. Trand thought that powdered donuts would be good. Oh my. But he did say he'd probably just drink his Arnold Palmer in the shower and eat the donuts afterward. Um, sounds like a plan.
This morning he said that he ate breakfast with the guys he met in NY. I guess they stayed at the same nasty place as him. He heard from Firefoot who told him that he was only 10 miles ahead of him. He had waited on Trand when Trand told him he wasn't slowing down. Firefoot told him to take his time and not hurt himself more. Of course, he didn't listen. But he's hoping to catch up tonight. I can't even tell you what Firefoot waiting must've done for his heart. Trand is the most loyal person I know (besides his dad.) He doesn't make friends easily, and he doesn't use the word "friend" in talking about many people. (Also just like his dad.) But he loves fiercely those who are his friends. He has been hurt because of this. So to have this friend decide to wait on him, to hold up his journey, to think about and put Trand's well being first had to mean everything to him. It's a beautiful thing to this mama.
Thank you so much for your prayers. He was in good spirits last night and this morning. At least enough to get him through today. He didn't mention his back, although I'm sure it still hurts. I knew that once he was okay mentally, he would be better physically. God is answering him. God is meeting him where he's at. I know that one day he will look back over this journey and see that.
AT sign
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Friday, September 18, 2015
He needs your prayers
I've been texting with Trand a good bit of the afternoon, and he's not doing well. His back has still been bad since he's been back. He says he's fine to do 20 miles days with painkillers, but anymore than that kills him. Still he continues to do 25-28 mile days to try to catch up to the other guys. He's absolutely miserable. Crying and crying today. He would probably be really mad at me for sharing that so don't tell him if you text with him. But I just needed to tell you about the situation.
As I've told you before, he's stubborn. He will not slow down to let his body rest. He's determined to catch up to the other guys. I get it. He's lonely. The fact that his body AND his mind are hurting is not good. He's lonely and he's beating himself up. He's mad that he got behind. He's mad that he got hurt. He's mad and sad and lonely and hurting. There's no one around. I thought maybe there would be some guys that he'd be with, but he says there's no one within 25 miles of him either way (they can tell from log books and such.) I'm just praying that God sends an angel tonight to minister to his soul. He's also hungry and thirsty. There's been such a drought in VA apparently. He can't find water. He needs to make it to shelter tonight and then 23 miles tomorrow to a restaurant because he feels so hungry. He has some food but not enough.
I believe he's hit this rock bottom for a reason. I believe that God wants to answer him. He says that he's cried out before and gets no answer, gets nothing. I don't have an answer for that. I know his heart has a long way to go to be softened. I told him it was okay to question, to be angry. It's okay to ask why he feels deserted out there. He is upset that everyone else seems to be able to handle being alone, and he can't. He just needs Jesus to draw him to himself. Please pray with me that Jesus does that tonight. If he crosses your mind, please pray for his well being and state of mind.
I probably won't hear from him until tomorrow night. I'm praying he gets to his destination. I'm praying that somehow there will be someone who will be a friend to him there. He doesn't believe that can happen, but I do.
Thank you for your prayers.
As I've told you before, he's stubborn. He will not slow down to let his body rest. He's determined to catch up to the other guys. I get it. He's lonely. The fact that his body AND his mind are hurting is not good. He's lonely and he's beating himself up. He's mad that he got behind. He's mad that he got hurt. He's mad and sad and lonely and hurting. There's no one around. I thought maybe there would be some guys that he'd be with, but he says there's no one within 25 miles of him either way (they can tell from log books and such.) I'm just praying that God sends an angel tonight to minister to his soul. He's also hungry and thirsty. There's been such a drought in VA apparently. He can't find water. He needs to make it to shelter tonight and then 23 miles tomorrow to a restaurant because he feels so hungry. He has some food but not enough.
I believe he's hit this rock bottom for a reason. I believe that God wants to answer him. He says that he's cried out before and gets no answer, gets nothing. I don't have an answer for that. I know his heart has a long way to go to be softened. I told him it was okay to question, to be angry. It's okay to ask why he feels deserted out there. He is upset that everyone else seems to be able to handle being alone, and he can't. He just needs Jesus to draw him to himself. Please pray with me that Jesus does that tonight. If he crosses your mind, please pray for his well being and state of mind.
I probably won't hear from him until tomorrow night. I'm praying he gets to his destination. I'm praying that somehow there will be someone who will be a friend to him there. He doesn't believe that can happen, but I do.
Thank you for your prayers.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Time at home
Most of you know that Trand texted me Friday morning and asked me to come get him in VA. His back was really bad, and he knew he needed an adjustment. This was right in the middle of a very crazy time. I was gone for 12 hours on Wednesday to Atlanta at a memorial service. I had worked a full, crazy day on Thursday trying to pack and load boxes for Syrian refugees, and I had planned to drive to my parents' home in Perry, GA Friday afternoon to be at the football game where they were going to honor a classmate of mine and her daughter (whose memorial service I had been to.) Then Tuesday I am going to Montgomery, AL for another funeral. All this added to my regular crazy schedule of homeschooling, extracurricular activities, and some semblance of doing the mom/wife duties. Of course, when your child needs you, no matter how old they are or where they are, you drop everything and do what needs to be done. So I left Friday afternoon to get him. He was about 4 hours away so it ended up being about a 9 hour trip with a stop for dinner/gas, etc.
It was good to have him home yesterday. I got him to the chiropractor early in the morning, which helped him tremendously. He settled right back in, and the kids loved having him here. He took a magnesium bath last night because that helps with joints. He got some good, healthy food in him, and as much as he didn't really want to go back, he knows he has to so I thought today would be a great day for Jon to take him. If I take him tomorrow I'll either have to be gone two days in a row or miss the funeral of one of my best friend's dad. He was not loving the idea of going back Sunday, but was going to do it.
This morning I gave him a good breakfast of eggs, sausage and toast. He was feeling nauseous and had thought it was just because he was hungry. Well, he took a shower and got the chills and went back to bed. I think my kid detoxed himself on accident!!! Most of you saw the picture of the crap he's been eating. So he got home, got an adjustment, ate good food, took a magnesium bath (which also detoxes) and woke up in full detox this morning. So he'll be staying another day. He's going to drink lots of water, go to the steam room with Jon this afternoon, and take another magnesium bath to get it all out (hopefully!!) I'm really hoping that by tomorrow he will feel better. He's got to go back at some point. Ha!! And I'd hate for him to get so far behind. The Turtles are taking a few days off on the 18th so that will be a time to catch up. He said Firefoot is happy to do 5 mile days during that point just so he doesn't have to finish without everyone. So he'll be able to catch up, but the longer he stays off, the harder it will be to go back.
If you think about it, pray for him--that this goes away pretty quickly and he's able to get back to the trail tomorrow. And pray for his mental state. It's always hard for him to leave us and go back. He only has about 650 more miles!!! He can do this!!!
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Time for an update!
It's been awhile since I've updated. He seems to be doing well. That's a great thing but sometimes doesn't bode for exciting updates! :)
I texted with him last on Monday. He and his friends spent the night in Waynesboro, VA Monday night. He was very impressed with Waynesboro in it's "hiker friendliness." He has been really surprised at the lack of it in other trail towns. But a stranger there just invited all five of them to spend the night at his house, ordered them pizza, gave them a place to shower, wash their clothes and sleep! How great is that? Thanking God for the hospitality of strangers and that it's still alive somewhere!
And just as I wrote that, I freaked out that I hadn't actually heard from him since before he spent the night with a complete stranger!! I remembered that I texted him yesterday and never heard back. I texted him, called Jon, couldn't get either. But Jon finally called me back. He said that he received a text from Trand yesterday that said, "I'm on top of a mountain with one bar of service. I've had nothing out here, but I wanted to let you know that I'm on track to still meet you in Glasgow on Friday."
Okay, thank you, Jesus!! And before you think that I'm the worst mom in the world for not worrying until now, can I just tell you that this week has been insanely crazy busy plus the fact that it's not uncommon for him to go a couple of days without texting because of service. In PA, he had service everyday because he was in and out of towns all the time. But in VA, he's been in the Shenendoah's for a very long time. He's definitely enjoying the views of VA much more than PA!! :)
Jon is going up tomorrow evening to see him in Glasgow, VA. Last week he pushed the guys he was with really hard. Haha!! They went 160 miles last week. That's an average of about 23 miles a day. I know one day they did 28. He told me that Firefoot informed him that WOULD NOT be happening again!! ;) Makes me laugh. But from Waynesboro on Monday to Glasgow on Friday was going to be a relatively easy hike and not too long. So I'm sure the guys were happy that Trand had someone meeting him there! The plan is for them to spend the night there and then take all the guys to find "A Walk in the Woods" at a movie theater somewhere. Although, after looking around the area online, I'm not sure that will happen. The biggest theater we can find only has 3 movies playing!! :) The guys basically want to go see the movie so that they can make fun of it. They kind of all make fun of Bill Bryson, not because he didn't even hike half of the trail, but because he didn't even hike half the trail and then wrote a book about it which has become THE book that everyone associates with the AT. Please don't be offended if you love that book. Just relaying the way these 18-26 year olds are thinking.
After the movie, Jon plans to drive home Saturday, and the boys will get back on the trail. As I said earlier, the roads in VA don't cross the trail every few miles like in PA so it would be another two days before he could pick him up and see him again. He thought about hiking with him, but we couldn't figure out how to leave his car in one place and then get it after hiking a couple of days! My parents had been planning to go this weekend since my dad would have Labor Day off. But we decided it wouldn't really be worth it for them to drive 8 1/2 hours to see him for one night. They were really disappointed though as they had planned a fun trip to see him.
His spirits seem high when I do get to text with him. And when he texts, I drop everything that I'm doing and spend however long that he'll spend with me! I miss him so much, and I'm thankful that he only has about a little more than a month left!! He had hiked 1328 miles as of Monday. Crazy to think. I posted a picture of where he is and how much he's done right before posting this so if you'd like to check, look at that!! The kids are getting so excited!!
I texted with him last on Monday. He and his friends spent the night in Waynesboro, VA Monday night. He was very impressed with Waynesboro in it's "hiker friendliness." He has been really surprised at the lack of it in other trail towns. But a stranger there just invited all five of them to spend the night at his house, ordered them pizza, gave them a place to shower, wash their clothes and sleep! How great is that? Thanking God for the hospitality of strangers and that it's still alive somewhere!
And just as I wrote that, I freaked out that I hadn't actually heard from him since before he spent the night with a complete stranger!! I remembered that I texted him yesterday and never heard back. I texted him, called Jon, couldn't get either. But Jon finally called me back. He said that he received a text from Trand yesterday that said, "I'm on top of a mountain with one bar of service. I've had nothing out here, but I wanted to let you know that I'm on track to still meet you in Glasgow on Friday."
Okay, thank you, Jesus!! And before you think that I'm the worst mom in the world for not worrying until now, can I just tell you that this week has been insanely crazy busy plus the fact that it's not uncommon for him to go a couple of days without texting because of service. In PA, he had service everyday because he was in and out of towns all the time. But in VA, he's been in the Shenendoah's for a very long time. He's definitely enjoying the views of VA much more than PA!! :)
Jon is going up tomorrow evening to see him in Glasgow, VA. Last week he pushed the guys he was with really hard. Haha!! They went 160 miles last week. That's an average of about 23 miles a day. I know one day they did 28. He told me that Firefoot informed him that WOULD NOT be happening again!! ;) Makes me laugh. But from Waynesboro on Monday to Glasgow on Friday was going to be a relatively easy hike and not too long. So I'm sure the guys were happy that Trand had someone meeting him there! The plan is for them to spend the night there and then take all the guys to find "A Walk in the Woods" at a movie theater somewhere. Although, after looking around the area online, I'm not sure that will happen. The biggest theater we can find only has 3 movies playing!! :) The guys basically want to go see the movie so that they can make fun of it. They kind of all make fun of Bill Bryson, not because he didn't even hike half of the trail, but because he didn't even hike half the trail and then wrote a book about it which has become THE book that everyone associates with the AT. Please don't be offended if you love that book. Just relaying the way these 18-26 year olds are thinking.
After the movie, Jon plans to drive home Saturday, and the boys will get back on the trail. As I said earlier, the roads in VA don't cross the trail every few miles like in PA so it would be another two days before he could pick him up and see him again. He thought about hiking with him, but we couldn't figure out how to leave his car in one place and then get it after hiking a couple of days! My parents had been planning to go this weekend since my dad would have Labor Day off. But we decided it wouldn't really be worth it for them to drive 8 1/2 hours to see him for one night. They were really disappointed though as they had planned a fun trip to see him.
His spirits seem high when I do get to text with him. And when he texts, I drop everything that I'm doing and spend however long that he'll spend with me! I miss him so much, and I'm thankful that he only has about a little more than a month left!! He had hiked 1328 miles as of Monday. Crazy to think. I posted a picture of where he is and how much he's done right before posting this so if you'd like to check, look at that!! The kids are getting so excited!!
Trand on the trail
He has hiked 1328 miles from Mt. Katahdin in Maine. He has about 860 miles to go. I can't find my 2015 book. I'm looking at a 2012, and I know they've added a few miles on the southern part. They just keep adding miles!! Haha!!
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