A Time To Reflect | Preparing for the Appalachian Trail

Well, we have finally made it. We are in Georgia!

My heart is heavy knowing we are leaving family, but it’s also filled with so much excitement I can hardly believe it.

These past few months have flown by so fast, and I have learned a few things preparing for the Appalachian Trail…

1. Waiting until the last minute to make decisions only adds more stress.
2. I don’t like making decisions.
3. It’s easy to make big goals, but they don’t always go as planned, and it’s OK.
4. Time with family is more important than stressing over minuscule things.
5. God is in control, and He has everything planned out!

So, these are really basic realizations and I’ve made them before, but the last one is the most important and I need to be reminded of it daily.

I’ve had the hardest time picking out what clothes I want to wear for 6 months. HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT COLOR TO WEAR EVERY DAY?

I also decided the last week at home I needed to try on 5 other backpacks just to make sure I have the right pack… We have made countless trips up the interstate to REI. Thank you Jake for all the hours you spent there with me. Thank you John, Dash, Justin and the other awesome employees at our local REI.

We have finally made it though! We have made it 100 days since we announced are plans to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. What a crazy thing to say. One hundred days have passed, and we are about to spend that amount of time plus more out in the woods!

I’m not going to lie, I’m going to miss a hot shower every morning and warm bed to sleep in. I’m going to miss calling my family whenever I want to. I’m going to miss having a schedule.

But… I’m excited to really cherish the times I get to shower (it probably won’t be often) and nights I get to sleep in a bed. It’s easy to take those things for granted. I am excited to meet new people, make new friends and have the potential to share the gospel. I am excited to embrace a schedule made by the weather, food needs or how my body feels.

Life on trail will very different. It will be challenging, but if I can put one foot in front of the other, know that I am ultimately not in control and live life to glorify God, we will do exactly as God planned for us.

Thank you to all who read our blog, and thank you to those who have donated to our fundraiser. Thank you!

Have a question or want us to feature some particular part of trail life in our videos (soon to come)? Please don’t hesitate to send us a message over one of our social media channels or by email.

Stay tuned for LOTS of pictures to come on Instagram!