I had heard that Sedona, Arizona is a great place for hiking. We were originally planning to spend a few days at the National Parks in Utah, including Arches and Canyonlands, but decided to head South to avoid a snowstorm.
I googled “best easy family hikes in Sedona” and got a list of about 10 choices. We chose “Devil’s Bridge” because we have loved taking family photos on bridges throughout the trip. The Internet said this hike was “Easy”.
We got the last open spot in the trailhead parking lot when we arrived. We set out feeling energized and ready for a leisurely walk to see the natural bridge. We walked for what felt like about 2 miles and I thought to myself, we should be getting close. We came to a sign that said Devils Bridge ➡️.
From that sign, the trail started a gradual climb for about a mile. My legs started to hurt, and I began thinking about how we would need to return the same distance back. At least the return trip would be downhill, I told myself, as the trail kept going up.
We asked people returning from the end of the trail how much further it would be and they kept saying, It’s a ways further. What is a ways? I wondered. Please tell me it’s coming up soon. We started seeing these gardens of stones piled along the trail. It gave us something to look at and put a little spring in our step. It was as if those who had stacked the stones were cheering us on to the finish line.
The last part of the hike was the hardest because it was climbing and scrambling up rocks. I was very impressed by the man with a baby carrier and the couples with their dogs on leashes scrambling up those rocks. It seemed like everyone thought this was no big deal and they didn’t seem the least bit tired. I was slipping and sliding, huffing and puffing, and whining the whole way.
We got almost to the top and there was a stopping point with an incredible view and people were taking photos. I heard a few people say, “let’s just stop here. This is far enough”. I heard that and said “sounds good to me. I’ll just plop down here and let the rest of you all finish the hike. I’ll be here waiting.”
This is typical of me. I don’t like discomfort and I would much rather quit than go all the way, if given a choice. Lately, I’ve been realizing this about myself. I knew that I had to go all the way to the top. We carried on scrambling up all those rocks until we reached this incredible natural bridge where a line of people were waiting to get their photos taken. I immediately knew that to not go all the way to the top would have been a loss. Those last 20-30 feet of climbing was SO WORTH IT! Now I would have no regrets. We will always remember this moment, but especially me because I know that I pushed myself. Ivy’s comment when we reached the top was just perfect. She said,
“You are turning your fear into fun!”
Here are some photos of our family on Devil’s Bridge in Sedona, Arizona.
As I write this post, our home state of Minnesota is getting dumped with snow and I am thrilled to be missing out on the shoveling. I do miss the feeling of being cozy in the house while the cold wind blows outside, everything is cancelled, and we are forced to hunker down and do a jigsaw puzzle. We have not needed to double layer our socks or wear long underwear at all this winter. We’ve spent our time in Georgia, Florida, Texas, and now Arizona.
We arrived in Vail, a quiet little desert town about 20 minutes South of Tucson on February 7th. We are staying on a gravel road off the beaten path at the home of Dean and Lisa Kindle for about 4 weeks. They have given us new experiences such as learning about our life path color, providing us with art supplies, and introducing us to a cacao ceremony. Dean and Lisa have named their property Solquest Retreat and that is exactly what we were seeking. We craved a few weeks to slow down in one place, center ourselves, and listen to God for direction. Part of this trip’s purpose was to rekindle our marriage and family relationships and re-center our lives for the next season.
There is a labyrinth in the front yard, and each morning we’ve been able to walk the stone-lined path to the center of the 40 foot circle. Before beginning the walk, we remember what we are grateful for. The walk to the middle is a time to release (intentionally let go of the things that are troubling us). In the center, we take time to receive what God wants to give us for that day. The walk back out is a return to our work and play for the day. It is an active form of prayer and reflection.
Some of our daily outings in and around Tucson have been driving up Mount Lemmon, attending a rodeo parade, hiking in Sabino Canyon, studying saguaro cacti, riding horses at Medella Vina Ranch, and playing tennis at Reffkin Tennis Center in Tucson. We will end our month here with a Disco in the Desert on March 4th. If you are in the Tucson area, you are invited!! Here are some photos of our adventures in the Arizona mountains.
Rocks are all the rage here. We went to a gem show the first weekend and now we can’t stop seeing rocks everywhere.
We watched the Super Bowl at a little restaurant in Vail called Dos Hermanos. We had the place to ourselves and they served the best tacos we have tasted on the trip.
Being so close to mountains has been a highlight from this part of the country. The kids had never seen a mountain before this trip.
The road has become home (for now) and it’s hard to believe we have made it almost 4 whole months. Next stop, California!
We stayed with Nate and Rachel Korhonen and their kids in Signal Mountain, TN for 2 nights. They live on the top of a literal mountain. We were told that if they get heavy rain or even a small amount of snow, they close the road. Thankfully, they rarely get snow. It was in the 70’s and sunny while we were there (in November)
Since we stayed on top of the mountain, we were given the tour of all the great overlooks. We even woke up early enough in the morning to go watch the sunrise.
We had the BEST food while we were with the Korhonen’s. Nate showed us how to make salsa and also the ins and outs of how to make the “perfect cup of coffee”.
We went into downtown Chattanooga, walked across the foot bridge, and ate pasta at Tony’s. It was an evening I will remember for a long time. The weather was perfect and the ravioli with sun dried tomato and artichoke cream sauce was impeccable. The laughter of our children as they enjoyed each others’ company warmed my heart.
I really loved this city and loved the Korhonen family. We will be back.
My favorite spot in our last home and in my childhood home is looking out the window, especially when it’s raining or snowing.
As we have moved from our house of 10 years to the carriage house we are renting, I’ve pondered these questions of ”What is home?” What I’ve come to realize is that for me, home revolves more around feeling than place.
I associate home with relaxation, being able to kick my shoes off, say what I’m thinking, and be myself. It’s a place I don’t need to pretend to be anyone but me.
Home feels warm and inviting. It’s a place to rest after a busy day. Home can be a gathering place, but it can also be a place to be alone. It is where I sleep, recharge, and find shelter.
Can I find home on this 6 month roadtrip where our home will change from month to month, and sometimes even from day to day? A few wise friends have suggested having certain things that don’t change like taking a morning walk each day, writing in a journal, an evening reading/prayer time as a family, and set times each week to check in with loved ones.
For those who have moved a lot or travel for work, how do you find ”Home on the road?”
We are moving out of our home of 10 years on Juno Avenue in St Paul at the end of August.
Tabby and Ellie will both be moving out to attend colleges on the East Coast, and we will just have Malia and Ivy, ages 11 and 8, with us.
It’s a new season in our family as our older two kids have both entered adulthood.
Every year, we take time to consider the next year and what it holds. Both Mark and I have been feeling like we are on the brink of change. We’ve decided not to re-sign our lease, but before moving on to a new home, we are planning a 6 month U.S. road trip.
We see this family travel as a pilgrimage, a time of learning, and a chance to see God in new faces and places.
The idea for the trip came back in the summer of 2021 while Mark and I were on a drive to Chicago for a wedding. We started noticing license plates from different states and writing them down. We were just dreaming together as we drove down the road and Mark said, “What if we took a trip and made a show called “Where Will We Move?”
I usually reject these kind of big ideas immediately, but for some reason this time, I felt a resounding, “Yes, Let’s Do It!” Maybe not a show, but the road trip.
We told our friends Ross and Jenn about it, and they said they knew a family who had done something similar a few years back. We set up a meeting with the Schenk family of five and they shared with us stories from their road trip which lasted 9 months and spanned most of the United States.
That meeting gave me faith that this kind of thing was possible. I had only heard of people traveling longer term with an RV, but this family had stayed in the homes of their friends like we envisioned doing.
The next step was to tell our kids, our families, and my piano students. Even though we are only planning to be gone for about 6 months, it will be during the winter months and we will miss the big holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas back in MN.
Mark’s main DJ season ends November 1st and that is when we plan to begin our trip. He will have occasional weddings and events during the trip and will also be booking future business in MN while we are gone. I will be taking a break from teaching piano and focusing on homeschooling Malia and Ivy and doing some writing.
Where will we go? Where will we stay?
We are in the beginning stages of setting up an itinerary and finding people to host us. We envision our trip starting in November, lasting 6 months, and covering most of the Southern states.
Places we know we will be visiting are Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, California, and Utah.
Let us know if you would be interested in hosting us, or know of people we should meet.
I want to include Malia and Ivy as a way of keeping in touch with people we care about. We will document the places we visit, the things we see, and stories we hear in a newsletter called “The Story Hunt”
If you would like to support our travels in a practical way, you can join our patreon community. For $6 a month, we will send you a postcard from the road and our ”Story Hunt” newsletter over email each month starting in November. Enter your email address below to get details on how to follow our upcoming adventures.
Also, let us know if you would like to host us as we come through your state or if you have people you think we should meet or places we must see.
Thanks in advance for your support of this big adventure!
