Today, we learned.

Starting off the morning at Rehoboth Christian School near Gallup, New Mexico, Mr. Blake Shue traveled back to Kindergarten to volunteer with Mrs. Gillson’s class. Below you will find a list of the following things he learned: 

1. Kindergarteners have an unbelievable amount of energy, even at 8am
   
2. The fundamentals of learning to read & write
   
3. Recess is an absolute blast 
4. The art of making paper airplanes has come a long way in the past decade
5. Becoming distracted is a regular occurrence for 7 & 8 year olds (Blake’s initial arrival did not help) 

Above, you will find a video from our drive with Pastor Mike Meekhof, an amazing religious leader in Zuni, NM. First read the passage below and then watch if you are into it. Warning: we are not professionals & there may be some choppy parts but hopefully you get the idea. 

After spending the morning at Rehoboth, we ventured south to Zuni, New Mexico to explore the life of the Zuni Tribe. The Zuni Pueblo is nestled in a scenic valley, surrounded by enchanting mesas and encompassing about 450,000 acres. Smack dab in the middle of the village, you will find Zuni Christian Mission School (and Church). Mike Meekhof, the dedicated pastor at ZCMS was our host for the first part of the day, introducing us to the excited local students and explaining the history of the people, their traditional beliefs, and the way in which the deeply dynamic tribe has evolved over the years. From reciting Psalm 23 with the little ones to playing hoops during recess, we were inspired by the amazing & progressive work that is going  on with the children in this region. With a heart on fire for God, Mike and his family absolutely opened our eyes with their sheer dedication to making faith-based change in the community. With hopeful plans to go deer hunting, the weather had another agenda so instead, we spent time together sharing stories over coffee, stopping in a local jewelry shop, and driving through small dirt streets lined with sandstone & adobe homes. After our insightful drive through Zuni, the Smiths- Alex (Administrative Officer), Rachel (5-8th Language Arts teacher), and their adorable baby girl Olivia- invited us to join in on their daily after-school activity. Driving 2.2 miles into the high desert to take a stroll towards a mesa, we were (yet again) astounded at the natural beauty of the Southwest. On our chilly yet peaceful waltz through the soft mixture of sand and clay, we could look down to find pottery shards from hundreds of years ago and look up to see the gorgeous red tint of the mountainside. We were sincerely blessed with their local perspective which introduced us to a place we would have never walked or let alone found. Working up a hearty appetite, we gladly accepted an invitation for yet another home-cooked meal at Mike and Ardy's home. It is amazing how good it feels to be many miles from home sitting around a dinner table with people (maybe even those you just met) who make you feel welcomed, loved, and part of the conversation. Those hours of fellowship truly had an impact on the both of us and we would like to thank all who were a part of it. With plans to visit again, we packed up and drove back to Rehoboth with no music needed- the stars and some real conversation were keeping us content enough. Below, you will find a list of some additional things we learned: 

1. When with the right crowd, you can play Dutch Bingo anywhere in the United States (this is more so on Hannah’s end than Blake’s...if you are from the Christian Reformed hood of West Michigan, you know exactly what I’m talking about).
2. Although Zuni has a rich cultural heritage, like communities in many places, the tribe struggles to live as a healthy community. Tribal authorities are acutely aware of the devastating effects of alcoholism and diabetes on families. Poverty, broken families, suicide, and limited economic opportunities are also facts of life in modern day Zuni. The growing number of Zuni Christians is deeply convinced that spiritual solutions are fundamental to restoration and rejuvenation (words taken from the ZCMS website). 
   
3. Taking images or video footage of traditional Zuni religious ceremonies is forbidden. Thus, we were rather careful while documenting our experiences around town. 
4. To a certain degree New Mexico's Indian Reservations function as states within states where tribal law may supersede state law. 
5. The word "Pueblo" is used to describe a group of people, a town, or an architectural style. There are 19 Pueblo groups that speak 4 distinct languages. The Pueblo people of the southwest have lived in the same location longer than any other culture in the Nation.

If you have been inspired by the Zuni Christian School Mission and would like to help out, we recommend one of two things: 1) click here or 2) purchase something off their Amazon Wish List by clicking here.

Today, we find graditude in the cotton candy-like clouds that created a sensational backdrop, the energetic smiles of children, and in learning about a culture we would have never properly understood without visiting. 

Driving into a new city after nightfall is something we have tried to avoid but the road doesn't always go as planned so we arrived at the gates of Grand Canyon National Park around 8:00 pm and could literally see nothing. A map we had acquired from the park ranger was the only thing guiding us to "Trailer Village," our home for the night. Despite the rather questionable name, it was actually a very nice atmosphere. After settling in and figuring out that cell/wifi service was clearly not an option, we headed to the Bright Angel Lodge to dine at their family style restaurant, crossing our fingers for some wireless internet capabilities (we couldn't go another night without talking to our peeps at home!) After eating a quick bite, we opened up the computer in the lodge lobby to find that we could in fact write a new post! Yay for being a part of a tech-revolved era. 

This morning could not have come any sooner as the cool fall night brought about 50 mph winds and a nice soothing hail storm. Needless to say, we were very excited to embrace the day outside and finally get our bearings straightened out. Breakfast was at tops a 6 out of 10 but we didn't even notice...obviously too excited for the main attraction: more wireless internet at the cafe! (just kidding...obviously the Grand Canyon). 

We anxiously, but not dangerously, drove to see the magnificent crevice that began to take shape (supposedly) 17 million years ago. Even though the wind was howling, the only word that was present in our vocabulary as we looked out over the Grand Canyon was "wow." Stretching 18 miles across and over a mile deep in some areas, it was absolutely breathtaking. The intricacies and dynamic nature of the rock formations kept our eyes completely engaged. For a while, there was silence and then an overwhelming amount of picture-taking (duh, social media calls). Oh, and the best selfless stranger project post thus far- simply because of the background. After taking a stroll along the South Rim, it was time to hit the road for yet another adventure. 

Tonight, we find ourselves in Rehoboth, NM, a tiny yet enriching destination right outside of Gallup, NM. Deeply connected with the Navajo Tribe, Rehoboth is a Christ-centered community working to spread good (more detailed info likely coming in the next post). We were warmly welcomed by the superintendent of Rehoboth Christian School who invited us into her place for some home-made lasagna and  caesar salad. After some lovely conversations we said our goodbyes for the night, knowing the next few days will be amazing as we explore the beautiful Red Rocks, hang with the children in the schools, and spend time volunteering for those who have a narrative much different than our own.  

Today, we find graditude in confirming that the Grand Canyon is in fact quite grand, knowing that even though we are thousands of miles from our home we can always feel welcome in someone else's, and in dedicating our time to help out while we have it.

This weekend, we attended the inaugural Life is Beautiful Music Festival in Las Vegas and found ourselves positively reassured that life is in fact beautiful.

From swimming next to sharks in a desert heated pool to uncontrollably laughing with faces we have missed or galavanting around the urban streets of Old Las Vegas where the infamous "rat pack" used to hang (SInatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.), we experienced an array of life-loving moments. If you have never been to Las Vegas, we recommend seeing it at some point in your life. There is something enchanting about the atmosphere- the lights, the glitz & the glam, how it magically makes you feel quite young and free. And despite the constant scent of cigarettes, the sheer gluttony emanating at all hours in the casinos and the stigma surrounding all that "Sin City" has to offer, we found ourselves feeling invigorated by the constant energy. 

At the music festival, we were blessed to be able to share a new experience with various artsy folks from near and far. Whether dancing our hearts out to When We Were Young by The Killers, tasting some of the best food (Bronze Cafe's Pita Sandwich, The Rebel Hot Dog at Sin City Dogs, Nacho Daddy's Steak Tacos), or admiring the beautiful & contemporary street art, it was hard to get away from the fact that we are all in this together. "This" being life in general. In each and every way, whether your current life revolves around your child's soccer game, desk daydreams, or advising students in a classroom, there can be moments that deeply unify all of us. Yes, maybe this is just a little 'hippie' vernacular slipping through but think about it. For us, we were interconnected with so many different people via the love of music, food, and art. When you are surrounded by loved ones and strangers alike, singing the same song and clapping to one beat, you almost feel a part of a greater team. 

And think of how much better it would be if we, as a team, together commit to living each day believing that life is beautiful. Life is Beautiful in Las Vegas reminded us of that simple mindset we get away from at times. For us, life was beautiful because we were listening to amazing live tunes with good company and exploring an unfamiliar place. For you, life may have been beautiful for a whole other reason. But together, let’s intentionally find why life was beautiful today. 

Today (and for the past few days), we find graditude in the music bringing people from all walks and talks together, realizing the phrase “go to Vegas for a day, stay for a week” is well justified, and living the beautiful life. 

You know the feeling when you try your best to describe something (a place, a moment, a trip, etc.) to someone who was not there and you just can't quite put it into proper words? That is the sense we currently have while attempting to share with you our experiences in Yosemite National Park. You can google all the pictures as you want or ask friends who have been but until you stand in the Yosemite Valley, the emotions are difficult to express. 

Being in Yosemite National Park, we were overwhelmed with the presence of a beautiful balance. With every tall peak came a deep valley. Our uphill hike to Vernal Falls on the Mist Trail was paired with a needed summit rest (and a game of cards) in the October sunshine. With the setting sun casting a deep red tint on a mountain surface came the blue reflection of a morning moon on that same surface. Our morning run was coupled with a breakfast break at the Curry Village Coffee Corner. Nervously entering the park with no reservation, our uneasy mindset was soon alleviated with the help of a calm, cool, and collected park ranger. And the secluded nature of the valley was paired with a sold-out campsite full of adventurers ready to explore. 

Today, we are reminded that life is good when one has a bit of balance. Some classy skyscrapers mixed with some wild redwoods. Moments of reflective silence and others when you can't even hear your own self talking. Some winter and some summer. Moments that exhaust you and others that make you feel quite alive. A bit of work and a bit if play. Climbing up to feel the comfort in coming down. You get the idea and hopefully your today has the balance we all need at times.

Today, we find graditude in balance, blindly sharing doughnuts with a park ranger (see picture), and experiencing a place that is at least worth trying to talk about.

When you get used to one place, it is at times hard to move on to the next. For the past 5 days we have become accustomed to room service, a wide array of people, and amenities that far outweigh those that Rhonda (coming in at a whopping 16 X 6.5 ft) can currently provide. After picking up our full rig (Rhonda and Frankie J) in Napa, we quickly shifted gears in more ways than one. To be honest, it took a while moving from the glitz and glam of a city to the rural and rugged terrain of Groveland, CA (24 miles outside of Yosemite National Park).  

We didn't know exactly where in Yosemite we were heading and once we entered the mountains, the lack of 3G was far from convenient. As members of our generation, it is almost a sin to not have immediate service so we of course felt a sense of frustration. Maybe through our limited connection we would have found a vintage form of adventure, thrill, and opportunity, but it did not feel that way in the beginning. Internally, we were comparing it to the environment we experienced 3-hours earlier. 

It seems as though switching from one scene to the next is easier said than done (Ex: Switching from vacation mode to work mode, moving from your room at home to your college dorm, or switching from a house filled with kids to an "empty-nester" household... the list goes on). Today, we would like to courageously admit that we positively embraced each moment, but it genuinely took a while to get back into the wilderness. Dirt back in the boots. Not seeing without the aid of a headlamp. Smokey clothes from the campfire. The process of getting from point A to point B, etc. Now that we are here proactively reflecting, we do find contentment. Looking back, we wished we would have spent more time appreciating the shift than complaining about the subtle adversities that you must deal with when traveling like this, but, nonetheless, we are here and we are alive. Fortunate in so many ways and for that, we must accept our natural surrounding. Thus, we have sculpted a list of the greatness this environmental shift has brought. The highlights of the day include the following: 

• Trying our first In N' Out Burger. For those curious, they are as good as you have heard. We did not complete the blind 'pay it forward' event noted on our checklist because Rhonda did not fit through the drive-through BUT it will occur on the next leg. 
• Going to Iron Door Saloon, the oldest operating drinking establishment in California, dating back to 1852. 
• A "pull-through" campsite instead of a "back-in" campsite. For those unfamiliar with camping, this is a blessing. 
• Grabbing delicious ingredients for a fire-side meal while also sharing extra coupons with the grateful couple behind us. 
• Feeding the goats, llamas, and lambs in Yosemite Pines Campground- evidently, they love apples as much as Hannah does (picture below). 

Today, we find graditude in exploring a historic mining town with 160 years of history, roasting s'mores after a 5 day withdrawal, and learning that a positive attitude does truly enhance new environments. 

After an enriching weekend (see recent post titled 'Reunion'), we arrived safely in San Francisco, CA yesterday afternoon. A six hour flight from Charlotte was all it took to get back to the West Coast and here we have been on the road for the past 12 days, spending very many hours to make it to where we stand today. Although we are thankful for the Wright Brothers and their commitment to inventing the airplane, we would never change the many moments of 'in-betweenness' that driving brings. Looking back, we likely would never have met so many unbelievable people in gas stations. Ok, moving on. 

Upon arrival, we found our exhausted beings immediately rejuvenated by the thrilling city of San Francisco. From dancing the cha cha slide with women in Chinatown's Washington Square (see video below) to sharing a Twix bar with a paraplegic outside of Walgreens, we are back in mission mode- working to find ourselves in situations we would never experience otherwise. 

Today, we decided to walk instead of take public transportation which gave us the opportunity to 1) work out our calves on the hilliest streets we have ever walked on and 2) get a feel for the various neighborhoods within the city. With each new place, we found immense diversity, intricate architecture, and a certain swag (this is a positive thing). 

There were beautiful pastel rowhouses (think Mrs. Doubtfire) mixed with hole in the wall coffee joints, super modern apartment buildings, thrift shops, and a plethora of places to get a mean burrito (#america). We did our best to say hello to those we passed by and with little effort, we grasped some inspiring participants for the selfless stranger project (if you are still confused on what it is, read the "about" page under the tab: "from:me to:you//the selfless stranger project). Every person we passed today was so unbelievably and beautifully unique. A man in leopard print. Cyclists. Wealthy tech men. Juice & yoga addicts. A women rocking green hair. Many homeless people with their grocery carts. Giants Fans. Dog walkers. Street musicians. The list goes on. The only place where we did not get a good sense of the local inhabitants was when we waltzed over to Fisherman's Warf. We knew this pier was the definition of a tourist trap when Hannah paid $67.39 for two hats and three stickers to place on Rhonda. With that being said, the number of people we saw and spoke with was refreshing in some ways, sparking some energy in our jet-lagged legs. From exploring around to the beat of 200 barking seals, to getting lost in a maze full of mirrors, to a quick stop in the bayside aquarium, the day was filled with spontaneity, zest and some true Californian culture. For those interested in seeing a bit more of postgraditude's day, please enjoy the video below or click here if the connection below is lame. 

Today we find graditude in the sun peaking through the clouds (evidently this city is predominantly foggy), a choreographed dance with those outside our immediate crew, and getting back to our main purpose. 

First and foremost, we would like to apologize for being extremely out of commission for the past few days. For those of you who happen to check in daily, we promise that the tomorrows will be better than the past few yesterdays.  We're going to go ahead and blame our adventures at Wake Forest Homecoming for our incomplete recent posts. Evidently, we were too preoccupied with taking selfies in front of Wait Chapel (Hannah), eating at all the local hot spots (Dioli's, Putters, Mi Pueblo, Elizabeths, etc.) and most importantly, spending time with amazing friends. [Disclaimer: Apologies if you did not graduate Wake and have no understanding of the previous sentence...] Although our trip to North Carolina did not directly align with postgraditude's previously established route, we found so much happiness in the reunion. There is something about a reunion. Without leaving, one would never find so much joy in coming back. Reunions are at times hard to explain because once you are back, you are somehow overwhelmed with the feeling that both nothing has changed and that everything has changed. 

Five months ago, we (members of Wake's class of '13) left the place we called home for the past four years. Since the beginning (in our opinion), Wake Forest introduced us to deeply profound and exciting experiences. It taught us the importance of working hard both in and out of the classroom. It challenged our reasoning behind social stance, political affiliation and religious mindset. It has bloomed true friends we have laughed with, danced with, explored with, learned with, fallen in and out of love with, and dreamed with. We would like to believe that it has enhanced our personal skills and taught us additional proficiencies needed for a successful future that may in fact be worth pursuing. We would also like to believe that most of the graduates have too grown into their own forms- whether it be intensified confidence, poise, realism, focus, positivity, willingness, etc. Now is the part in the post when we apologize for getting a bit "commencement-speech like" & overly sappy; however, reflecting on the past few days, we are reminded of what our school has meant to us. And sometimes all it takes is returning to a beloved place to remember how much you appreciate all it has given you. 

But as we travel 3,000 miles West to pick up where we left off, we also find the beauty in leaving, knowing we will always have a place to call home. So whether your life is in a roadblock or a bright spot, spend time reuniting and then focus on moving onward. 

"...It might be time for you to go. It might be time to change, to shine out.
I want to repeat one word for you: Leave.
Roll the word around on your tongue for a bit. It is a beautiful word, isn't it? So strong and forceful, the way you have always wanted to be. And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed.”
Donald Miller, Through Painted Deserts: Light, God, and Beauty on the Open Road

Today, we find graditude in lifelong friends, a home to come back to, and a journey to continue on with. 

Below you will find some B&W selfies of a few familiar faces we have missed seeing on a regular basis. 
[Note: Hannah did have the camera most of the weekend-hence the high presence of females...oh, and if you have any more gems, send them our way and we will post] 

We would like to first and foremost admit that we are indeed taking a bit of a hiatus from our hiatus. Before departing Michigan, we had made plans to meet Hannah's mother in Napa, CA, and after twelve days of meeting unfamiliar faces and learning more than we could ever imagine, we are now blessed with a bit of familiarity and comfort. While driving from Lake Tahoe to Napa Valley, the temperature dramatically increased (41 to 82 degrees), which put a huge smile on Hannah's face and had Blake feeling a bit vulnerable as he did not bring sunscreen for the deceivingly strong rays. Nonetheless, we are here and taking full advantage of the beauty California has to offer. 

One month ago today, this idea of postgraditude was born. Bringing the atlas to Hannah's mom, we began to create a rough outline of what we were trying to accomplish and where we intended to go. Who would have thought we would be here today, biking around the vineyards in the dry heat, exploring a place we had never been with someone who sparked our original excitement and supported us from the very beginning. Looking back, we realize how blessed we are to have family & friends who accepted our idea to take a chance at an adventure like this. 

Today, we find graditude in sharing stories with a familiar face over a glass of Chardonnay, switching out our hiking boots for hotel slippers (if just for a day), and looking back on 3,500 miles of memories.