We'll Always Find Our Way Back Home

It's taken us far too long to write these posts, but the road trip stories and fun must still be shared!  This is the story of our very last travel day...

We loved the pie that we had gotten to celebrate Stephanie's birthday so much that we were thinking about how incredibly delicious it was for the entire next day...
...filled with sweet memories of that great tasting pie, we caved in and went back for a few more, splurging a bit if you will on slice or two, or three, to eat for breakfast and to celebrate our last travel day...and last morning of the road trip.

The brilliant colors of the sun un-tucked themselves from behind the blue-gray clouds and glistened the sky of Chicago with a warm goodbye...and a welcome home to Indiana. But the adventure wasn't over yet...especially for today!

 

As you might have noticed...we love food.

We love good food.

We especially love Sketchy Chinese Food.

 

So through the doors of the international grocery store, that happens to be next to an old Pet Store (note the faded away letters), past the rows of Koala cookies & rice noodles, and through the back room of freezers, we found ourselves spending the last few hours of our journey dining on the most delicious Chinese food you will ever experience, and laughing with some of the sweetest people you will ever meet.

"Because I love taking on new adventures/challenges every day. Also, because I usually have to pee..."

"I get up because I'm not tired anymore and ready to take on the day---or at least a cup of coffee."

"Because there are eager-braver students waiting for me!"

"It beats the alternative!"

"I get up to live life and see the world."

"Because God has something for me to do today."

"I hope that this will be a great day and I thank God for each and every one of them. I woke up looking forward to seeing all my friends."

"I get up in the morning to live life to the full...That is to be a saint...for me that means husband and father."

"For my kids :)"

"I wake up each day feeling thankful that I got to wake up and enjoy the day and excited to see what the day will bring!"

"Why I get up? I wake up or my dog attacks me."

"I get up in the morning because I didn't think I had another option! Otherwise my dog wants to potty..."

"I love my life!"

"...To see what adventure awaits."

"Because my alarm goes off!"

"Because my brain revs it's engine as soon as I awake, so I need to just get going because the rest time is over!"

"Because it's good for my mental health. I usually have to fight myself to get up, but I know it's good for me! Even getting out of bed can be a successful day!"

"Because God gave me the ability to! I want to experience all life has to offer."

"I wake up every morning because I still can and choose to. I love my life and what I do so I can't wait to see what each new day brings."

We were so close.  Our last few miles.  We felt this moment needed some sort of special tribute to those joining us on the road for our last stretch of road trip roadway.

48 States.

28,542 Miles.

145 Days.

Today: Home.

Yoda and its passengers are now safe in Indiana.

Our road trip adventure is over for now.

We're Home.

...The Trail Doesn't End Here...
but...

..."No Matter Where We Go...

...We'll Always Find Our Way Back Home".

Love Always,

The Crew

FAQ's of Life

 

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

 
Across the country, we've noticed a trend in common things about our trip that people are curious about. From feelings to funding, we've developed a series of Frequently Asked Questions of the Roadtrip Life that we'd like to share with you.

1. Why did you guys decided to go?

One man on a sidewalk in South Carolina asked us this question, and we told him that we really just wanted to see and experience the splendor of our great country, that it was kind of honestly just for kicks and giggles. His response? "You're on a road trip to 48 states for kicks? I buy a pizza for kicks. You guys are crazy."
And we very well might be. But our little bit of insanity has empowered us to create some pretty amazing memories.

2: How can you take a 16 year old?

Jeanette and Sarah would like you to believe that the answer is simple: "You stick her in the backseat and make her make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches". But there is a little more to the logistics of it.

Contingent on Jennifer making it to all 48, Mom & Dad, having home schooled her, required her to have all of her high-school credits completed and to take a state high-school completion exam. Having taken the exam the week before we left, she was on the edge of her seat for the first few states...waiting to receive her scores from the testing center...until she got the call in Vermont! She passed!
If you listened close enough on that sun shine-y day, you could have probably heard her squeals of delight all the way back to Indiana!

3: How are you funding it?

The three of us girls funded the entire adventure ourselves by saving our pennies, taking every job we could...and by scrutinizing the types of jellies we bought. There's really not much more to it than that. We saved enough money until we thought we might be able to pay for gas, car repairs, and food. After that, we simply said a prayer and fastened our seat belts.
 I mean, what was the worst thing that could have happened?
If we got close to running out of money, we would just be hungry, homeless, and head on home.

But what really made our journey possible were the prayers and kindness of everyone we met across the U.S.. Staying with family, friends and friends of friends, we underestimated by far how loving everyone would be to us, those we stayed with and those we met in passing. No matter how many pennies we'd saved up, without prayers and the kindness of strangers, this trip would never have been possible.

4: How do your parents feel about it?



Our Mom was all for it. She told us "Go, be free!".
Our Dad was supportive, but still very much a dad. Like most fathers could probably relate, he was just a little worried as three of his little girls traveled into new states and cities. But he loved that we had the opportunity to create all of these special memories that will last a lifetime!

5: If there are six of you girls in the family, what happened to the other three?



Variations of this question are also asked in the form of: "So, what states did you leave the others in?" and "Do you just not like the other three?"
Let's just start by clarifying, we've never abandoned anyone in a state, and we adore our other siblings!



Stephanie is the oldest and has "adult responsibilities" (she works as the loving innkeeper for the historic Allison House Inn in Nashville, IN!). You may remember that she was able to join us for a few states down south though, and then again to celebrate her birthday in Illinois!



Sherry is the third oldest and made a trek of her own out to Utah for her Music Therapy Internship. We did get to stay with her over Valentine's day!



And staying home to take care of Mom, Dad, her frog Dweedlebop and her nine chickens, is Jamie, who was busy doing ten year old stuff.

6: What do your boyfriends think?

They're supportive and love the idea of us traveling!  Well at least we'd like to think so.  We'll have to let you know when we meet them as they have yet to make their presence known in our lives.

7. How often do you fight? 

      
 

All the time.
 Well probably not that much, but sometimes.

Sometimes our fights went on for so long that we'd have to just stop in the middle and take a snack break.

But more importantly we know how to resolve our arguments. It's not that we don't fight, we disagree all the time. But frankly, you have to decide, is this really how you want to live out the next five months?

And while at the moment, the answer was sometimes "yes", pretty soon we'd realize that there wasn't much room for anger in a 1991 Toyota Camry.

8. Have you run into any bad weather?

Save for that blustery day in Montana when the snow swallowed the mountains, and an icy escapade on our way to Minnesota, we had unbelievably beautiful weather. In five and a half months, we can count on one hand even the sort of dreary days.

Our Dad always tells us that life is no dress rehearsal.

We're all on a free trip around the sun, and we just have to work together to make the best of the journey.

Here's to doing things for kicks and giggles,

Love,

The Crew

Today

Today, for the first time since, well, the beginning of the adventure, we're finally writing a post about a day on the day that it happened.

We let the wind of the Windy City take us all across the city's streets, around it's landmarks, and through it's cute coffee shops, vintage stores, and right into Blommer's delicious smelling chocolate factory!

 As a part of an international campaign for the "most beautiful and eye catching office building in the world", Chicago's Tribune Tower's walls have taken in 120 different stones from historical landmarks across the world!

We discovered in Massachusetts that Jennifer is quite the authenticity snob.

The Mayflower that's docked there? A replica.

The Plymouth stone? They can't even confirm the pilgrims had anything to do with it.

If it's not honest to goodness, for sure, the authentic, real deal, she could care less to spend her time seeing it.

Which is why we were so excited to find, imbedded in the base of the iconic Tribune Tower, a stone from the original tomb of Abraham Lincoln, among many other interesting artifacts from around the world.

And what else for lunch but Portillo's hot dogs and a big ole slice of their heavenly chocolate cake!

You have to be quick and attentive to hear your number called.

They're not in numerical order, so amid the chatter of restaurant goers, you'll get everything from order #387 to order #15 being called over their microphone.

It is every bit worth the wait though, and no matter how much cake you order the first time around, you're going to want a second piece.

Chicago's Navy Pier was a great chance to escape from the city for a moment and get a little TLC from a walk by the waterfront, while still enjoying the beauty and bustle of the city itself.

"Too much ambition to remain dormant!"

"Because we're blessed!"

"To live life!"

"To see what life brings me that day!"

"I look forward to a new day."

"Because my alarm clock goes off."

 "Because my daughter wakes me up."

If you want the best view of the Chicago skyline, the Ladies powder room on the 96th is the place to be!

 A stunning silhouette of the city's most iconic buildings is set against an ombre sky back drop and treats you to an experience of the city that is unmatched by anywhere else you might find yourself.

Thank you bunches to our Illinois family! You are both so sweet and kind to help us explore the city, really make sure that we experience Chicago...and for introducing us to the best pie that we've ever had. You both are amazing.

"Hope & possibilities---the idea that a new day is an opportunity to be the best me and chase my dreams."

 "In short, it's because of the responsibility that I have, to myself and to others. However, I choose that responsibility because this journey/path/road that we call LIFE is built through experiences. Every day is a new chance to experience/share/connect with those around us and live as a witness to what God has provided."

Breakfast for dinner out on the rooftop was not only a beautiful end to our last night in Chicago, but also to our last night officially on the road.

Tomorrow, we'll be going home.

But today, today we're living in the moment and experiencing all that we can.

 

To living in the moment, 

To experiencing and sharing today,

Love,

The Crew +Stephanie