Roadtrip during the Pandemic

Face mask ✔

Hand Sanitizer ✔

Roadmap ✔

Let’s Go!

Since the world meet Covid-19 face to face, many people have had to restructure their lives. This looks different from life to life but many include changes in the home, work schedules, education, rescheduling milestones and putting off goals in an effort of doing the right thing. If this season has taught us anything it’s that we all have our own compass to help us navigate this pandemic season.

And with so many health aids now available, booming research findings and time passed- we decided that it was time for us to get off of the couch, back into an adventure and to travel again. The only real question now was “how.” So, we decided to skip the flights and to gas up the Jeep instead.

Starting in our home state of Indiana, we mapped out our trip to see mountains, the country side, sunrises, cities, oceans and beaches. Our route included Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky and then back home in Indiana. Some of these states we’ve been to together before and some brand new.

My overall experience was that of hope. I’m really glad we traveled when we did because we needed a vacation full of fresh perspective and in the process found renewed hope in humanity. This is because at each stop in every state, masks were worn and enforced. I saw extra sanitizing stations and measured spacing for healthy social distancing. I saw local officials and citizens doing their part in helping to reduce the transmission of the virus and that one day we will overcome this pandemic.

Do I think traveling in this season is right for everyone? Not really. Do I think everyone can do it safely while also having fun? Absolutely! As I said above I understand and respect everyone’s individual reasons for their social gathering whether near or far, few people or to the max possible. This season is here to stay for the time being and I think if we all strive to do the right thing while having balance, we can turn this season into one of community and of learning.

If you could go anywhere, where would you go? Comment below!

You are loved, Kriss

Traveling & Closed Borders

Travel is one of the greatest freedoms and privileges in our modern time. We have the ability to dream up a location, consider how we want to get there and then to head out towards the horizon. But what feelings arise whenever we can’t just go? How do we navigate restricted boarders and the red letter “no” travel?

In the past two years I have left the country to visit foreign countries. I felt free, I felt alive but did I feel grateful? Time and time again we find ourselves taking things for granted. I think in this year alone, we can all agree that we learned that taking things for granted turned out to be our secret talent, special language and or way of life.

Travel restriction goes one step further because not only can you not travel to surrounding countries but city to city travel is limited and not encouraged. I found myself frustrated and suffocated for not being able to explore, wander and feed my curiosity.

Frustration, anger, confusion, bitterness and even apathy are all normal things to be feeling in life and in 2020. But the big question that I want to ask you, are you ok with living life through these feelings? Or do you want to stop taking things for granted, putting off plans, staying in bad habits, choosing to put yourself last, delay that one thing another year, or anything else under the sun?

I think we all want to live lives that are well loved, cherished and free even when life throws a criss-crossing moment at you. Please know that at the end of the day, no matter what this year or the next looks like, that you have a choice to start living your ideal adventure today.

This is my challenge to you, find an area in your life that you want to love better, make a plan and walk into that plan today. And because our chances of reaching our goals increases whenever we tell someone else, comment your goal down below or share it with your bestie! Not only do you achieve more goals when you let someone else in on the journey but you can find yourself to be more motivated throughout the process.

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You are loved!

-Kriss

A Journey for Two

Today is the day before Jacob and I celebrate our second wedding anniversary and my thoughts currently are… how has it been two years already and, also, how has it only been two years?? Have you ever felt this about those things most precious to you?

These past two years have been the very definition of an adventure. We’ve traveled to two countries, ten states, woken up before the sun and crawled into bed long after the rise of the moon. We’ve danced barefooted on beaches, on top of mountains and in dirty kitchens. We’ve eaten both the finest cuisine and tasted our tears. We’ve shared in stresses, anxieties and fears.

I knew I loved you when I said “I do” but I never expected it to grow into something 10x more gorgeous, freeing, intimate, wild and true. My heart is bursting for the man who gave me his last name. It’s the greatest honor to carry this flame.

I cannot wait to see what the next year looks like for us in this journey and everyone it involves. We are incredibly thankful to our families, our friends and to you for supporting us, praying for us and being adventurous with us along this journey of lives well loved.

You are loved!

-Kriss

What’s a travel blogger to do during a pandemic?

It is no surprise to anyone that the condition of the world is not ideal for someone who has a travel blog. So many times I have grabbed up my computer to type out my feelings, picked through past travel photo albums for inspiration or dove head first into Pinterest to daydream about the travels to come. But what does it feel like to live in a body meant for travel but has to sit still?

There have been times of pure boredom with thoughts of helplessness and being disgusted with the mundane. Times of creative bursts to change that mindset into distraction. But ultimately there has been a new found sense of grace for where I find myself and the world finds itself. During a moment on the couch, I found myself thinking back on rests after a long day exploring. During a moment on a walk, I felt a breeze that set me back on European streets. During a curbside pick-up, I remembered that amazing late night corner pizza shop. I know that we will all find ourselves able to do more of what we love in the future but this season is something to be thankful for.

This season is meant to allow us to slow down, to think about others, to be kind, to do what we can and pray for what is to come. I truly hope that you have found a silver lining to this season as well and that whenever we get those green lights at the starting gates, that we are able to rise to that occasion as well.