7:40 AM – Checked out of Holiday Inn Express, Durham, New Hampshire. Never got my make up on. Wrote Siestas too long. Hair’s gonna need to go in a clip.
7:45 AM – Event team loads into a mighty caravan of minivans. Vans all have signs on them. Event team’s van says “Secret Servants” (i.e. Secret Service, get it?), Praise team sign says “Praise Corp” (press corp, get it?) and ours says (you better know that I didn’t come up with any of this. It was Rich) “Beth Force One.” We are the van with all the baggage. Oh, Lord have mercy. Is that ever an understatement. One of our vehicles is unmarked because it belongs to our coworker’s fiancee who joined us yesterday. Ron’s calling it The Decoy.
7:47 AM – Missed exit.
7:48 AM – Lost.
7:52 AM – In Maine. Not on our event schedule. Turned around.
7:57 AM – Finally made it back to bridge. As we drive up, bridge closes, lifts and lets tug boat through. Making good time.
8:10 AM – Starving. Got a lot of miles behind us. Road warriors. Stop for breakfast at The Friendly Toast…in Durham. That’s right. In DURHAM. We’ve not made it out of the city yet.
8:30 AM – Fantastic menu. Got served one of the best danged breakfasts of our entire lives. Nicest waiter I’ve ever had with a “Teardrops of Satan” T-shirt on. Ate well-done veggie omelet with fried country potatoes and HOME MADE thick wheat toast with a side of gingerbread waffles and pomegranate syrup.
10:15 AM – finally paid out and made it back to vans. Parking tickets on all vans. Went over our two-hour parking meter by five minutes.
12:00 Noon – Tooling down I-84 West well on our way. Looks like we may not make it to the Big Apple by lunch time. We only have 137 miles to go.
Miscellaneous:
Mad at Travis. He’s in other van with praise team and he’s baiting me. I rode in their van yesterday but am in van with Rich and Ron (our team member who does security) today. Trav sent me a cell pic of Dunkin’ Donuts bag. They stopped without me. They only stopped because they know I love it. They’re so mean. Right after that, I saw the Po-Po (Ron’s a former law enforcer and said that’s not disrespectful. I asked him before I printed it. I am a respectful law-abiding citizen who cries when she gets stopped for a traffic violation.) So I texted Travis and told him I hoped they got pulled over by the Po-Po for Dunkin’ Driving.
Sent Trav and team a pic of my open Bible and told them to read theirs.
Rested my eyes a little while. Whole back seat to myself. Heard Ron singing with the Supremes on satellite radio. Way out of character. Made me riotously happy.
Stopped at Tim Horton’s without telling praise team van. Got variety of donuts and fresh coffee which helps make up for the fact that it’s a tad on the weak side. Texted praise team a picture of donut selection. Eating and drinking without shame.
Dizzy.
Talked to all three of my family members. I never go to NYC without A&M if I can help it. Miss them so much. We’d shop until we had broken feet and had to soak them in the hotel bathtub. Miss my man, too. And Starzy and Geli. Talked to the dogs on the phone night before last. I think they are pouting at me. Didn’t say much.
Oh, and I forgot to tell you that on Sunday at the ranch, I stepped on a mesquite thorn. Went straight up through my shoe and into my foot. WAY INTO MY FOOT. Keith had to jerk it out. Three toes and top of foot fire engine red by next morning. Sore as heck. Told A&M about it and both of them swore I could get a staph infection and shamed me into calling doctor today. Have to take antibiotic. If, when I get up in the morning and go to the restroom, I look down and any of my toes are missing, I’m to hobble straight to the hospital no matter what town I’m in. The drama never ends.
Rich likes a variety of music. Just a few vocalists we’ve sung along with so far: Barry Manilow (he writes the songs that make the whole world sing), Olivia Newton John (she loves us. She honestly loves us. She’s not trying to make us uncomfortable. Not trying to make us anything at all), Dionne Warwick (she said a little prayer for us), Chris Tomlin (what a relief), the Eagles (good Bible lesson: you can’t hide your lyin’ eyes), Carly Simon (another good Bible lesson: you’re so vain. I bet you think this post is about you), and The Carpenters (good choice: Joseph was one).
12:30 PM – Driving past Hartford, Connecticut and waving to beat the band. Can’t wait to see you Friday!
Thinking about Delaware. DELAWARE. I can hardly believe we get to go there.
12:48 PM – Just saw sign. 98.6 miles to New York City.
1:03 PM – Just texted The Decoy and instructed our darling engaged couple to please go over their memory verses together. I feel they’ve been unsupervised too long. (They are such a handsome couple they could be on the front of a magazine. Nate is our young stage manager and the biggest blast to ever love Jesus. Raised on the mission field in Africa. Cool to the bone. His bride-to-be, Shelly, is active in our blog community. You’d know her if you saw her. If you were at the Siesta Fiesta, we mentioned that they’d just gotten engaged and we made her come up front and get a door prize. Beautiful girl who also totally digs Jesus. Already faithfully serves Him.) They text me back their verses. Clearly they are taking them out of context. I ask them to pull the car over and let me in. They don’t. But they laugh.
1:04 PM – Bored stiff.
1:07 PM – Giving way to vain imaginations. Dwelling on the last time Keith hurt my feelings. I’m getting madder by the minute. Why didn’t I get madder at the time?? Thinking what I should’ve said.
1:08 PM – Rich bored, too. Has now begun to sing really loud and off key (on purpose). It’s so terrifying that I’m startled out of my downward mental spiral.
1:09 PM – I love Keith so much. I wish he’d call me.
1:10 PM – Am now laughing hysterically at myself. Where is my medication? JK. Don’t write me about that.
I fear if I keep this up, I could risk digressing into the trivial (that even made me laugh) so I’ll sign off for a while and catch you up on our thrilling day in the Big Apple later. At this rate, a LOT later. You are a patient people.
10:35 PM – Yes, that says 10:35 PM. HOURS have gone by, People. HOURS!!!! You are not going to believe this but when I got back to my car after our NYC shopping extravaganza my computer battery was as dead as a door nail (it’s one of those long-lasting ones so it shouldn’t have been) and, hence, I didn’t get to give you a play-by-play all the way to Delaware. I think God thought you guys had been through enough. Of course, at this point only 5 of you are still reading the post and you are all related to me…and embarrassed for me.
SO, since God apparently got weary of my drivel, I’ll limit my comments on the rest of the day to a couple of paragraphs:
Our feet hit the streets of Manhattan by about 2:30. I got a hotdog at one of those sidewalk vendors immediately because I just have to. It’s not even good. Just necessary. Mustard and sweet relish. Then we grabbed some Starbucks and got focused. The team and I had no intention of wasting time at expensive stores. We wanted hip and CHEAP. So we hit a little boutique called “Strawberry” and totally scored. Kinda fruity but not seedy. Some really cute stuff and just the right price. All of us girls got something there. Two of us got the exact same pair of boots – I do mean DARLING boots – that had been a hundred and something dollars and they were marked down to $56. I also got a gray sweater and a…and a…let me go look in my bag…oh, yeah, a new pair of fuzzy slippers. That’s another story. I’m obsessed with this one pair of fuzzy slippers I’ve had a long time (I bring them on the road) and they’re nearly worn out. I call them “The Pinks” because, well, they’re pink. I’ve been really upset because I’ve known they’re on their last leg. Or foot. And I haven’t known what to do. I wanted an exact replacement and couldn’t find them anywhere. Well, today I found some in black. The Black Pinks. I’m so happy. I have them on right now. Especially after my thorn in the flesh.
The praise team and I then went to H&M and Zara. I did very minimal damage at either place but Trav, Seth, Stephen, and Nate made some fairly impressive investments in their personal wardrobes. I don’t think they call what they got “outfits” but they should. Well coordinated if I do say so myself.
After walking somewhere around 43 miles, we were famished and decided to seek out a great little Chinese restaurant. The kind NYC is famous for. Well, we didn’t exactly find one. We found more the airport variety where you walk down a line with an orange tray and get your soy sauce and hot mustard in plastic packs you have to open with your teeth. Alas, we were too worn out to resist. I’ll not name names but a character from Seinfeld was working the counter. She nearly scared me to death. I simply inquired with appropriate southern manners as to whether or not the Chow Mein was prepared with white meat. She yelled, “You having chicken broccoli!” So I had chicken broccoli. It was pretty good but I didn’t eat much of it. She’d given me the nervous stomach. She ended up winning us over. You had to respect her work ethic. Move ’em in. Move ’em out.
And the team and I sat at eight tables for two and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed. Duets were sung. Combo dinners shared. Pictures were taken. Delirious. So happy to be together. So happy to be in Jesus. He brings people together who would never have crossed paths. I cannot express to you how much I love these people.
And, then, we loaded up the vans and began our several-hour excursion to Delaware. Checked in and started writing to you. And now I’m about to drop in the bed. This very day we’ve been in – count ‘em – SEVEN States. And every mile worth it.
Oh, Delaware, we can’t wait to meet you. God of laughter, friendship, community, come receive Your praise. And, Lord, thank You for humoring us today. I hope at least once we really got You tickled.
Tags: New England Nights, Rich Kalonick, Travis
Sounds like y’all are having such a blast!! Praying for safe travels, good times and God to show up in a mighty way!
Love, Amy in OK
My “girlies” and I went to NYC together and we hit the same hip and CHEAP shopping spots and LOVED them. We still get complimented on our picks and we just say, “Thanks. I got it in New York City.” 🙂 We sound so fancy but we’re not!
Hope you are having the best day and that Delaware is rocked to the core!
Beth, you are a HOOT! Guess I must be one of the 5 people related to you because I found your post a real page-turner (so to speak). You made me feel like I was right there with you and I, for one, am sorry your computer battery died!
Enjoy the rest of your trip, Beth. Can’t wait to hear about the next leg!
Google doesn’t seem to remember my password today so I have to post as Anonymous. But I’m really:
tolkienfan (Lori in MN)
I love your play-by-play! I am from New England and can relate to every place you are at. My brother went to UNH (Durham is so pretty) My cousin lives in a beautiful little town in Vermont and got to see you in Burlington (I’m so jealous!) I talked to a girlfriend from church last night who saw you in New Hampshire (jealous again!) I am praying for you and your team along the way and am so glad you are enjoying beautiful New England in the Fall! What a way to see God! I also loved the stories about your shopping in NYC. How fun! I gotta go run and get my coffee and donut at Dunkin Donuts!
I’ll be praying for you tonight!
Love Amy (from MA)
Travel is one of my favorite things! To be able to roadtrip with you and the rest of the “motorcade” was a fabulous way to start the day.
Delaware won’t know what hit them!
Hugging you to death,
Melinda
Beth:
By the way I am so glad we are related cause I read that all the way to the bottom.
Have a blessed day!
Lichelle
Beth–
I loved the play by play and so needed a laugh this morning. Thanks for sharing your life with us. Girl, you need to loosen up and have some fun–tee hee.
There certainly is “Joy in Serving Jesus”—I am probably giving a clue as to my age by quoting a song from the Broadman Baptist Hymnal—oh well…
Mama Sieta you are just too stinkin’funny!! And, hey, it’s great because we can act totally crazy and say….well, look at our leader! 🙂
Loved the play-by-play! Thank you so much for including us!
Blessings
Michelle
Oh what I would give to be on that road trip with ya’ll! How could you have possibly gotten bored??
I’m so sorry about your foot – you’ll have to let us know how it’s doing. I’ll try to remember to pray for you in whatever darlin shoes you picked out for the conferences – standing on that sore foot.
It’s so great to love and enjoy life like you are on this trip isn’t it? No other way to go about it.
Oh I love this post!
Whew! You are long winded! …but totally precious! How is it that, with two kids, I don’t have time to pee, but I got every word of that post? OMG(gosh), I was about to say keep us posted. That’s only funny to me, isn’t it?
There has never been a Ms. Beth post that has made me laugh and smile so much!
Thanks for brightening my day by sharing yours!
Praying for all,
Kelli
Can I just say , “I love you!” This made me laugh out loud several times this morning, after I cried reading your birthday tribute to Amanda. How great and good is our Lord Jesus?!! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Now you’ve got a song that could be from Rich’s playbook running through my head….the Turtles: So Happy Together!!!! What a wedding feast this will be, huh?
Hey Suzanne…the paperclip girl…please put some words on your blog…. You have a way with words and i wanted to read more after this post…so sad nothing is there….sounds like you are very busy though so when you get the chance write on!!!!
Do tell Ron we love him at SEC! I’ve never heard him sing!!! LOL
Thank you so much for making me laugh. My dad was diagnosed with cancer a few days ago and it doesn’t look good at all. Please pray for him spiritually and physically. His name is Dan. I am so glad our God is ever present and we will praise His name in everything!
Love,
Crissy
You are having too much fun!!!
Your trip sounds wonderful. I am very bored at work today at my church/Christian school office & it's fall break, except I didn't get a break. It's quiet and nothing to do…so you can add me to the list of five or so who read every single line of your post(s) & loved every part of it.
Love you & praying God's continued blessing on your trip.
Valerie
P.S. I love NYC! I got to go for a week last March. My friend is there now and I'm so envious.
now i see why Susan is so dear to you! straight to the heart!
I could hardly read through the water in my eyes… (I’m at work so I’m holding the laughter…) I LOVE reading about your days! Sounds like a blast. Unfortunately I’ve never been further north than halfway up Louisiana, so I thoroughly enjoy hearing what it’s like way up there…lol. Keep talking!!
Hugs!
Becca
Beth, Thank you soo much. I am fighting the head/chest cold thing AND bladder infection (how fair is that 🙂 but your blog had me smiling and laughing so much I feel 10x better already. It worked much better than 3 different medications combined. I thank God for you all the time !
Thank you for sharing your travels with us.
It is so refreshing to know that even in a world that has much seriousness, heartache, and pain we can be full of joy and laughter.
I was reminded of that last night in my own life.
My church is having a benefit to raise money for a family who is struggling with a major illness. A group of my friends are performing a few songs by the Supremes. I attended their rehersal to offer some helpful hints and moral support. “Stop in the Name of Love” never looked or sounded so hilarious!
I kept thinking that although all of our children tend to roll their eyes and think we are insane, it is a great example to them that we are to never take ourselves too seriously.
Oh Beth, God has created such a fun character in you! Your post had me LOL! I love your sense of humor and heart for the Lord – it’s a winning combination! I’ll be praying for your journey and for the lives that will be touched! Thanks for letting us all have a peek, it’s so heartwarming and fun! And no dunkin’ driving the rest of the trip, you hear?! Blessings…
Not related to you. Not embarrased for you. Laughing hysterically; except that I'm at work, so it's that silent sort of laugh & now there are tears streaming down my face because I'm trying to repress the laughter…
That was so much fun to read!! I wish all of us could be there. Lol.
Shelly and Nate are too adorable together and I am so happy for them.
Hearing the stories of Ron is cracking me up because when we see him he is on point! This is good stuff but we do respect him and thank him for protecting you!
I can’t wait to see a picture of your boots and black pinks. I am looking for a new pair of pinks. 😉
Have a great conference in Delaware.
Love you,
Patty
ok after 102 comments I doubt anyone one reads this one (since I haven’t read any myself) so I’ll tell you…I’m not supposed to be doing this at work (personal surfing and such) but needed a pick me up (had a fender bender yesterday and am sore but thank God ok)
Beth, I must say it is so refreshing to know that you are just as real as any of us…your play-by-play refreshingly real…and so encouraging to my soul…to know that God is dealing with you in much the same ways as He has had and is still dealing with me…it’s quite undeniable that God is ever present with you and you are ever seeking Him and His will… you challenge me in my walk, but also just as important for all of us who, dare I say, maybe on the verge of idolizing you to know that you are not much different than any one of us…
Glory to God on high for being such that knows us individually and personally knowing exactly what we need, when, why, how, and from whom. Praising His Omniness!
Oh Sweet! Pics are GREAT! jJust added to the whole thing thanks so much for sharing!
Loving you in Christ!!!!
You are going to have to get some Dunkin’ Donuts coffee to bring back with you….I have to send it to my sister-in-law in Shreveport to satisfy her DD craving! 🙂
Dear Beth,
It sounds like so much love, I love people who in touch with their goofy side, not afraid of the uncool impulses to fun!!!!!!!! We always get sidewalk hotdogs, we all HATE hotdogs, but buying from a sidewalk vendor is just too fun to pass up!! Shalom, Dixie
Oh Beth, your posts are never too long for me. Thank you for taking us along on your road trip. Love the play by plays. I just hope the drivers keep their eyes on the road with all the fun going on around them.
PS. I’m gonna get someone to take a pic of me jumping in the air it is so much fun. Shalom
I am digging that first picture…you still look 20. I love it!
HILARIOUS!!!!!
I love that God loves for us to have fun. You all make me laugh and brighten my day! God bless you today and rain down his presence!
Miss Beth,
I *love* that photo of you and Travis jumping. It really captures the gift of joy and momentum for Jesus that God has given you. You go, girl!
-Nicole
LOVE. IT.
Every little detail!
Ted Horton’s is the BOmb when it comes to Hot Chocolate.
Beth, I’ve never been to NYC and well…could you go with me? *Grin* It scares me, but you make it sound so fun! Glad you had a fun day and the tour sounds blessed for all. Take care!
oh my! stay off line a few hours and look what you nearly miss?
Now this is a roadtrip!
thank you SO much for sharing.
Jealous for you with a Godly jealouy 🙂
much love and many prayers
tammy
love it, love it, love it! you all are in my prayers 🙂
thanks for the detailed update…we feel like we’re there with ya! oh this blog makes me smile every day! praise the LORD!
Hey, LPM Team! Delaware is gonna get GOD tonight. Enjoy Him….
Betsy, Amy, Melissa, Darlene, Ron, Beth, and all you dear, dear others – wow. Been soooo praying for each of you individually.
I want to encourage you, Team.
Let His presence STOP you in your tracks tonight. – – – If He comes that way, that deeply, breath Him in and let it happen.
You’re all reaching a glorious place in Him folks. 99……..49….Completion is something to celebrate.
Relish it….
God’s got some work to do in Delaware. Please, get some rest – all – before He sends you out again.
Sounds like your fun was somethin’ else…! What a God-blast… NOW – I’m praying for Focus and a Fresh Cup to be fillable for each of you. Get ready.
Love to you all… SOOO loved being able to pray with you, and see your hearts, you God fans… Our Prayer e-Team has not stopped praying for you, and won’t. We’re seeing this through the Harvest till the end with you.
Warmly, fondly, and in color!
~ Suzanne
(NH Lead Team, Prayer Co-Coordinator)
Thanks for the hilarious play-by-play. Been praying for you and can’t help but think of all the ground work y’all are doing in the Spirit less than 20 days away from our Nation’s election. Freedom. Truth. Jesus. Let the Spirit FALL!
Oh Beth, you make me laugh out loud one minute and weep with humble thanksgiving the next. Then it’s back to laughing again. I love you dearly. Thank you for your prayer in the previous post. It meant a great deal to me. I didn’t even know how badly I needed it till I read it. Thank you.
I’ll be praying for your foot. I’m guessing walking on it all day was quite the chore.
Also praying for Delaware! Pour out a fresh anointing LORD!
Girls: That picture of you two is simply STUNNING! I love it!
Amanda, I hope you had a lovely birthday and thank you for sharing about your wee little girl, pregnancy, and family. So fun.
Melissa, I love hearing what God is speaking to and through you. I must admit though, I’m a bit jealous of those ladies who get to sit under your (and Beth’s) teaching. Sigh. Oh well… such is life. How about a new recipe. Grin
May you all be blessed by our Mighty and Awesome GOD! Darling Ladies~consider yourselves hugged! :o)
Love, Anna
What a fun post–loved the pictures and the play by play, gave me a smile and a chuckle to start my mornin:-)
OH! WHAT A FUN DAY!!!
You had me at dunkin' driver 🙂 and then I loved you even more for calling your daughters A&M. Really, I don't think I could love you more. Gig 'em!
Praying for Delaware tonight–may they be inDELibly AWARE of the Presence of Christ this eve.
LOVE to you!
Holly
Siesta Mama Beth –
You are so STINKIN’ FUNNY!!! I even read some of your stuff to my Hunky Hubby… and he was even laughing at some of the stuff! He is always getting lost on road trips and teases about ending up in North Dakota… (Not that that’s a bad place, but if you’re shooting for something along the East Coast, it’s not exactly where you are headed!)
The SOUP NAZI!!! HAH!!!
Have an awesome rest of the trip!
TIM HORTONS!! I heart that place. They don’t have them here in AZ. I can sometimes talk my cousin in Canada to ship me some of their coffee which is very yummy (not to mention their divine strawberry filled donuts)!
You are a breath of sunshine! You had me laughing out loud!! Thanks!
Strawberry is one of my favorite stores in NYC. Glad you had a blast!
SO MUCH FUN!
Warm in Alaska.
BEAUTIFUL pictures! LOVE the one of you and Travis jumping in the air! And love the one of you two snoozing at the restaurant! Great photographer! Everyone gets to go to NYC except me it seems! My mom and bro and sis-in-law are there right now! I’m green! 🙂
Loe the almost play by play….I was just htere in July and H&M got a fair share of my pocketbook!
Did you go to Canal Street? Now that's some shopping! Just fun to barter and watch.
You are making me so jealous I want to go back to NYC so bad! Did you see my newphew and his wife?
Know the drive so well! Delaware is half way between NY and DC….our stopping point. Someday I'm going to venture away from the truck stop and really see Delaware..
Prayng for the word to be heard