#getlostmt

When I first moved to Manhattan 20 years ago, I would purposely get myself lost so I could figure out my way back and have an adventure doing it. I lived in the west village and didn’t own a cell phone so it was a little easier then.

So when I started seeing these “Get Lost” stickers on cars upon my arrival in Montana it really hit home. The landscape is a little riskier out here for physically getting lost, especially if you have a 6 month old in tow but the adventure will undoubtably make for some good stories. 

In fact it already has. I think the 3 month trip was very much about getting lost and trying to find our way. And now that we’ve chosen Montana, things are starting to settle in and feel right. 

Its not home yet after two weeks, but the transition is going smoothly so far. I’ve connected with a few people, taken most of the stuff out of boxes, even conflicted with Brad about the dishes. I’d say things are moving along well. This is life in the midst of transition so if most of my experiences have positive outcomes its a huge success. 

We went on a family hike yesterday to a beautiful setting. There was a creek that ran along the 2.5 trail to Basin Lake 30 minutes from our house. Brad and I had a slight difference in expectations on the severity of the hike. I had tried to run that morning in attempts to get back in shape after the baby. I was thinking easy hike would be ideal but must not have communicated that to Brad when I told him to pick one.

He opted for an expert hike because it sounded amazing. I like to be optimistic about my physical condition so I rolled with it. He was right the views were stunning. Amazing wild flowers, waterfalls, mountain and valley views. This is why we moved to Montana. 

I was skeptical about Luke in the backpack but Brad put him in and he did great!

Brad asked if I minded if we go a slightly different way than the trail. I said yes thinking it was only a few steps from getting back on the trail, when I realized he wanted to scale the side of the of the hill where the trail switchbacked, it was a little too late to say no.  But again he was right, the views were far better from this path less traveled and there was no harm to us or the place. 

9,994 miles traveled. Mountains, rivers, plains traversed. The journey was a gift that challenged some of my fundamental perspectives on relationships and life. As is usually the case, I have to learn the hard way.  Three months together non-stop with a new born traveling around the country put strains on us as individuals and our marriage in ways I’ll be evaluating for some time. But when it came to deciding what was best for us the challenges helped make clear the right choices. 

  The East coast part of the trip was a great start exploring areas like Asheville, Charleston and Chattanooga to better understand the people, culture and opportunity. When we wrote down on paper and examined our hearts, the east coast held the family and friends we love but not the geographic landscape that called our hearts or the work opportunity that would help us build a sustainable life. 

  When we started heading West and hit Colorado, the wide open spaces and mountainous landscape began to make our hearts happy. Colorado was beautiful and had great possibilities with some friends and family in relative close proximity but the cost of living is quickly on the rise. We fell in love with Oregon’s coast and mountains it was so tempting that we spent a month there looking for the right place to call home. 

  But in the end the tipping point became family, connection, and potentially a job opportunity with the call of wide open spaces. At the end of June we are moving to Red Lodge, Montana.  It is in the southern part of Montana just above Yellowstone National Park. There is a cute small town with great ski mountains near by and other lakes, foothills and scenic views. It was unexpected on my part to choose a place so remote from the urban environment I’m used to, there are more horses than people in that part of the country. 

But I’ve found that the things I push back on the most, usually are the ones that teach me and help me grow more than anything else and provide the greatest the reward. When Brad and I discussed our options and Montana made the list, I was surprised to find myself trying to convince him that it would be a good option for us right now. Luke will have cousins to play with, I’ve met some wonderful people that I can connect with on our last trip and Brad’s family and our in-laws have always been welcoming and gracious hosts to their part of the country. The church there is loving. And there might be a potential job for Brad that he would thrive in. In prayer, God’s giving the green light, so for me, its right the right choice for our family. It felt like he was saying the whole trip, don’t worry, I have a plan for you. Let’s see what happens :)