20 posts tagged “travelling”
I came to the Lodge with my mom and sister this weekend. On the way here, we encountered this...
'Twas breathtaking, indeed.
Well, I've had some concerned readers who were waiting for a blog update email me to ask if I made it home alright. I'm home. I have to say, though, that it feels like I'm going to need a few days to rest up from my trip and get back into the swing of things. I could tell on Saturday as I was driving home from North Carolina that I was about to hit "the wall"...physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, etc. The past couple days of being home have left me feeling pretty drained and I'm realizing that I need some time to get away for a few days by myself and decompress. :) So, I'm going to use this week to organize, pay bills, and prepare for a wedding that I'm singing in this weekend, and then next week I'm going to head up to the Lodge to spend a few days in non-driving solitude. :::BIG SIGH::: I will be honest and say that typically the transition back into normal routine after a trip is particularly difficult for me...on many levels, so in that regard, I would certainly welcome any prayers.
My trip, overall, was incredibly positive. I loved connecting old friends and new friends, and I'm so, so thankful for the chance to share my music and life with people along the way. The Lord was good to not only work through me on this trip, but IN me as well. There were some difficult moments of real soul-searching, but in those times He is always so faithful to meet me where I am and teach me through the process. I am both humbled by and grateful for those moments.
It's good to be home though. My Maddie cat is as soft and fluffy as ever and I'm thoroughly enjoying burying my face in her fur. :) Yesterday I had dinner with the family and I could hardly contain my excitement at seeing the kids again. Lucas is starting to memorize Bible verses at church and when he recited Deuteronomy 31:8, " The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged", I nearly bawled. It's good to be home.
Thank you all for your prayers for me while I was gone. And thank you to those of you who took time out of your schedule to meet up with me or host me along the way. You all are such a vital part of my ministry and I do not take that for granted. You are loved.
Well, I'm about halfway through my trip. Right now, I'm with some friends in Jackson, MS and will be here until Wednesday morning when I leave for French Camp Academy in French Camp, MS. So far, my trip has been WELL worth it on so many levels. Mainly on the heart level. I've had the opportunity of connecting with several friends along the way and I'm so, so grateful for the gifts of those meetings. I've also had several opportunities to sing as well. In St. Louis, I gave a house concert which turned out to be such a sweet time of fellowship with everyone who came. From there, I drove to Oklahoma City for a few days and had the chance to lead worship and share my testimony at Living Waters (First Stone Ministries). Then on Friday, I made the ridiculously long trek from OKC to Jackson, MS. As a Northeast girl, I forget how far apart the cities are out here!!
On Saturday, I was given the chance to play down in Gautier, MS (pronounced "go-shay") at a ministry called Home of Grace for Women. It's a recovery program for women struggling with drug and alcohol addictions. I was unprepared for how that evening would minister to my own soul. One of the things that the Lord has been dealing with me about recently, is my need to present a well-put-together-Mindy in ministry. Even when Mindy is not put together at all. Even when the reality is that she is falling apart. How does one reconcile the call to minister, and the need to be ministered to at the same time? I'm still trying to figure it out, but I'm overwhelmed by the Lord's compassion for me to give me a space while ministering at Home of Grace to just "be" where I was. To just be honest. To just be real. I needed that. And I think they did, too.
I got home pretty late from that concert, and when I pulled into the driveway of my friends' house, a friendly stray dog came up to my car to greet me. He'd been hanging around there all weekend, so it wasn't the first time I had seen him. I realized that I had a left-over sandwich in my car and instead of letting it stink up the car, I decided to feed it to the dog. (Everyone was in bed, so I figured no one would know that I was feeding the stray dog. Sneaky, I know). So I fed him the sandwich and then proceeded to unload my car. I took the guitar out and placed it on the driveway next to the car, then I leaned back in to grab my backpack. As I stood up, I turned around just in time to watch Mr. Stray Husky Dog vomit the sandwich all over my guitar case. Did I mention that it was late and I was tired? I basically just stood there and stared at it for a few moments thinking, "You have got to be kidding me." However, I have to admit that I was surprisingly very calm in that moment. I just took the guitar over to the door of the house, grabbed some paper towels, and cleaned up the mess in a very "this-is-a-normal-event" sort of way. I will say this, though, that is the last time I feed anything to a stray dog ever again.
Last night, I gave a concert at Lakeland Presbyterian Church here in Jackson (but that was only after I got eaten alive by a bunch of red fire ants!!! Not fun. Not fun at all). This is my third year of visiting and ministering at this congregation, and each year I am deeply encouraged by their generosity and support of my ministry. Tomorrow I'll be at Mt. Salus Christian School for their chapel and then Wednesday I leave for French Camp...but I already told you that. :)
TODAY, however, is my day off this week. It is raining, and it is beautiful. All morning, I've been staring at the rain clouds rolling in across the sky, and I am convinced that they were just for me! I've been reading and thinking about Psalm 18 a lot recently and those clouds were just the picture that I needed.
Take a moment and read it for youself.
Well, last night, after a crazy day of trying to remember to do everything and pack everything, I started out on my 25-day trek through the midwest and southeast. I was relieved to finally get on the road, but my body was like, "Oh! You're sitting down! That must mean it's time to shut down!" So the trip from Lancaster, PA to Pittsburgh was filled with up-beat music, conversations on the phone, and of course, Starbucks Grande Vanilla Lattes! I made it to Pittsburgh where my sister, Carmen, lives and was able to see her little apartment and spend the night there. We're getting ready to go out for breakfast and then I'll be on the road again. Destination today: Columbus, IN to hang with Susan. Yippee!!
I could use some prayer today. I'm going to be doing a lot of singing in the next few weeks, and this morning I woke up with a sore throat. Boooo. The plan is to drink tons of water and hopefully get a lot of sleep in the next couple days, but I certainly could use your prayers about that. Thanks.
Well, Carmen is standing behind me ready to go, and I have to admit that I'm starving as well, so I'm off.
Well, I just got home from a very long, very full, but very good two weeks on the West Coast. I got to meet some incredible people along the way and view some amazing scenery.
I started out in Southern California at the Exodus Freedom Conference in Irvine, and then worked my way up the coast with a couple friends to do some gigs in Washington and Oregon. I have to say, we learned a lot about ourselves and our friendships on that trip! It's just good to know that you have relationships in your life that you can hash out the hard stuff with and still survive! :)
Before the trip up the coast, though, we were at the Exodus Freedom Conference in Irvine, CA. I'm so grateful for the oppotuntity to have been a part of this event. On the first night of the conference, I was asked by the conference staff if I would be willing to speak to the press that came to cover the conference. To say that I was nervous and a bit freaked out by this, would be a slight understatement, but in my heart I couldn't get past the fact that God has given me freedom and hope, and that I was being given another opportunity to share that with the world. So I agreed.
On Tuesday evening, I was interviewed by a FOX News affiliate, and then on Saturday morning, Ryan Pearson from the Associated Press chatted with me for a while. He even asked me if I would be willing to sing one of my songs! I just found the article/video of this interview HERE. The last interview was with a woman from a university in California. It seemed like she clearly had an agenda and I could sense her disapproval of my answers. However, in each interview, I simply prayed that the Lord Jesus would be clearly seen in my life and in the words that I spoke. I can't tell you how important those interviews were for me personally. I had no idea going into this conference that I would be doing that, but the Lord used those times to deepen my conviction and push me toward learning how to articulate it. I'm thankful that the Lord Jesus is giving me these opportunities to share the truth about His grace and forgiveness. I only pray that He always gives me courage to step into those places without fear for--His name's sake.
First of all, HAPPY 4TH!! Hope everyone is enjoying their day with family or friends. I will be spending most of my day in a van driving up the West Coast. Not a bad deal considering the fact that it is a beautiful day and the coast of Oregon is one of the places that I've always wanted to see.
I haven't had a chance to really fill you all in on my experiences at the Exodus conference, and I don't really have the time to do that now either because we're going to be pulling out in a few minutes, but just suffice it to say that I had a wonderful week and was so incredibly thankful for all your prayers. I was waiting for the nerves to kick in before giving my testimony, but they never did and in fact, by the time it was my turn to get up and speak, I was just plain excited. It was such a privilege for me to be able to share what God has done and is doing in my life in that setting.
I have to say, though, that since the conference, I've been experiencing a lot of funky stuff. Monday, I stopped in San Francisco to visit a college friend who incidentally lives directly across the street from the largest porn studio in the world, and 2 blocks from the predominately gay community in SF, where she and her boyfriend took me for breakfast yesterday. It was very interesting for me to be in that setting after just being at the Exodus conference. It made me sad, but at the same time, gave me hope for those people. God sees them...and loves them dearly. I just felt like I had to be on my guard the whole time I was visiting my friend. It was great to see her, but it was also good to leave.
However, it feels like Satan is working over-time to cause division between my travelling buddies and myself. These are two of my closest friends, but the underlying tension between us the past several days could be cut with a knife, and we have no idea where it's coming from or how to resolve it. I'm not unaware of the warfare that is most likely going on, and so I'm asking for your prayers again. The truth is, I haven't really had any downtime/solitude since the conference and I'm in need of some "refill" time.
Ok, we're off. Thanks again for your prayers, everyone.
Happy 4th of July!
Well, this is typical. Tomorrow I'm leaving on a trip to California, it's almost midnight, and I haven't packed yet.
"Then why are you sitting at the computer writing a blog?", you ask?
I really wish you hadn't asked. I don't have a good answer, other than: "Avoiding the inevitable." You'd think that by now, after all the travelling I do, I'd have this packing thing down to a science. I don't. It usually comes down to me waiting til the last minute and then overpacking because I'm just throwing a bunch o' stuff in a suitcase with the hopes that I'm not forgetting anything. Then I usually end up having to make a pit stop at a local CVS because I did.
I forget a lot.
I've had people say to me after a concert, "It wouldn't be a real Mindy Boyd concert if you didn't forget the lyrics at least once." I'm not proud of that. Especially when it's my own song that I'm forgetting. I forget people's birthdays all the time. And people's names?...let's not even go there. Last week I forgot to drive the speed limit. Twice. Now I have a sign on my dashboard by the spedometer that reads "SLOW DOWN". I'm trying.
I hate that I forget things--the little things, the big things. The toothbrushes, the birthdays. But what I hate the most, is that sometimes I forget the important, significant things. Like where I've been, and what the Lord has delivered me from. Sometimes I get so caught up in what I'm doing now, and what needs to be done--and remembered--in the everyday, that I forget about what the Lord has done in my life. And what inevitably happens is that I start becoming disillusioned and discouraged, which then leads to despair and depression. All because I forgot. But I'm not the only one. A good friend recently brought Psalm 78 to my attention. It's basically an account of all the miraculous things the Lord did for the Israelites when He delivered them from Egypt. But check this out:
"The warriors of Ephraim, though fully armed, turned their backs and fled when the day of battle came. They did not keep God's covenant and they refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done--the wonderful miracles he had shown them." vv. 9-11 NLT (emphasis mine).
They forgot. They forgot about all the people who died in Egypt simply because they happened to be born first in their family. They forgot what the dry ground felt like on their feet as they walked between two walls of water. They forgot what it was like to wake up in the morning after it had rained...bread! They forgot. And on the day of battle, though they were equipped with everything they needed for the fight, they turned back. They had forgotten what He had done.
Oh man! This is me! That's exactly what happens when I forget. I'm fully equipped for whatever it is that the Lord has placed in front of me, but I shrink back, pull away, close up, and stand still. This is where I've been so many times in the past, and this is where I've been in the past couple months. But do you know what He does more often than not when I'm in this place? He says, "Mindy, it's time for you to share your testimony again because I want people to know what incredible things I've done in your life. And because I want you to remember."
Several weeks ago, I got an email telling me that I was chosen to give my testimony at one of the general sessions at the Exodus Freedom Conference in Irvine, CA. The timing of that email couldn't have been worse (from my perspective), because giving my testimony was the last thing I wanted to do at that time. However, I was challenged with the truth that the despair I have felt recently in my life does not change what God did for me in the past. That's why Asaph wrote Psalm 78. That's why the Israelites were commanded to pass on these accounts to their children and their children's children...
"So each generation can set its hope anew on God, remembering his glorious miracles and obeying his commands." v7.
I am overwhelmed, grateful, a bit freaked out, and extremely honored to be given the opportunity to share what God has no less than miraculously done in my life at this year's conference. Preparing for it has forced me to recall my past experiences and has helped me to remember God's deep love and never-ending faithfulness to this prodigal daughter of His, and how He rescued me from that pit.
Would really appreciate your prayers for this one.
Now, let's hope I can remember my toothbrush!
I travel a lot. In fact, I think in the past year I've spent more time living away from my apartment than I did living in it. Part of that includes time housesitting, but a lot of it is just being out of town traveling with music or missions or conferences or whatever. THIS TIME, however, I'm leaving on Sunday for a few days of pure, unadulterated FUN! I can't remember the last time I did this. We never really took family vacations when I was a kid, so whenever I get to do something like this, it's always kind of a novelty for me (with, I admit, a slight twinge of guilt for some reason). No guilt this time, though. I've got a crazy summer coming (Exodus national conference, music trip up the west coast, candidate orientation, several concerts around here, and beginning support raising in the Fall), and I know I need some space like this to just relax, connect with a good friend, prepare my heart for the weeks and months ahead, and just simply be...oh, and did I mention HAVE FUN?! :)
So, ya wanna know where I'm going? :-D Of course, you do! But it wouldn't be as fun if I just out and told you, now would it? So...20 questions ('yes' or 'no' questions). Starting now. I'll reveal the destination on Sunday night when I arrive there. Unless, of course, you guess correctly before then. Have fun!
Well, last weekend in Nashville was a BLAST!!! It was so much fun hanging out with all the artists that I've been meeting on the Indieheaven message boards over the past few months. The conference was jammed packed full of wonderful information and encouragement from the Indieheaven Staff, industry professionals, and well known artists like Margaret Becker, Shaun Groves, and Phil Joel. It was definitely worth the jet-lagged 12 hour drive from Pennsylvania.
One of my favorite parts of the weekend was meeting and hanging out with Amy Gustafson from Oregon. Please check out her site and music!! She is gifted artist, with a very tender heart toward God. Not to mention the fact that she is a 100% bona fide HOOT! I think we laughed most of the weekend.
After the conference was over, we grabbed Rachael from the Indieheaven staff and took to the streets of Nashville Sunday night. We had an absolute blast! Then on Monday, we peeked in the windows and roamed around the grounds at that the Grand Ole Opry House.
When Amy left to catch her plane, I headed up I-65 through Kentucky and into Indiana. When I was about 13 miles from my destination, I stopped to get gas and took this picture of my dashboard:
Yes, the odometer reads 200,000 miles...and yes, the gas tank reads
empty, but that's just a little foreshadowing for you of a story to
come later...:::sigh::: Actually, the odometer should probably read
about 220,000 because a few years ago my spedometer quit working which
caused my odometer to stop working for about 20,000 miles, so now the
reading is completely inaccurate, but there are certainly more pressing
things in life to worry about. I filled the tank and continued on
toward Columbus, IN where I had the fun privelege of meeting and
hanging out with none other than our very own Susan!
I was supposed to do a couple shows in Ohio, but for some reason they were cancelled, which was actually a blessing because I haven't had a voice since I got back from Germany! Plus, it allowed me to head home early so I could attend my nephew's 2nd birthday party and be home with the family for Easter. So, after spending the night with some friends in Columbus, OH, I started the last leg of my trip home. I just crossed over into PA when I noticed that my gas tank was on empty again. I hate stopping for gas. Some states like New Jersey and Oregon hire people to pump it for you...and that might make it easier for me to stop, but for the most part, I just hate having to stop. Which is why I typically wait until the VERY last minute to do it. This particular time was no exception. But when I noticed that I was low on gas, I was already on the PA Turnpike which means I have two options: 1. get off at the next exit and pay the toll, or 2. wait for the next service station. Well, since the gas light hadn't even turned on yet, I opted to wait for the next service station...I knew there was one coming up, so I passed by the exit and continued on. However, no sooner did I pass the exit when I saw the sign.
"Next Service Station 10 miles"
"Hmmm. This could be interesting," I thought. The really unfortunate part about this was that right after I saw that sign, I entered the portion of the PA Turnpike that goes through the "mountains" ("mountains" are in quotes for those of you reading who are from CO, or OR, or some other western Rocky Mountain state). Regardless, of the size of the mountain, pretty much any upward grade is a not-so-great scenario for my car when I'm low on gas. So, as my car sputtered and coughed its way up the way up the hill, the only thing I really could do was pray....something like this:
"God, I know I'm an idiot. But I also know that the ONLY way I'm going to make it over this hill is if YOU get me over. Pleeeeease get me over!"
I turned my hazard lights on and drove on the shoulder a couple times, but I made it over, and as I coasted down the other side, I saw a sign that said, "Service Station 2 miles". I felt pretty confident about making it, but wouldn't ya know it, 1/2 a mile down the road I found myself on the side of the road staring at a wide open field to my right, a few houses on the other side of the Turnpike to my left, and absolutely no sign of a gas station in sight. :::SIGH:::
But then I remembered!! I have a gas can in my trunk with a little bit of gas in it...perhaps enough to get me to the station!!! (Yes, you guys are smart enough to figure out why that was there!) So I got out and went digging in my trunk for the gas can...but...to my dismay, I was without a funnel, which in reality didn't really matter anyway because there was only about 4 ounces of gas in the can which probably wouldn't have even gotten me back on the Turnpike. So yeah, I was stuck...and remember that part about driving the jeep on the last nice day? I forgot to mention that while I was rooting around in my trunk it started to snow. :::SIGH, AGAIN::: My last resort was to call AAA, who told me I had to call the Turnpike people because it was an offical road or something like that, who then had to call their service guy to come out and help me.
An hour later...:::sigh:::...I was finally on the road again...and I have to say, when I finally made it home, it felt really, really good to sleep in my own bed again!
