Road trip Tennessee to Alabama

" I travel alot; I hate feeling my life disrupted by routine"

Wow. Christmas has come and gone. We had such a good time with everyone. I don't feel like we did much anything but relax around and eat.. where did the time go?

Christmas Eve we went to 5 o'clock service at Christ Community Church in Franklin and it was packed. As we walked in the door, we were like " man, wouldn't it be awesome if every Sunday was like this?" and without missing a beat, the woman behind us replied " Amen!" The praise and worship was amazing, but it's to be expected we're in singing country being only 30 minutes from nashville. After celebrating Jesus B-day with the church, we headed home to have a chili dinner.. which of course included Uncle Tim's amazing angel biscuits. After dinner everyone got to open one gift and Amanda made matt open hers, because we all wanted to watch his gift; she got him Jim Gaffigan.. hilarious

" You know who's a happy camper? The guy leaving the camping sight, he gets to shower.. lol"
" I probably wouldn't be so scared if I wasn't sleeping in a bag."
"play dead? Who came up with that? The bears! Play dead, roll yourself in honey and scoot on a large white plate."
" The bear's like great performance, but i', hungry and he looks like a burrito."

"Ever get in a hammock with someone else? Cuz you better be dating um. looks like your making a family."

"We never want sleep to end. Thats why there's the snooze bar. Nothing like starting off the day with a little procrastination. As my first decision of the day.. i will go back to sleep."

I could go on and on and on... lol.. we were dying.. look it up on you tube!

The next morning we got up and opened presents.. and Autumn and I had so many! We were so surprised, Tim and Tracie had even gotten us our own stockings filled with tons of awesomeness.. they are so sweet.

Then, not to mention food again, but I have to because Tim's breakfast casserole was so good! We all hung around some more and then Amanda and I made a target run to get the 500 days of summer Cd and movie... we were in the middle of transferring almost all her music to my computer ( really she gave me like 300 some songs) when we realized she didn't have that one cd lol. and that only her and I had seen the movie, which was a crime, thus are need to make a target run.

Target, great as always. We got our stuff and left. As we were driving home we realized we had forgotten to get my uncle a big storage tub like he had asked and wait a sec.. what is this vest I'm wearing with the tags that I didn't pay for?? I just shoplifted! I had been looking at puffy vests and tried one on and left it on debating the purchase whilst we browsed the store and just completely forgot I had it on. The woman at the register looked uuber confused when I took it off in front of her and said i had come back inside to pay for it. Luckily no sirens or anything went off as i walked out the door, I already have one possible warrant out for my arrest..that story later.

Then after we watched 500 days of summer we headed over to see sherlock holmes.. I loved it-------------------------------------------------->>

Then we had A BIG christmas dinner.. ham.. sweet potatoes, regular potatoes aunt tracie's special style. yum yum yum

SO I mis-posted but am not tech savy enough to change it.. but target mishap and 500 days of summer was the 26th, and then Amanda and I made some sweet pizza. recipe's in post under yummy recipes. try them.. rate them!


The 27th Our family headed over to East TN..so autumn and I got up and went to church... I was so tired.. i bobble headed the whole service...then we met Erica back at the house.. yay!
It was so good to see you ERICA! She brought our christmas gift - snuggie (well the intention of one, we will get one soon) to wear as we enter each statem,some great camping gear and fun games to play in the car, and not to forget, her beautiful school picture for us to put in our dashboard.

We have such amazing friends and family. Thank you to all of you who have already taken us in! We truly enjoyed our time with you. To those we will see soon, thank you in advance and we are excited to see you.

We amazingly enough left Franklin, TN only an hour and a half later than we intended ( a vast improvement from about 4-6 hours late) Who knows maybe by the time we leave Texas we will be on time.

Arrived last night in Huntsville, AL to stay with Kendall and Kurt and the baby bump also knowns as the up and coming baby anderson( so excited to meet you in July little gummy). Really had a good time getting to visit them and see their new home. This morning is beautiful and Huntsville seems to be a good place to live, unfortunately we don't have time to explore it more. We are getting on the road in the next few minutes to head to Garrison, TX to see our true Texan Aunt Nonie. Can't wait for the " shuugs" (as in sugar) and BIG texas hospitality. Its a ten hour drive so we are stopping in Vicksburg Mississippi for lunch and walking a bit. We may try The tamale Place...what's a tamale?

<<------Erin gamble this is for you. we are the same. i miss you friend
Love to all of you reading.

ps. Our family has still not bothered to check this blog, though we sent them the link for Christmas - either that or they are messing with us until we blurt it out! We won't cave:)Miss you in NC, TN and MT - See you soon OR.

Journey's, like artist are born and not made. A thousand differing circumstances contribute to them, few of them willed or determined by the will-whatever we may think. 

     ~Lawrence Durrell

Which is easier and why: To make a model airplane out of a banana peel or a wet sock?

Merry Christmas Mom, Dad, Chris and Jackser!

We will see you in January.

Call when you see.

Can't wait to see you!Yay!

Adventures in packing - Road Trip Day 1 and 2

" When preparing to travel, layout all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money." - Susan Heller

Ohhh the truth in the above statement.

Our bomb.com trip got off to an interesting start. Monday Rach and I had planned to say good bye to several friends, finish last minute packing, load our stuff into the car and head west. It almost happened. Neither Rach or I had finished our packing, we still had several people to see, I was still finishing a med school essay and Rach was finishing several paintings so what had happened was...

We decided we would pack the car that evening and head out in the morning instead of rushing.

We gathered all of our belongings and piled them in the driveway in front of the Alexanders garage. WHOAA. Where did all this stuff come from. Things had hidden in the cracks and crevices and despite sending some of our belongings ahead of us, selling furniture and becoming the largest donors ever to Good Will ( and the Alexanders- sorry Daniel..:) we still had way TOO MUCH stuff. As I continued to pack and sort Rae attempted to do the impossible and fit the mountain of belongings into our small neon. She almost succeeded. By the time we were done it was 3 am and we still had a few things that needed to go into the car. Discouraged and exhausted we headed to bed. The next morning we retackled the car, pulling everything out, resorting through boxes and bags and once again getting rid of a bunch of belongings - this time Rachael's super power comes through and she is able to get everything into the car! We just can't see out of the back window. ( " I really wish we had Mary Poppins bags so we could put everything in there and then there would only be two small bags in the back seat"-Rach) This has been a great reason to really evaluate what we need and wear and get rid of what we don't. How do we accumulate so many belongings? We hugged Sarah and said goodbye off we went!

We had planned to hit the road at about 8:30 am and in our typical fashion it was 2:30 pm in the afternoon. We made it to Winston Salem to hug Katie and Mary and then somehow managed to get lost right afterwords. No worries folks we can make it to Oregon no problem - but will get lost an hour outside of Raleigh. We had accidently set our GPS to "off road" so it was not giving us any directions. Our cousin amanda was able to google us back to the right road. Ohh and shout out to Katie's mom who in true mom fashion made us an emergency kit with food, flashlights and FLARES! ( amazing) We have decided if we don't use them along the way we will let them off when we get to Portland. Helen "amazing" Munt made us a CD to listen to in every state - fantastic. Rocked out to them in NC and later TN.

Some great thoughts from the trip -
" There is nothing in kentucky except an amazing rest stop"
" Your telling me all these great things in kentucky, and all i'm hearing is corn, corn, corn, corn, corn..."
" I wonder how a caveman would feel his first time in the car" - While tribal music is playing in the background and Autumn is trying to sleep.

Then we stopped for gas somewhere in mountains- Rach ran in to get snacks and stretch her legs and I was sleeping in the car. I woke with a jolt when over the loud speaker the cashier asked me to move the car because I wasn't allowed to sleep at a gas pump. I thought I was dreaming so I went back to sleep. Rach heard him in the store and had to explain I was not driving (ummm obviously).

Arrive tired in Franklin, TN but had a blast with Rach in the car. Today we have spent time with Tim, Tracie, Amanda, Matt and James and Brenda stopped in. Lots of yummy eating, cookie making ( see chris as the hot fireman and jackser as bballer to the right), a bit of shopping and game playing and now its already bed time. Good relaxing day.

Thank you to the Alexanders and Manganos for all their help in getting us out of town and for just being amazing!

Love to all of you!

Home again Home again

So Vacation has flown by. I came here thinking I had booked the trip too long, and here it is already over. This has been a great visit. Not perfect, because nothing ever is, but so many good things. My grandparents came over from Montana, we got to hang out with Tasha on multiple occasions. More than once our whole family got together, mixing mom and dad's sides of the family and there was no drama or fighting.. miracle. HUge Blessing. I think time does fly when you are having a good time.

Today we went to POrtland, and we didn't want to leave Christian at home, because we wanted to hang out, so we told him the big secret. It was fun to have him ask us repeatedly, " Are you moving to Portland, Does this mean you are moving to Portland, Well are you???" Once we got to Portland we realized the car was overheating, and had to quickly park. We went and toured 5 apartments, and it took us all afternoon. Fortunately we found two that we really love, the park terrace apartments, and the cumberland apts. Park Plaza would be next on our list and we didn't even get a chance to check out the Hawthorne district; we ran out of time. So the plan is to just check while we are near the end of our road trip what is available, and if nothing else go back right when we get here the end of January and check out the Hawthorne district and then just go with what's available that week. We'll see.

Autumn was super excited about exploring Portland today, and I was too, but still had the knot of fear, because I love my friends in Raleigh. Not that we aren't going to be friends, but it's not the same long distance. I think it's different for Autumn and I because most of her friends have started moving into new stages in their life, serious relationships, marriage, new jobs and babies and my friends for the most part haven't. We are just getting to start digging into each others lives for good, and thats hard to pull away from. I know it is going to be great though, and it will be what we make of it, and what we are trusting in the Lord to make of it. My life has already been an adventure so far that seems to keep getting better, so I have no reason to doubt the future will be different. I am getting super excite doubt making a place my own, which i haven't done in a while, and rooming with Autumn which we have never been able to do officially. But I most excited about our road trip. It is coming up so fast, and we still don't have some details panned out. Christmas in TN is going to be awesome and even better now, because I think Erica is coming with us.

I can't wait to send mom and dad a post card for Christmas that we are moving back. Mom was so sad when we were decorating the Christmas tree tonight, because we were leaving tomorrow and woudn't be here for Christmas, and she never knows when we will visit. I feel a little mean, but the surprise is totally worth it. I wish I had more time with gma and gpa though. I can't wait to go to MT for YWAM at some point, or just to go write in a cabin in the woods ( aka: grandparents house).

We just got done having AB Chinese and watching 4 Christmas's all together and I am zonked. Have to get up early so I can have coffee with mom and dad and say bye to Jackser and pack, and get all my pictures and stories off of the old computer we brought for Jacks.... such a procrastinator. I feel like I have gotten nothing done and have a million things to do when I get back. So with that said good nigh.. until next time.

Rach

work count down...

17 more days at my job..so excited about thanksgiving VACA and then free time to spend with everyone here in goood old NC!

prep...prep...prep

"Idealism is difficult to maintain in the climate of the modern medical system." - med school is hell website

I am so back and forth about medical school. I have spent a big chunk of the last few weeks working on my medical school apps - somedays I am so excited. I am going to use any gifts the Lord has given me to practically care for people and I love school, four + years sound great. And other days I wonder if I will be bored to death with the politics, mundane tasks and insurance issues I see frequently from working in a doctor's office.

Being in a small room with with lots of time to think most of the day (since I am doing diagnostic testing essentially in a dark cubicle) I have lots of quiet time to myself.Somedays it's great - I pray, I relax, I chat with patients. Other days I have cabin fever and I rethink my budget, make 98 to-do lists and today I attempted to guess and plan how much Rach and I would spend to make it across the country. That of course leads to the fact that I need to finish all my apps before we leave, that Rach and I need to find jobs and an apartment etc. Sometimes this is exciting, sometimes overwheling.

At least one thing has been constant. Our road trip is going to be amazing and I cannot wait.

SUPER EXCITING NEWS! Gig told me today that her, BB and Kt-bug are going to try and make it out in March to see us! So excited. When we first decided to move back I didn't consider the fact people might come and visit. Now I am so stoked about showing them a new place and getting some amazing time with them after being away for a few months.

So need to go to bed, Should not have had caffinated coffee with Gig at 10:00pm. So worth the conversation however...

We Road trip in 71 Days!

Le Italia....

" You may have the Universe if I may have Italy" - Temistocle Solera

"Open my heart and you will see graved inside of it, 'Italy'"
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Rachael sent his update after landing in Italy...

ciao!

Just wanted to let you know our flight landed in milan safely! going over the italian alps was amazing, the clouds were so thick they looked like huge piles of cotton between the mountains, and then another whole layer of clouds above them.. i got to see the sun rise from the plane and then sky was shooting lines of pick and orange.. it was amazing.. im not describing it well...

the drive over to turin was scary to say the least.. but exciting.. steve got a manual car.. and he hasnt driven one hardly ever.. so many stall outs and almost being hits later we arrived in turin. i had to ask a taxi driver how to get to settembre 70 which is the address of townhouse 70 that we are staying at, and surprisingly i understood his few directions. i have only been here a few hours, but im in love with it already. the family is alseep in their room upstairs, mine is not ready yet, so insteasd of sleeping i wandered around the city for a bit and ended up in the piaza.. or city square.. it felt like i had just stepped into a movie.

back at the hotel now and and the staff here is so nice, i had a short convo with some of the cleaning staff..which was fun, and the manager here is so sweet.. he is like a cartoon character and just super hospitable.. i just had my first official italian caffe.. and it was amazing!

i think that is about it for now.. nothing crazy has happened yet, surprisingly, bc something always does when steve and sarah travel.. i get in my room in a few and the plan is shower and nap... i have slept maybe an hour, and it is bedtime now.. it is 1 in the afternoon on thursday here.

Love you and miss you all and i will try and send an update soon.. and maybe some pictures if i can figure out how to upload on here... arrivederci

rach

the early blog addictions

" God loves me a BARGE" - Courtney Seigler

So we have not even left on our travels yet and I can see how easily this blog will be addicting. It could quickly become georgia style with the wonderful internet technology of our cell phones so that there are posts at 8:05 am of - "Driving", followed by another post at 8:09am - " still driving". No matter what we will have fun with it. Rach is headed off on a Italian jaunt here shortly and will hopefully update us via this blog. I am jealous, but only slightly because I really want to see Ireland, Scottland and England.

On a completely different note I have begun telling friends we are headed west and have started the ardious task of selling what little furniture I have and getting rid of clothes I wear infrequently. Part of it is really freeing and its a good reminder of how much stuff I accumulate and simply don't need. Other parts are harder because it makes our move more concrete, more real and it means letting go of things, such as my amazingly beautiful desk, that I have a sentimental attachment to. My friends have been amazing and so supportive. God knew exactly what he was doing in bring all of our individual personalities, dreams and quirks together and I couldn't ask for better friends. There is so much securty in that because I know no matter how far I go, or where they end up in life we will always be friends because Christ is the center and ultimate foundation. Our relationships may change but they won't disappear because our center is secure - We are sisters in Christ, Were family:)

Getting excited to see my baby brothers, who are not so little anymore and friends we haven't see in years. Today I talked to Carmen - who happens to be Ashley's mother, who happens to be my best friend from first grade who we will be vsiting on the trip. They live in Texas, which I have never been to and its going to be a riot to see them again. Ashley came and spent time with us every summer from second grade to 7th grade!

So welcome now to my ramblings, if you continue following this blog my random, thought wandering will become more familiar.

Le First Posting...

" And Thank you for Jesus" - Grandaddy Metzger

In case you were unaware Elizabeth is the pen name of the infamous rachael metzger in honor of a much beloved heroine(Elizaeth Bennet) and Jane is the pen name of her older sister Autumn (Jane Bennet) If you have not read pride and prejudice stop reading now and go and get the book because you have been living under a rock. We are hoping to meet Fitzwilliam Darcy and Charles Bingley along the way, though we want to avoid red bottomosity, thus solving our jobless, homeless dilemia. Also note to selves if any posts are spelled wrong it means that Autumn was typing and if there are run on sentences and a lack of grammer you can refer it to Rach.

So in anticipation of our upcoming travels we spent a non productive saturday mapping out what our road trip itinerary would possibly look like and as the title suggests it is bomb.com! Here is a basic low down, more details to follow - noting as we put in the description we have no where to be at no specific time so things are subject to change and often do with the two of us



Leave Raleighville December 22nd 2009
Arrive in Boone, NC Dec 22nd - Dec 23rd
Dec 23rd - Dec 27th Franklin, TN ( HOOORAY CHRISTMAST WITH THE METZGERS)
Dec. 27th - Pass through Huntsville, Alabama to see kendall
Dec. 27th Arrive at Bienville National Forest - CAMP OUT
Dec. 28th - Dec. 30th - Arrive Nacogdoches, TX to hang with the one and only Aunt Noni
Dec. 30th - Jan 2nd 2010 - NEW YEARS with Ashley and Carmen in Houston, TX HOLLLAR
- Attemt to see the gulf coast at some point
Jan 2nd - Jan 3rd - Stay the night in Dallas (with someone, there is bound to be a metzger there somewhere)
Jan 3rd - unknown - We are driving 10.5 hours to reach the next national forest and camp out (NM?)
Jan 4th? - Arrive at Las crusas NM - birth place of Rach
- Jan 5th Maybe Santa Fe and Albequerqe??? - possible stay in some random national forests (its free!)
Jan 6th/7th/8th - depending on where we stay arrive in prescott AZ visiting Sarah's dad - David
Jan 7thish - Jan 9thish - Spend time in Prescott/phoenix
Jan 9th-10th - GRAND CANYON
Jan 10th - 11th - Zion National Park
Jan 11th- Jan 12th - Mojave national desert reserve
Jan 12thish - Jan 14th - Visit the Mecklenbergs in Orange County, CA
    - hopefully see hollywood, LA etc??
Jan14thish - Pacific Coast Hwy ( going to be gorgeous) to San Fran
Jan 14thish - Jan 16thish -SAN FRAN and surrounding areas ( possibly staying with friends)
Jan 16thish - Jan 20thish - Pacific coast hwy through every little town we want to stop in along CA/OR coast
     - Stopping in Redwoods national forest, Depoe Bay and New Port
Jan 20thish - Arrive Florence, coast of OR stay witth the Duvals
Jan 21st - Head to Albany, OR to see the rents!
SURPRISE

- SLEEP FOR A WEEK AFTERWORDS, the move into our new amazing portland apartment

* If you have made a road trip similiar to this in the past and have any suggestions please let us know!

We le luuurrvvee you