Grand Canyon // Arizona

“A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.”

– William Arthur Ward

 

This past weekend one of my sweetest, most adorable friends ever, Rachele, and I took a break from the craziness of life to adventure through Arizona. We took a plane there and spent the weekend at her sister’s house (shout-out to Angele for driving us around and being an AMAZING hostess for us!).

Friends, our souls needed this! We needed a weekend to breathe, focus on the beauty God has created in our lives, and remember that we are more than students at a university.  I feel like as college students we can get so wrapped up in the identity of our major that we forget we have other passions too. I find joy in doing well in my classes, but I also find so much more joy in traveling, writing, and spending time with my best friends.

Places we went to:

Phoenix, AZ 

• Café Rio
• Biscuits Restaurant
• Ikea (Yes, we spent like an hour exploring this mega home decor store. I’ve never been but it was fun to pretend I could be a home decorator haha)
• Capitol Building Museum

 

Scottsdale, AZ

• Hop Doddy’s (amazing burger place!)
• Paper Source

 

Williams, AZ / Flagstaff, AZ

We spent a night in Flagstaff since we were staying in Phoenix. Flagstaff is like three hours closer to the Grand Canyon so we stayed there in order to spend more of the day at the Grand Canyon. We hiked the South Rim of the Grand Canyon the next day since it was closer and the North Rim is closed this time of year.

 

Sedona, AZ

We didn’t get to spend much time here, but it will be my first stop next time I am in Arizona! It has beautiful red cliffs and scenery.

Y’all know I love bears so OF COURSE I had to take a picture with Smokey. 😉

This experience was unforgettable, and I am still reflecting on what I learned from my time in Arizona. I’m so thankful I could share this great adventure with Rachele and her sister. I’d like to share something Rachele wrote about her experience. Enjoy!

Petit à Petit,

Lauren

~~~

“Freedom lies in being bold”

-Robert Frost

Hey everyone! My name is Rachele, and I am blessed to be able to write about my experience from our Arizona trip. As such, after having a difficult and frustrating week leading up to it, that vacation was well worth it. 

I want to ask a question: when did God give you answers when you were asking questions?  

That question was answered for me this weekend. 

My older sister lives in Arizona, and when I told Lauren about my intentions to visit her, she and I also made plans to see the Grand Canyon. I was prepared for laughs, awesome memories, and photos to share! I got all of that plus more. 

Anyone who knows me knows I want to write. I want to be a published author someday. I have big dreams like anyone else. I want to do something great, something that will make people remember me. However, I felt at loss because I wasn’t sure what I am supposed to do for God. I know God has a plan and purpose for my life, but I could never figure it out. 

What I didn’t count on during this trip was for God to give me an answer. 

Through prayers by my sister, her friend, and church, I was a given a word I wasn’t prepared for. I realized after talking to them how small my faith was. And I think we, as Christians, forget daily how powerful our God is, how sovereign He is, and that He knows literally everything. He knows our faults and weaknesses, yet He has set out a divine purpose for our lives. He loves us. He sent His son to die for us, and that is just incredible! 

I know what my life could be like. I know God will provide for me as long as I am willing and obedient. I am called to be a leader. As the pastor at my sister’s church said, I am called to be a Joshua and a Caleb (two men who found in the book of Joshua who saw God’s plan despite the obstacle). I am not meant to follow. I am meant to be a mouthpiece of truth. 

I am to be bold, bold, bold, BOLD. 

And so are you. That’s why I have this quote by Robert Frost. Freedom is giving up yourself to the One who created you. He will take care of you. He will be there with you even when times get tough. I don’t know the specific details of my future, but that’s the exciting part! I get to figure it out day by day. As long as the cross is before me and the world is behind me, I shall not fear no more. 

And neither should you. 

So, out of curiosity: when did God give you answers when you were asking questions? 

With love,

Rachele