"Ad Astra Per Aspera"

"To the stars through difficulties"

That's what that means. It's the state motto for Kansas, which is where I am tonight :)

This touched me, can you believe the irony? Well, nothing just happens so it's actually just pretty cool to me. To the stars through difficulties, that's what I'm living at this very moment in my life. I am stepping out and reaching for my stars, my dreams, I'm out here, doing it. And there have been difficulties, believe me. But none of them have taken precedence over the good that's happening on this trip. I kinda feel like I've set out on my own yellow brick road. And I, too, have met my own versions of The Scarecrow, The Lion and The Tin Man. As well as OZ. I feel like I am just skipping along, la dee da, marveling at the pretty sights and the apple trees that talk...on my journey to find my Emerald City of OZ.

Heres a little factoid for you, I'm actually related to Judy Garland (Dorothy) so I kinda feel like I have a kindred connection to Kansas :) Also, My birthstone is, emerald!!

When I left Merino, Colorado this morning, they were calling for a big storm. A thunder storm with rain and the whole works, but, I felt lead to leave today so I journeyed on. And it reminded me of that saying, "Don't wait for the storm to pass, learn to dance in the rain" I felt so close to that today because that is really what it's all about. Don't sit there all worried and biting your nails, hoping that it'll just pass, how will you learn that way? How will you get stronger? Learn to dance in the rain. So that's exactly what I did today, and I'm so glad I did because you know what? I faced my fears and went on anyway, and the weather turned out to be the most gorgeous weather I'd seen this whole trip.

I was sad to leave Merino this morning but I was so happy that I got to stay the time that I did with my family out there. They are all such great people. Even down to the relationship between Karen, Felix and their kids, and their relationship. They all got along so well, awesome in fact, it was so inpiring and heart warming to see how happy they were, and the way they interacted. It's nice to be around people that are just good. For an example of just how good hearted and thoughtful they were, Karens daughter, Janae (my 3rd cousin), left me three CD's and a note that said that a friend of hers recommended this band to her awhile ago and she grew to like them and that she always thought it'd be good road trip music. Just the fact that she thought of that, and took the extra effort to burn them, and even made an album cover and put them in cd cases...means the whole world to me. So thank you Janae, you're awesome! :)

The drive here was pretty calm, and flat roads, again. But it was nice. Well, except for the 45 mph wind gusts! You have to REALLY focus and hold tight to the steering wheel, especially passing a semi!

Tomorrow I will leave Hays, Kansas and end up in St. Louis, Missouri, where my aunt Vonnie is! Im sooo happy, I cant even contain myself, I'm really looking forward to seeing her :)