Nothing for the Journey?

Luke 9:3, "Take nothing for the journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics." ~ ESV  That is a verse that has weighed heave on my soul since I was just 15.  I grew up with a hoarder, and every time I tried to downsize...  I was made to put stuff back.  Then I set out with my husband to start our new life... and we left with a duffle bag each and two backpacks to go on the bus.  Then we moved to and from Chicago with truck load of items.  Then from Kansas to Flagstaff to Thoreau with smaller truck load.  Then we took a uhall to Keavy, KY from Thoreau with all the stuff we had gathered.  Then we stored much of our stuff when we moved from Keavy to Farmington, NM.  When we came to Phoenix, we make 3 trips in 1 car.   I feel the weight of the items we have gathered.  I miss the lightness of the early days.... of that first trip as we just started out.

I know the "Gypsy Road", the path of a nomad, a traveler for the Lord, is not for everyone... and there are times I just want to throw in the towel and say I am done...but He picks me up and says, "For such a time as this..." and I keep going.  Yes we will settle down somewhat one day... and are semi-settled even now.  But that does not mean we should become to attached to things...  For we are all just passing through, and this earth is not our homes... Heaven is our true home, for all who believe!

~ Morria

Misty Morning

'Tis a gray misty morn, and I am on the Road again!  I am heading out this morning from Chicago to St. Louis, to Columbia, MO, and then to Kansas City.  From Kansas City, it will be on to Wichita via a ride with my Dad.  I got a front top row seat on the Megabus so I have windows on three sides.  All I have with me this journey is my carry on (army green backpack) and purse (the green army bag).  As my little black mp3 player plays the music of my gypsy goth soul, I watch the land scapes change before me... as Chicago gives way to country.

'Tis so hard to leave Robby behind, even just for a week... But to be honest, he will have a blast at Ichthus Festival.   The strange whispers of the wind are like the sound of my heart crying as the wheels of the Megabus carry me farther and farther from my love.  Yet the green of the grass and the trees, both so long unseen, bring comfort to my heart.  Journey onward!

~ Morria

A Goal: Holiday Work

Snow hath come this Christmastide as of yesterday.  At last, we have good white snow.  The city looks so white and pure, thought that most likely will not last long.  Even my bike, "Meg", loves this... though I dont dare taker her out on the streets in this weather.  It looks as if tis finally time to rest her for the winter.  Until we meet again in the spring, dear "Meg".  I am sure the bike shop will care for you well.

As everyone left for Thanksgiving, and is now preparing to leave for Christmas, Robby and I are being able to pick up a bunch of extra paid work.   And that is a good thing, as in January we are journeying to Dine Bikeyah for about a week.  Other than Aaron, Skot and Rachel, and a few other families, we are not close to many anywhere...  And our Christmas was spent with Rob's family over Thanksgiving...

I love how they have made the L and other lines all festive.  In this busy bustling city, it is nice to have some good will and spirit of cheer.  I just pray that everyone, whether traveling home, journeying through the city, or snug as a bug with their computer and a cup of Zhena's Fireside Chai Tea, never forgets the Babe born on Christmas morn.  We ought not celebrate Him one morn, but all 365 days of the year.  Let us not blot out the lesson we have learned on the journeys way, and share His love all the more with those about us.

~ Morria

Kentucky Thanksgiving/Christmas

Mom and Dad Nickles moved to Kentucky as planned soon after Robby and I loved to Chicago.  So, as we had to pick which holiday we went home for, we picked Thanksgiving when the roads should be better.  But then this is Greyhound, and we are dealing with Kentucky to Chicago... so who knows?

This is to be both our family Thanksgiving  and our Christmas, so we have to make the most of it... And what fun we are having.  We ate the roast beasts (turkey and ham)! We helped put up the tree at their new place.  We exchanged gifts.  And now we are just enjoying family.  It is good to have a break.

~ Morria

"Bardic Circle"

Today our friends the Grover's hosted a "Bardic Circle".  This weeks theme was Native Drum Circle, Aaron was there for it of course, as were many of our other gypsy, goth, subculture, traveler, and nomadic friends.  As we began to share music, songs, and stories, my heart began to cry.  What are we doing here?  Our hearts for helping other people, maybe living in Dine Bikeyah, but not in the city here.  It hurt to much, but now I realize I cannot put the open road and ministering to fellow outcasts out of my mind or heart.  Tis in there just too deep.

What now?  I dont know what this means for the future... I dont know what roads this means we will go down.  But I do know that it means Chicago is not the end point, but just a stop on the trail...

We are here in Chicago for until at least next August or September, and after that I have even less clue where we shall journey.  God, You have to be in this, because I have no clue what You are up to here...

~ Morria

A visit!

Merami and Daddy came to visit!  And they brought stuff!!!  I couldnt be happier.  I get to show Merami and Daddy around town... and now I have my Victorian wardrobe to store stuff in too!  Yeah, yeah... I know, I am a gypsy goth gal who loves the open road and not much stuff... but this is my one furniture piece that I adore from my childhood.  I always longed to have it, and now that I am married it is mine.  LOL!  Merami and Daddy took well to the beach, though Daddy swears he will never ever ever come back to Chicago again.  He hates the big city and the traffic.  Not that I blame him, most parking places are at least $3 a day.  That is why Daddy brought me my bike, Meg, so that I can get around town and not worry about a car.



Now, they are headed back after spending Merami's 62nd birthday in Chicago site seeing.  I got to take her to all the best thrift stores, from Little Thai Town to Unique Thrift to Salvation Army, we hit them all!  I trust it was a good birthday for her.

~ Morria

Chicagoland!

So, here we are!  As soon as we could get a van, we packed up.  There were only two seats, so we unfolded our dorm chairs behind the driver and passenger seat.  Thankfully Robby's dad is good enough driver, no one even looked twice.  We spend the night in Lebanon... Indiana that is.  The Super 8 Motel was really nice, and had a good Hot continental breakfast.  Then it was back on the road... no rest for gypsy souls it would seem.

So we arrived in Chicago, on a misty, hot, humid afternoon.  Our host family, Skot and Rachel, had been ill, but Skot did his best to help us get settled.  The room 505 is just a small studio with the shared kitchen down the hall, but it does have its own bathroom.  So after a quick paint job and a matrices pulled in, we are ready to go. My favorite things thus far in Chicago: Unique Thrift Store and the Free Store!  Like that is really a big surprise...

~ Morria

Honeymoon in Chicago!

What an adventure the past few days have been!  Robby and I journeyed up to Chicago, on a scouting trip to JPUSA to see if we wish to do their year long internship called Project 12.  This is also to be our honeymoon trip!  True Chicago in the winter is not where most people would go, but when have Robby and I ever been most people?  The loft we are staying in is glorious, though cold, but it is winter and to be expected.  We are enjoying the time alone.... not in his parents home.

After some scouting, a tour of JPUSA's buildings, working with Skot and Rachel at the shelter, and shopping at the Free Store, The Alley, and Unique Thrift .  Robby and I went with Skot and Rachel, plus alot of friends to drive around Chicago.  First stop  was the cemeteries of course!  But our friend the Trickster, a lone coyote, was waiting in one.  We quickly moved on, and ate at a tasty vegan cafe as some in our party are vegans.  Then it was off for more driving around Chicago. I am nearly sure Skot knows where nearly every movie here was shot.  LOL!  Needless to say, this honeymoon was not normal, but still a blast!!!

~ Morria

Christmas in Kansas!

Made it!  Weather was a fright, and it seemed I would never make it to Kansas.  Snowed in both Lansing, and Chicago... and was 3 hours late getting out of airport, but made it home in time for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Blest Christmastide to everyone!

~ Morria

Journey to Wisconsin - Part 1

A whole week with Matt!  Havent got to hang out since we left New Orleans back in Summer 2001, though we have been in contact and talked ever since.  His an awesome "little brother"!

The flight into Chicago was grand, and the road trip was even better up to the Rush in Wisconsin.  Who knows what mischief the two of us gypsies will have this week!

~ Morria

Graduation!

OK, so today it is official.  I am graduated from High School!  Bev, my best friend, Deidrea, my sister-cousin, Kegan, my cousin, and alot of others came to my after graduation party.  After today, I am only 10% away from going  to New Orleans end of July!  But mostly it was a fitting finish to a closing of a chapter forever... no longer am I a home schooler, now I am a home school graduate.  Who knows what the next days and months hold....

Goals for Morria's Life

• Travel to ALL 50 states!
• See as much of the World outside the USA as possible. 
• Get Married.
• Find my journey-task or journey-tasks.
• Have and keep 5 close friends.
• Be a missionary some where for longer than two months?
• Graduate College somewhere.
• Learn to Drive a Car.
• Swim acrossed a lake.
• Swim in the Ocean, if possible all 7 Seas...
• Go to Estes Park, CO.
• Explore New Orleans more than once!
• Explore Chicago.
• Explore Phoenix.
• Explore Seattle, Portland, and Coos Bay!
• Journey Back to Dine Bikeyah (at least 1 time.)
• Explore Ireland!
• Live a life of Love, Faith, and Kindness...
• Be someones gypsy gal... maybe even their gypsy queen!
• Live in such a way, that when I pass... many lives will have been forever change... even if I never know how I touched their hearts...

~ Morria