CRWYDRO

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"Wild animals could not stay in a country where there were so many people Pa did not like to stay, either. He liked a country where the wild animals lived without being afraid."- Laura Ingalls Wilder. -so here is a heads up to everyone, tomorrow I will be getting a tattoo on my left wrist that reads "Crwydro" this means "Wander" in Welsh. I felt that my parents especially needed a better explanation of why I would get a tattoo. When I was a little girl, I admired the Little House on the Prairie series because my Dad and Mom would read it to me in my Grandparent's basement in Kansas...Laura and I had a lot in common. Our hero was our Daddy, our role model was our Mama. Neither of us ever stayed in one place, it seemed like our Fathers' lives were too restless for that. So the two of us little pioneer girls got to see all of America. We both wrote to calm our nerves when things became too uncertain, and we both read about great people to find what great people were meant to be. Both of us met real life heroes and learned that the human spark is real even when the world around us seems hopeless. Neither of us were afraid of starting over but we both craved a home. So both Laura and I decided that home was wherever we happened to be. We embraced that the whole world belonged to our hearts. As I grew up, I decided that I loved to backpack and hike, I started a list of places that I wanted to see and lines of trees that I wanted to explore. I missed camping with my family, the smell of the campfire, and the sounds of Shedaisy playing on the CD player. Today I can comfortably say that i have no idea where I am headed next. Right now I am in a little village in Wales and it is home to me at this moment. I have traveled from America to England to Wales and Ireland, next week I will travel to Scotland. I am a wanderer and that is the best lifestyle. I complain about it sometimes, but I know that if I ever stayed put I would crave the travel. I need to have this tattoo as a small piece of Wales on me at all times to remind me that Wales was my home for three months but that I will wander home...to wherever that home is forever. Crwydro means both Wander and home to me. It reminds me of my parents, the highway, my Dog Duke who would wander with me. It reminds me that I once hiked a quarter of the way through the Blue Ridge Mountains with 60 pounds on my back and that I never quite hiking even with tears on my face. The word reminds me that I was given the opportunity to study abroad, and that I traveled quite frequently all alone and that I learned more than I ever expected to about myself on the journey. The word reminds me of all of those that I have loved along the way and of all of those sights that have made me look a little further ahead. The word reminds me of God who created such a beautiful world for travelers to enjoy. It reminds me of military families everywhere. It reminds me that I am never alone because we are all wanderers in this world. Some of us only ever wander outside of our front door, others of us wander to fight for freedom, and some little girls like Laura and I wander to find ourselves. -CRWYDRO.

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Comments

[Home and Away]

I just ran across your blogs...
and read every one of them; they are that special. You write with such passion. My son is currently studying law at Bangor University in northwest Wales, and will be there for two years. He loves it there, just as you love Lampeter, although he hasn't expressed his feeling like you have. So I have had to imagine him going through the same situations as you. He also grew up in a similar environment as you...I worked for the Defense Department as a civilian and we spent most of my career moving between jobs, mostly overseas. My kids were born in Belgium and have traveled all over Europe and Asia. They caught the travel bug early and never lost it. I hope that you will continue to Wander and share your experiences exploring God's creation.

[KjtotheUK]

Thank you so much!!
Hello and thank you for reading my blog!! I am so blessed to have had this opportunity as is your son! I am sure that he loves his experience just as I do. I am only sad that it has to end so soon. I wish so much that I could just set off into these hills and walk them forever, but alas I will have to go home. There can be no worries about me losing that pesky travel bug, I plan on going places throughout my life and in providing my own future children with the opportunity to see diverse and beautiful things as well. My next adventure will be to Scotland and I could not be more excited!!! :)