My 2014 Trek Across America

Monday, October 31, 2016

Wedded!!

Got married Saturday October 29, 2016. Ceremony went on without a hitch other than when I forgot the ring goes on her left hand.

Amy looked stunning coming down the aisle with her dad. Her dad gave an impassioned toast afterwards as did maid of honor and sister, April.

Joe and I likewise gave toasts. The cake was great as was the apple cider.

Pastors Craig and Ben drove us to the Marriott Denver West for our honeymoon.

We had a great rest of the day. Unfortunately, the next day we both spent vomiting and diarrheaing due to a stomach bug. We later learned most of Amy's family came down with symptoms too as did Pastor Craig's family.

So, I extended our stay one more night so we could recover somewhat before heading back to the Horner House tomorrow.

Except for my quick excursion into the Denver West shopping center and over to Whole Foods for juices, water and yogurt to replenish all the liquid we lost the other night we stayed in sleeping all day.

We're hoping by tomorrow we will be ship shape.

Pics show Amy shopping and dining out at the Colorado Mills across from our hotel on Sunday morning before the dreaded plague hit us. The next pic shows us as we're being driven to the Marriott. The next 2 pics show Clara and her best friend, Caroline Commodore. The Commodores are very good friends of mine going back to the turn of the century when I first came to Colorado. Last 2 pics are of April Pettit and Joe Eaton maid of honor and Best Man respectively.

Well...until then goodbye.

BR Schoenbein
Amy Schoenbein

October 31, 2016- Monday

Friday, October 28, 2016

Last Day As A Single Man- A New Day Is Dawning

Tomorrow is D-Day. I have been living single now for pert near near a decade. I have not sought relationships with the opposite sex during that time and thought I was finished with marriage.

But, that was not to be. Life is full of the mystery of God. My former secretary from State Farm, Mary, unknowingly prophesied to me on my first day out on my trek across America that I would find a wife on my journey.

Of course, I scoffed at this idea as that was the last thing I expected nor wanted. I was to become an itinerant disciple proclaiming the Kingdom of God as I marched westward across the Great Plains to the Pacific.

Incredibly, this old dog is still learning new tricks. The Lord does what he pleases notwithstanding conventional wisdom or our vision of what life should look like.

These past years have been vastly more profitable for me than college and law school combined. I wouldn't trade those year's for anything.

I am slated to have dinner with Amy and her family in Georgetown this evening sometime after rehearsal. I feel as that old prophet must have felt when he was thrown into the lion's den! Just kidding. I'm looking forward to meeting Amy's dad and step mother.

It's my last day as a free man and will be spent raking the leaves fallen from the apricot tree in the Horner's back yard and finishing up on preparing my remarks for tomorrow's reception. Yikes!!

As a side note, I started my trek on April 28, 2014. It is October 28, 2016 today. It was exactly 2 and a half years ago when I left home and turned my face to the west.

So, as I embark on this new journey I commend you all to the care and keeping of God as I hope you will likewise in your prayers commend Amy and I to His Providence and protection.

Shalom and grace to you all especially to my old Illinois friends and family. I will miss having my family attend the wedding ceremony but fully understand the particulars as to why they must be absent. I am however looking very much forward to seeing my step daughter Clara tomorrow! She has always been a ray of sunshine in my life ever since I first had the fortune of meeting her when she was just a 2 year old toddler. And, she just celebrated her 18th birthday on October 20th!

She has certainly blossomed into a marvelous young lady ready to take on the world. Happy birthday sweetie!

BR Schoenbein
October 28, 2016

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

The Countdown To Our Wedding Begins

Saturday is only 3 days away. Amy's family will begin arriving tomorrow. Amy will spend all day tomorrow with her mother and will be picking up her sister at DIA. She is flying into Denver from Chicago.

Had Rhonda spruce up my hair this morning in anticipation of the wedding. Also met with Pastors Craig and Ben at the Frothy Cup this morning to review some of the details of the ceremony. I'll be giving the last toast at the reception.

Made a call this morning about renting a mobile home located out on RT 103 a mile and a half south of town. Unfortunately, it had just been rented a few minutes prior to my call.

We discussed moving in with Susan out on Soda Creek Rd but after ruminating about it for days she decided against it. Don't blame her. Her teeny cabin is just too small for the three of us. But, she did consider it seriously.

Our options are drying up. It looks more and more likely that we will move back to IL, back to Quincy. But, we may return to Colorado in April if that job at the Tree Service in Denver materializes. But, we would look for a place to live in Denver or thereabouts.

Doors do seem to be closing here. On the one hand, I never expected to stay here in Idaho Springs this long. It's been 88 weeks since I blew into town.

In Hebrew 8 is the number symbolizing new creation. Hence Christ arose on Sunday the 8th day. A Hebrew boy was circumcised on the 8th day. So...maybe Amy and I have a new mission coming up on the horizon.

It really doesn't matter as God can use us anywhere.

Being open to new directions is the hallmark of an itinerant lifestyle. We have to be flexible and mobile.

Well...it's time to prepare for my remarks on Saturday. Winston Churchill used to say that it took him only 2 minutes to prepare a 2 hour speech but it took him 2 hours to prepare a 2 minute speech.

And, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was only 2 minutes in duration while the keynote speech at Gettysburg given by Edward Everett, former Secretary of State, Senator, Congressman and Governor of Massachusetts took 2 hours. He later told Lincoln he wished he could have flattered himself that he came as near to central idea of the occasion in 2 hours that Lincoln did in 2 minutes. Lincoln's remarks came to 270 words whereas Everett's came to around 13,000.

Anyway, I won't be delivering the Gettysburg Address but will be summing up my experience in Idaho Springs as well as toasting the attributes of my beautiful new bride.

Grace and peace to you all.

BR Schoenbein
Amy Pettit
October 25, 2016- Tuesday