ICELAND BOUND

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

When you’re reading this, I’m going to be going through security at the airport.

Because…

I’M GOING TO ICELAND!! 

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I know, I know. Iceland is like, the place that everyone and their brother has been going in the last year. It has literally exploded in touristy popularity. So yeah, I’m jumping on the Nordic bandwagon and hitting the land of glaciers and vikings!

If you’re surprised that I’m going, well, join the club…because so am I.

This trip was actually a gift from my parents. My best friends in the world are going, and my parents wanted to give me this experience as a way to say thank you for the five months I spent at home helping my mom recover from her stroke back in December.

And honestly, I felt undeserving. I mean, I never made the decision to come home with the motive that I would “get” something out of it in return. I was helping my mom — my life line. My person. My best friend. — I never in a million years expected anything other than a hug. My parents are above and beyond generous, and so — I know they read every single one of my blogs — I just wanted to say, thank you. 🙂

Honestly, the time at home those five months was one of the most defining times of my life. I know technically, my mom was the one who was growing and blooming and getting her life back, but for me, that time was such a gift and growth period too: I was getting to be with my family. I was learning about who I was and what was important. And was being inspired every single day by the strength and courage my mom was showing, and the steadiness and faith my dad exuded.

That season was as much a gift to me as it was to them.

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But any who. Better quit now before I bust a pipe and unleash the water works up in here!

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This is going to sound silly, but one of the biggest things I’m looking forward to in Iceland is getting away from my smart phone.

Seriously, I’m so excited to just unplug and go explore some of God’s gorgeous landscape with friends who I’ve known since I was 3 years old.

I think we’ve gotten so used to the magnificence and beauty of the world around us, that we’ve forgotten that God made all of it.

Literally. Everything is a figment of His imagination. Created out of love. For you and me.

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The trees with their color-changing leaves. The flowers that scatter the mountain side. The birds with their whistling songs. And the waterfalls that majestically carve through stone.

All reflect His glory and creativity.

And all made to delight His children.

And if that doesn’t make you feel loved, I don’t know what will.

There’s so much negativity out there, that is constantly fed to us through our phones all day, every day.

I recently listened to a TED talk about how much we use our phones every day, and it said that we pick up our phones roughly 75-85 times per day.

And that sounded conservative to me. I mean, replying to comments alone is about double that.

But you think about what we’re being fed through our little pocket computers: Social media is just one giant comparison match. The news belches out tragedies and hyper-slanted fabrications of the truth. Celebrities are either feuding, flaunting, or filling our hearts with envy or lust. Even sporting events have become political and scandalous.

Sometimes, you just need to put the phone down, and take a walk in the wilderness.

Literally.

So that’s what I’m excited to do.
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And I can’t wait to share my adventures with you. (I’d love for you to follow along on Instagram! @beauty.beyond.bones ) I’m lugging my massive DSLR camera across the pond, so the pictures are going to be legit.

So Monday I’ll be tuning in from Iceland, and then THURSDAY the 31st IS MY BOOK LAUNCH!!!

Have a beautiful weekend, friends. And I’ll talk to you soon from the other side of the world!


Hugs and love,

Caralyn

Tell me: Where has been YOUR favorite destination!?

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beautybeyondbones

BBB: Because we're all recovering from something. // For speaking/business inquiries: beautybeyondbones@yahoo.com

273 thoughts on “ICELAND BOUND”

  3. Lovely. I’d love to hike or run in Iceland some day. Films like ‘Walter Mitty’ helped increase Iceland’s popularity as a tourist destination with its volcanic landscapes and stark contrasts. Enjoy!

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  4. Enjoy Iceland’s beauty, but remember to enjoy your own conquest, that which led you to this point. Praise God! But remember, to believe in yourself, and in everything you do, so that all is buoyed by your own rules, and even that with the Christ of all. The Northern Lights, even as they danced and twinkled for you, and you alone. Remember that, regardless of what others might say; the northern lights twinkled once, and upon a star, for you, and you alone!
    They hear you, and will answer in kind.

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  10. My daughter and I just went to Iceland for her graduation trip. It was wonderful, but extremely expensive, so prepare for that. If you have a chance to do a tour of the south coast and the Golden Circle, do them! It is very much worth it. There is an English mass on Saturday evening in Reykjavik, and the church is lovely. Near the church is a very cool underground exhibit about the history of Iceland. Be safe and have a fabulous time!

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  12. I’ve never left the US! I’ve never really even left the south, with the exception of NYC and Chicago for a weekend, which I hated because I’m a total homebody. I bet you’ll have so much fun! Can’t wait to see pictures. Enjoy!

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  13. WOW! How exciting! It’s neat that you get to visit a lifelong friend.
    Have a great trip (I’ll buzz over to Instagram every now and then to see how it’s going).
    A huge congratulations on the book!
    Have fun.
    Blessings~

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  15. Have a super-super trip, Caralyn!!!

    Oh, and I’m going to use a snippet of this post as one of my “Think About It” quotes…hope you don’t mind 😁😁.

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      1. It’s an amazing place, I look forward to hearing about it. Take care, look out for pixies and they’re all completely nuts lol
        Love and hugs back to you xo

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  18. Caralyn,
    May God bless you and your friends and keep you safe. Embrace, inhale and enjoy each second. Regarding phones, I have my volume turned off so I don’t hear any ringing. I can see if someone important is calling, but other than that, my devotionals, a few games here and there I try to stay away from social media, especially Facebook. I will be looking forward to seeing your photos on Instagram. By the way, what book? or am I so sleepy that I missed a sarcastic plug? lol
    Blessings and love,
    Tiffany

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  23. Enjoy Iceland. My aunt and her friends were there recently and one person from my church. They all loved it and enjoyed it. I hope you’ll have a great time there enjoying nature. And yes, turn off your phone. In fact, don’t even think about using the camera built into the phone. 🙂
    BTW, I finally know your real name. You have a pretty name. (not to sound too creepy, but you really do).

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  25. God can work wonders and can bless us in various ways; one example is the gift that came from your parents. That’s how close I am with my mother. I can’t engage in the type of attitudes that my cousins have with their parents, but I feel much closer and feel really better whenever I support her through her illness, despite us both having MS. I chose to sacrifice for her as she has been doing for me for the longest time. Enjoy yourself and have tons of fun in Iceland. 🙂

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  30. “I think we’ve gotten so used to the magnificence and beauty of the world around us, that we’ve forgotten that God made all of it.” So true! I hope you have a great time. Safe travels. 🙂

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  31. Oh you’ll love it! The glaciers and volcanoes along with church ruins and you’ll want to stay. But don’t do that, we kind of like you back here in the USA! Take plenty of photos and enjoy the time to unwind! God Bless, The Old Iowegian.

    Liked by 1 person

  33. I am so sorry your mom had a stroke and she went through all of that. I hope she is doing better now. I am so excited for you to take your trip! Thank you for being willing to share your adventure with us. My husband and I own a bed and breakfast and we are not in a financial position at this time to just shut it down and take a trip so I get excited with I get to live vicariously through my traveling friends! This was a great post and a wonderful reminder that we need to put our phones away sometime and just stop to “smell the roses”. My phone actually seems to be a source of strength, beauty, and inspiration because I only look at it for the weather, email, and social media and the social media folks I follow always post positive, uplifting, beautiful things on their feed that do “feed me”. So maybe I need a break to let God do that once in a while instead. I hope you have a safe, relaxing, fantastic vacation and I look forward to following along!

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  34. Safe travels and God bless you . You have been such a God send to your family, especially your mom, that this is their way of saying Thank you . Good things happen to good people for a reason . The good Lord knows that you are faithful like Ruth in the bible, so blessings will flow no matter how big or small . Enjoy Iceland and next to Croatia , this seems to be the in spot right now. Outside of the state’s and Canada, my favorite destination is Malaysia . I worked for Malaysia Airlines in Los Angeles and I have beautiful memories of the country and people . Can’t wait to go back , God willing

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  36. Funny you mentioned Iceland! My family and I are planning to do a trip there sometime soon. After everything you have been through you deserve it. Congrats with your new book too. Onwards and upwards!

    Liked by 1 person

  37. My favorite trip was Australia. I was halfway around the world without my parents at 17. It was an experience of a lifetime. What a wonderful gift from your parents. Have fun!

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  38. Is the UK on your personal travelling map any time soon? 😇😇 (yes there are 2 l’s in travelling hehe). I know someone who would be very excited to say hello, maybe even a bit emotional to do so x. lots of love & hugs from you always know who x

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  39. Have a great time in Iceland! A friend of mine went there in December and she had a blast! I

    On another note, I can totally relate on what it feels like to grow next to your loved one who is in need of your help. I took a year off school to be with my grandfather while he was at bed rest and it was the most rewarding time of my life. You learn so much! Your mom is so lucky!!

    Favorite destination I’ve been to is hands down Spain!

    Much love,
    Dianne

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  43. Don’t forget me, remember I might used to come into your dream when you are a child. So that will qualify me as your childhood friend.

    About the vacation, I went to Pakistan northern part of it. It was awesome. I was out of smartphone usage, we bought one sim and I have put it in my wife phone.

    It’s one of the best vacations of my life so far. I was cutoff from the world almost.

    I have hardly used for 4 or 6 times for something important.

    So what you said I can 100% understand and support you.

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  45. I hope you enjoy the break and the solitude there Caralyn. I am going to visit Iceland next year with my husband as part of a Nordic cruise. I loathe the cold but love exploring the world so I guess I’ll just rug up and shut up and enjoy the experience. 🙂

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  46. You are going to love love love it! Enjoy every minute X visit Harpa it’s a wonderful building in Reykjavik and has a great movie on the history of Iceland X

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  48. Have fun in Iceland!!! So you picked up on the Iceland/Greenland naming trick did you? 😝 I agree that phone detoxes are awesome. I should do one soon. MAKE SURE YOU ANNOUNCE YOUR BOOK AS SOON AS IT LAUNCHES SO I CAN BUY IT!!!

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  49. Good for you your going to Iceland. I hope you have a good time. My favorite spot- has to be Florida and Treasure Lake in Dubois, PA. I can only imagine what your thinking When I say PA. It’s a great place to vacation.

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  50. THIRTY-ONE books Wow! But still, find finding time to update this blog with your personal journey
    Here you are off on another journey, I will look forward to seeing all the photos you take, make sure you wrap up with warm clothing
    I have never been anywhere like Iceland, I prefer sunny and warm Spain, but I’m sure God will bless you with a wonderful experience

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