A Day of Remembering!

Our yard in the spring

Wednesday, February 27, 2013 - Day One of our Holy Adventure!
      Today was filled with many mixed emotions. Daryl and I began the day with final packing and preparing to move me to California.  It wasn't until I was finished mopping the stairs and doing a final walk through that I began to cry.  Our home was the place where we wailed through the death of our twenty-six year old son, the nest where we adopted our youngest son, the beautiful woods where we celebrated the thirtieth birthday of our next to oldest son, and decorated the massive deck for a grand luau with the St. Peter's choir.          
      We hosted book signing parties when Daryl's book, From a Mustard Seed was published.  We held church consistory retreats and neighbor get-togethers.  Our grandchildren joined Daryl in drum circles in the living room and my long lost family of origin had Thanksgiving dinners with us and shared stories of how much we are alike in spite of the fact that we grew up separately. Jordan and Daryl turned the woods into a lovely meditative trail.
      Our home was truly a place where joy and sorrow, celebration and death, sickness and healthy happiness grew side by side.  Daryl and I put quite a lot of effort into making it a great refuge.  Our master suite was all windows on one side and it was almost like we lived in a tree house.  Of course, being served my coffee in bed by Daryl every morning certainly added to the romance of the place.        

       So you see, it is hard to leave it, but at the same time, I am thrilled to be going to a new place.  On Sunday, St. Peter's folks celebrated and grieved with us at I leave this church family that has also been home.  It was a glorious event and I cannot remember a time when I felt more loved and appreciated.  Saying goodbye to everyone and then again on Monday and Tuesday to the refugees tears at my heart even now.  Yet what a magnificent journey it has been.  When I came to St. Peter's eight years ago, I said to them, "It's a new day." The blessings are too numerous to count.
      Here we are, starting that "new day" ourselves, supported by friends and family everywhere and surrounded by God's mercy and grace.  Far away a new parish awaits us and we are eager for this new venture!
      The trip today was uneventful, full of rain, massive fast trucks, and each of us trying to get comfortable.  We took turns driving and I began crocheting a baby's cap.  I've never done it before so I am working by experimenting.  Sadly, my cell phone crashed a few days ago and when they gave me a new one I lost my music, photos and who knows what else!  We were planning to use it to listen to music as we traveled.

heading into OHIO

       It feels good to finally be on the way.  Daryl keeps me laughing as every time I mention where we are, how far we are going, what I am seeing, he says, "Road Trip!"

Okay - we are now through Pennsylvania and into Ohio.  The only photo we could get is this one!    
    One last thought - before we head to bed.  On Monday night I visited with my 93 year old mother-in-law and she prayed for me.  "I will miss you deeply," she said, "but I know God is using you and Daryl to bless many other people, so I can let you go.  God will take care of the details, Bonnie."  May it be so!  Joy in the journey!