Sometimes you can feel your life change in a matter of hours such has been our situation over the course of the last few days. In the midst of the change I felt that things were surreal. They were happening but somehow it was as if I was an observer to the events rather than a participant. It was and is hard to believe that we have left behind so much to once again start anew in service to God.
Things started off with the rental truck not being available in time, but after a few hours delay things were once again running smoothly (at least as smoothly as a 26 foot moving truck can be.) The smooth quit as the rain began and the first day of packing and paying for a rental truck were spent watching one cloud burst after another. So ended Friday.
The packing really started on Saturday rather than as planned on Friday. Fortunately my son Jason and oldest daughter Stefann were in town with their spouse Amy and Andrew and they along with Susan my middle daughter and her husband Jason were all present to help load the truck. We worked all day and had most of the big stuff loaded by night. Jason and Stef left Sunday morning about 6am and we went to preach my last message in Texas before we moved to Arizona.
Santa Fe Baptist gave us a great send off complete with men praying for us at the front of the church and a great potluck meal. After many goodbyes we went home to finish the rest of the packing with Susan and Jason.
Finally, on Tuesday we were ready to go, Monday was lost to the last minute round of everything we had forgotten to do in the weeks preceding. Surprise Susan was going with us to help unload and then fly back the next Monday. What a blessing she would be in the driving, packing and general sense of family security. We left out around 10am and made it all the way to Spring before our first traffic jam. We made it to Wichita Falls and spent the night. The next day got us all the way to Albuquerque, New Mexico. We had thought we would make Flagstaff but the truck wouldn't do better than 45 mph up the steep grades in New Mexico and so the schedule was delayed.
The final day began with our daughter Lauren caught in the middle of a dog fight between our Chow/ Collie mix and another dog staying in the Motel 6. I don't know what the fight was about (probably dealt with marking territory) but it ended with only a few screams Lauren and a few kicks from the other dog's owner (not at Lauren thankfully). Along the way we witnessed tow car wrecks, one took the life of an infant. Our problems suddenly seemed very small in comparison and we thanked God for his traveling mercies and prayed for the family which had lost their little one.
We drove over the Continental Divide and then into Arizona. It was dry, cool and rocky. Around 4pm Arizona time we pulled into El Nathan Christian Camp and were greeted by Randy and Berta Salcido. We were home and that will take some time to get used to saying.
I have had three major life changes that involved changing locations as well. I moved to Texas from Arizona to go to Bible School at 21, We moved from Dallas to Houston when I was 37 and now back to Arizona and I am 50. This one for some reason seems the most dramatic of all. I leave behind 30 years of memories, the closest friends I've ever had, church members I loved (and a few that love would not apply to). My children are all grown and married or in college and I have never been so radically turned around. Every change in the past was in service to my Lord and every one in the past has been blessed by Him. I believe this one, the biggest change of all, may bring the biggest blessing of all. Please Pray for us. Kris and LeeOra
2 comments:
We're glad ya'll made it safe. We're excited for ya'll. Make sure to say that word a lot, if ya'll don't use it, ya'll lose it. Love, Stef and Andrew
The Great Adventure continues for you both. Gary and I will continue to pray for you as you serve with obedience. I know that blessings await you there, but I still feel a sense of loss here just in knowing you've gone. I had to read that sentence twice about you being "50",That doesn't seem right. You and LeeOra are still my mentors and "fun cousins", so how could you be 50? Well all I can say is that 50 isn't nearly as old as it USED to be...neither is 40. We look forward to hearing about the way God is working, so get settled in and get some rest, great things are ahead!
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