We left Portland on Sunday morning (1/10/16) after a delicious waffle breakfast with Josh, Jenn and Trekker. We are grateful for their hospitality these last 2 1/2 months. We loved being part of their lives and watching Trekker get cuter and cuter.
The holidays were almost perfect – a fun Halloween, a great baby shower, a big Thanksgiving dinner, the birth of our Paisley, Amy visiting for Christmas, Becky, Paola and Benjo visiting for New Year’s, Christmas Day with all of Doug’s family, worship services at Orenco Presbytarian, eating a lot, visiting a lot, sweet baby times with Paisley, Trekker and Benjo, and in spite of the rainiest December in ages having a wonderful time. The only disappointment was that Jake’s mother, father and sister Megan could not be in Portland. Megan had to spend some time in the hospital in Phoenix. We wish we could have been all together and we continue to send her our love and healing wishes.
Now we are in Colton, California where we just got a peek at our new home! Tomorrow we have an orientation scheduled and then we take delivery at Whiskey Pete’s in Nevada. Our RV adventure is about to really begin!
We have much adjusting to do – a new home, a new lifestyle – new everything – all good. But this week we had the hardest adjustment of all – the good-byes! We have to adjust to these goings and comings. We don’t want to be sad whenever we have to leave somewhere or someone we love. We have to be mindful and enjoy the interactions as they come and focus on the love. The pain of leaving is not love lost but love stretching. We will be embracing that love and enjoying the present.
Sunday’s traveling was bracketed by Bob Dylan. The first song was my favorite “Like A Rolling Stone.” So Dylan asked us “How does it feel, with no direction home to be on your own?” Well, our answer is that it feels great! The freedom of the open road washes over us and brings huge grins to faces! Our travel day ended with Dylan’s version of “This Land Is Your Land.” THIS LAND is why we are on this journey – from California to the New York Island, from the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream Waters. This land is our land. This land is your land. Our journey will be a long wandering one filled with the love of the goings and comings. Our moments together with loved ones will shine in the light of the universe. Our moments apart will continue to glow with love.
In the middle of the day, another song’s words rattled around in my brain – “Good-bye is too [cruel] a word – so I’ll just say Fare Thee Well.” We are clearly on life’s journey and the journey is our home. Don’t think twice, it’s all right! Fare thee well to our loving Portland family. Hasta la vista … Until the next sighting!
Look forward to following your journey! Thanks for a fun 3 months together!