Impossible to believe that today is our last full day in beautiful South Carolina. Another month, gone in a snap. Tomorrow we depart for/return to Tampa, and from there will catch a flight home. (Well, not “home” home—the De Pere ZIP code, at least!)
Alayna likes a song before bed every night, and one song in my limited repertoire has lyrics that go: “Wherever we’re together, that’s my home.” This journey, more than anything, has proven the validity of those words. When Tony and I returned from Florida and picked up the girls on Sunday, we all returned to the Beaufort bungalow with a huge sigh of, “Thank goodness, we’re home.”
Speaking of Florida, I was not expecting to have so much fun nor meet so many fascinating people at Tony’s real estate conference—what a blast! Corey and Carrie Reyment did an outstanding job of planning an unforgettable weekend of dinners, drinks, networking and relaxation. The catamaran trip, limo ride to dinner and beachside spa massage far exceeded expectations. I felt super blessed to be invited along for the ride! Thanks again!
My challenge today is to figure out our “stuff” … what we want to bring to Wisconsin, what we can leave behind until March. My overly analytical brain has mentally packed and repacked our belongings a dozen different ways to the point where it is keeping me up at night. Ridiculous, yes, I realize, especially since my mantra for months has been “less is more” when it comes to belongings. The only irreplaceable items will be seated on the airplane next to me. Everything else—our clothes, our books, our shoes, even the golf clubs (yes, Tony)—is truly just “stuff.” That being said, the girls will need their school books when we land, and I’d rather not arrive back home next week with nothing to wear but tank tops and flip flops. So back to organizing I go.
The message this week from our Scripture readings has focused on combatting anxieties by immediately putting worries into God’s hands—kind of like a “Stop, Drop and Roll” mentality. It’s simple enough that even when my mind is agitated, I can remember to take a deep breath and surrender my concerns. Am I perfect at this? Absolutely not. Has it helped me get through the tense moments of this week? Absolutely, 100 percent.
I also want to pause here and reiterate that though this family adventure has been wonderful and unforgettable, it has not been without conflict. We have spent a LOT of time together under the same roof. And while being together without other friends, family members or neighbors as buffers has deepened our relationships all around, we have had our share of quarrels and disagreements. Thankfully, every argument has been resolved through grace and forgiveness, and the four of us still really like each other. I just promised at the beginning of this trip to be totally honest and transparent in documenting this journey—so take that for what it’s worth.
If I’m going to get one last walk on the Spanish Moss Trail before we pack up and hit the road, I’d better sign off for now. Thank you, all of you, who have prayed for us these last three months or have otherwise blessed us along our journey. We hope to *see* many Wisconsin friends and family (however it makes sense) during our month at home. But know that even if we do not get to spend time together in person, we hold you close in our hearts. Merry Christmas! Please say hello in the comments!!