It’s good to be back in Texas

If you know us, you know we’re “from” Texas, where “from” means that we lived here back in the day, and it’s where we, as a couple, got started.  We both lived in Texas for more years than any other place – not saying much, since our average has been about three years, but still we were here for some growing up and through college.  You might not know that neither of us liked Texas at first – it was too hot, too far from the water, and people get tattoos in the shape of the state.  They’re a strange breed, those Texans.  But then we left and we missed our friends and the music and sitting in a hot car after coming from an over-air conditioned building, the idea that driving an hour is “not far,” everyone saying hello on the street, cowboy hats that are not intended as a fashion statement, and the contraction “y’all” (“you all” – it’s a legitimate contraction!).

We got here via Mississippi, the Gaines homeland (for a given value of “homeland”), where we spent time rowing around a little lake (so great after so much sitting in the car!) and picking blackberries.  Despite our quality assurance along the way, we actually got a decent amount of berries into the container.

And here we are, at the furthest point on our trip before we turn around.  Reflection time, people!  Our car got sold half-way here.  We were looking to sell it and at the same time someone we’d never met was looking for a car, and on both sides, everywhere we looked, things were falling through - we still holding a car we only need for a few more weeks, and he still without - until finally, in a stroke of serendipity and grace, we were brought together!  We hit annoying delays, random stuff that has just held us up, keeping us from the road – the tow dolly not working, was a big one, but other things have come up too, as they will – but instead of limiting our already too shortened time, it seems to only have given us more time in the arms of our family – time for one more meal with  each of Kiyomi’s parents, flying kites with the little nieces who will not be so little when we get back, a visit to a great brew pub in Florida with Greg and Angela, blackberry picking and visiting with the Gaines’.  And in the annals of perfect timing, we were crossing the Mississippi just at the crescendo of U2’s “The Saints Are Coming.”  We’ve said before that we’ve had green lights all the way on this adventure, and it continues with each arising need being met with abundance.  We continue to be so grateful for and humbled by the outpouring of support in resources, love and prayer.  We thank God for his constant provision, and with nine days to go – we can hear the slow clicking of our box car reaching the very top of this roller coaster – we’re  as ready as we’re going to be.  Deep breath.  Hold tight.  Wait for it.  10…  9…