Home again home again to my home far away from my home. The visit with my friend who is the director of Second Mile Ministries in the town I am visiting was so beyond fun. How unfair is it that my partner teacher and friend has no signs of fifteen years passing since I saw her last….she’s a grandmother now! How exciting to see her daughter pick her up and know that the beautiful creature is indeed grown up now! This special friend was a mentor as well as someone I did and still do admire at a time when I was pregnant with my first child and the year after that. Her own family a role model for a life I could only imagine as my home life then…..and very much guides the home environment that is now reality fifteen years later for my own family of six give or take a half dozen additional animals.
Then I strolled to one of the pharmacy gift stores that has been around for over 40 years. Colliers Pharmacy has set the trends in Fayetteville for many moons. The newest staff, each younger than my oldest stepdaughter…could be my children…were kind and fun to work with as I sought specific items which they so professioally gifted and wrapped…and provided much laughter as they shared their take on Fayetteville life.
Heading home my personal navigator was the oldest child of the home…my goodness is she a delight. Her openness and transparency as a girl of promise is so refreshing….I could never tire of hearing her heart on how she wants her life to unfold in God’s will. What a true blessing to see her develop since she was two or so…..and only glimpses through the year as I watch God sculpt and paint her as the original He had intended.
My hosts once again outdid themselves on a lovely meal for dinner. Grilled chicken, tators, corn, and a baked pineapple dessert that was so flavorful. I am thankful to enjoy meals that someone else (our children in this case) had prepared for us.
I feel a bit like the old Star Trek explorers, experiencing strange new worlds and being beamed into a life that is not mine…..as I visit and work at the warp speed this family maintains. They could wear a girl out by watching them I promise……even breakfast cereals are secondary to a quick board game as they eat….so they won’t be bored…..its a different warp speed than I live…or can personally appreciate, though its great to visit and see how others live.
Friendships abound here for me and for the first time in twelve years I am here on more than a dime turnaround due to the developing writing business I do as well as the business I do for other businesses in helping cottage and families industries succeed by researching, finding and solving their roadblocks to success….whether it be vendors, marketing, developing through my friend’s company websites or marketing traffic….well…its a busy life here for this week…..and for that I am thankful…. I am blessed with several simply visiting appointments as well as the business appointments I had come to town for…..what a blessing to be able to do both! My Dh is kind to handle the home front to allow this long a trip with the children as he handles the homefront, dogs, and older son’s taxi needs.
There is a time and a season for everything…..and yet tonight I look forward to not only enjoying this week’s success and reminiscing, but the season of rest when I arrive home. This ole girl’s getting old….late to bed early to rise, makes Sweetie tired, richer for the friendship time, and less wise…..
Time for a nap.
Sweetie
