On the road again !

 

 

 

Many of you know Lori and I are going to return to the Oregon for several Months . We have been planning this trip for almost a year . Last year when we spent a month in Oregon I had thought to myself before we went that might be the last time I would visit my Home State . I thought I was prepared to make that decision , but only a few days into our trip it was evident that we would be back , God willing .

We leave Tennessee next Sunday ..from this point there are going to be a lot of goodbyes . We begin tomorrow at Church . We are so blessed , we have a Church family that genuinely loves us in spite of me . Its not hard for people to love Lori , I am more of an acquired taste . There will be hopefully a time to hug our friends , Tina , Dayemeon , Nathen , Anna , Fred , Paula , Mike , Ray, Tony , Arwen , Jeremy , RODNEY , Wayne , Ronnie , Margaret , Fiona , Jennifer , Claudia , Brad , Jessica , Justin , Tammy , Chris, Barbie , Hal , Tika , Michelle , Joel , Anita , Gabby , Haydin , Micah , Kevin , David , Dee ,Sheri, Sandi , Bryan , Kathrine , Keith , Sue ,   ..and so many more . Tuesday will be my last day for some time at the Gate , the men's group at Church that has meant so much to me and been such an important part of my life for the past several years . Charlie , Mark , Mike , Alan , Jim , Rodger , Ray, Bruce , Shane , Joshua , John , Ken, Wade , Steve , Ronnie , Wayne   and so many more .

Thursday I will meet with some very good friends who have been meeting together with me for about a year discussing scripture and Growing up Christian in the USA . Jim , Chris , Michael and Scott .

Sometime before Sunday I want to have some time to chat with my very good friend Jim Caldwell .

A lot of friends , a lot of names so many pleasant faces . For the past few years my boundaries have definitely fallen in pleasant places .

We will be gone for 6 months . A lot is going to happen in those months our friends here will have Joy and some will have troubles , we will be praying for them . We we return there will be new Babies to greet , and hopefully new faces and new friends to meet at Church.

Lori and I will be wired into our Social Media , Emails , Facebook and Blogs ..we want to know what is going on in your lives and how we can pray for you.

Lori and I are Driving back to Oregon. Our first stop will be in Arkansas where we join all of Loris Sisters , their families   and Becky and Jim for a week long reunion . We will then leave Jim and Becky who we will miss immensely they have been such an important part of our daily lives here in Tennessee and head west , along the way we are visiting with a few friends and seeing my Daughter . For a short period we will be in St Paul Oregon . Then we will be looking for housing on the Oregon Coast .

We will be walking this trip out one day at a time . We have some safe spots , some anchors if you will to hold onto n times of trouble . But mostly on this trip we will have us . A lot of people have been asking us why Oregon and why so long ..The why Oregon is going to be very evident in the Photos and prose I post over the next six months , The why so long is more difficult , we want to escape the heat and the Pollens . Apart from that ..I Have kept looking for Gods direction in this venture and I do believe as I have yielded more to Him His direction is becoming more evident ..Yesterday one of our friends sent us a Parting message on face book I would like to share with you :

"I can't believe it is already time to release you guys for a season...there is some sadness that walks hand in hand with joy at your departure. The sadness is obvious. Your precious spirits and wonderful, loving presence will be missed from our body and we will not be complete without your smiles, encouraging words and physical presence in the house. But the joy comes in seeing how the journey you're about to embark on will increase your faith, strengthen the bond and relationship between you both, and the God ordained moments along the way which you get to discover and share together. Renee and I love you both and what each of you have brought and continue to bring to our lives. We pray the Lord's blessing over your travels in safety, provision, health and spiritual growth...we love you and will miss you and look forward to your safe return....Godspeed, Go well, be well.
Alan & Renee"

Over the years Lori and I have grown apart ..not out of animosity , or indifference , or lack of caring , we have just been so busy with others and other things we have neglected that first Joy that brought us together . It seems to me through so many steps as He does God has pushed us together ..compressed us into time and space and said this time is for you ... IN the regard of drawing away I have been the worst offender here ...sometimes aloof , sometimes preoccupied , often busy I have failed to really enjoy the person that God has placed in my life to be my wife and comforter . So if this makes sense in the next few days as I hug so many dear friends goodbye " for a season " I realize I am in doing so I am Hugging my wife even more .

There will be lots of time for Sunsets and Sunrises , for crashing waves and Fishing boats , for exploration and discovery , but the focus seems much more clear ...This trip is for Us to be Us .