Looking Forward and Looking Back

I almost titled this "Looking Forward TO Looking Back", but that seemed to be a little snarky and ungrateful. But then again, I have big moments of snark and ingratitude, so perhaps....

Today is kind of a momentous anniversary for Don and me - two years ago today we took off from San Diego on our Big Adventure. Who knew that the adjective "big" would be such and understatement? Well....actually, God did. And He kept it quiet. But then again, had He told us, would we have done it? Likely not.

Two years ago we packed up the motorhome with everything that didn't go into big shipping crates for what turned out to be a slow boat to...Maui. You might be thinking that there would have been plenty of room in the RV because we would be smart enough to send all of our stuff in shipping crates. Well, pal, you obviously overestimate our smartness. We were up to our armpits with things that we (read: Denise) KNEW we would need before our stuff got there. There was enough room for Don to drive the motorhome, but FloJo had to be on his lap and I had to lay across the dashboard. Okay. Not really. Sometimes FloJo and I switched places.

But the adventure began, and after wandering the southwest for three weeks, and then a few more days in Portland (yes, it makes sense. kinda), we set our feet down on Maui on September 1, 2009 - not as happy and excited tourists, but as happy but slightly terrified pilgrims. To say nothing was quite what we expected is yet another crazy understatement. We thought we'd have a few days to be tourists, but Don actually hit the ground running as a realtor. Okay, stop laughing those of you who have seen my husband run. It's a METAPHOR, people!! Point being, he started his real estate work with Keller-Williams immediately.

We also found a car and a home in very short order, and started attending our new church home, Calvary Chapel Westside, in Lahaina. What we didn't expect was to fall in love so very quickly with the people of CCW. Within a month, Don had been to a "Meat Fest" BBQ with the men, and I had been to a breakfast with the ladies. Within the same month, Greg arrived with FloJo, and shortly after, we had our new pastor and his wife and daughter over for dinner. Of course, our stuff hadn't arrived yet, and the dining room set we had bought only had four chairs, so Steve and Kim (the pastor and missus) had to bring their own silverware and ended up sitting on two office chairs that we had acquired. It was during that dinner that we asked what we could do, Steve told us "show up", which we promised to do, but asked about more. We ended up taking over the sale of the CCW merchandise at our service down at the park, fondly dubbed by Steve, Calvary Contraband. And so it began, in earnest.

The things that amazed us, was what was hard, was harder than expected. But what was good, was beyond what we ever could have imagined. We found ourselves sort of blindsided in some less than straight forward dealings in Don's business, but blessed beyond measure by the people who lovingly befriended us. Some of the foods we were used to were either very expensive or we couldn't find it (do NOT buy jicama in Hawaii. Don't say I didn't warn you), but we indulged endlessly
in fresh papaya, oyster mushrooms, and fish like monchong, opah, ono, and mahi mahi so fresh that it hadn't even been missed by its fishy friends yet. We didn't make it into the water as often as I hoped, but every day off was a little Maui vacation. And then there is the weather. And the snorkeling. And weather. And the trees. And the weather. And the whales. oh, and the WEATHER!! People think that perfection can be monotonous. To them I say.....go ahead, BORE ME!!!!

So, when we left, it was by far the hardest thing we have ever done. There was no choice. But then again, if God had simply asked us if we wouldn't mind leaving this place and people we love to return to a place that makes me nuts for an indefinite period of time for an unknown reason, would either of us popped up and said, "Here are we, Lord! Send us!" ? I don't think so. We are humbled to know so many who have done just such things in service to God, but we needed more...convincing.

But, lest you think we've been all in sackcloth and ashes, we have not. We have been to weddings, a graduation, a funeral, and a getaway. We have traveled within our trip, and have had multiple mini-adventures within this bigger one. But, by far and a way, the biggest treat and consolation has been the time with family here. Okay. Let's be real. The grandbabies. Yeah, yeah, our kids are awesome and all, but the have been walking and talking for quite some time and I fear may have already peaked on the cuteness scale. Josh and Amber have areas of cute they haven't even discovered yet! Amber is losing her baby roundness and showing signs of being the same lovely woman as her mother - but is every bit the little pistol as her dad. Joshua is getting funnier every day, and has become this jock of the toddler set, loving to throw anything that even slightly resembles a ball and also loves to jump into loving arms at the pool or off the couch. We all need to take turns at that one. After Josh's last visit to the pool with Grammy and Grampy, poor Grammy and Grampy needed a jacuzzi-y. But hearing them squeal their excitement every time we show up (talk about an ego boost!) brings us great joy. The fun thing is that once we return to Maui, we still get to see them on skype and they can squeal online!! And blow out speakers!!!

So, at this anniversary, how do we feel looking back? Believe it or not, we wouldn't change a thing. Missteps that we may have made, we won't make again. The painful separation only makes us appreciate those folks more. And we pray, above all, that what we have gone through and how God has been there ALWAYS, will serve as a witness to God's abundant love and mercy. Just like any parent, our Heavenly Father's love sometimes means disappointment and pain for His children - but it is never, ever capricious or mean-spirited. God has a way of pushing us to the wall to show that we don't do this ourselves. What God can do compared to what we can do is like comparing Michaelangelo's David to a preschooler's sugar and flour relief map of Nebraska. Please do not read this as a glowing testimony of Don''s and my endlessly smiling Hallmark channel faith. uh-uh. I struggle with doubt, meltdowns, hissy fits, fears, ya-gotta-be-kiddin'-God moments, and trying to give God advice.

When are we going back? As I told a young friend who asked that very question, perhaps soon, but when God is your travel agent, you had just be ready to go on very short notice. Just ask the Israelites. So, we pray for the Lord to let us go back home to Maui. And waiting, again, for God to say "yes."