Homestretch

The Lord has been extremely gracious to us as a Team. The past couple days, from Nashville to Bristol, have been a transitional period. It was not planned this way. It is the way it unfolded for us. I have not taken many family pictures. I left that up to everyone else. I enjoyed the family time without distraction.

We met Missy's uncle and aunt and cousin and second cousin babies for a Thanksgiving type feast outside of Nashville. Only there was no turkey...It was all southern style home cooking with plenty of sugar and butter and loads of "YUM." I do not remember EVER getting together with family and laughing so hard, enjoying the interactions of all the family members and being drawn in like I was family, too. This whole family loves God, is dedicated to one another, and laughs and plays and obviously works hard, otherwise dinner would not have been served on time with all the lighthearted activity going on. The babies were the center of attention and amusement and interaction, as well as it should be; they are one and two. I would love to go back and re-create a fun, loving legacy like this. I hope those babies come to understand how special that kind of family interaction is. We prayed together. I got more out of it than I gave. It made me long more and more for my own home.

We said our farewells, reluctantly, on my end, I could not get enough of this family dynamic. We then traveled another 40 minutes to stay overnight at the other uncle, aunt and cousins' house.We were warmly welcomed again. I fell in love with the old family poodle, warts and all. Wonderful kind people, all. We ate breakfast with grandma and grandpa at the dining room table, card table abutted to it at the end, in the old "kid" section fashion. There were only adults there this morning.

We went into downtown Nashville for our last souveneir shopping and to see what else God would open up for us. Not much. Nothing at all. Not even at lunch. I did not get a chance to minister healing to anyone that day until we reached Bristol late last night at the hotel's Bistro. The food service man broke his foot hiking and was in a foot cast, limping hard. I laid hands on him and his foot started to quiver. He was so happy that I prayed for him, a huge ear to ear grin plastered all over his face as I ran to catch up with the others who had gone to the elevator already.

I don't know why they call it "HOMESTRETCH" more, for the last stretch of the journey home or for the longing, yearning desire to be home again in the arms of my loves, for they are equally strong.

I am thankful this last day or two has been a soft transition back to everyday life.

What most impressed me about this whole trip is that God is very present with me, that I do not have to force things to happen, that they unfold in a beautiful, natural way, that I can live two whole weeks out of a suitcase with 4 women in close quarters, with peace and kindness and continuing respect.

See you soon.