All the Way Home (Days 55 & 56)

Day 55

Wednesday, Sept. 4th 2013

Moab

At 1:30 AM, I received a terrible phone call. My sister and brother-in-law had lost their expected baby, Jackson, and would have to deliver him still born. On today of all days, my sweet Ellie's 3rd birthday. So many tears and sadness. We wanted to get home as soon as possible to be there with our family. 

We packed everything up that morning and headed out. We tried to still make Ellie's day special and gave her one of her presents. Ellie loved the Curious George monkey we got for her. 

We drove through Arches National Park on our way northward. We tried to enjoy the beauty but it was difficult with such tragedy surrounding us. It was a very long day of driving.

In honor of Ellie's birthday, and her request for eggs for dinner, we stopped at Pizza Pie Cafe, a pizza/salad buffet (with hard boiled eggs!). 















It was pretty tasty and it refueled our tanks for more long hours of driving. 

When the girls' bedtime rolled around we stopped at a rest area. After singing happy birthday, eating some cake, opening another present, and getting ready for bed, we headed back out. The girls fell asleep and Caleb and I stocked up on energy drinks and candy.

Proud to be 3 

Goodbye Utah, hello Idaho. We drove till exhaustion forced us over at another rest area at 2:30 in the morning. 

Loving the cake!

Day 56

Thursday, Sept. 5th 2013

We were back up around 6 and ready to finish the trek home. There was a text awaiting us saying my sister had delivered baby Jackson earlier that morning. Our hearts were with them as they mourned. 

Into Oregon with a torrential rain storm to welcome us. 

Through the empty golden hills and finally into familiar ground. The beautiful Columbia gorge.

We crossed the 205 bridge and there was the sign for Washington. 

Home sweet home. 

2:40 pm - final time. 

Ah so good to be back, though under such circumstances, the happiness seems misplaced. We had a small reunion at my parents' house. Such joy and pain all at the same time.

I wanted to share something that a dear family friend wrote after she looked up that Jackson's name meant - "God has been gracious; has shown favor." Some things in life are so hard to bear and impossible to explain. Sometimes we need to take a step back and look with eyes not our own to see things in a different light. It might not answer the whys in moments of tragedy, but it may soothe aching hearts to see beyond this temporal life. Her words are the following...

"Meanwhile we will embrace the truth that this little baby was and is truly favored by God. To go from the womb of his loving mother who 'swaddled' him daily with her love-prayers-dreams-hopes, straight into the arms of his Creator. The first and only sounds his ears will hear will be the glorious harmony of Heaven. The first thing his eyes will ever see/know will be the beauty and glory of our precious Lord." 

To know no pain or suffering, to not have to live a life filled with regrets... 

We grieve that we will not have Jackson in our lives. Yet we may be comforted knowing his life will never be tainted by this imperfect world; that he lives on in Heaven in everlasting joy. 

Please pray for my family as we deal with the grief, but also, those of you who grieve with us, be comforted that we shall see this precious one again! 

"...Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." 

Psalms 30:5b

******************************************************************************

Looking back at our trip, we thank God for such an amazing opportunity. We had a blast exploring the vast country we are privileged to call home. The road had been long and hard at times, but we saw God's guiding hand everywhere we went. 

We set off on the adventure of a lifetime and now are back where we started. Yet the journey does not end here. We still have lots to figure out, but we have been taking steps to discover God's next plan for our lives.

We've been on a mission. To recapture the American dream. We sold our house, most of our possessions and are on the hunt for a new job. Why? To simplify. To re-define the way we live. Without a mortgage and things to hold us down, we have the freedom to move where God wants us next. 

We aren't sure where that is yet, but I'm excited... excited to see what door God will open next. 

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery,

today is a gift, that's why it's called the present."