There and Back Again

I have been on quite the journey. Did you miss me? I sure missed blogging. And my home and friends. But there was always too much going on to take a moment to write. It was kind of nice to take a break from everything -- it was super nice, actually. I needed it. It was hard not to blog for two weeks (blogging is therapeutic for me), but I am back, and I will be updating regularly again. Yeah!

Traveling was the right thing to do. I was able to travel with my family to a bunch of different places, and it really helped to put things in perspective. My mind was able to wander into new territory, as I experienced a variety of unique places and people.

Sometimes we can become very comfortable in our little home bubbles that we live in. I personally love the bubble that is my home. But the world is really so big, with so many wondrous places to explore, and new people to rub shoulders with. It was good to leave home for awhile, and go on an exciting adventure.

I learned a lot of new things while I was gone. I will be writing about some of the things I learned and experienced. My thoughts and feelings were all over the place on the journey, but I purposefully kept my heart open, and I felt uplifted and inspired while traveling. It was so good to get away from routine, and it was wonderful to have fun, and enjoy such precious time with my family.

I sure missed Charles -- he was so fun to travel with -- but I decided before I left that I was not going to think about what was lacking on the trip. I decided to focus on the blessings of the now. I was grateful for the people I did get to travel with. I was with my parents, my children, my brothers, and other dear family. It was not a trip to mourn life without Charles, it was a trip to celebrate life in the present. You better believe he was with us, smiling at our joy and happiness. He felt very close.

It was such a fantastic trip. It was amazing in so many ways. Beautiful memories were made, and will be treasures forever. My heart is bursting with gratitude for the gift of traveling so freely, and the ability to see parts of the marvelous world we live in.

It was awesome.

Now it is time to try and get back to reality. It might take me a little while, I feel like I have not been in reality for 2 weeks. This week will require a lot of adjusting and recovery, and catching-up with the piles of mail and things to sort out. But after the long journey, I am ready to be home.

And I am ready to blog again.

I will be posting many, many, many, pictures and stories...

I am back!

P.S. My dad took the picture of me in the Redwoods in California. I just loved the shot. It looks like I am walking through the gates of Heaven. It was so beautiful there. One of my favorite places.