The Promised Land

I never could understand why my mother wouldn't join her family in California when there was no family left with her in Virginia. And, I still don't understand why - with both my children on the west coast - I have no desire to leave where I am. With my mom, I thought it was the nuisance of moving and leaving of friends (which certainly played some part in it), but I just couldn't understand why she wouldn't want to be close to us - me, her only child, and Tom and Diane, her two much loved grandchildren.

Thom and I recently spent the Thanksgiving holiday with Tom, Sandy, Patrick and Aiden. In addition to celebrating Thanksgiving we also celebrated Aiden's second birthday. It was such a fun time. Tom and Sandy really want us to come back to California. I could not ask for a more wonderful son! Tom is gentle, considerate and loving! Sandy likewise, is a beloved daughter-in-law and she came with a bonus of a wonderful extended family whom we enjoy emensely. And Patrick and Aiden? Well, there are no more beautiful, sweet, intelligent grand children than mine! (I'm sure you will forgive me!) And, I miss them terribly. I am always in fear that when they are older I will so much regret that I wasn't close by to watch them grow up. Why then, would I not want to move back there?

God promised Moses he would bring his people home. It would take years for that to happen and Moses never saw the Promised Land. But, this I can tell you - I am in my promised land, this is where God has called me, this is home. Much of this feeling comes, yes, from the spiritual family I have found, but mostly from the relationship I have found here with God. Sometimes I cannot help but to picture God planning my life, directing us mysteriously to follow Diane and her family to North Carolina. Did He know she would leave?

Some of our critters. Clockwise from top left; Charlie, Benjamin, and one of the clowns!

Did He select for us this beautiful spot in which we live? Here where I sit each morning and contemplate the beauty of His creation? Every day of the year, He sends me beauty - landscapes filled with pastel spring colors, rich deep autumn hues, the quiet reflective stillness of a snowy meadow! He gifts me with a continually changing choir of birds, squirrels - the jesters of my world, deer, bunnies, groundhogs. I would never have imagined! I have yet to see a black bear or a fox, but, He will not let me down.

The meadow and "lake" which appears with heavy rainfall, the hedgerow and the back meadow. 

And did he direct us to Lake Forest Church - for surely there are angels there who have guided us, loved us and protected us! These, too, are my family. I will never love anyone more than my son and daughter and their families. But, this is my Promised Land, here I am firmly planted, at least until God leads me elsewhere, and . . . I am happy.