Departures and New Beginnings

Today we put John and Janet on the plane for a new adventure in their lives. Dublin, Madrid, El Camino, Surat Thani, Thailand—Wow!! Three continents in just a few weeks!
We have had such a wonderful time together here in Richmond—visiting with family and friends from afar—Jim and Vickie Phelps from San Antonio and Susan from Liberty. Days spent shopping, packing, chatting, rushing around to get all the last minute things done before it is too late, and, of course, a trip to Belle Island for a quick toe-dip in the beautiful James River, overlooking Hollywood cemetery and downtown Richmond.
How did we pack in so much in such a short time? Life moves along too quickly sometimes, it seems. But then we played games and watched old movies and laughed and cooked favorite foods. Little gifts of time and place and smells to carry our loved ones along on a those days away from the familiar and family—from the heart and on both sides of the world!
Well, off they flew and we will hold the ropes in prayer and thoughts until the day we meet again.
God be with you until we meet again, my dear ones.