In the Air Again

I enjoy traveling. Packing–not so much! Not that I’m complaining, because this is the only way I can see my precious kids and their families. Since Al and I retired five years ago, we have been blessed with opportunities to travel overseas to Israel, Austria, and Cyprus, with two of those three to visit our daughter and her family.

Stateside, we have put several of the 100,000+ miles on our 2008 Chevy Malibu to drive to Maryland, Florida, Texas, California, Colorado, and Michigan. Four of those destinations involved visiting family.

Today I’ve finished packing for the fourth trip this year, second one to Houston, and believe me, I’m grateful not to being going overseas to visit our daughter Valerie, her husband Charley, and our most precious granddaughter, Elianna, who will soon become a big sister to a newborn baby sister.

I love my life!

But I loved my life, too, when both in kids were in college and our big outing for the week was a Friday night trip to Chick-fil-A with coupons. Afterward, Al and I would go to Home Depot and buy a gallon of Behr’s satin finish paint, because our weekend entertainment involved painting a room in our now 32-year-old house.

Then there were the tough-but-precious-memory years when we took care of my parents who moved from their 50+ year old home in southern Indiana into the nearby Hearth at Stones Crossing. Then most of our travel involved going to Bloomfield to check on our childhood homes. During those years time trumped travel in importance.

On the horizon we have a Utah hiking trip with friends planned, another trip to Houston, and two to San Diego where we will welcome to the family our son Chris and Shwetha’s firstborn due mid-October. Weeks later we will all gather in their new home to celebrate the holidays.

I love this phase of our life and am thankful for the God-given resources to be able to visit those we love. But occasionally I wish they were just minutes away instead of hours. Our two homebound gray babies, the infamous Bevo and Bewley kitties, agree.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

1 Timothy 6:6

 

4 Comments

  1. Caroline

    Well written, as usual, Joyce. So excited for you and Al, your children, granddaughter and soon-to-be grandchildren. The “Longs” are a very special, blessed family. Safe travels.

    • joycelong

      Hi Caroline,
      Thanks for reading! Hope all is well with you and yours! We must make 2019 the year we meet for lunch:) I have a new book coming out the beginning of November. When it rains, it pours! Praise God for opportunities! Love you, Joyce

  2. Becky Kaiser

    Like you and Al, Bob and I travel a lot, too, though at times I think Bob would rather spend more time at home. I am the catalyst for most of our trips. We are so thankful our boys live in Chicago. And only 1 mile apart at that!!!! It is only a 3+ hour drive for us, so not all that far, but oh how we do not like the drive up I65. You just never know what to expect, especially with seems to be constant construction. Anyway, while I am so happy our boys enjoy their life in the city and its neighborhoods, it would be oh so nice to be just minutes away. I guess that is what we, including you and Al, get for raising our kids to be independent and spreading their wings to fly outside their childhood home comfort zone. And like you, we have a couple of four-legged family members, that wish that, too!
    Blessings to you and yours,
    Becky

    • joycelong

      Thank you, Becky, for understanding what I feel. I’m proud of our kids and am glad they have the confidence not to depend upon us, but still, it’s difficult, now more than ever since we’re grandparents. Hope your birthday was great and the coming year even better!

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