When we moved from California to Iowa, we settled five miles outside my Home Town on a parcel of land left to me by my Grandfather. It was a great joy for me to be 'home again', attending the Catholic church where I was baptized, confirmed and married. My husband and I had always wanted to live in the Country and it was our intention to remain there for the remainder of our lives. (We were nearly 50 when we arrived)
Our children were scattered - 3 in California, 1 in Oregon, 1 in New Mexico, and 1 in Tennessee. As we lived on and on and on, the children became concerned about us as we were aging. We had no one to care for us if we became unable to care for ourselves. In answer to their prayers, God set a plan in motion that resulted in our move to Tennessee along with a daughter who designated herself 'caretaker'. A son had settled here many years prior. So after 27 years of Country living, at the age of 76, we began a new life in a small town in a small neighborhood filled with young families, with the daughter living only 8 minutes away. The son lived about 45 easy minutes from us.
Within the year, more family arrived to live in Tennessee not far from us. First it was a single Grandson. A few months later, we learned that God had been working overtime setting up a marvelous family network in which another daughter's family was taking up residence in the area. In less than a year from our move, we were encompassed by eleven loving family members.
Our new Parish was full of Southern Hospitality - warm and welcoming. I joined the choir and hubby joined the Bible Study and soon we had a host of new friends.
Every life has it's hills and valleys, but they seem to intensify as we age. We've experienced a good share of trials and tribulations, but God's Mercy and Grace seem even more abundant. (Or maybe we are just more aware of His tremendous blessings because each year we draw into more intimate relationship with Him.)
In upcoming posts I hope to share with you the ups and downs as well as the lessons learned from them, along with some of the on-going conversions experienced.
