Texas Road Trip

Sometimes a road trip is just what a relationship needs to bring it back to health. Tillie and I took off Friday at noon for Austin, Texas which according to Google Maps will take about 13 hours each way. We are going to get her things, see the sights, and make it back home by Sunday sundown. Deep breath!

So here we are on Saturday afternoon, she is packing and I am catching up with internet play. The trip here was amazing as my daughter shared her incredible taste in music with me, we laughed, reminisced, and dreamed about the future. She is so excited since she just got a job on a school bus with special needs students. Her lift for life makes me smile. I am watching my sweet girl unfold her wings with a confidence that was missing a few weeks ago. The change started on our train trip to Santa Barbara. Ron and I both noticed little changes that told us God was working on her heart and reawakening her to the plans that are possible in her life.

Our son's suicide knocked all of us off our feet but his close relationship with Till coupled with her assault the year before really took her hopes away. She has continued to stay connected with her faith but interacting with friends and moving on in life seemed beyond her at times. Oh how we have all prayed for her to come back to realize what a treasure she is. Knowing that she had guilt about her brother crushed me. Even as his mom I know he knew we loved him and that logically that love should have saved him. But his path was no one's fault, not even his. Mental illness and addictions are more powerful even than a father's love for his little girl. Natalie misses Ry just like we all do and it was a blessing on this trip to share the joy we had with him rather than dwell on the tragedy of losing him.

This weekend is a gift, a gift of time with my daughter who seems to be opening her eyes from the pain and looking excitedly toward her future. Who knows, in a year or 2 we may be taking a music filled trip to Santa Barbara to get her settled in school there. God knows

In Him,
Joyful