A Promise about Aging as We Move to Lexington

First, a quote from a Hallmark card that Bill gave me--with a picture of two cute dogs: “In life, it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with.” I was grateful for “who I moved and traveled with.” I had an amazing family and church friends, yet this move was not easy, even when I, the nomad, had moved so many times before. Guess who is the taller dog (carrying the bigger suitcase) and who is the shorter one.

During the summer as we prepared to move, I became sick with new and old body aches, pains and problems from our years abroad. I ended up spending 8 days in the hospital and survived many tests. It was a time of healing in body and soul; the best part was the relational healing with those we were leaving behind, and the new joining with those who would soon be our school and church family.

When I asked the Lord about all the physical ailments, He said, “You are getting old. Your body will do many strange and unexpected things in the process of aging. Receive these as aging and not illness. If there are no symptoms of real illness, you may rest. Recognize your body as decaying with all creation. Long for its completion in Me, to be set free. But for now, know and receive these changes and strangeness as a normal part of your life on earth—not to be feared or dreaded. But walk in life and the good I am doing and putting before you. Let this be your focus. I am the Lord God, Creator and Sustainer of the universe.” (Remember I was just 40 years old and now am 71!)

So, with God’s grace and help, we planned and executed this move. As soon as the doctor gave the OK, the kids and I went ahead in July to find rental housing. Bill came a couple weeks later, finishing up his work at the university first.

When we left Nepal, we left with 2 kids and 3 suitcases. When we left Mexico, we left with 2 kids and everything in one VW van. This time was totally different. We were leaving Oklahoma with a U-Haul truck hauling six years of furniture and belongings, 2 cars and 2 kids.

After the move, I wrote, “Seems like a year since Bill came, not 2 weeks. We moved in and I was shocked at what an effort it was. 2 weeks later we’re still unpacking. We’ve never made such a big move before. But it is a joy to be in our own home in Lexington where there is God’s grace for our daily needs.

Yet, even before we finished unpacking, we took off for California to celebrate Bill’s parents’ 50th anniversary. “When we first got there we were given tickets to the Hollywood Bowl to hear Itzhack Perlman. It was beautiful, though we were tired. It was 4 a.m. eastern time when we got to sleep.”

The celebration of their life was a great time for them to be honored by so many family, friends, missionaries and indigenous Zapotecos of Mexico, among whom they lived and worked doing Bible translation for so many decades. In this family photo, Dad and Mom are dressed in typical Zapoteco dress.

Bill gave a word in the service on investing in people, not projects, and commended his parents. It was good. That's our life theme song today. Then, after the celebration, we left for Santa Barbara for a “joyous time with Bobgans, and later visited Aunt Hazel and Uncle Bert who don’t seem to have aged at all.” That Saturday we had picnic day with the Leal family, including an evening with Al and Mary Ellen (Bill’s sister) and bill's parents. We have an amazing family and heritage.

So then it was back to Lexington, to settle in to our new assignment. In September I wrote from our rented duplex: “So many new things so fast: a lovely duplex close to school; new school for the kids; new school for me and new job for Bill who is away [as an instructor with SAS Institute] so much these days. Thank You, Lord, for Jonathan’s and Jenny’s being settled and helpful.”

So life in Lexington had begun with so much more than we could have imagined or hoped for....including living through our first ever tornado!