Time to go again!

This is "Where the Sidewalk Ends".   I took the picture one day last summer.   It definitely describes many of my feelings over past months.
Probably that's why I haven't written.  The sidewalk ended....

Once, that sidewalk was a private path to the "house next door".   Grandchildren came and went over it.  So did family and friends.

But, time moves on and so do people.  So do families.  They moved away....and now they are moving again  even further away.  

Anyway, the winter passed and a beautiful early spring came with lilacs blooming a month earlier than ever before.  Summer was unusually hot and dry.  Summer, though, held the privileges of conventions and of course they were so needed, so appreciated.   In early August, it was so nice to visit Jana again in the north and northwest part of the State.  I won't forget the visits with those special friends on distant ranches and in small towns.  We won't forget, either, nervously watching the smoke from the prairie fires burning out of control, started by dry lightening.

And so, preparation time came for our Fall conventions and once more I valued the privilege of trying to help a little at York.  Help a little?  Well...just before I was to leave I had a car accident.  It wasn't "serious" as accidents go....but it did total my car and just the slam of the seatbelt to my chest caused a lot of pain for more weeks than one would think.  The pain from the whiplash is finally almost gone, too. So, I didn't feel very "able" at those preps.  York convention, and then Marysville the following week held great encouragement and treasure.

Since then, the "getting ready to go again" has taken priority.   In between, though, there was a precious week with family in Arizona, which ended with a very special Gospel Meeting on the Wednesday night before I flew back home.

I'm leaving out a lot, I know....but maybe this will inspire me to continue posting again in the coming weeks and months.  The "countdown" is almost finished now....and for ME this "sidewalk" will have ended for awhile  Friday I fly to San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Later, at some point, I expect to go on to the Dominican Republic.  I haven't been to that part of the world before, but I know the experience will be valuable.  I long for it to be of value - spiritual value - to others.  It is not meant to be only another trip, or a vacation.    Maybe I can share a little of that part of the world with you!