Poems, Personal Stories, and Observations

Posts tagged ‘journey’

A Year Since We Moved On!

About one year ago (June 27, 2021), my husband and I set out on our journey to move to Ohio from California. We chose to take nine days to do the drive, with our cat.

The trip here, and life afterwards have been an adventure, to say the least. For me, it’s been a bigger deal than for my husband. He grew up in Ohio, whereas I had lived in California my entire life, not even going away to college, not even a college within California (except as a commuter student, three or four times). Possibly, making a big change like this when you’re 67 might be slightly difficult!

We ended up in what I might call a semi-suburb. We are outside the limits, and on the east side of a large city. Our zip code is the same as a nearby small town, but we don’t live inside that town’s city limits. Although we have a sewer system rather than septic tanks, and other suburban amenities, it’s a very quiet neighborhood (development), which happens to have a small woodsy section in the center permanently preserved for wildlife. We often see deer, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, and many, many birds. On the other hand, my son and his family, who live within the west side of the same big city mentioned above, also see deer, plus have woodchucks nesting in their big yard, and other wildlife makes its presence known to them.

The people in Ohio have been wonderful. The biggest adjustments for me are climate (humidity and cold), bugs (chiggers are the most difficult so far), and poison ivy (rooting it out can take a lot of work, and you practically have to where a hazmat suit to work on it). Getting a new driver’s license (because of my unconventional birth certificate) and setting up new doctors were also challenging.

And the many good things: Abundance of natural life, plenty of water, dramatic clouds and thunderstorms, friendly neighbors who almost always wave, family helping each other, fireflies, a beautiful river just a few miles away and the riverside trail along it, etc.!

Thanks be to God and to all who prayed for us and made this journey possible.

Not as Advertised

I didn’t sign up
For this lousy trip.
First Class was promised –
“Third Class” says my ticket.

Sunny skies predicted;
It’s started to storm.
Lots of companions?
Not at all; I’m forlorn.

Friendly co-travelers?
Instead I get abuse.
A smooth, easy road?
I say, “What’s the use?”

But on the horizon
I now see a sign —
The blue skies are coming,
The happier times.

The road — It’s what you make it;
The load — It can be shared.
The weather? You can take it.
Rain or sun? — Just be prepared.

Companions or foes –
Could it be my choice?
Just listen as you travel
And hear a still, small voice.

Walk on the Journey

Inspired by my daughter and husband starting their walk on the Camino de Santiago

————–

Walk on the journey,
Don’t be afraid.
Take Jesus with you;
Yes, with you He’ll stay.

Take living water
And bread for your soul.
Let Him now feed you
And you’ll be made whole.

Life is a journey,
The road up and down.
Stay on His path now
And you’ll win a crown.

Don’t expect roses,
Or ease all the time.
Some things will happen
That cause you to frown.

But if you keep going,
In faith bear things out,
You’ll come to the finish —
“Halleluia”, you’ll shout.

Don’t give up — one more step now;
You’re nearly there.
Keep on His path now;
His joy you will share.

The Traveler

I must go on,
For the road is long.
No matter how I think or feel,
I must go on.

I must be strong —
Still the river flows.
Where it leads; I do not know.
I must be strong.

I must keep on,
Though all seems dark.
No matter what some say or do,
I must keep on.

Though throat be parched,
Though eyes do sting,
Confusion reign or angels sing —
Remember Jesus’ suffering.

Keep on the road,
And do not fail,
Though drink be bitter, bread be stale.
To heaven’s gate I must prevail.

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