Day 5: The Purpose of the Gulf

I know, I know.  You’re thinking “She’s going to tell us the purpose of the Gulf of Mexico???”

No.

Though if I was going to, I would say something like the purpose of the Gulf of Mexico is to hold the leftover water from the Atlantic Ocean.  And to provide an ocean for me to swim in when I’m in this part of the country, of course.

But that’s not the gulf I was thinking of, exactly.  I was thinking more of the gulf of time and space and miles between leaving Durham last Sunday morning and arriving in Oregon on the 22nd of May. 

In the beginning when I thought of this trip I just thought it would be great fun.  At a certain point I thought of the trip (and it’s apex—3 days with Shamu next week in San Antonio) as a really big carrot, keeping me working day after day.  But now I think that there’s more to it than that, even.  I know it probably sounds melodramatic, but I feel almost damaged by the last few months.  I feel pushed to my limits—socially, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I think that if we had gotten on to a plane on Sunday morning (which we had the option of doing), arriving by that night to begin a new life in Oregon—I think I would have experienced all kinds of major whiplash. 

[Let me clarify please.  Being with Russ again so soon would have been wonderful.  Being away from him for so long is the one really big downside of our scenic southern tour.]

I think that this time in between is going to be, and has already been, a time of rejuvenation for me.  A time where I can step away from the stresses that have ruled my life recently. 

A time where I can enjoy my precious children after spending so much time working and ignoring them.

 

And maybe most importantly, a time that I can work towards having more peace about this next part of Heavenly Father’s plan for our lives.