traveling mercies

For the past two years I have been asked the question "who will travel with you?" one thousand, seven hundred and twenty seven times. I am single, a widow (spoiler alert). Hmm, who will travel across the world at a unknown time with me? In my mind, there was no one that had to. I have had ideas, hopes, dreams about who would, but everything was up in the air until recently. It's expensive, it's far away, it's the summer when time off work is difficult. I had hoped someone would be able to fly with me and back with me, then that expectation was reduced to hoping someone would be able to fly back with me. After much worrying, it has all come together seamlessly. 

It's unbelievable, but eight friends are coming with me.

In 2 days I travel to Africa for 6 weeks. Eight dear friends will fly across the ocean to be with my son and I. They will be tag teaming their time with us. Of the six weeks in country, I will only be on my own with my son for 5 days. Even this is perfect since it will be the week after we are legally, officially a family. All of these intricate and complex travel plans for eight people have all fallen into place the past couple weeks. It has seemed effortless, well, at least effortless for me.

My dear friend Molly will be traveling with me the first two weeks. She will be there as I meet my son and be a witness to us becoming a family. I have come to know and love Molly through Redemption Groups at Apostles, where we were co-leaders. She continually points me to Jesus and His love for me. She has such a peaceful and calming spirit that I’m so grateful she’ll be with me during possibly the most stressful, yet exciting time. Did I mention she is also a talented writer and photographer? Those qualities will come in handy.

After that my best friends the Millers will arrive. David and Laura and their children, Abigail and Daniel, have been pillars in my life. David and Laura were our youth ministers. David married Marcus and I, while Abigail was our flower girl. Some how in the past 10 years they transitioned from being my mentors to my best friends. I’ll never forget how well they cared for me after Marcus died. The day of his death, David called, asked me what I needed. I told him I need you all here and to bring my Granny. Within hours they were on their way with my Granny in the backseat. In the months afterwards, they called every single day. I have never felt their physical distance.

The day the Millers leave, Teresa arrives. We will have 4 days together until Ryan and Kiersten arrive. These lovely people are my NYC family. It’s hard to put into a paragraph what these 3 mean to me as a group and individually. As a group, including Alison, we had weekly dinners for years when we first moved to New York, becoming the foundation of my community in the city. They didn’t leave my side after Marcus’s death, even scheduling sleepovers at my apartment so I didn’t have to be alone. It is a given that we will be with each other when big things happen whether celebrating or grieving. 

Individually, Teresa is a rock, a bad ass, and one of the most loyal friends I have ever had. She loves well and deeply. Ryan is loving, sweet and hilarious. He knows how to have fun and make people laugh, though when needed, he pulls out exactly what I needed to hear with truth woven throughout.

Kiersten is my person, my best friend, my emergency contact. After Marcus's passing, she was the hand on my back when I woke up in tears, when I couldn't pray she prayed for me. We met our first summer at Shiloh, twelve summers ago, we have been through many ups and downs including both of our weddings. She told me - not going was not an option. I'm so lucky to have her. 

All of these people have walked, arm-in-arm, with me through the journey of grief. I'm so ready to walk through the adoption journey with these people - with its celebrations and its difficulties. These eight are a sampling of those that wanted to go or were able to go, and of the community God has given me in New York and Cincinnati. I have been well loved. I can't wait for my son to be a part of all this love.