Blindsided by Pancakes

 Good morning,

As you are reading this, we’ll be two days away from leaving the USA. With over 3000 miles and 14 states clocked up (including Hawaii), enough barbecue, grits and TexMex to feed a small village, it’s been a great 7 months!We’re in Florida now, working our way to the docks in Fort Lauderdale, and decided to have a treat and go to Perkins Pancake restaurant, known for their great breakfasts.

With all the distractions, I wasn’t prepared to be blindsided by grief.As we were ushered to our seats, I noticed that the waitress had on a t-shirt uniform that said, “We are happy to support ‘Make a Wish’ kids”. As I tried to place my order, I got all choked up, explaining that 30 years ago, ‘Make a Wish’ gave us our last week with our son Trevor, and it was, to use a Disney cliché’, “Magic”.  

It had been a heart-wrenching 8 months, watching him deteriorate in spite of all that could be done.But God was good, giving him the stamina to have a happy outlook as we were treated to a ‘Make a wish” trip.  We will forever be grateful that it gave us time away from the chemo and sad faces, to really enjoy each other as a family. And now, here in the restaurant, we realised that the resort where we stayed back then was only a few blocks from where we sat. Maybe the blindside event was prompted by our visit last week to Stone Mountain, Georgia. It was our 53rd anniversary, and we thought it would be neat to go to the Sound and Light event we had seen with our boys, exactly 40 years ago, when it first started showing. 

Tears were flowing then too, but not sad ones this time. It was a proud and happy moment, to see thousands of people all across the lawn Sunday night belting out “God Bless America” and showing that there is still hope for this nation.  So I guess what I’m saying is that this seven-month American journey has been SUCH A BLESSING.  We may have arrived with some trepidation, expecting a war zone, thanks to the media. But instead, were happy to discover so many Americans who still love God, are committed to their families, and continue their daily lives as always.  

We still love this country of our birth, we love both our happy and sad memories, and we can’t thank you enough for being such an integral part of our lives.  Now we look forward to the next chapter that awaits us in Europe for the next several months.  We have a lot planned and even more activities that are ‘pending’.  

Hopefully we can always glorify God, keep our cool and return to another land we love, with all of you there in Australia.There are so many verses in the Bible that speak to how I’m feeling today. After we dried our tears at the restaurant, Tony reminded me about that Day when all the tears will be dried, and we’ll fully understand what went on down here.I hope today finds you in safe and easy pastures!

We board the Queen Elizabeth this Tuesday (prayers in advance that we don’t have CoVid). We’re not sure about internet, so you may or may not get a blog from the middle of the Atlantic next week.  

Thank you for staying tuned! 

Rev. 21:4, He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."


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