the long journey home

Luce & Bene

In October we left our Arizona desert home and embarked on a two thousand mile journey that brought us back to the midwest. We six were the "Road Warriors"; Susan, Jonathon, Mom (aka AnnieMae), Mike, Bene and Luce, traveling across country in a little caravan with our walkie-talkies. Stopping only once for sight seeing in our hometown of Belleville, Illinois.

Me & JK

AnnieMae

Mike

Our plan was to arrive in the north woods of Wisconsin before winter hit and we did,but just barely! We rolled in to Kirsch camp on October 25th and woke to our first snowfall on Halloween morning. Since then we've had seven inches of snow that turned the woods into a winter wonderland. We had one exceptional snow that was custom made for building snowmen.Fortunately this happened during Thanksgiving weekend and so Lorelei, Harlow, Matthew, Brittany, Michael, Jonathon, Wilson, Clara, Zia and I created a village of snow people at the bottom of the hill.

Fifty years ago I made this same journey in reverse; as a child moving from Illinois to Arizona.Let's just say I wasn't thrilled. The desert was so foreign to me. I missed my trees and seasons. I was pretty sure I hated it. But eventually I fell in love with its unique beauty, the colors, the light and expansiveness. It became my home. How can you ever describe to someone who hasn't seen it, the desert in full bloom? a thunderstorm rolling across Cave Creek, a summer rainfall in the forest, fly fishing in the streams of the pristine White Mountains, the sage blooming after a monsoon, the perfume of the Acacia, the sunlight, the sunsets... As I said goodbye to desert plants and cacti, the Praying Monk, the sunsets, the redrocks, Flagstaff, Sedona, the White Mountains and life as I knew it, I said a big hello to a new adventure awaiting me in Wisconsin.I came with an open heart and a spirit of anticipation.

Thank the Lord for our safe journey and for your prayers and well wishes each step of the way.

I've decided to start journalling again and use this blog as a way to record what's happening in my life and in my thoughts. 

Hope you'll stop by.