So Long, Farewell, Adios, Goodbye Red River

In the “Sound of Music”, when the Von Trapp family sang that song (with Auf Wiedersehen instead of Adios) as their final number at the German festival, they escaped to freedom in Switzerland. This morning, I, too, am singing that song, but it's not because I'm escaping a negative situation to find freedom. It's because I am saying “So long, farewell, adios, goodbye to Red River, NM.” Also, saying “see ya’ later” because I’ve vowed to come back here where it has been a sweet haven of refreshing from the Texas heat, as well as reconnecting with my cousins after many years -- finding joys in simple walks, talks, excursions, eating, and simply celebrating God’s blessings of life.

I’m so ever grateful to Larry and Staci for giving me this trip that will last a lifetime in my thoughts and memories. I’m posting here some of my favorite memories to take with me! I love this “until next time” sign that we’ll see as we depart for home. And, oh yes, I’m hoping there will be a next time.

Now, here’s the thing. While this was a great week of outdoor fun and family reconnections -- going home is up ahead (just in time for the cooler temperatures there) and I’m as excited to get home to my sweet spot in Frisco as I was to get here. C.S. Lewis once said, “One who has journeyed in a strange land cannot return unchanged.” And, he was right. I do feel changed – refreshed, rejuvenated, filled with the awe and wonder of this last week’s encounters – beautiful people, captivating stories, and encountering Christ everywhere I roamed.

The world tells us to cling to what we find here, to try to find life in the “temporary”. But to quote C.S. Lewis again, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” His quote is, of course, speaking of heaven – and yes, we were made with eternity in our hearts.

In our personal lives, we have all transitioned from one place to another, but I have found that the safest, most blessed place to be on this earth is the constancy of our relationship with God and the solid place that He provides for us on a daily basis. When I’m tempted to whine a little bit because I’m an orphan and a widow going home to my “alone” place again, I always come back to the truth that I am God’s beloved adopted child, and my forever home is with Him. He is my rock no matter where I am or who I’m with.

When my heart might yearn to be back in Red River – a truly sweet spot on this earth, or in Austin with my family there (especially like yesterday which was my son’s birthday) or in Tulsa with my dear friends and family there – I always remind myself to seek my heart’s true home in God. We are called to be strangers and aliens here (1 Peter 2:11), but always loving and blessing the places and people God gives us, because we know we are just passing through. Our aching for home is really our aching to be home with our Savior. That, my friends will be our reality and will forever be our “home sweet home”.

So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye

Remember those words from the "Sound of Music"? When the Von Trapp family sang that song as their final number at the German festival, they escaped to freedom in Switzerland.

This morning, I, too, am singing that song, but it's not because I'm escaping a negative situation to find freedom. It's because I already live in freedom which is produced by walking day-to-day in the confidence of God and His desires for me to live an abundant life in Him. I know that good-byes are always just temporary absence because here, or there in heaven, we'll meet again.

Since last Saturday, I've been in Tulsa which was like my "Farewell Tour" as all my responsibilities here are completed and it's time to go beyond the comfort zone to unchartered waters, but no concern, because God is already there where I'll end up.

My sweet Life Group sisters met for the last time Thursday night, and while we shared such precious memories of answered prayers, victories won, and great expectations for our future, we talked again about those "signs" that God gives us to show us we're on track.

One of the conversations we had was about the movie my family and I saw on Thanksgiving weekend, "Moana". It is definitely the Polynesian islands equivalent to the "Frozen" movie. As one of the gals looked at the overview of the movie on her cell phone, she said, "Donna, Moana is you! It is definitely a SIGN." As I read what she had pulled up, I agreed. "Moana is an adventurous teenager who is inspired to leave the safety and security of her island on a daring journey to save her people. (Well, quite obviously, I'm not a teenager, but I do own the fact that I am adventurous. And I am inspired to leave the safety and security of my comfort zone -- Tulsa, OK. And, more than anything, I desire to be an ambassador for God who wants to lead as many people as I can to be fully devoted followers of Christ.) Inexplicably drawn to the ocean, Moana convinces the mighty demigod Maui to join her mission, and he reluctantly helps her become a WAYFINDER like her ancestors who sailed before her. Together, they voyage across the open ocean on an action-packed adventure, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills her quest and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: HER OWN IDENTITY. My sis-in-love reminded me that last year I ran my last Run-for-Ron marathon because I heard God say..."Donna, you've run-for-Ron long enough now (5 years to be exact), it's time to Run-for-Donna (my OWN identity).

Moana reminded me that, as a Christian, I should take my callings (my God assignments) seriously and pursue them with all my heart even if it is a journey with unknowns, maybe risks or costs. In other words, the selfless courage of Moana is something I want to emulate. "Moana” reminds me that I should let my mission in Christ and God’s calling in my life define my identity, not the easy peasy, comfortable circumstances or even the mistakes and disappointments along the way.

In parting, I say "Tulsa, and all my precious colleagues, friends, family and acquaintances -- THANKS for the memories. Thanks for the friendships. Thanks for making me better. Thanks for loving me, embracing me, helping me grow and BE who God destined me to be! I love you all so much. I'll see you later!"