October Reflections: Traveling for work and time of rest and renewal

Jon started water Physical Therapy which has been going well.  It has helped him realize what muscles he can use to help with his stability.  In the middle of the month he took a work trip to Orlando Florida for a trade show. He and his work partner planned out which booths they wanted to see and the venue had scooter rentals, so he was able to get around easily. He was also able to see his older sister and brother in law who live in the area.  They took him to Sea World and pushed him around in a wheelchair. He was still able to ride a roller coaster!

He also had a work trip to San Diego the last week of October.  Since SD is within driving distance, I went with him.  It is nice to be able to be with him and help him out, but it also gives me a little break from the day to day stuff at home.  This trip was extra fun for me as I was able to meet up with a high school friend the weekend before in the LA area.  She had to be there for some classes she is taking and flew in on Saturday. So I drove there and spent Saturday afternoon and Sunday with her.  I am so thankful for her friendship that has lasted 35 years.

On Monday, I left Long Beach and drove to San Diego to pick Jon up from the airport. Tuesday was a company outing of deep sea fishing for him and a sightseeing and beach day for me. He had fun, but was completely worn out and ready to rest for the evening. Unfortunately, no fish worth keeping were caught by anybody on the trip. Wednesday was a meeting day near the hotel, so I found the pool and relaxed in the comfy chairs in the sunshine. Thursday was a free day so we went to Coronado Island and enjoyed the beauty of God’s creation. We ate an early dinner and then headed home. 

I am grateful that Jon is still able to work and travel. We don’t know how long it will last, but we will enjoy it as long as he can do it. I am also thankful for the rest and renewal that I was able to receive.  A special thank you to my parents for making sure the kids had food and had the house in order when we got back.

The kids are doing fine. Sarah is busy with school and social activities. We are continually working on time management, but she is smart and understands the importance of getting the assignments done. TJ is job hunting for a seasonal job and trying to keep his Crohn’s disease in check. (I will be posting his Crohn’s journey soon.) He has had some testing recently, but we do not have final results back yet. He is in the interview process for a year long internship program that would take him to Columbus, OH next year. Please pray that he is content with whatever the outcome is and trusts that God has a plan for him.

Lessons from October

• Time flies!
• The beach and time spent with friends are good for the soul.
• Alone time is good for the soul too.
• Parenting is hard, but God has a plan.