Petals in the wind

Wow. A lot of time has passed, and much has passed in it.
Heather is home.
Whew! What a statement! Between anticipation, bad weather reports, Christmas play practice, pacing in the terminal, delayed planes and weary travelers, it was quite the experience. She made it, and managed to bring Donna and Lauren right back with her into just about the exact spot they walked away from me. What utter loveliness!

It's been a time of readjustment, on many levels. Having that 4th body back has certainly shrunk the house back to it's previous state of intimacy. I think Faith finally gave back Heather's bedroom (and bed!) about a week after her return. Good things are hard to give up, you know! And then, Heather woke up her first morning rather ill, and has continued to go downhill as the time has progressed. Thank God, she woke up yesterday actually able to speak. We thought it was strep, it turned out to be "just" a wicked virus. Laundry has piled up, and so did Christmas with all it's festivities. We did manage a VERY nice welcome-home party on that Sunday - jetlag and all, with a Turkey feast that the pilgrims would have envied. All her friends showed up, and really made the day special. Her return to church that morning was wonderful...I just LOVED sitting next to her in service and sharing that intimacy that comes when you come to worship the Lord together. Utter sweetness.

We've had many changes...she was given the ok to return to work, just not that work. Her back just isn't up to any lifting or hunching over, not to mention sitting for really long periods of time. Her car insurance took a week to get approved. No medical yet, and she needs to get signed up at a college. Seems like there are so many decisions to be made. It's her life, you see. I can't live it. I can't take the pain in it. Oh, she still needs me. Just not the way she did. She's experienced things I never will, nor will she ever again. Everything is different now, because she is different now. And she is different. and yet the same. Still lovely, sweet, funny, composed. I see so much more in her eyes now...wisdom, knowledge, experience, depth, amusement. It's all part of growing up...change.
Here's the great news in all of this. God knows the direction He wants her to travel in. He's the One who shines the light on our path...and we have truly discovered that the light shines at our feet, not ahead. God knows the direction, and speaks so sweetly. He moves through His Spirit. And the Spirit is a wind we can feel, not a person we can see or touch. And He will direct her. He will move her, if she will just allow Him to move her like a petal in the wind.