Friday, May 18, 2012

Goodbye Home.


   Sigh. We are on the road, finally and really. Loading days bring a person to the state of worn-outness, therefore people are taking naps at 8:00 p.m. and we’re now trying to wake them an hour later. We get left an hour or so later then preferred, then it’s trailer hookup and prayer send-off at the office. We have thousands of CDs, hundreds of DVDs and books, three sounds systems, guitars, pianos, harp, violin, CLOTHES, (I am actually quite pleased with myself for not over doing the clothes thing. I’m taking less than I did for our last two week trip!), lots of movies borrowed from church friends, Nelson’s popcorn, fridge loaded, and all the other necessities of life along with.

  Then we drive the crazy curves and hills of route 40 while Mother creates turkey wraps, and mashes leftover baked potatoes then I finish with strawberry smoothies.

   It’s mystically rainy and the mountains remind me of why I am so grateful to live in N.C.

    I get a bit emotional about the thought of how much will change in the 8 weeks we will be absent from home. We say goodbye to secretary whom we will not see until her wedding and another that may leave for her home while we are gone. All the friends graduate, landscaping and Hydrangeas comes to full, summer, bloom, Red Raspberry plants may be ripened and enjoyed by our feathery friends,our micro greens will come to eating stage and pass…and so I feel the human tug of not wanting the “goodbye”.  But it lasts for a second and I can see the eternal and am grateful beyond words for opportunity to serve.
Sister and I give each other random hugs of ecstaticness and say “ I CAN’T BELIEVE WE’RE FINALLY GOING ON THE WESTERN TOUR!”

   Home is not in N.C.. Home is Heavenly Kingdom, here on earth we live tent-style like the Israelites, so that we never get too comfortable and always keep eternal before our eyes. You don’t have to travel to live tent-like, however.  I thank God that He placed us in N.C. as a safe haven to rest and call our earthly home. In the beginning of this year when I was dealing with how to emotional and mentally process the traveling life (not that I didn't want to do it, but it had been a hard season for me.), God changed my perspective about home. I used to think “We live at home and have to leave to go traveling.” Then a light bulb of contentment came on and I thought: “You travel to minister and I give you a home that you can come back to for rest and refreshment before you go out again.” He truly has given me new passion and joy in doing what He has called us to.

  Today I see my failure and told Him before I said goodbye the sanctuary back-yard where prayer often takes place, that the failure makes me again aware of our need for Him this trip. "That I may always be on my knees, Lord."

   I am excited about the sites…things I’ve never experienced before. I am excited about quality Mullett/Miller memories. But I am so, so excited…so grateful, for this opportunity to wash feet, know Him as I allow Him to flow through me. Know Him as He flows through others to me. The whole idea is phenomenal; knowing the Holy One, and being able to become one with Him. What an honor.

  He’s given me some pictures of His ideas for this trip. I want to walk into each service with His mind on and hit the road after the service with journal and pen writing what He did for the Kingdom’s sake.
  It won’t be very hard to stay focused for the first few weeks…but when the seventh and eighth rolls around…I told Brianna “We have to keep each other from becoming robots. J

  One thing we’re all excited about is the UNKNOWN. We've never done this type of tour for this long. We’ve never been that far out west. Dad doesn’t know the towns and directions like he usually does. We don’t know how it is to do that many services in that many different places . YAY for the new and the adventure.
    Now you’ve heard my heart…I shall move on to other things
Mothers day/ Brother turns 16.
Here we pose in the rain after church on Mother's day, all in the newest western tour outfits. We love her muchly and think she redefines the role of "Mother" in a capital way.  She is imperfect, but she allows Him to flow and love through her to us, and she is who she is because of Him, and we thank Him for giving us this Mother-so-dear. 

Last week we were all in town doing some shopping when I came across some things that were so symbolic to what Mother is to all of us.

Can you guess what symbolic item is hidden beneath this wrapping? She is truly poured out of us, all she is, all her energy..and we aren't grateful enough. 

I wrote on the back of this note that she has been our teacher, so fitfully, in academics as well as out teacher in life. Her wisdom in how to deal with life situations and look at those around us has profoundly shaped who I am...and I'm sure I  speak for all.

She is comfort to us, so lovely and warm. I wrote on this note that she has "Mary Pippins' hands" having the touch that makes all around her beautiful. She makes our home warm and inviting and treasures us with tea in the morning and beautifully set tables for supper. Those are to name a few. It's amazing to watch the Spirit of God do this through her, for I honestly see it is out of her knowing Him that this comes. 

So, the "comfort" gift contained a candle for it's warmth, light, and sweet smelling savor like she is to us.

"Water 'Poured Out'"- She's been wanting a pretty pitcher.

And for the "Teacher" she gets a loud school bell for waking sleepy individuals and calling all to the school room. (She's long overdo for one of these. :))
The Eugene-Man turns 16!
He lives in the shadow of Mother's day every year, bless his heart. The man could have gotten his license THE DAY AFTER WE LEFT FOR EIGHT WEEK WESTERN TOUR! This displeased him greatly since driving is one of Eugene's passions.:) 

We like him allot.

 He's the "par" in our "tea" (because we're big tea people), the punch-line in our joke, the spice in our wossle drink , the singer in our song, the frosting on our cake, the funny in our bunny, the on-time in our late, the bass in our band, the obnoxious in our serious, the can-do in our can't, the tech in our ignorance, the voice of justice in our injustices, and the Eugene in our Miller. (please excuse cheesy birthday post, he would roll his eyes and say "Please..never say that again." But I do because I'm the sentimental sister who just doesn't have cool pick-up lines like he does.) 


 This has been life at the Millers by their emotional, sentimental, 17-year-old.

3 comments:

  1. Heading west...
    I do believe I like the sounds of that. :)
    Can't wait to see you!
    May God give you grace for each day...God bless you all so much!
    -Monica

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  2. I, for one, thought your birthday post anything but "cheesy". Simply put, it was well written (as always, when it's you) and very, very sweet.

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  3. To Deborah and the rest of the dear Miller family,

    I am having this rare, quiet evening and indulged myself in reading your blog. What an inspiration it has been. You said it so well about leaving home when the micro greens and raspberries are ready to eat. I really needed this reminder of why we leave home for 2, 3, or even 12 weeks at a time. It is for the kingdom of God. And it is worth it. God bless you all! It was a real treat to see you at Allen & Rachel's wedding. Stay faithful!

    Becky Bontrager

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