Yesterday, I was looking through three special boxes in the attic to find a floating frame. I wanted to be able to see Talia’s sweet note on the back of the coloring, too. It was about 20 years ago when I gave Bobby that frame with a picture of Talia and me on the beach – something for his office 🙂 Instead of taking the beach picture out, I had room to add it above the note. It was such a sweet memory of our favorite place- Fort Myers Beach! I sent pictures of both sides of the frame to Talia and she said she loved that picture of us!
Your treasures, keepsakes, pictures, books or journals are all things that hold memories – pieces that help make up the whole you. Memories come flooding back when you find those little treasures that have been tucked away. For me though, I’ve held and often dwelled on those memories in Florida. For many years after moving to NC, we always went to back to FL for vacation because we loved it and I couldn’t let go.
When the developer I was working for in FL wanted to move me/us to Arizona, I was really torn. Living in Scottsdale would always be a plane trip to visit family. It was just too far and Bobby and I had talked about moving at some point to NC so Talia would grow up close to Nana, Papa and the rest of the family. So, we made the difficult decision to move to NC after I was offered a job at DUMC. I had asked for what I thought was too much so I wouldn’t get it but, that didn’t work. It seemed to be what was meant to be. Maybe it was but I had the most gut wrenching feeling the night before and didn’t want to go through with it.
You all probably know the song, “I left my heart in San Francisco,” well I left mine in Fort Myers. It took years before we decided to sell our house in FL and buy one here. That house was my “security blanket”. I even talked with Daddy about the lack of time we had together even though we weren’t far apart. I told him that only getting together for birthdays and holidays wasn’t cutting it! Thankfully, that changed and we have made lots of fond memories here together.
The moral of this story is this. First, I do believe in trusting your gut and if I ever have a gut feeling that strong again, I will follow it. Kudos to all those people who have a “No Regrets” tattoo! That’s one I won’t get. Second, you do “make your own bed and have to sleep in it.” Last and most importantly, you have to be you. I’ve realized that being me – learning from mistakes, loving and caring for family and friends, dreaming big and really trying to do God’s will – is my way to glorify Him. That’s the goal.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2
We’ll find our way back home one of these days! ❤ Until then we enjoy what life has to offer us here 😁