Thursday, April 23, 2009

The phone call (part 6 of Our Arctic Adventure)

part 1

part 2

part 3

part 4

part 5



Monday afternoon the phone rang.



It was my dad.



No big deal, right?



Wrong.



You see I could count on my hands the number of times my dad has called me. Only because he is a man of few words and the fact that I call my parents often enough that he never really needed to call me for anything.



I answered the phone and we proceeded to have a great conversation. Ever since the day we told my parents about our move, my dad had been very excited. He's kind of an adventurer and at one point in his marriage he actually also packed up his family and moved them from Washington to Alaska, which is how I and my younger sister came to be born in Anchorage. He was excited about our new adventure and he and I spent the next thirty minutes looking online at different websites with information about Kotzebue. Just before he and I hung up he said something that spoke very loudly to me.

He said; "So, why aren't you all moving together at the end of the month?"

So I kind of stammered back; "ummm, well, we want to leave Ben in school until the end of the year."

To which my dad replied; "oh, well, I think you are making a mistake. I think that you all should be leaving together at the end of the month. You should get there and get the boys in school so that they have time to make friends before summer. The world does not revolve around Ben and you all need to be together."

This caught me completely off guard for two reasons. First of all, how did he know I was struggling with this very issue? I had said nothing to anyone, after all I was strong and independent. Secondly, in all my years of marriage (nearly 15), this is the FIRST time my dad has EVER offered his unsolicited advice. Like I said, my dad is a man of very few words, and butting into other peoples lives is not his thing. Yet here he was speaking to me about the very heart issue that I was struggling with. He didn't know. As a matter of fact, I didn't even tell him at that moment. I'm not even sure to this day that he knows.

We hung up the phone and I immediately the tears started flowing again. I sat there and bawled and bawled. What were we going to do? It was in that very moment that I realized that, although we were doing what we believed God wanted us to do, we were trying to do it according to OUR plan and not GOD'S plan.

In that moment I experienced something that I have rarely experienced. Complete brokenness.
I had no idea what the next step was. I had no idea where to start. I had no idea how this would all work. I had no control. And there I sat, crying and crying.

It didn't take me to long to figure out what the next step was: Pray. (yeah I'm smart like that)

Pray and surrender. Admit that I wasn't in control (and never really was) and ask God to show me what the next step for us should be. So pray I did, and immediately I knew what needed to be done. I needed to talk to Dave about this whole thing.

When Dave got home that evening, I barely let him walk through the door when I said "I need to talk to you."

I told him all of the struggles that I had been having about staying in Washington without him, and I told him about the conversation with my dad. Then he told me about a conversation that he had had with some good friends about this very issue and about how hard it would be on our marriage to be apart for that three months. We hashed it all out, we talked about all the work that would need to be done in order for us all to be able to leave in less than four weeks, and most importantly we prayed.

After that conversation, I felt peace. Yes, I still had this crazy long list of things to accomplish in the next four weeks and my husband would still be working during this time, so most of it I had to do without much assistance from him, but he was there to help when he could. However, I also had peace in my heart. Peace that I had not felt for a very long time. Peace that came from realizing that God was asking us to go; all of us at the same time to step out on the (frozen!) waters together.

Peace that I knew came from following God's plan......................

TO BE CONTINUED

15 comments:

Meagan said...

Trish, I am so glad you are sharing this journey with us. It is such an amazing testimony to what God will do when we surrender to Him! It's been a blessing to read about all the little pieces of the story that have been woven together to get you to this point - the friends who have counseled you and stood by you, your dad who was so honest and forthcoming (what a blessing!). The commitment you and Dave have to your marriage is also such a blessing. You both have fought to make it work and that is so God-honoring! I can't wait to hear more of the story...the suspense is killing me! Even though I know some of the details I love reading all the specifics. It's in the little details you can really see the hand of God! Love you, friend! I am praying for you!

Elena said...

I LOVE to see the little ways God works in our lives!

Jennifer P. said...

that peace was the key. I always know that if I don't feel it, then it's me forcing my will on His.

Thanks for sharing this. I am loving my red dot over Alaska growing bigger :)

Lee Ann said...

That's the part of the story I was missing! One week you told me you were leaving in the summer, and the next thing I know we're going to a going away party!

Amazing....that feeling of peace. It just takes that big list of things to do and makes it manageable.

vikki said...

thank you for sharing your story. i am loving it, cant wait for each piece. it is crazy how God's plan is so different than ours and when we follow even if it is not what we would choose to do, He gives us peace.

know that you and your family are in our prayers as you are in this new phase of life and your adventure.

Dee said...

When you originally told me that you were going later, I gasped for air. I wanted to be the friend to say something but I didn't.

Sincerely, I prayed that God would make a way for you guys to go together. I was just tickled when it worked out the way it did.

David (BIL) Brother in law:) said...

Dad is a "MIGHTY", all be it quiet, man of God. We are blessed to have him in our lives.

Homestay Mama said...

That sure was God at work! Cause like you said, your Dad isn't one to butt in or say much! Loving your story, and loving how God is working in your lives!

Gramma 2 Many said...

Gives your mom chills all over again. I remember dad coming home and telling me he had talked to you. I wanted to tell you the same, but like others I kept my mouth shut thinking (maybe not like others) I have a tendancy to butt in irritate you when I do.
Isn't it wonderful the way He talks to us when we are willing to listen?

Lee Ann said...

I just emailed this message to you. I guess you don't have comcast anymore :-)

Ya baby! We ate at Red Robin. Shared our burger.....for $10.26!!!
I never did post about my Red Robin birthday dinner.
I had a coupon for a free burger....Steve and I split the Monster burger.
The girls split a kids burger.
We got a free sundae to share. It cost like $5! Too funny!

I'm dying to see PICTURES of where you are!
Quit dragging this story out! (Although I'm lovin' every word.)
I want to see the END!!!!!!

Hope you're doing well.
Lee Ann

Ashley said...

I know by this point you had to be panicked about how everything was going to get done but I'm glad you were able to worry about all that last minute stuff with peace about your decision.

Tracy said...

I tried to email you also... Do you have an updated one to use? (You don't know me, but I've been emailing Cathy for a couple weeks now?) My husband is toying with the idea of applying for a job up there. I'm not against the idea as much as it'd be a HUGE move and change for us. I'm anxious to know how you guys have been adjusting so far. ;-)

Katidids said...

Isnt it awesome when we know were following his plan? The Peace that you feel when you turn things over to him...God Is Good! Thank you for trusting us to share your story, Wonderful witness! but......We NEED Photos!!!!

Annette Rosebrook said...

I can’t wait to hear more of your adventure’s when you get there. Your dad told me a little about it and w/excitement for you. What a great step of faith, I hope the best for you and the fam’s.
Love -Annette

By the way, your Mama sent me cuz! (smile)

Karin @ 6ByHisDesign said...

I'm loving your story - thus far! I'm pretty sure the 'end' is going to say "The Beginning..." cuz that's just what He does. Makes us new again. Cuz He's awesome like that.

And your mama sent me, btw.
Blessings!!!
~Karin