Free to be me Florida Christian Bloggers Retreat part 1

 Come away

 Come away

come away with me my love.

Song within.

To tell you all about the trip is a full, tall order of independence, rest

"Freedom to just be me".

Uninterrupted by the task of my parenting work a day role.

In Phoenix I was getting ready to board and was given favor.

The counter clerk called me up by name.

Because I had requested a wheel chair when I ordered my tickets on line

my seat assignment was moved only three rows from the door.

They were so kind it was just amazing!

After a long flight from Phoenix I was in Atlanta Georgia.

Hobbling off the plane, ever so slowly up that long ramp.

I made it to the top.

 I just stood there to let those poor souls behind this old turtle go by.

I was just standing there a moment trying to catch my breadth.

My knees were non to happy about being bent for so many hours.

A wonderful pare of kind eyes caught mine as I looked up.

I was shy of tears at that moment

 rather overwhelmed and a bit embarrassed.

His kind hand extended to me over the distance

I walked over to him we exchanged smiles that drew those tears away.

Now if you have ever been to Atlanta you will understand when I say that is the biggest airport in the states.

Mercy it is huge!

The dear soul pushed these heavy bones from the farthest terminal to the other end through the tunnel and the metro...and then had to go back to the other end only to see that error was made on the monitor.

The first place he took me was where I needed to be.

Oh my heart just felt so bad for this man.

How patient he was.

As he put it

"you just have to choose to be patient"

That man earned his $20 tip.

So sat I at the gate then the plane arrived.

Passengers de boarded I saw a sight that really set me back.

There were a full steep flight of steps down to the craft then a full set of steps up.

Well up is doable painful but can be accomplished.

Those steps down made my tummy turn.

It had been over a year

I was over due for the shots that stop my knees from being bone to bone.

Can you say..."don't trust em, ouch?"

 

 Once again another adventure in the humility of receiving help.

Now some are so stubborn proud and will force themselves to do those things they should not.

Me, well lets just say I am learning to do what is right.

Humility verses humiliation.

I was actually taken right down onto the tarmac via an elevator through restricted space.

It was very interesting seeing all the sights behind the scenes.

Arrived in Tallahassee it is very small airport.

The wheeled chair pushed up the ramp.

 I was able to walk the short distance to the arms of kind welcome.

Angie set up a time of rest.

Being a day early to the retreat I was the only one in the dorm.

I found a bed in the far corner that felt like a strong space.

It was a house full of little twin camp beds and it felt sorta selfish of me to take such a nice bed.

I accepted however all of the kindness that came my way.

It was like I was being taken care of.

So many months years of being the head of that role toward family and friends it was really what was needed to refresh my soul.

We stopped by a drug store and got some shampoo and little things I needed.

I only took a carry on so as not to have to use baggage claim.

When I was unpacking a tap at the door.

This dear sweet Mar ma had a half gallon of soy milk.

She went OUT OF HER WAY TO GO GET IT!

Wow!

Loved.

 

Now sweet Angie had me wrapped in a loving quilt from her own home

a wonderful checkered pillowcase made me feel like family.

Her hospitality generous.

Then I looked into the refrigerator...

Two large baskets of goodies and I began to sob.

It was the love, it just broke through the fatigue and was so amazing to me that I just became hushed.

 

 my room was to the right.

After we all had arrived we had a wonderful time together and a magnificent dinner out.

That will be in part two.

I will just give your sweet eyes a rest.

 

Chestnut tree

Sorta like a thick shelled pecan.