Home sweet home. Something neither my family nor Royals baserunners have seen much of this month.
The trip from Springfield, Missouri to Orlando, Florida and back was 2,400-plus miles and filled with a similar number of pictures and laughs. The Bryan family Millennium Falcon did not set any speed records, but did transport us safely as we listened to 20 CDs of Jim Dale reading and watched a few movies. We are beyond grateful for the hospitality and stories of friends and family throughout the trip and are ready to come home.
A few years ago I wrote a song titled Coming Home. I haven’t played it in quite some time, so I was surprised when I caught myself humming the chorus while packing the van this morning.
Coming home where the memories
are dancing on the walls
Coming home where laughter’s chasing
footsteps down the hall
Coming home where healing love will
catch me when I fall
Oh, I’m coming home
As much as I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed, I’m sure it will take a few days to transition back to life not on the road.
Matt, too, knows the joy of coming home.
Matt is a long-time friend. As the Field Teams Director for Convoy of Hope, he regularly travels for work leading international trips.
“I work with the best teams from the states, alongside the best of local leaders in countries around the world, serving those who are truly in need,” Matt said.
Two days ago, Matt returned from an 11-day trip in Europe working with the Roma and refugees in France. He travels internationally at least monthly and has incredible stories about each place he goes.
Haiti was the country he visited the most last year, and Matt talked about all of the friends he has there. In East Africa, he spoke of the giraffes and zebras along the roadside. In the Philippines, the food. And Central America reminded him of his family’s missionary heritage.
“The hardest part of travel, of course, is being away from my family, but I am thankful to have their support. The best part is the people I meet around the world.”
I completely agree with Matt. The best part of the trips we’ve made this month is all the people we’ve met.
Even though it was 94 degrees outside, the 25 – 30 mph winds kept us cool as we tossed the ball at Fassnight Field. The wind also made every single throw move, whether or not we intended, which meant “keeping your eye on the ball” was imperative.
Matt asked me about my recent trip and gave me a recommendation next time I make it to Conway, Arkansas.
“Check out Tacos For Life. They are right up your alley. Whenever you eat a meal there, they donate a meal through the Feed My Starving Children program.”
Jamie and I were visiting with Katy and Joseph about a return trip last night. Not only do I have two catch partners in waiting — Katy (still) and Andy from the newspaper — I have a venue for dinner.
Living wanderlustfully
Chasing whim and breeze
