Linger Longer with Gail+: MONTH OF MAY

The month of may is always a turning point for me: warmer days, more sunshine and thoughts of a change in scenery.

Today the warm, dry breeze waffles through my hair as I sit on our lanai. We live in the southern part of the United States considered to be in the tropics.

This suits me quite well all year but hubby craves cooler air about now.

So, we prepare to pack up and move north for those hot summer months.

This year I was invited to remain in this tropical area through June to help at church.

“No way,” says hubby. “Let’s create a plan where you can be helpful yet not fully present.”

Because of the all the technology we embraced during this Covid pandemic, this is totally do-able.

The church elders said OK to my plan to Zoom as usual.

Not much will change except for a few preaching assignments.

This was alleviated by my taking extra opportunities to preach in May.

Instead of leisurely packing, I now prep ‘modules’ in my spare time. All we’ll have to do is load up the already packed plastic containers, empty the fridge, turn off the water and we are good to go.

This past year has been busier for me than the past several. While others have been sequestered, I have been trekking to church several days a week. Yet, I find time to linger on our sweet lanai most mornings. It’s the rhythm of the seasons that I so love. That’s why we love changing our environment.

Down here we enjoy colorful blooms, tall grasses and deciduous trees standing between the never-changing sway of the palms. All too soon we will enjoy just as much heat but cool nights, scores of perennials planted in tiered gardens and much digging in the dirt. My gardens up north are lush with variegated green and pops of lush color. We look forward to lingering outside until the late hours when the fireflies begin to sparkle in the dusky haze of evening and hope the Cicadas will be short lived.

Today I choose to linger on my lanai, writing until my computer gives up steam. My mind travels through the upcoming schedule of farewell gatherings, meetings and festive worship. The Lord is on his throne and in my heart as I am led by the Holy Spirit to write words for others to hear. I love to teach so that I can learn something new to share with others. I find purpose in each day knowing that God is using me in simple ways, a little here and a little there.

As I linger in my armchair, I think of my brother who just completed the most fascinating journey he has taken in his lifetime. In just six weeks he drove his little 30” tall Lotus Elan from Colorado Springs across the country to the most southeastern point in the continental United States. He then visited us for one night and continued north to Maine, taking his final eleven miles to the northeastern point of the U.S. on a dirt logging road with ruts as deep as his tires.

One of several books

He then proceeded to touch the central point of the U.S. on his way back home. He rested a couple days, tweaked his little car for another jaunt, hugged his wife, repacked and was off again as he went through the lowest point in the U.S. to the most southwestern tip of the U.S. in California.

Continuing north, he took routes 1 and 101 to the most northwestern part in the Washington Olympics. He then crossed through Montana and southward to reached the highest point in the U.S. where several joined in his mini-celebration with cheese and crackers carefully laid out on the back of his Elan. One day later he met another group not far from home to celebrate his trip of well over 11,000 miles.

Throughout his trip my brother was joined by one or several Lotus enthusiasts: fellow drivers, mechanics who came to his rescue and those who care. He raise over $17,000 for his annual "Driving for Kids." Annually, a dozen Lotus Elans gather in another part of the U.S. or England to raise money for these children. This year my brother simply asked for donations as he did all the driving. All money goes to Round-up River Ranch in Colorado for summer camp. My brother took no money for himself.

And so, it has been a wonder-filled seven months for hubby and me in the tropics as I followed each of my brother’s daily blogs for the past six weeks.

What a ride!