ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE!

Mary & RelativesI returned from Ohio this week. Though the schlepping, packing, unpacking and endless details wear on me, one of the best side benefits of traveling is that God always adds great fun adventures along the way! I was able to visit with my niece and her adorable kiddos (pictured above) along with Darcie Maze.
I now have more amazing plane stories to add –both coming and going. On the way, I met a very sad man who opened up to me about losing his five year old grandson to cancer the night before. I was able to offer comfort to him and just listen. We also had an amazing conversation about heaven and I told him my experience last year in ICU. I felt at that point like I could just go back home — maybe that was why I was going to Ohio because it was such a God thing that God placed me next to him.
However, we then sang at a parish booked by a sweet lady named Nancy. These people bent over backwards to make sure we had a great time. Since it was a snowy wet Tuesday night, I wasn’t expecting a big crowd but the place was fairly packed. Plus the kids were amazing and into every song, puppet and motion. Have to admit, as we were getting ready for the evening and prayed, I always get caught off guard by the “blessing” at the end with the sign of the cross. But somehow these people have a real sweet reverence about them that I just loved. Jesus was there and we went away blessed.
The next day we played in the snow and even made a snow man and sang with my great niece and nephews. Since the kids were used to snow it was not novel to them. It was funny that they just stared at us through the window as we played in our first snow!
We left the hotel at 3 am to catch our plane home. Returning the rental car, I saw a guy with an APU jacket standing next to me. He recognized me and was so excited that he asked for his photo with me. He is the 6′ 2″ athletic director at APU and said his kids grew up listening to my songs. Like I said, always an adventure! Guess I’ll never retire, just retread!