Healing by way of the South (Part 1)

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We travel, not to escape life . . . but for life not to escape us. 

Oh, friends.

The last post I wrote here on my blog was about JOY - the desire to find it, the deep need to see it, to have it, to believe that it was still possible. And I am still working so very hard at doing that right now. This grief thing has a pretty huge hold over me.

But, in the middle of it all, in the middle of the tears and sadness over the loss of my sister . . . I ran away for a few days . . . and found some of the joy I was looking for.

And I found it . . . in Georgia.

Plains and Americus, Georgia . . . to be exact.

One day last fall, my sister sat in our Art Shoppe with me and our dear friend Peggy and said the three of us should travel to Georgia to visit our blog friend, Nicole. I was so surprised that Laura was the one to come up with this idea (because I was usually the one who came up with pretty crazy plans.) I know that she was serious about it, though, because she connected with our friend Nicole during that time and set the ball running for our awesome adventure down south.

Unfortunately, Laura passed before seeing this trip come to be. And in the midst of our grief and attempt at healing, Peggy and I knew it was something we need to do. If not for ourselves, but for Laura. So, we did it. On March 31st, at 4:15 AM, Peggy and I hit the road from our suburban Chicago homes and ventured south . . . to Georgia. With a full tank of gas, a trunk full of Chicago mementos to give, and a heart ready for mending.

I will be sharing the adventures of our trip in the coming days right here on my blog. Sharing the things learned as I felt peace and healing in the South. Sharing the laughs, and some of the tears, during these days. Sharing the charm of Plains and Americus, and introducing you to some of the awesome places and people I met along the way.

I hope you will join along with me, and enjoy our adventure of healing as much as I did.



See you tomorrow, dear friends, for day one.

Wishing you Peace,
xo



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