Well, we now span three different time zones with our immediate family alone! I grew up on Central Standard Time, while Dustin was on Eastern Standard. We married, and moved to Pennsylvania, so now we are definitely on Eastern Standard time. My family still operates on Central time, and Dustin’s family are on Central Standard half of the week and Eastern Standard the other half. That is a long story…feel free to read more about them here! Dustin’s Dad is on Eastern Standard Time, although he is still in Michigan. My wonderful sister and kindred spirit Sharon, who moved to Utah to teach in a Christian School there, is now on Mountain Standard Time!
That can make it a little difficult when I want to call family in the evenings…always have to think, “Now what time is it there?” And not only that, but you have to think about everyone’s schedules, and if they are available at the times you are.
Sharon and I have found the perfect time to talk, however. I call her between 8-8:30am Tuesdays or Wednesdays on my way to work. She is beginning her day then (6-6:30am) delivering newspapers. So it works out perfectly!
Lindsey, on the other hand, is VERY BUSY! She takes out the school office trash each day, works in the kitchen, hangs out in the snack shop, goes to nursinghome to minister to the elderly, goes out to visit the bus kids, I mean, she is BUSY! But when you do talk to her, she loves it, and does not want to hang up! And every phone conversation ends with, “Tomorrow phone tomorrow” (i.e., CALL ME AGAIN TOMORROW!).
On the other hand, it is something to be thankful for. “In every thing give thanks…” …right? It is true. I would never appreciate family the way I do being far away. Perhaps our own relationship has grown stronger through only having God and each other and not lots of other family members to rely upon. Email conversations and phone calls are something to look forward to. And going back is such fun…packing up and making the roadtrip together with Dustin. All of this would not be if we lived close. And many things would be taken for granted. Thank you, Lord even for taking us far away!
Mark 10:28-30
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
We are blessed.