Not a Trip ... but a Journey

I’m back in the saddle! B2 Test has been taken. Laundry is done. New school has become routine. So what’s a girl to do?

Write! A girl is to write!!

As I’ve finally found the time to do what makes my heart happiest, I contemplated what to write about. The one topic that swims to the surface each time is the overwhelmingly wonderful surprise that my Chris planned for me … our trip to Scotland.

Over 13 years or so ago, my Chris and I looked at the possibility of taking a job in Scotland. At that point, it was just part of a vast foreign country that had no significance for me … other than the strange tradition of men wearing skirts. However, as we began to research the culture, climate, and other social mysteries, Scotland became a place that lodged somewhere in a nice spot in my heart. The job didn’t work out. Life moved forward. Scotland made an impression.




In December, my Chris and I officially celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. Since we knew we would be knee deep in moving boxes and packing paper, we decided to forgo a trip at that time and plan one later in the year.

My Chris made all the plans (Ok … little side note here. He made all the plans with a little help from our naturally organized first-born daughter holding his hand along the way!) and kept the location of the trip a total surprise. All I had to do was pack a suitcase and board a plane.



Upon check-in the Vienna Airport, the attendant asked him where we were traveling. Chris said we were flying to Frankfurt, Germany … which was true … but that was only the first leg of the trip. When she said there was some mistake and she had that this flight was a continuing flight to … I quickly stepped away from the counter, stuck my fingers in my ears, and hummed silently to myself! He’d gone too far to have his surprise blown at the last minute!



When we got to Frankfurt, we had to go through passport control which got my antenna’s up. I have to admit, I am a smarty pants. I can usually figure out “the plan”. I had thought he made arrangements for us to go to Rome … or to London. So, when we left the E.U. I knew Rome was not our destination. Again, being little Miss Smarty Pants, I noticed that the terminal we were headed for listed only destinations going to the U.K. thus, in my mind, making it clear we were headed for London. As we entered our gate, and it was time for the big “reveal” … I looked up at the monitor … only to get the surprise of my life … Edinburgh!


I can’t tell you what a wonderful time we had. I know … I know … that sounds so … predictable. However, our trip was such a time of relaxation, insight, comfort, surprises, hope, rest, joy, unpredictability, laughter, sadness, ease. I believe that God allowed us to be in a time bubble for those days away. Most of the experience has been locked in a secret place in my heart ... a place I can’t put words to ... a place lost in a beautiful haze of memory.



What I walk away from is that marriage is … weird. How can a union of two very different (yet cute) people share 20 years together, share so many life experiences … some that took our breath away and some that left us gasping for air … come out … better than when they started this journey?

What I’ve come to see is that marriage is so much like my relationship with God. I entered into both relationships feeling warm and cozy and had butterflies in my tummy every time I heard the name of my beloved.

Somewhere those feelings subsided and a deep, comfortable, resolve took its place. There is a deep appreciation for the one I love. There are moments that still surprise me. There are moments that cause me to look at my love with new eyes. There are moments that I feel I’ve never truly seen my love. There are moments when it seems that I have never known a moment without the presence of my love. Weird.

Supernatural experiences happen. It’s not natural to remain attached to and in love with someone for this length of time without the binding component of a third party. In this case, my marriage is a result of an agreement based between my Chris and I … totally and uniquely dependent on a Heavenly Father to center us, guide us, and love us. Is marriage possible without the third party? Yes. Can magic happen without a third party? I think so. Can it be a spiritual experience … indescribable and binding without a third party? I don’t think so.

I am no expert on marraige. All I know is that while I was in Scotland with my Chris … something supernatural happened. This 43 year old person felt just as pretty and thin and young and hopeful as the day I said “I do” over 20 years ago … with one difference. The difference was I know what 20 years of living does to a person … and to a marriage … and to pretty ... and to thin ... and to young ... and to hope … and still I would say “I do”. Trust me; it's not because I'm so great ... or my Chris is so wonderful ... but because in our human imperfections, we have a Father ... our third party ... that does all things well.