Barrett and I took a walk around the Coast Guard Housing alone today.
That seems like innocent sentence, yet its packed with meaning. First of all, Barrett and I are together on New Year’s Day after we’ve been separated for three months! Plus, we were walking alone together because all our kids were playing outside with all the other kids who have just returned from this unexpected evacuation. The littles were having the time of their lives riding bikes, being pushed on swings, roller skating, going down slides, and running from one fun thing to another like nothing ever happened.
Then there is the fact that we were walking around housing! The last time I was here this base had been converted to militarized headquarters with helo’s landing, armed tactical personal making our community center their bedroom as well as office, and our walking path was unpassable due to fallen bamboo trees, fences, and barbed wire. There were no weekends or days off when we last inhabited this home. All the Coasties were on every day, all day. Now Barrett has three days off to play games, wrestle kids, and take long strolls with me.
Our walk took us to the community center for a quick break and my mind blasted back to the floors being smeared with dirt from all the boots of the men and women that were trying to help Puerto Rico recover. No surface could be cleaned as all the water was preciously being saved for flushing toilets and filling camp showers. It was eerily quiet because there were no longer a need for community all hands meetings to inform us of what information they could glean without the use of internet or cell service. Such an odd wave of emotions.
Today, I was able to wash our clothes in our own washer and dryer as well as use the dishwasher! Our lights are on, fans are spinning, and the air conditioner is managing to cool us from the balmy weather outside. I cooked bacon in the oven and was able to open up our refrigerator without worrying that we would lose power.
We have driven around a bit and remnants of Maria remain. Traffic lights still not working, poles are still down, potholes are more pronounced, and fallen trees have revealed buildings and neighborhoods that were previously hid. Yet when New Year’s was ticked off last night, the fireworks flared! The sky was lit up with the people joyously and loudly celebrating life in a New Year, no matter how it looks.
What a crazy year this has been! Yet I marvel once again about the One that holds the whole world in His hands. The one who knows when a sparrow falls and clothes the daises. He has seen what all of us, near and far, have experienced this year and He has us. I may not ever know the why’s of what has happened this year, but I do know the Who who has seen us through it all. He is Faithful and True. And I praise Him for bringing us home. Happy New Year friends and family!