Because You Have to Trust and Let Go

It's great that I was outside when Jen called to share the news of our Dream Assignment win on Friday morning, because I screamed. Really loudly. Then we laughed. And I began to cry. And I had a difficult time finding words because I was completely lost in a state of gratitude.

Shortly after we hung up, I began to float (tethered virtually to my family and friends) until around 2:30pm when I left the house to pick up my children from school. Beaming with excitement, I couldn't wait to share the news. I needed hugs. Afterall, I'd been home alone all morning, with not a soul in sight. So as they dropped their backpacks and climbed into their seats, I turned and shouted, "Guess what?!"

For a moment they looked puzzled, then my girl said in a quiet voice, "You won."

"YES! Can you believe it! We won!"

(silence)

"But, that means you're gonna leave us," she said.

"How long are you gonna be gone?" my boy asked in frustration.

And so a heartfelt dialog began about hope. And faith. And love. And I'm thankful for that because they need to learn that to give, you have to trust and let go.

* * *

There are just four days left to contribute your visions of hope for this month's One Word Project! Please continue to share your images in the Picture Hope flickr group to have them featured in our collection of hope notes to travel with us across the globe on the journey. We promise to share more details on our travel plans soon.

Comments

[Camels & Chocolate]

YOU WON??? How awesome!!!!

[Marcie]

Congratulations!!! Will look forward to seeing and hearing about your travels.

[kosenrufu mama]

congratulations!!!! i'm so happy you won! here my hope...
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23206424@N07/3477123336/

[Alicia]

Congrats! Can't wait to hear more details!!

Here's a little hope... http://www.flickr.com/photos/34467943@N07/3477715829/

[sharon]

Congratulations!

[Jo belfield]

I had kind of figured the people who were going would be people without child. It is a great opportunity but I can see why they will be upset. how long will you be going for?

[littlepurplecow (Stephanie Roberts)]

Jo - We'll make a series of trips (likely 7-10 days at a time) over the course of a year. Thankfully both Jen and I have extended family and friends eager to step in and support our husbands with our children. I have a great sense of peace that they will absolutely fine.

[Jo belfield]

Ah! :) I had visions of it being months! (yikes!)

Jo x

[Grey Street Girl]

Congratulations!!! May you have safe and hopeful journeys. :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greystgirl/3189545263/

[Jeanette]

Congrats!

[margie]

we are thrilled for you!! it is true that everyone worked hard to achieve this win for you. over and over again i would see buttons, posts, encouragement to vote HOPE. terrific.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/margela/

[shelli - mama of letters]

Ah, shucks. I haven't had much time to download photos to Flickr. Must try...

[Jessica]

Congrats! :)

[Kelly]

Awh, this makes me cry... I've been struggling so much to figure out my priorities and what matters most and how to fit what I love with my family that is so much more important to me - I hope this is truly a dream assignment, that your kids will understand more as you go - I'm on their side! I'd miss you if I were your kid! It's such a dilemma, isn't it, these loves?

[amy williams]

CONGRATULATIONS...That is fantastic!!! Amazing things and growth will come to everyone...enjoy!

[meg manion silliker]

so very exciting!!! congratulations - can't wait to see your results!!

[Kacey]

Congrats! That is awesome that you won!! I cannot wait to see what you capture on your amazing journey!

[summer]

this brought tears to my eyes. I have two children and as hard as it would be to leave them I think what you are doing is giving them more than it is taking. I'd love to give my kids that window into small steps toward real change in our world.
I can't wait to contribute to this amazing project.
GO Shutter Sisters~!

[Puna]

Moms all over are nodding their heads right now. Thanks for your sweet story and I know your kids will be so proud of their mom!

[ginny.mom23lilrascals]

omg. i am in tears. i am so happy and proud to be a part of your community (though silent for most of it). you have touched my heart so.

ginny
:-))))

4.27.2009

[Tracey Clark]

ah, the struggles and satisfactions of being a mother...especially like the moms found in communities like this one. we are so eager to share our passions with the world, to make a difference, to live our best lives all the while doing the same thing for our families. it can be so hard to make everyone happy. but, it's worth the work to do it. our kids are better for it, even if they don't see it that way sometimes. i am so proud of you girls!

[Heather]

Your children will be blessed by your adventures, even though the leaving will be hard. I've always traveled in my line of work, including several 2-3 week trips to Africa and Southeast Asia, for as long as I've had kids. It hasn't always been easy for them, but now that my oldest 2 daughters are blossoming into teenagers, and I see how bold and independent and wise and strong and creative they've become, I know that they have grown from the experience. They are so much more aware of the world around them than many kids their age. My 13 year old daughter is doing a school project on the political situation in Zimbabwe, partly because she's always heard my stories of Africa, and because a good friend of mine from there stayed in our home around the time of the most recent "election". Many of her classmates don't even know where Zimbabwe is!

Blessings to you in this grand adventure!

(For some reason, it is not accepting my URL - www.fumblingforwords.blogspot.com)

[Heather]

By the way, I forgot to mention (in my other comment) that I wrote about hope in my most recent blog post...

http://fumblingforwords.blogspot.com/2009/04/hope.html

[CheyAnne]

ooohhhh, this so incredibly cool. congratulations on a wonderful assignment win. You sound like an awesome mom and your children are very lucky and blessed to have your guidance thru their lives. after all thats all we can really be for our children is a guide on this journey of theirs.
peace n abundance
CheyAnne
http://newmexicomtngirl.com

[deezee]

I'm in...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89551753@N00/3481546802/in/photostream/

and

http://www.flickr.com/photos/89551753@N00/3480734745/in/photostream/