Leaving – and the plans that go with that

The moment of truth has arrived. Victoria and I will be in Florida tomorrow; gone for twelve days. We have done everything we can to get the house and farm ready for Brittany Wycoff to tend to in our absence and we will have to trust the Lord to use her to keep everything alive. It is no small task we are asking of her. But it is a small thing for the Lord.

We did not see Brittany at church last night but she and Mama have talked several times about what is needed and Victoria left her an additional note to ask her to water the trees and flowers a couple times over the next twelve days. It is still a little frightening to leave all we have cared for and fussed over in the keeping of someone disconnected from those concerns and all the planning and work that has brought us this far. We will trust and hope for the best and know, regardless of the outcome, it is an offer of the greatest kindness on Brittany’s part to try and take on all those cares for us.

Victoria spent the entire day cleaning the house, doing laundry and getting the animals prepped for our departure. She will be out of the  house early this morning headed to Wichita Falls for a half day training session after which she has to drive to Bowie and work until 7 pm. She and I will pack the car once she gets home but she is going to be pretty worn out.  Hopefully both of us can get the rest we need to make the drive to catch up to Mama.

We had a group meeting yesterday for the office here in Decatur. The message was not one of hope. But it was, at the very least, a wakeup call to those who have not fully bought into the notion that things are about to change dramatically. The initial emphasis of the cost saving efforts on the part of our upper management started with processes and products in mind, but having not found the necessary saving needed in those areas the focus is now squarely on people. In was not a jubilant crowd leaving the meeting as we adjourned. The next few weeks will be fraught with emotion as we find out who stays, who goes and how each group is treated in the process.

It is one of those times in life that we must plan for the worst as we hope for the best. My forward plan does not look pretty. It would be nice to have eighteen months to put the plan in place but at this point I do not think I have eighteen weeks. We’ll make it work and God will certainly supply but shame on me for not getting my act together at the first of the year when I knew this might be the actual outcome. But to my defense, I was counting on the Licensing job to carry me through. Oh, well.

Before church last night Victoria and I dropped off eggs to our Chinese friends in Decatur and we stopped to wash her car. It was in need of a more thorough washing than we were able to give it but it is cleaner than if we had not even put forth that effort. It will be less troublesome to pack if we do not have to worry over getting dirty just putting suitcases in the trunk. We are planning on having a “cart washing party” at some point in our visit with the grandkids to get a proper cleaning done.

It is amazing how much fun that can be; a drudgery for one a party for many.