I’m home. I’m amazed. I’m processing.

I returned to the US on Thursday, March 19^th. I flew into Miami, dropped off two bags with my husband, who drove 2 hours to see me for 1 hour, and ate dinner. Then I caught a connecting flight to Pittsburgh.

It was nice to take a hot shower and get to bed by midnight. I woke up at my usual 7:30 am, as my body is programmed to wake, drink coffee, and head off to Spanish class with my fourth-grade teacher and students.

It was nice being in a city I know, having spent 9 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. I had my morning coffee, tried to zip up my suitcase, only to find that the zipper had broken. Not ideal for a trip that included driving and flying again.

I secured the luggage well enough to get it to the rental car without leaving a trail of my belongings in the hallway and elevator.

TJ Maxx is my go-to for luggage, so I used the mighty Google Maps to find the closest and see what time they opened.

Making a few stops on the way, I was able to find a new bright blue suitcase that would be easy to find on a luggage conveyor belt.

My last stop before leaving Pittsburgh for my three-hour drive to Maryland, where I would be speaking on Saturday, was Walmart.

Our middle son had asked me what I was excited to eat when I got home. I couldn’t think of anything because I love the food in the Dominican. But let me tell you, when I began to roam the aisles of Walmart, I found a lot of things I wanted to eat! Mostly snacks and veggies.

With the bags loaded in the car, I headed out on the trip to Maryland earlier than expected because of the rain forecast.

Saturday, March 21, I spoke with the women in Maryland at Faith Church, Oakland. The event was beyond amazing. Why am I shocked by what God can do? The hearts and minds of these women were set free. The things they shared about how God was moving in their lives through the Distraction Detox sessions and the Eternal Relationship session were astounding.

I’m amazed at how God moved in my life and others while I was in the Dominican Republic, and again at how God moved in Maryland. We saw God transform women as they traded mental chaos for peace.

Distraction Detox was published in 2022. Sometimes it feels like a book loses its momentum after the release. But let me tell you, God is using the message of this book to transform women’s lives.

A few nights before I left the Dominican, I told my husband that I had been changed by this experience. I can’t fully explain it, but I am processing it.

I am a process-oriented person. I like clear, practical steps. But God doesn’t always lay things out so precisely. There is a time of prayer and reflection. Journaling for remembering and recognizing all that God has done. And a lot of reading His Word.

I haven’t been able to keep up with this blog as I planned before I left. But because of internet issues and because God asked me to linger on the patio under the mango trees with my new friends and family, I feel like that was in His design all along. I will be writing more as I process my journey.

I’m home, or will be after spending a few days with our youngest son and his wife in State College, PA.

I’m amazed at all the incredible things God has done and will do.

I’m processing, and I’m blessed you are along for the journey.

And I’m celebrating all the great things God is doing.

What are you seeing God do in your life? If not, what’s holding you back?