Chapter 46 – Kaiyah Remembers

God Our Escort

Deuteronomy 31:8

“And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”

1 John 3:18

“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

The days leading to departure came with Peter and I having to very gently lift Kaiyah up and down her outside concrete step. She was friskity at times bolting through her yard in a sudden spurt and then looking around lumbering about lazily before meeting us at the door for “lift service”. Gideon usually had zero interest in exploring outside in the cold and wet but he sure did before we left. Cotton was cozy as a bug in a rug and seemed to take it all in stride. The whole house looked like one big open free-fly zone. His calm and light hearted expressions were comforting, which I found to be a special ministry to my heart.

We had the home as spic and span as we could. We left a few things we needed there as we planned on coming back to tend and close things up prior to, Lord Willing, the sale and closing of the home. And it would give us one last opportunity to say good-bye. The moving truck had been loaded and almost all our furniture had been donated minus a few. Our agent had scheduled the photographer to come out that morning after we left so he could get things rolling to put our home back on the market.

We experienced more neighbor strangeness as we parked the moving truck locally overnight, with approval, at a local hardware box store. The men stood out there by their trucks talking with front lights high and watched us finalize a few items, lock up the truck and head back home. We had no idea who they were by name but we recognized them and surrendered that to the Lord. We got home and did our very best to sleep, which for me was almost impossible. We had already put out a bunch of seeds and such for our wildlife friends. We hoped that our agent would do as he promised to keep the water fresh and put out some seeds we had in stock for the critters once in a while. I had so much on my heart and just snuggled next to the Lord while praying for Peter’s rest and for journey mercies. There was a winter storm blowing through areas we would be travelling but everything was to have passed prior to our arrival. The unseen storm in our life was already reappearing.

That early morning we got everything situated with final items in the SUV for the road trip including our little “furtherlies” (fur and feather babies). Warm blankets, water, food and treats. Kaiyah was given her medicine. Gideon had his kitty calm spray sprayed in and around his placement. Cotton had everything he needed including a nice tiny sprig of millet. Keeping Cotton from drafts and burst of cold was very important so I had extra covers for him. That way whenever a door was opened he was always covered and tucked in so there would be no cold shock. Gideon was cozy in his kennel but not happy with the arrangement; he has always communicated his feelings very openly. Kaiyah was quiet and warm laying on her blankets and her look of “oh no, big ridie” was present but she was steadily patient with the process. She was doing better than I was, bless her heart.

After we made sure everything was locked tightly and had things in place as we do when going away to ensure security, we noticed a white truck just sitting a short distance from our home with watching eyes again. We made note of it. Peter and I prayed together and said our good-byes to our humble home until we could come back.

I gave our brave animals extra sweet words and pets as I closed the door, started the engine and watched for Peter’s lead to get things rolling. It was bittersweet to say the least.

Watching our home disappear from sight as we slowly rounded the bend heading to the main connecting street gave me a sad heavy feeling but also a sense of relief. I had to trust God with everything and to embrace the new journey of transition. I had to focus and rest in what God was doing. I soon found the morning light and passing landscapes, businesses and fellow travelers including raptors flying overheard a welcome distraction from all the emotion. The animals were quiet.

A few hours on the road we noticed a travel advisory sign over the freeway letting us know there was a road closure ahead near the border right where we were headed. Peter and I found a pull-over spot to stop and discuss the ramifications and another potential warning of the journey we were on. Peter prayerfully decided that we needed to press onward. Just as we were warned, as we approached the border there was a complete slow down that came pretty quickly to a full stop. The trip can take up to seventeen to eighteen hours sometimes traveling with animals. We usually have done that in one straight shot. This was a serious unexpected delay. When we finally were able to get moving again we could see that the winter storm had left the roads icy and bitter winds were blowing snow cross-wise making vehicles shudder especially high-profile ones. I have a lot of respect for those in the transport industry who really deal with so much and for incredibly long hours. Peter is an excellent and experienced driver so as I followed his pattern I was grateful for his gentle strength as he led our tiny caravan along the frigid roads.

The crackling ice under the tires was definitely not a welcome sound for the animals. The roads eventually cleared and the temps rose above freezing as we made our way. The snow covered landscapes were breathtaking. Before long we were cruising, Peter was moving faster than I was. The road at higher speeds rumbling under the vehicle was also not pleasant to our sweet pets. The journey was unusually long as we passed familiar places due to weather delays and the fact I couldn’t go faster. We drove well into the night and then the wee hours of the morning. The animals were upset and so was I. I was worried for Kaiyah and Gideon. I hardly had had any sleep and the emotional strains of the whole move, the weather delays, the concerns of meeting with the movers to unload the truck, the impacts this would have on the family, etc. - plus I experienced fear in a way I had not before or since. I may share on that at another time but I quoted Scripture, prayed and yet, was feeling overwhelmed. I worshipped and praised the Lord for the last four hours of the trip, on and off, to quiet our feather and furbabies and waited for the Lord to quiet me. We had to make more stops to walk Kaiyah so she could stretch. Cotton and Gideon just needed to be still. It was the most difficult road trip of my life. We both realized we should have stopped overnight and rested a bit and rescheduled a few things. But that would not have stopped the unseen storm that was already underway.

Praise God our Escort and for His Grace! We finally made it!! We quickly unpacked necessary items only and got the animals bedded down quietly as Peter’s parents were still fast asleep. We were running on fumes and only had a small window to get a couple hours of rest, if that, before up and at ‘em.

The morning greetings occurred. It was good to see Peter’s parents. Unfortunately within minutes we were being scolded over the long trip, the animals, and soon found that the understood arrangements for storage and unloading had changed. I quickly went to find an appropriate local storage facility and notified the folks we had hired to help us unload. Thank God that came together with no problem. The waters were already rising and we had literally just got there.

Kaiyah, Gideon and Cotton were a little out of sorts but overall relieved to be anywhere but in the SUV. The trumpeting of the meows and happy expression Gideon had seeing Peter’s mom was precious. Kaiyah was tired and looked sore but made her way around in her usual humble stealth mode. Her medicine was given and she quickly appreciated the warmer weather. We could tell it felt good on her bones. Cotton was just fine and genuinely happy to hear the voices of his family flock and to see them again.

It was a whirlwind start. The unloading went well but we discovered the loaders had damaged a few pieces even though we had wrapped everything and told them to be careful with those particular items especially Marmi’s piano. And yet unbelievably there was some damage. Thank God Peter took photos and dealt quickly with the loading movers, by God’s Grace it worked out so we could get things taken care of when settled.

We kept our personal Bible study and prayer time going, which we absolutely needed. We also, respectfully, worked to develop a modest routine for our lives and to maintain our eating habits. We couldn’t understand why there was already a growing strain and tension within the family setting. There was so much to do and there was much we couldn’t do anything about. I reminded myself, God is Faithful and He has a Plan. Peter and I were holding on to Papa God and knew He was with us and we needed to “let patience have her perfect work” while staying surrendered.

We had high hopes getting to spend some time with Peter’s family. It was only to be a short stay until we could hop to our new home once the other had sold. We hadn’t seen them much over the years and wanted to make the most of being by them to enjoy the years we had remaining together; closer, and to support one another. Especially with Peter’s momma being a bit more frail with a few health concerns and his dad not getting any younger and dealing with his own things. Peter’s sister lived locally and was attentive to everything she could be while still working dutifully. We just wanted to be a blessing where we could, plain and simple. We wanted to not just love with our words but in deed and in truth just as 1 John encourages. I knew what it was like to have aging parents far away, it can be very difficult. I honestly didn’t want Peter to experience that and to have as much freedom to enjoy his family as utterly possible. We truly thought that is what we all wanted. We really started to wonder….

Returning to our old stomping grounds came with clusters of memories and emotion but it was a special deep joy being in the desert with its flora and fauna once again. It felt like seeing old friends. There was uniqueness to that time that came with prayerful reflective walks with my beloved Peter and our dear Kaiyah, as much as she could, on her old well pawed trails. It didn’t take her long to realize she was back on the very trails I took her on so many times and years prior bond-building, to de-stress, to learn her special whistle, to see her coyote friends and all the many special times we shared. I didn’t know how long we had left together but every moment really sunk in deep. She was determined yet unhurried in her pace and looked frailer in the desert morning sunshine. But she remembered her mission hikes; Kaiyah knew right where to go. That delighted my heart so much. As she had done multiple times before Kaiyah stood still, looked about taking in her desert, took time to lift her sweet head and muzzle to the heavens, close her soulful eyes and sniffed the air with a renewed slight curl in her tail. Those moments with Kaiyah were like crepuscular rays; sunbeams breaking through some very dark heavy-laden clouds. Our Heavenly Escort was watching over our little family and He Knew Kaiyah’s heart as well as ours….

…Until we meet again…