I named my blog The Bedouin Woman for a reason. If you have ever read it you would know the Bedouins were travelers, nomads, wanderers, and not in a bad way. That is just how they traveled. And this is my story. My newest adventure, not my life story, let’s not get the two confused.
Several years ago my son-in-law Tim, some of you know him fondly as PT, on one of my frequent visits to NJ, shocked me with a question. “When are you moving to NJ?” Huh? Where did that come from? Like I was pondering moving to NJ when I lived in Paradise(Florida). Like I wanted to come to the snow and ice and rain and my 5 grandchildren and my daughter whom I only got to see about 2-3 times a year. Hum, he did plant a seed of thought……
February 11, 2009, bags packed, car packed, truck packed and my son Douglas who so graciously said he would drive with me, took off for Vineland, NJ. Now mind you it was about 2 and a half years after that question was asked before I decided after much prayer and talking with family and my daughter and my son-in-law Tim, that the move actually took place.
I had visited Vineland, NJ many times in the 4 years that the Dzindzio’s lived here. I had visited Chestnut Assembly of God many times as well. Had met many people that attended that church, but never really kept the names of those I had met in my mind, until the next time I visited. As time went on I put faces with names and became familiar with people, for instance Lillian and Paul Baker, I had no idea they were a couple until I was here living for about 2 months. Thinking about it now, Paul is one of our greeters and Lillian is not so of course I met Paul before I met Lillian. My daughter always tried to clue me in on couples but Lillian and Paul as a couple just didn’t register until I met them together!
So, things like this were some of the interesting aspects of when I actually moved here. Keeping faces with names was a bit hard for me because there were so many. Chestnut is a BIG friendly, loving assembly of great people(I can’t tell you how much I will miss each and every one of you)!
Becoming involved in ministry didn’t take me long. I knew when I moved here it was a move from God. I felt peace and happiness here, at home and in church. Sunday School was something I wanted to attend and did attend in Florida but if I missed a class I didn’t feel bad about it, unlike here I think the only classes I missed was when I visited Florida. I love my Sunday School classes. I met a great group of people that know how to delve into the depths of the bible and grasp the things God has for us all. My Sunday School class, and I will name them all here because they all mean so much to me! Caroline and Sam, Thomi, Dale, Dianne, Alyce, Chris, Betty, Refes and Betty, Joanne and new comers Jim and Tony. The grand poopa’s of the group, the leaders and therefore deserve special recognition are Steve and Charles. You guys are the bomb of Sunday School, between the side bars(Charles) and the gatherings, party’s and social activities(Steve)you ROCK!!! Thank you all for making my Sunday School experience memorable, Spiritual and amazing. I can’t make my focus on Sunday School strictly social I need to say that the learning experience and the insights brought by each and every member of the class was something I will never forget. Our leaders were knowledgeable and insightful into the Scriptures we had a lot of very interesting debates.
Right from the beginning I felt like a part of Chestnut Assembly and I felt I fit in. In no time I was involved in a woman’s bible study, Kingdom Woman at Tiffany Corson’s home the facilitator was Dr. Mary Ann DiOrio. Then I facilitated a bible study at my home Women of the Bible. It was a very busy and spiritually fulfilling time. Six women who attended the Kingdom Women bible study continued on when Mary Ann moved to another area, we continued with Captivating series with Lillian Baker facilitating and me assisting her. Iris, Tiffany, Alyce, Elaine, Shannon, Lillian and myself, made up the group. Shannon became pregnant with her first child and we called her our Kingdom baby, Ivianna was born a few months before our class came to an end, that was a bitter sweet moment(the class ending, not the birth of our Ivianna!) as well, but we managed to gather ourselves together for a Tea, with sandwiches and chocolate!! Chocolate was always a staple at our women’s studies.
The above captioning is just a small look into my life here in Vineland, NJ and at Chestnut Assembly of God. I could say so much more about all the relationships developed during my time here but you all who have been a part of my life know exactly who you are. The groups who went to the Tabernacle, the trips to Amish country, Sight and Sound, the lunches, the dinners, Tim Hawkins show, so on and so forth. I think I have lived 2 lifetimes in the 16 months that I’ve lived here.
I knew right from the beginning that living with a family that has a heart for ministry, a move is inevitable. When God moves, you move. I just didn’t think it would happen so quickly. Yes, I did think about staying on here in Vineland, in fact I looked at senior housing but it just wasn’t in God’s plan, I realized that after I started praying for God’s will in my life. Things didn’t work out for the senior housing either. I came here to be with my family, why would I want them to move on without me? As much as I love you all, I need to be with my family.
That being said, I’m on to my next new adventure. Yes, that is exactly what I consider it an adventure. God never ceases to amaze me with what He gives us to do and He provides the desire to do it. I have always loved road trips, he has put that adventurous spirit within me and I am glad He did! When living in Florida we took many road trips, mostly to North Carolina where I have a son and his family living. It was always a great time visiting him and I traveled with another son and his family and my grandson would video tape the trip to and from and then put it together with music, what a funny video that turned out to be. Another time we all took a trip to Tennessee for a family reunion with 5 dogs,11 adults and 15 children, yes that was the greatest adventure of all!
Just to throw this in, most of you know I am an LPN, so getting my license in different states takes patience and money. I’m licensed in NY, MA, FL, NC and NJ, now I’m thinking, do I really want to go through all that hassle getting another license? Yes, I guess I do, if I want to eat, the bible says if one doesn’t work one doesn’t eat!!
My friends and I call you that because that is exactly what you all are, my dear, dear friends, my heart aches as I write this blog. I write it because I wanted each and every one of you to know how much you have impacted my life. I will never, ever forget you and what you have brought into my life.
I will not say “good-bye”, because it’s too permanent and I know that I will be seeing you again as you visit us in LA and we visit you here in NJ, so to you I say, so-long until we meet again.
Your “forever” friend,
Marion
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