During the creation of that piece, I perched atop a ladder, knowing that the only thing that separated me from the hard surface below was 4 feet of air and 3 feet of water. I knew the water would cradle and slow my fall as my back hit bottom every time.  Flash back to the night Awesome called me on FaceTime, telling me he’d been offered a job that would move us to Florida, and how the tears streamed down my face at the mere prospect. Uprooted again. But we’d been apart for almost a year, him commuting back and forth to Ohio as I managed the house in Virginia. This was an opportunity for us to be under the same roof again, where we should be. Within 6 weeks, we moved South to land unknown.

While there were pros and cons to the move, (Together = Pro. Retirement community, no good restaurants and lots of summer tourism = Con) it felt like a sacrifice. Leaving friends, the network I created for myself and my art and starting from square one again was less than desirable.  But that’s what one does for love.

So I fell. Backwards into complete surrender. To the situation, to the unknown. No clue as to how it would all turn out. But knowing that as long as we were together, we would and could get through anything. I had faith there was a reason why we were called to take this detour. Maybe it’s what we needed to finally realize where we wanted and needed to be. Kind of like how I had to date that one last guy before I recognized Awesome when he appeared before me.

Some of the questions of the why of it all still hang unanswered in the air. But during that time, I created this piece as a reminder to myself that within the sweet surrender comes peace. I learned how to trust the process. How to let go of things outside of my control. How to find contentment from within. To recognize there is a reason, always a reason, even if we don’t have the power to see into the future.

And if anything, I needed to be in Florida, if only to bring Trust Fall to life…which not only has found its way into people’s private collections, but was also licensed for a Women’s Gathering at the Akron Church of God in Indiana.

Sometimes I still reach for that crystal ball, looking for answers when life is handing out lemons. Then I’m reminded to trust the universe and go with the flow. There is always a lesson and a reason…for everything.

For those interested in learning more about the creation of Trust Fall, check out my blog for behind the scenes shots and humorous failed attempts.