Once we moved to Florida (in 2004), we wanted to ride our motorcycle to Mobile, Alabama. Finally, October 16, 2012, we hopped on the bike and began the trek! We lived in Mobile for three short years. I was a new FBI agent and it was my “first office.” In 1986, we had been married 11 years and hit a rocky period the year before, in our 10th year. We committed to try to improve our marriage and had high hopes this would be a fresh start for us. It was a miracle we had such a prime location – remember, we both love the beach! Living on the gulf coast was a new experience and there was so much to love.
We were in the prime of our lives! Bill finally was self-employed and was very successful. I had a dream of a job! We built a new home and our precious daughter was sweet as can be and was able to make friends easily. But something went terribly wrong!
If I had to say in a sentence how a long-term marriage could end in divorce, with two people who had much in common, it would be that we both got lost in our own worlds. I said we grew apart. Bill had no idea what happened! A friend came over one weekend and commented, “Bill works all the time doesn’t he?” I brought a co-worker over one day while we were close by to show off our “dream house.” While I was showing it, all I could think about was how “empty” the house really was. Materially, we had it all. Spiritually, we were bankrupt!
When we went back on our motorcycle, we had a hard time remembering those three years! We suddenly realized they were our lost years! And again we could rejoice we were able to reconcile and continue to be grateful our marriage was healed and we are now looking at nearly four decades together!
We did go back and looked at our “dream home.” It once sparkled as Bill is a bit OCD about having a beautiful, lush, green weed free yard, keeping all the hedges trimmed and plants looking nourished. It was sad to see it now is a bit drab – but then it was now 26 years old.
We looked up one dear friend and had a nice reunion. We did a few touristy things downtown and were amazed at the wonderful history we learned about this sweet town. We just didn’t have many other memories of our time here, but somehow, we focused on the happy times we did have.
This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:16, 18-19
Not the best picture, but we are HAPPY! About to take our motorcycle on the ferry over to Gulf Shores from Dauphin Island.
Follow the Tumble Lees! 
You and Bill are truly blessed! Those of us who read your journey share in those blessings. Thank you.
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Thank you for reading and commenting! We are so grateful and pray we can encourage others! You and Jim are also so blessed and an encouragement to us!!!
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Everything is empty without the Lord. Isn’t it? I want to share one of my “life verses” I have remembered when i start trying to do things apart from The Lord. It rises to the top of my favorite verses for several reasons. It is written by Solomon who ” had it all and did it all “. 2. He wrote this at the end of his life. I value the wisdom that comes at the ” end of life” because we see things with a more eternal perspective. So these are weighty words. This is what Solomon wrote at the end of of his life: “All has been heard. The end of the matter is, fear God and know that he is, revere and worship Him–and keep his commandments; for this is the whole of man [the full original purpose of his creation, the object of God’s providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all I harmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun], the whole for every man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13. As we see and understand who God is, our hearts are filled with awe, wonder and love and worship results. We long to honor him as we keep the commandments he has written on our hearts. All this transforms us from broken and empty people into “whole” and holy people set apart for his purposes. There are two paths we will travel along without even thinking. We will either experience “ever increasing glory” or “ever increasing wickedness”. I thank God for calling to attention the emptiness of life to us when we drift so far away from him. Praise him that it just never feels right. We thank The Lord as we have watched The Lord transform you and Bill with “ever increasing glory.” I am so thankful The Lord still seeks out those who wander away. He is so loving and compassionate.
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Linda, as usual, a wonderful commentary! YES, the LORD still seeks out those who wander away with HIS loving and compassionate ways!
I love how you know the Word! We appreciate the many prayers and tears you had for us and can share now in the joy of our reconciliation! Looking forward to 2013 and pray we can have another grand reunion with all!
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I love this post. And it says it all…….the house was “empty”….but not with material things….the things that matter. What a blessing and an inspiration the two of you are. By the way, in case I haven’t mentioned it before you are a gifted writer!
Happy New Year….
Love you
Katt
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Thank you for your comments Katt! What a spiritual marker moment that was! The Lord used it over and over to show me my need! Thank you for the HUGE compliment! These posts are prayed over and Bill gives the final editorial review! The only comment he ever made about my writing was perhaps less is more! I love your short and very to the point blogging!
Happy New Year to you and yours!
Hope to see you soon!
Love!
Deb
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[…] trip, nearly 600 miles, from Sebring, Florida. We wrote a short blog post about it, call “The Lost Years.” I’m sorry I didn’t write about all the historical places we visited while […]
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