Kays on the Camino

Sunday, June 1, 2014

A journey of a thousand miles....

Beginning with our first steps out our door in New Braunfels till taking our boots off in Santiago, it is hard to imagine our journey has finished (at least this part). God birthed the idea and inspiration for our Camino through our good friend Harold (who was 82 when he walked with his daughter) and a movie ("The Way"). These brought into full light and vision the physical, mental and spiritual realities that when all present (at least when all are seen) transform into what I consider to be a calling. This calling may have sat on many heart's shelf for five to ten years our more if it was not for the catalyst of my beautiful, youngest daughter, Kristina. She grabbed a hold of her Spirit given dream of walking the Camino and put feet to our calling. Without her, my Camino may never have materialized.

The Camino has many facets. One of these is its ability to push you in every area. Physically: as I laced up my boots each morning for the first week or so, my feet would ask "Are you going to do this again? " Does the new pain (just pick a part of the body) just need another mile of walking for it to go away or would this end my Camino. Mentally: after the 2nd or 3rd week - Does your will/soul really want this? Can you let go of the "normal" life with all of its distractions and busyness, in order to grab a hold of what is meaningful? Are you ready to wrestle and walk through things left undone? Spiritually: The deepest journey remains as the others quiet down. Am I prepared to let His wind blow and lead? When I am finished with my list, am I prepared for for His? A calling to be present and real - awake and attentive to His leading and His Camino - His Way.

A journey of a thousand miles (in this case - five hundred) begins (and ends) with a single step. These steps are done for us but we have more each day. We are not done with our pilgrimage as true with everyone we meet. We will love to share our story and I am sure there is much more to unpack from this part of our Camino.

Thanks for following. I plan to post more.

Buen Camino!
Nihil Sine Deo.

Thomas

Pictures:

Us in front of the cathedral in Santiago de Compestela.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Christmas eve

This picture is of all of us at our last dinner. Tonight's dinner feels like we are having our "Christmas Eve" dinner, because tomorrow we are walking into Santiago! Emotions vary from sad to happy to excited to scared. Some all at once. Tomorrow is the day that we have all been working so hard to get to. It is the prize we've all been walking miles every day to get to. Once we get there it is all done! Is it? Our life doesn't end once we get there! We all have a big day tomorrow and prayers are much appreciated! I know my life has changed, but I won't know exactly how or what until I get off the trail! Please pray for us as we are going into a very emotional day! Thank you all for following and praying for me and my family for the time we've been here. I really appreciate it a whole lot!

♡♥Kristina Kay

Monday, May 19, 2014

Then there were 5!

I, amy, arrived in Spain a couple of days ago- gorgeous country. I caught up to the family and did my first day of walking yesterday. ..which is why you didn't hear from me...I was almost dead!

So, I met up with them at this little albergue (bunk style hotel\pension\hostel) with a nice yard- picnic tables, kids were playing with their puppy, hikers were finishing their day, showering and enjoying the 70* , beautiful afternoon!!! I thought- so far this camino is a taxi ride and a little roadside resort- I am enjoying this! Well, the next morning was good- I was ready...that lasted the first maybe 5 miles! By mile 17.5- I was not admiring the beautiful scenery, or the quality family time, or even air coming in and out of my lungs- I would have perhaps shaken my fist at heaven but I couldn't raise my sunburned hand that high in the air! My main difficulty with the day was actually in that my family (who are all in better physical condition than I am & have been walking longer/much longer than me) were missing the chance to finish the camino at their speed with their dear friends who they have met along the way. In short, I was holding them up- so, after deliberation last night- we agreed that I would catch bits of walking and catch cabs here and there- I do feel a bit like I'm cheating but I am assured that each person must do their own Camino. I don't even really know what that means- but I think for me it means it's ok if I let my family go on and I don't try to save face by walking almost 20 miles a day for the next week.

So, today I sat in a cafe- had a good prayer time-looked around a church-sat in a different cafe with my kids and helped everyone settle in for tonight. Tomorrow will be cooler so perhaps will walk! My feet and legs are not as sore today. I'm so proud of my kids. They are doing so well. Only 3 days left!!

Prayers are appreciated for all of us as it is winding up- especially Thomas and Kristina- that there would be a good sense of closure and we would be able to grab whatever nuggets the Lord has for our initial processing of this whole event. Love from Spain!

Pictures are

1.towards the beginning of my first day
2. LESS THAN HALFWAY through my day and i alredy look exhausted!!!this was a big deal- the 100km marker!!! (Thomas and Kristina started at 800km!)
3. The 5 of us.
4.some of the amazing places we walked.
5. Wild lilies!
6. My love and i -even if love was not the emotion I was feeling at that moment!