The Last...

After about a month of planning, we have 8 days left. There is much excitement, fear, nervousness, planning, trepidation, and just plain annoyance – let’s just be done already kind of thing. I have to say as much as I love my friends, I’m tired of saying “goodbye”, but not ready to say “hello” yet either. There are so many people to see, so many different events to say farewell, and after a certain point, one gets to feeling it’s almost pointless to go, let alone put makeup on! Each day, I think, “Is this event worth it? Would my time be better spent doing such and such and not using the emotional strength?” As you read this, you may think I am being very unthoughtful of others around me who care. Don’t think that way. I care, I just don’t know how much I want to face!

Last night was my last Consultant’s meeting here and future director’s meeting, today is the last MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting, tonight is my last get together with my Pampered Chef team, it’s basically coming down to a lot of “Last’s”. I hate to sound indifferent because I’m not, I just don’t want to deal with all the emotions each one holds. Next week holds our last service at church with a farewell reception, and Lilly’s last day of school (which I hunch will be quite traumatic). UGH!

You know, I could turn this around and start to think of all the “Hello’s” I’ll have once we get there, but I’m not quite ready to think about that. Last night, I spent time grieving. Some may think that weird, but that is truly what one must do. Even the most positive people in the world, face grieving when things change and seasons of their life end. If they don’t, they probably aren’t facing their feelings head on. Grief is a very real thing. You can ignore it, stuff it, hide it, but in the end you’ll end up having to face it sneaking out, so…as much as I don’t want to, I’m trying to face it.

In a conversation with my mom yesterday, she said we are all facing it. My parents aren’t thrilled about us leaving, but they know that this is God’s will (otherwise we wouldn’t be going!), so they are accepting it even though they don’t want to.

As you read this, please keep us in your prayers. This is a difficult time. Yes, it is exciting too, but we are all leaving what is familiar. I have lived here all but 7 years of my life (for those of you not so quick that are almost 24 years. That’s a long time to live in one place. I’m going to miss so much about this area…especially the beautiful hills in the fall! Ok, and a ton of people! My favorite place to escape to – Harris Hill’s Lookout that overlooks the entire valley. (Where I got engaged too!), my church family, my family, etc.

A few things I won’t miss: living in town at the intersection with 3 stop signs, kids zipping thru the neighborhood with their stereo’s booming, the late night drunkies (we live about 2 blocks from the bar district), my husband’s hour drive one way to work, having neighbors so close you feel they are looking into your house, and a few of the neighborhood kids who occasionally peer thru my windows wondering what on earth goes on in our house.

What do I look forward to? Our house, having my husband 5 minutes away, Wal-mart (Staples, Lowes) within walking distance (about a ¼ mile), a lawn to have room to run in, milder winters, being able to get to know my husband’s student workers (being an hour away has not enabled me that opportunity), building a new wing to my business, promoting to director soon, spending time with my grandparents, spending time with my friend Alan, working out at the wellness center, unpacking and not living out of boxes, having cable internet, working together even more then we already do (as a family) to find face life.


There is a time for everything, a time to mourn, a time to rejoice…for everything there is a season...