Wow, what a week. This week has been filled with many exciting moments and also a lot of emotions, and it’s only Thursday! This journey we are on has been such an incredible one for us as a family, and also for each of us individually. For me, it has stretched my faith in ways I have only ever read about. I have met some of the most incredible people and have had the pleasure of making some amazing friends. The kind of friends that you know will be there even after you have been gone for a few years.
As I sit here typing this I am sitting in the car, having filled up on food and fellowship at Cracker Barrel with some friends, we are now headed to Oklahoma to visit my best best friend Linda. (We decided to drive the car because of gas costs and also because we were planning on staying in their house anyway so we wouldn't need the RV…who wouldn't want to stay in a house with 14 people…10 of those people being kids! I am so looking forward to it!!!) Linda and I have been friends for a little over 8 years now and I am so blessed to be a part of her life. Her and Bryan have 6 beautiful children, the oldest is a Freshman at Oral Roberts University and the youngest just started Pre-K. We haven't seen each other in 3 years so this will be a very joyous occasion for me! Jason and I feel that this week in Oklahoma will be a welcomed rest to the busy life we have had recently and look forward to all the great memories we are sure to make.
This past weekend we were so blessed to be able to spend a lot of quality time with friends from church. Friday there was a party for the volunteers from church so we got to have yummy tacos and just hang out and socialize. The kids loved hanging with their friends from church too. Saturday night we had the pleasure of having dinner with a group of people who have become some of our greatest friends. It was a bittersweet evening for me because I was obviously happy we were all hanging out, but I also knew the reason we were hanging out was because we were leaving. Sometimes I wish we could go on this journey, or ones like it, without ever having to go through the goodbyes, but that’s really not possible is it. Sunday morning at church was our last Sunday at Compassion Christian Church. I cried, Jason cried, the kids cried, their friends cried, my friends cried, and while it was sad, it was also exciting and encouraging to have those we love right beside us sending us out covered in prayer and love. There are no words to really express the gratitude we have for our church family and the prayers they are covering us with.
Sometimes it is easy for me to be comfortable with Jason and not step outside of my box to make friends or be social. But I am so glad I did step out and allowed God to form friendships in my life here in Georgia because I am a better person for having these friendships. I would love to be able to write to everyone individually on here that has touched my life this past year and supported us while we have walked out God’s plan for our lives, but you would be reading for days. There are so many of you and I want you to know how much I love and appreciate you. Thank you for your kind words, your words of support, a smile or a hug when I needed it most, and most of all thank you for your prayers.
I have valued our friendship, and I have loved getting to know you and walking this journey with you. Even though our time in Georgia has come to a close, I know we will be back and look forward to seeing you all again. Through our travels we will probably be passing through, so don't be surprised if you see Big Blue pull up out front of your house…it’s just us stopping by to say a quick hello!!!