The beginning of the end......

A chapter in my/our life is closing and a new adventure awaits. In the next 23 days we will pack up the house we have called home for 4 months, say goodbye to our co-workers/students, couch surf through parents/siblings and friends homes, attend our last gathering of the Branches of Farmland (as regular attenders), pack 3 heavy suitcases and say emotional, tear filled goodbyes-see you laters.

I want my goodbyes to be meaningful. When I say goodbye I want people to know that they have affected my lives enough that I am crying for them. I am so thankful to love and be loved that is is worth every tear, every sob, every ache to spend time expressing my feelings. This is not going to be an easy four weeks but it will be treasured and memorable.

I hope that my friends and family will share in the griefs and joys. Not hesitating to call and cry, stop by to say we will be missed. Life is full of seasons and as our season changes others' lives are changing too. We cannot say good hellos without good goodbyes. As much as I want to get on the plane and avoid the tears, I cannot. This is all part of the experience and I don't want to miss a God moment along the way!

YAY Duck- Our support is increasing! God is confirming our call! (AGAIN!!)

YAY Duck- Moved out a dresser and grill today (less stuff!!)

Yuck Duck-Dresser is for my niece that I will not see on the day of her birth or many other days throughout the year :(

YAY DUCK- My Dad cares enough he wants to see me off at the airport!

YUCK Duck-I have to say goodbye at the airport :(

YAY Duck- March 23rd is almost here!

Yuck Duck- Several Birthdays, Easter and Mother's Day will be here soon too!

Bring on the kleenex! The next four weeks are going to be a roller coaster!

Pair a what?

A great tool we learned at MTI was illustrated in the previous post. With all things in life there are YAY! and YUCK! moments. With the clean duck representing yays and the dirty duck resembling yucks we have a pair of ducks or PARADOX!

At times leaving for Jamaica is a YAY duck and other times YUCK! Today at work as I had preschoolers climb on my lap asking Ms Melissa to read, I was sad and thought of how I would miss these children and the joy they posses. Then I think of all the new children I am going to meet, hold on my lap, offer food to and mentor, I am then filled with excitement. The excited feeling does not take away from the sad feeling so I am left with tears and happiness!

Audrey is dealing with her own YAY duck and Yuck duck right now. She is sad to leave Farmland but has asked multiple times to look at the picture of her week "new neighbors." She is so excited to make friends with the families that will live down the road from us but she is so sad to leave her home in Farmland.

God's word shows us many times that one emotion cannot come without another:

2 Cor 4:17

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

1 Peter 4: 12-13 Beloved do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Psalm 30:5

For His anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

New Series

It has been brought to my attention that I need to look to the Bible for practical advice.

Some areas I will be reviewing include:

Grief/Loss

Womanly behavior/Loving Wife

Rest/Stillness/Sabbath

Raising Children

Bribery

Here is where I need help......do you have a practical topic that would be nice to scripture references for?

When I do discuss a topic and related scripture please feel free to throw in other scripture!

Giving is a try....

2 Corinthians 1:3,4

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (New International Version)

The God of All Comfort

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (The Message)

The Rescue

^3-5All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.