A Life of Goodbyes-being content

Hi family and friends!
One time I heard Ruth Graham say that she had to embrace her life as a life of goodbyes (referring to Billy traveling all the time). Well, I feel the same way, except I'm the one leaving all of the time. Matt and I have lived in 13 places in the past 7 years in preparation for missions. I guess the Lord wanted us to get used to being mobile and not get too comfortable in any one home, because of course, this world is not our home. Well, this past three months has been no exception. We put over 7,000 miles on our van and visited 9 cities across the country. Thank the Lord for helping those people create books on tape and sunflower seeds!

I just wanted to update everyone and let you know that our home assignment is coming to a close... we're flying out this Sunday, Feb. 24th. Originally, I thought I'd be updating this blog at least weekly while here in the states. Because everywhere we go, there's high speed internet! But, I forgot how fast-paced life is here. I was lucky to check my email once a week!

The last three months have been incredible though. We've visited with so many of our friends. I'm sitting here trying to count how many friends/couples / family members we shared a meal with... I think it's right around 50, which is so wild. Not to mention how much food we ate! Also, eight loving families took us in with comfy beds and smiles along the way. All of our churches were so supportive and loving in trying to help us reconnect with the congregation. (Sometimes our supporters forget or don't actually know that they are supporting us!).

The other blessing was the weather. Almost everywhere we went we had beautiful, sunshiny weather. So, we completely missed the wintery season of Ukraine! The only mishap was in IL, when we had rain and fog, literally zero visibility while driving. At one point on the road we missed the tornadoes that hit Tennessee by two hours. God protected us all along the way.

This week we have a bijillion things to do before we leave. We need to ship a box, buy a few things for our friends in Ukraine (like car seats and Einstein videos!), finish our taxes, sell our van, and say all our goodbyes. It seems impossible, but when I think back to what all has been accomplished in the last three months, it looks like nothing.

If I had but the faith of a mustard seed.


My sister gave me this great devotional book and I found this poem from a 14 year old boy. Maybe it will bless you today as you think about your life and where your citizenship is located.

It was spring but it was summer I wanted; the warm days and the great outdoors.
It was summer but it was fall I wanted; the colorful leaves and the cool dry air.
It was fall but it was winter I wanted; the beautiful snow and the joy of the holiday season.
It was now winter but it was spring I wanted; the warmth and the blossoming of nature.
I was a child but it was adulthood I wanted; the freedom and the respect.
I was twenty but it was thirty I wanted; to be mature and sophisticated.
I was middle-aged but it was twenty I wanted; the youth and the free spirit.
I was retired but it was middle-age I wanted; the presence of mind without limitations.
My life was over but I never got what I wanted.
Linda Dillow's "Calm My Anxious Heart" pg. 108-109

May we live by the Psalm... 'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want..."