Counting

I'd be dishonest if I gave you the impression that this transition has been easy.  On paper, it's the closest, most similar move from one place to another I've ever made.  But leaving a place I've loved so much is hard.  There's just no two ways about it.

I know that it's okay to feel sad, confused, or unsettled, and that God is big enough to handle the human feelings that go along with transitions.  And yet in spite of - or maybe because of - the challenges, I wanted to take a bit of time and count out the blessings I've seen the Lord generously give me during these last several weeks (specifically, and as many as I can think of, though I know there are more than I'd be able to share here).  To look at them written out is almost overwhelming.

• The ladies of Cascades (and by extension, the whole church family :)) who sent me off with prayers, notes, gifts, hugs, and sweet words of encouragement.  I was so touched by their outpouring of love.
• A walk with Holly.  So thankful we were able to squeeze one more visit in! 
• Lunch with Linda - it was wonderful to get out of the house, leave the mess of boxes and stuff for a bit, enjoy some delicious crepes together, and visit.  She trained me when I first came to the business office and has been such a sweet friend since then.
• Carrissa, who helped with packing and cleaning and whose company was just the encouragement I needed.
• Esther, who sweetly and unselfishly helped me pack up my kitchen one afternoon, in spite of having her own house to pack and clean.
• Tamara, Emma, Josie, and Isabelle who helped clean one day.  It's amazing how much work can get done when you add four more people!  It was VERY hot and sweaty that day (I believe it got up to 90° in my little apartment), but they didn't complain and it was so fun to laugh together while we worked.
• Raylea, who also came and helped clean and whose company, again, truly encouraged me.  We got to visit one evening shortly before I left and though we didn't watch any BBC shows like we used to, it was a treat to catch up on a few months of life when we hadn't seen each other.
• The empty apartment downstairs that I was able to stow packed boxes while cleaning.  This made my life vastly easier!
• Josh volunteering to drive the trailer out when no one else was available to drive that day.
• Friends who gave me extra boxes and packing material, sent me with on-the-road snacks, moved furniture and boxes, and answered various pleas for help.
• Being able to sell the appliances I wasn't taking with me.
• A painless cleaning inspection (I was nervous about possibly having to re-do things, but that wasn't the case).
• Danny, who saw a storm was coming and showed up with some of his guys a bit early on loading day to make sure we beat the rain.  More friends quickly joined in and from the time I answered Danny's knock to the time we were pulling the trailer door shut was thirty minutes - and as soon as we'd finished, the rain came down fast and furious!
• Staying with Tamara and the kids the night before I drove out, which meant that I could pack up last minute house things and not have to worry about needing them.  It also meant, more importantly, that I could spend every minute possible with them before leaving.  They made sure I was fed and didn't have to do much cooking during my last couple weeks, they mailed a fun housewarming package here, Josie painted a picture for me, they listened to me process all the thoughts/questions/feelings/etc. rattling around in my head leading up to the move, they sent me off with lots of hugs...too many things to mention.
• A safe, uneventful drive out here.
• The group who helped unload my things on this side of the lake.
• The welcome basket waiting for me, filled with food and other first week necessities, along with a cute plant and a "We're so glad you're here!" note.
• A newly-redone apartment, including a brand new kitchen - the only time in my life I've ever had a new kitchen!  I'm also very thankful for the windows which give a decent amount of natural light, more than you would usually expect in an apartment.
• A quick visit from Carrissa who happened to be in town the weekend that I moved - it was fun to see her again and show her my new little place.
• Chris and Melanie and their family having me over for dinner.
• Dinner with Todd and Sue who were in town my first week - it was so wonderful to see familiar faces and be able to visit with coworkers I know.
• Technology that's allowed me to stay in touch with family in California, Senegal, and Michigan.
• All the people here who have taken time to answer questions, help me find my way around, and offer words of encouragement.
• Melanie, who has already been such a wonderful coworker as I transition into guest room ministry here.
• The trickle of coworker-friends from the other side of the lake.  New friends are good, but I'm thankful to have the old ones too, especially during this transition.
• Simple "extras" - things that aren't necessary but the Lord gives me to enjoy, like the summery cricket chorus, the cute little cottontail that comes by almost every evening, gorgeous dahlias and zinnias from the farmers market (pictured above), avocados on sale, rumbling thunderstorms, fireflies, breezes through open windows, and new places to explore.

The list could be far longer, but even this is enough to show how kind, faithful, and extravagantly good God has been to me.

Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by Thy help I've come...