In the last week...

--the movers came and took stuff to storage/packed everything up to get shipped, which will get to Heidelberg by Dec. 26th - woohoo!

--we have slept on an air mattress that has been surprisingly not too bad. (Hint: Get the kind that are like a foot and a half off the ground.)

--we spent the weekend in Houston with Lisa and John. Of course, no pictures... But we had such a good time with them!

--I have been training Brook to take my job. It has been such a joy and I am so relieved to be passing my duties off to him.

--it has been really sinking in that we are leaving our home here in Shreveport. If it was my choice, and I know I am saying this out of my ignorance/short-sightedness, we would live here forever. I love my job, my friends, our church. And I mean that in the deepest sense. This is the first job I have had that I love everything about. These are the first friends I have had that are so much like family to me. This is the first church I have been at where I actually feel at home and am so totally plugged in. I don't think I have experienced a goodbye yet that will be this painful. I simply don't want to let go. However, I used to feel that way about ACU/Abilene. I loved my college years and sometimes wish I could re-live them just for a day or two. And now we are here and I love more about here than I ever loved about Abilene. And before that, I was uncertain of moving to Abilene, away from my family for the first time. And so the cycle continues. I am so excited about our next years in Heidelberg. When I think about them, I get so giddy. Nathan and I talk about how fun and unforgettable it will all be. This is exactly what we wanted and still want. And I know I will be so sad when our time is up there. So if we could just move to Germany, live for there for three years, but not have to give up everything here in Shreveport, I wouldn't have any tears to cry. But that's so utterly impossible. Well... unless I can convince Chuck to move Broadmoor Baptist to Heidelberg, along with all of its people. haha. I guess it is good that Nathan and I both can find contentment wherever God plops us on the map and I am glad that we have handled new places pretty well so far. I just haven't gotten good at goodbye. (I know... bad grammar, but anyone catch the country song reference? Anyone?) Mom says the longer we are military, the easier it becomes. The more you learn how to stay in touch and just be thankful for the years you spent in each place, even if it was shorter than wanted. Also, I am sure there will come a day that we find ourselves somewhere we are willing to say goodbye to. For now, I will ignore the countdown that Nathan seems to have embraced and enjoy my last days here, knowing that God's plans for us are good.