Hard, but Good Goodbyes

Selling our car. Check.
Moving our furniture and belongings we are keeping. Check.
Three yard sales to sell what we weren't keeping. Check.
Eleven trips to Goodwill to give away stuff we didn't sell. Check.
Finding renters for our house. Check.
Cancelling utilities in our name for our house. Check.
Communicating with our bank about international use of our account. Check.
Confirming our housing in the UK. Check.
Packing our bags for England. Check.
Saying goodbyes. Check.

The weeks preceding our flight last week were very busy with all the details and logistics of moving from one country to another one. These above are just a few of the major ones.

It has been a time of letting go.  Letting go of our possesions.  Letting go of our life in the States. Not easy to do by any means, but thankfully the Lord has helped us through it. We have seen time and again how He answered our prayers and needs specifically to ease our transition to life in the UK this year.

In today's world, thankfully we have Skype and Facebook and other means of staying in touch, but still we know that relationships and friendships will be different. We can stay in touch, but won't see family and friends in person as often. There will be a new 'normal.'

We flew out from the new international terminal at Atlanta airport last Wednesday and were so grateful that our parents (better known as Emily's grandparents of course) came to see us off.  I know all of us had mixed emotions - sad to see us go and yet excited for what was ahead. 

In the end, I think that's okay because it shows the strength and closeness of the relationship that is shared. It means there was something great that will be missed, and, at the same time, the desire for something great that is to come.

And we can take heart knowing the Lord is with us in this absence, comforting and strengthening us as we adjust to this new 'normal.' Thanks be to God for His Spirit who is with us!

[L-R: Grandy, NaiNai, Grammy, and Papa with Emily at the airport. We love you all!]

[Emily saying goodbye to Libby, the 4th member of our family who had to stay behind this time.]