As I held my sleeping baby and rocked him back and forth, it was as if a wave of thought and emotion came out of nowhere. The wave swept me up and there was little I could do about it.
My thoughts were directed to the past four years, spent here in Ohio.
I thought of those first few weeks as a new bride, here in Paulding county, not many familiar faces around. I would count down the minutes until Nate arrived home from work, because in a sense, it truly was the two of us.
I thought about my interview at the hospital, soon after being married, and how I was thankful for a job so close by. The relationships formed were special and I felt a sense of belonging in this new community.
I remembered how thrilled we were to buy our first house together and make it our own, and now here we were, knowing that there was an offer on the table, and that we may soon be handing over the keys.
Thinking about the heartache we endured, in these very walls, when we realized that we would not be starting a family quite as soon as we had hoped.
Wondering how many countless times we had walked around the block, in this sweet neighborhood, and how many hours I had spent staring out the front window, watching the neighborhood kids run around.
I thought about the friendships that God had brought along, and how I could barely stand the thought of saying "goodbye."
I marveled at how I quickly fell in love with our church family, and how they have continually wrapped their arms around us and supported us beyond belief.
I remembered back to the day when we brought our baby boy home from the hospital and introduced him to his new home.
I think about the many loved ones who have walked through our front door. Some from other parts of the world, and I am grateful that we could open our home and hearts to them.
I think about the day when we will drive away from this house for the very last time. Have our last Sunday at the church that has become so near and dear to us. Bid farewell to the borders of Ohio.
Will there be some sadness? Definitely
I have not written these words with dry eyes whatsoever.
But we know that there is joy awaiting too. We know that there is a new normal to be had. Change is not always meant to be easy. I am thankful that this transition is not easy, for it means that we have invested our hearts, time, and love into the place in which God has meant for such a time.
Thankful for these verses which God gave me this morning.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world....And the world passeth away, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. ~1 John 2:15 & 17
What a good reminder to not place so much value in our earthly possessions or circumstances. As the title states, "It Is Getting Real," and that is the truth. We are getting closer and closer to our move date. What a privilege for Nate and I to look back, at our first four years of marriage, with such fondness. We will miss so much about this place, but we know that God has great things in store.
