Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Sunday, we paused in silence for the troops. There are so many who have died and who continue to die in this war. I thought of Jason. I had to fight back the tears remembering his sacrifice and wishing it was one that did not have to be made.

Sunday was bittersweet for another reason; it was our last Sunday at Arbor. I start my new position as the Director of Youth Ministries on Thursday, June 1, so we had to say goodbye to everyone. Tim and I both cried, along with others at the church. It's so hard to leave a family. It's almost like going to college. You are excited to spread your wings and you know you will see those you love and call family again, but when you are all alone in your dorm, it hits you that things will never be the same, that you have turned the page on that chapter of life called childhood. I know I will see my Arbor family again and that they will always be there for me, but we have been through an awful lot together and it's hard to move on from that. One of my friends from Arbor, Laurie, told me, "God gave you wings, you have to use them." I'm very excited about what God is doing in mine and Tim's life and this new opportunity at Providence. I think it will be good for us to branch out in ministry. But, it's still hard. We learned so much at Arbor and from Arbor. We'll miss it.

This week will be interesting. Tomorrow, one of my best friends is leaving for the summer. We said our goodbyes on Friday, but I imagine I'll still be sad tomorrow. It's hard when you get so close to someone to be away from them for long times. I'll never forget when my high school best friend, Shanee, moved to Korea! That was so hard; we couldn't even call each other! I don't get very close to many people, so it's harder on me when I have to say goodbye, even if it's only a short time. We will certainly talk this summer, but I won't be able to call my friend and go get Mexican food and Rita's any day of the week just to get out of the house and spend time goofing off and laughing for hours. You can't convey sarcasm as easily over the phone or in email.

As for the rest of the week, I am meeting two friends on Wednesday and starting a job on Thursday, so that should keep me busy. I'm so excited to actually get paid on a regular basis and a normal salary instead of guessing what my paycheck will be from the hospital. It feels like life is getting back to normal from my year off work and in school full time. I just hope I'll be able to juggle both school and a job in the fall and spring and then the fall again before I graduate in May 2009.

This is a long blog, so I'll save the "future plans" post for later, but I do have them.

Praying tonight for: all my youth (Arbor past and present and the new ones at Providence), my neighbors Carolyn and Cary, (Carloyn's mother has or will soon pass), my husband, my family, my friend leaving for the summer, Hannah Beth (she lost her best friend in a car accident a month ago), Sky (Jason's wife) and all the troops and their families, and the government