In which they say goodbye…

 Well here we are! Our last few days at home. Our earthly belongings are all stored in my brother Clarke’s basement. The Mazda is sold and the Ford has a caretaker for while we are gone. The chickens are happily laying eggs on other people's farms and the cows are either butchered or sold at the sale barn. The maple in front of our house is shedding its last few brilliant red leaves. (something I look forward to seeing every year!) The house is empty with freshly shampooed carpets and probably cleaner than it’s ever been in it’s life. Renters have the keys. Jared has quit his job at Mercy Hospital and I’ve quit my job at the Moundridge Manor, Keisha and I have ate sushi for the last time in awhile… so yes here we are. Feels so strange to be saying our good byes. Feels even stranger yet that it is US going to the mission instead of someone else. But it feels good and right for us to go… Others that go seem mature and like they know what life is about. I still feel like a little girl. Brent’s message this morning reminded me that God doesn’t call perfect people. Even Jesus’s disciples weren’t perfect. What a comfort!! It’s easy for me to slide into a perfectionist mindset so his reassurance that we will be very human in Bangladesh was reassuring. On the way home after church Layton summed it up beautifully… “Mom, so many people hugged me when they hugged you. I just put all the hugs right here.” (Pointed to his heart)Interesting to me cuz usually he shies away from people hugging him unless it’s his Mama.  Jared and I love our Hesston congregation so much. We always look forward to Sundays to going to church if we aren’t working. But life goes on… some have wondered if we are sad to leave? Of course we are but yet we felt Gods call quite clearly over the past few years to give time so it’s what we need and want to do. And maybe that’s why there hasn’t been lots of alligator tears yet either is this conviction has been forming for several years. Anyways, just wanted to write down my thoughts today for posterities sake!