its really here!

After a crazy whirlwind of a week... its here. Day after tomorrow this new adventure God's got for me begins. Today I said good-bye to the folks at Faith Church- I thought for sure I was going to cry during my last song with the worship team :( But I didn't- I finished the song. Its that sneaky trick that if you take tissues, you will not need them- i don't take them I will need them. So I took them up- apparently it worked. So many good memories- talking with Laura and Beth Ellen, Joe and Rich's oh-so-serious post service practices :P

And there was the big family dinner this afternoon to send us various cousins our seperate ways this fall. Slippy pot pie (one of Gmom's most amazing meals- and those of you who have eaten at my grandmom's house know that's saying something)- yum!

So many good-byes- but I haven't cried yet... I've wanted to a couple times but it was never an appropriate moment to do so. I can feel it coming on. But the excitement just keeps swallowing it. Please pray for me though, I'm nervous about how to say good-bye this time. I can't just burn all the bridges like I did when I was little, but I don't want to leave my heart here completely like I did when I left college. A healthy balance is what I need. I am TERRIBLE at balancing- litererally and metaphorically.

In happier news, all of my stuff IS going to fit into my car- hurray for Buddy's muscles and Jessi's crazy awesome packing skills. Work is all officially wrapped up and handed over. and now that the car is packed I actually feel a huge relief like I might actually get all this nonsense done in time! Hurray!

I really am excited that God is really going to let me go and use me, even me with all my issues and quirks, to spread His fame - SO excited!

Prayer- safe travel on Tuesday

Prayer-sleep hours to count at least double, preferabbly triple the actual ammount I am sleeping

Praise- stuff fit in the car!

Praise- wonderful lessons and personal development God has worked in me while I have been in the Philadelphia area.

One more praise, but this one takes a bit longer to explain. I have been praying that God would show me if/how my being here has been a benefit to others- I know it has been of incredible value to me and I have grown so much here, but I have really been praying the last two years that God would use me here to draw others closer to Him. I guess haven't seen anything amazingly solid that proved He had used in me that way, but He pointed out some things quietly in or through random conversations with friends- and it is encouraging to know that my service here in the Lord was not in vain either.

well my friends- my next update will be in ohio after the big goodbye as I stop to stpend some time with Grandma, Grandpa, Mom and Dad- Thank God! I think only something that good will get me through saying goodbye to everybody at Thrive and saying goodbye to Gmom, Jess and Bud Tuesday AM. But God knows. and it is going to be AWESOME!!!