Less than 48 hours!

Oh, that I were a gifted wordsmith to capture the joys, pressures, frustrations and events where you could see and feel them with me.  Bill has arrived, we are headed out to CiCi's with Ben, his mom, and the three of us as a last chance to have our time together for awhile.  There's been quite a bit of that lately.  TeachBeyond at orientation advised us to "leave well,"  and that has happened.

How do the special efforts made by friends and family ever get explained adequately?  The time spent with Suzi, a very special sister-in-law, who drove all the way over from Davie to spend the day--what a treat as we discovered an new Alpine lunch/dinner place next  where we intended to eat, warm, light crepe "sandwich cones" replacing the regular fare!  An added bonus--the quiet ambiance allowed the conversation we so wanted.  Then later that evening my Apple mentor and clothing advisor and house preparation guide--Kathie took me for a lovely, unforgetable dinner--crushed pistachio and macadamia encrusted grouper!  Though the meal and surroundings were perfect, we experienced conflicting feelings of excitement and loss.  It was hard to look into her eyes and know we couldn't see each other when needed.  The next day, Friday, most of Pine Ridge's seventh grade "lunch bunch" met a last time at Sunburst cafe to giggle, chat, and catch up with family and events from lapsed time.  We have always felt so blessed to work together with such a dedicated, fun, upbeat group who encourages one another...treasures all.  Then "Grandma," a feisty 90 year-old who has endeared herself to Ruth, bid a fond farewell to Ruth as she cleaned the last time.  From there we drove to Gwen and Larry's to show her how to "trim the tummies" of her three Havanese that Ruth has pet-sat and groomed, and of course we ended up sitting and talking about many other interests; they are always involved and willing to help. That night my personal shopper and tastefully coordinated person who keeps trying to help me be the same (she's quite the optimist), Marianne, came by for a final farewell visit and we got lost in genealogies.  "Leaving well" really is special.  I'm thankful for these any many other such special times--our art group who shares beyond drawing, paper, and paint; we share in our experiences and faith; my small group whose individual lives each contribute so much to the whole, with the diversity making it so rich.  I can never forget how God used them to provide direction and encouragement on this journey since Bill's home going; our Friday morning prayer group whose faith and prayers have grown me tremendously.  How gifted am I.  Thank you for these treasures and for the time to enjoy them before leaving.  Thank you to TeachBeyond for advising of the importance of such things.

Amid all of this have been frantic moments of shopping for endless "needs" as a move of two years is anticipated.  Of course the bed in the furnished apartment was a full sized one.  I have twin and queen sizes of everything, but not that.  Then "no coffee pot" meant a French press would be transportable so coffee would be possible the morning after arriving...three mornings from now!  That is unbelievable.  No one will be in the house, no familiar sounds or faces, no familiar routines, no getting something quickly at the store that was forgotten.  A new life begins soon.

Before all of that happens there is a day left to finish all the "business" that needs to be completed, and much is left hanging.  Legal papers to be packed, car transaction to complete--and I did not see the people today, and the housing situation after I leave has gone back and forth (someone will be here, nope, no one will be here, and again today that possibly changed).  Whether or not someone stays is not stressful to me, I'm comfortable that He is in control; either way He will meet my needs.  However, what is stressful is not knowing how prepare the house if someone does comes.  Yes, it is going to be cleaned once we leave, but beyond cleaning how clearing out all the extraneous "stuff" get done if such preparation has not been part of the plan all along?

Mixed with all of the above has been a cram course on this new Mac computer, quite different from a PC.  The iPad was easy to use, but the computer has been a different animal to me.  Also, I have to plan on clean up work with old hard drives, which is scheduled for tomorrow.  On the new one, fortunately enough one-to-one computer time has occurred to make me far more comfortable with this computer, but that involved many separate trips.  Tomorrow is another half hour session to answer more questions about the contact list.  Factor these classes with packing, shopping, visiting, etc. and it becomes clearer how fragmented time has been.  I'm ready for a rest from this routine of irregularity, but thinking about how different things will be in three days when I wake up in Kandern, Germany, does give me pause.  Keep praying as the transition thickens.