Good Times & Goodbyes

Okay, Okay...I admit it, I'm not great about blogging yet.  But I PROMISE I'll be better once we are overseas.  It just feels like I keep saying the same thing right now - we are still getting ready to leave - packing, moving, saying goodbyes.  But I realize that there is more to the story, and there are those that are interested in knowing how we are doing.  Thank you for thinking and caring about our family.  This update is for you.

We leave a week from tomorrow.  July 21st is rapidly approaching.  We have moved out of our house and the renters are in. That was a surprisingly emotional transition for me (Brandee).  I'm not super sentimental about stuff like that.  I'm usually excited about whatever is coming next that I don't look back much.  But I found it really hard to leave our house.  Maybe part of it is I don't know for sure if we'll get to come back to it.  We don't know what God has planned for us after these 2 years in the ME, so I can't be certain.  The other part of it is that I love our home.  It's been a place of rest and healing for me after dealing with Connor's cancer.  So there was a little more grief than I was prepared for, but God walked me through it.

Anyway, on our last night at home with the fam, we sat on the deck and reminisced together.  We laughed, cried, talked about the upcoming transitions, named some of the things we were sad and scared about, sang worship songs and did some crazy dancing.  It was a great last night in a home we love.

Travis' parents have graciously allowed us to live with them until our departure. We spent a week with them while both Travis and I finished up work and then headed to Eugene to spend a week with my parents.  We made some great memories going to a rodeo on 4th of July and watching fireworks, hanging out at Camp Harlow for an afternoon, swimming and rafting at Dorena Lake, celebrating birthdays, sleeping in a tent in the backyard, going to a baseball game and having good talks.

Our kids with their 2 Eugene cousins - Tayvan and Jezzi

Nana with Hailey and Jezzi on the Bumper Boats @ Camp Harlow

Logan and Connor on the go-carts @ Camp Harlow

Quality Time with my Dad

Now we are back in Salem, wrapping up a week of errands, paperwork and time with friends.   At the moment we are all doing well.  The same might not have been said yesterday as we were madly trying to find misplaced important documents, but God showed Himself faithful in that situation by helping us find "a needle in a haystack".  As I told family yesterday, there's nothing like a minor catastrophe to put things in perspective.  Now the things that seemed overwhelming - the packing of the 10 infamous bags - seems much less daunting. 

Grandpa, Cousin Grant, Connor, Logan and Grandma at a Volcanoes Game

Hailey and her beloved cousin, Cole

Travis with his big bro, Mitch

Story time with Grandpa

Mother-Daughter Tea Party for Hailey's "birthday" (August 17th)

Mothers and Daughters

Hard Goodbyes

We are seeking to keep our eyes on Him who is worthy of our trust as we wrap things up here in the US.  Next time I write will probably be from across the ocean.  We'd love your prayers for safe travel!! Blessings!