1 week... Tough Stuff

1 week...7 days...168 hours...10,080 minutes...

Philippians 3:13-14 - "But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Right now is a very exciting time of preparation, anticipation, cleaning, packing, writing lists, re-writing lists, spending precious-short time with friends and family, obtaining new and used "essentials", and trying to cover the hundreds of things that need finished, planned out, organized, identified, and done before I leave on this great adventure!

It is also a very sad and difficult time for me. I love greetings and change and new things... I don't love long-term good-byes and separation from my dear friends and family. One by one I am doing things for the "last time" in a long while... some things will be the last forever, and that's hard. I completed my last day at CCI yesterday, and cried on my way home. How many people cry after their voluntary resignation from work?! I was also leaving Steed, the last CCI pup I raised, for what may be the last time. There is a possibility that he will be placed with somebody and graduate while I am away, in which case I may or may not hear or see him ever again. That's hard. I finish my last day at our vet's office tomorrow. I take Jen, my current CCI puppy, to the puppy raising friends who will have her for the final 6 weeks before she turns-in for advanced training. Although I know I will be seeing Jen again, it's still not easy to think that these are quite possibly her last days here at our house. What a fun 5 months it's been with her, and what a privilige to get to work with her! I will probably cry when I leave her on Saturday, even though I know she's in fabulous hands! And sheesh... if I cry that much from saying good bye to my doggies and co-workers, I hate the thought of saying good-bye to my friends and family! ...

But that's enough dwelling on the sad stuff. It doesn't do me a bit of good anyhow. If I focus on what's ahead... an exciting trip, (I love airports, flying, and traveling!), a new country (I love new things, new cultures, people, languages, etc.!), an amazing family to live with (I love the Petries!), and so much more that God has in store that I don't know about yet (I love God's little (and big) surprises!), then it makes it hard to stay sad for long. :-)

If you happen to think of me in the next week though, please pray...

--- that I will continue to be able to focus on what's ahead with excitement, anticipation, and joy
--- that I will not focus or be overcome by the sadness of saying good-byes and missing my family and friends
--- that I will be humbled and be able to fill the servant role I desire and am going to Belgium to be
--- that I will be able to accomplish all the things I would like to get done before I leave, use my remaining time here wisely, and not forget anything too vital in my packing! :-)

Thank You! Merci! Muchas Gracias! And my love to ya'll!

His,
MB