Reflection.....

Today, the packers have arrived to put our "life" into boxes, to ship to Germany.  As I look around and the boxes, I begin to think about all of the many places we lived.  As I think through the list, I cannot think of one place that was "bad".  Yes, there are places that we have decided we would never want to retire in, but at each Army assignment, we can look back and see God's hand.  At each place, God gave us wonderful friends and neighbors, that would become our "family".  He gave us neighbors that would "pray over" our house, even before we arrived.  Through those neighbors, we were brought to Christ, and our lives ever since have been changed.  From there, we started to have a heart for the orphans of the world, and we began serving on short term mission teams.  From there, we grew a heart to adopt, and were able to add 2 more beautiful girls to our family.

As we start our move to Germany, I am filled with alot of excitement (and some jitters - but just a little).  I am excited because I can't wait to see what God has planned for us.  We have prayed that we can use our time overseas, as a "mission field", that we become the ones that will pray over the homes of those that will be our neighbors, that we can be the "Hands and Feet" of Christ

As I think about all the places we've lived, it brings to mind the MANY wonderful friends that are in our lives.  I also think about how "strange" military living is - in that there are many of these "friends" we haven't seen in years, yet when we do get back together, or email, or facebook - it's as if we'd been apart for only days.  I love that I have friends all over the country, and in different parts of the world.  I love that I know I could email and say "hey, we're gonna be in the area - want to get together?" and I wouldn't feel awkward.  I love that our friends can call us, and say they want to come visit and they know they have a place to stay.

Yesterday was our "last Sunday" at our church for the last 9 months, and it was the start of the official "good-byes".  It was sad to start saying good-bye, but I had another strange emotion - I was a little "giddy", because I knew it meant I would start saying "hello" to my new friends in Germany.  It's difficult to keep the sadness of "good-byes" and joys of "hellos" balanced, without being guilty. 

As I write this, I am reminded of the song, Friends are Friends Forever, by Michael W Smith and Amy Grant.....
Friends are Friends Forever

So, as I step out into a "house of boxes", I am singing this song over and over in my head, asking God to continue placing such wondering God-loving friends into my life, and to protect the hearts of myself and the friends I say good-bye to!