to interrupt the madness of packing

Since I (Michelle) last posted, 7 months ago, phew! The biggest news of all: Jason got the job overseas.

I left my position at Caribou as the [standing] Store Manager last Monday. The last 8 days have been incredible! You always hear that you need to love what you do in life in order to maintain a job for very long. Well I liked working at Caribou, I like food service and I like being on a team; but I love homemaking. Not lazily sitting around at home but cleaning, organizing, cooking, grocery shopping, exercising, spending time developing godly friendships and having time to devote to the Father.

It's sad though, just as I am getting back time to spend with friends and serve generously at church, we are being whisked away by the tides of change. Within the last two weeks we got bikes (our expected primary modes of transportation upon arrival over there); purchased new, adult clothes for Jason that will hopefully withstand the three years over there (where buying clothing is significantly more expensive than it is here in the US); and got Autumn internationally micro-chipped. Then just yesterday invitations for our going away party (just 4 weeks away) went out, we are on out way!

I am happy to report there is no more fear, in either Jason or myself. We are both patiently waiting, despite the difficulty in that, and assuming the best. There isn't much time to dream or expect or anticipate anything that will be once we get there right now though, I am so rapped up in the preparations of getting all of our things there! Wednesday our car gets shipped, as it takes 45 days to arrive by boat. The following Wednesday our first shipment of 700 lbs will go over ahead of us, so we have some of our things awaiting us when we arrive. The days between will be spent in Ohio visiting family and friends one last time, as well as running in our first ever 5K race together around the lake in Cleveland. It's taken a little over a month to train for this upcoming challenge but both Jason and I are confident in the outcome! Yesterday morning we ran about the entire distance of the race at a 10:30 pace, which is definitely acceptable for brand new runners.

After next Wednesday when most of our things will be gone, we'll just be waiting for the big departure. Hopefully there will be few major stressors and lots of time spent with loved ones, and maybe some great surprises from a great God!