When I left Queen’s my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now there is a bend in it. I don’t know what lies around the bend, but I’m going to believe the best does. It has a fascination of its own, that bend, Marilla. I wonder how the road beyond it goes–what there is of green glory and soft, checkered light and shadows–what new landscapes–what new beauties–what curves and hills and valleys further on.

We’re leaving. Leaving the place we’ve called home for the past 12 years. It feels as if a “super stuck” band-aid is painfully being ripped off, taking with it a layer of skin that wasn’t quite ready to be removed.

Hmm. That started off as a good analogy, but now I’m not sure that curvy paths and band-aids really have all that much in common.

Back to the fact that we’re leaving the Dominican Republic. It was 12 years ago today that we boarded a plane with a 22-month old, a 4-month old, and way more suitcases than we could physically carry. A whole lot of life has been lived since that bittersweet day. But if there’s something I’ve learned, stepping out in faith is always worth it – as long as God is leading the way.

Here we are again–at another crossroads. This time, too, the path ahead is uncertain. But as Anne says, this new road “has a fascination of its own” as well. I’m nervously excited to see what the future holds in store!

We all process a little differently. It’s going to take me a long time (or maybe forever) to get accustomed to life back in the good ol’ US of A. And that’s OK. But saying words to my journal has always helped me make sense of my little corner of the world. So, here I am, starting this #goodbye series on the blog.

There is sadness that things are changing, but there’s thankfulness wrapped up in this move too. How grateful I am that I was given the opportunity to love this country, this ministry, and the precious people that were placed in my path.

Follow along as I walk down memory lane in the coming weeks and recognize many of the wonderful ways that God blessed me in this season.