time to say goodbye

this is the hard part, the part that brings me to tears, the part that i didn't want but because it is here we embrace and look forward to what it is that we are heading to. to start off, i need to share with those who read these little writings of mine and encourage me along the way that i find that so very important. written words are often hard to come by, but i find it is a love language of mine and i cherish those things dearly. i cherish quality time as well, something that those who live provinces away can not offer but i understand. however, not in place of anyone, but alongside them, have been added some dear friends from lethbridge, friends that i am not looking forward to saying goodbye to, but friends that i know i am not really leaving. friends that have stepped up and carved a place in our hearts. by name, these are people that during these last few days here have been instrumental in our lives. joan. a member of the church staff who worked with scott, who makes me giggle just thinking about her. anutie joan to sophie, who held her on her third day here in this world, who hates letting her go, who honestly loves her and cares about her and for her. joan is a kind spirit, a woman of many graces. she is the one who would ask how i was doing, how i was enjoying the wind, how i was enjoying the snow. she is the one who i would ask if scott could stay home from work cause the snow was too deep and we people from bc don't venture out in such conditions. she is the one who everyday would patch me through to scott as i phoned just to check in and tell him that i was thinking of him. joan, who has a gameboy in her purse and most likely plays it during church, is a woman who took us under her wing and cared for us well. she is one who i will miss dearly. i would like to say to you joan, that i have enjoyed your smile, i have been encouraged by your words and i will not soon forget the goodness of your husbands baking! pam. i have mentioned pam before...but i find that i need to write more about her as she has shared in tears and heartache over the decisions and processes that have happened here. pam who brings cold drinks to have outside, even if for a few minutes, during her busy schedule, has come to be a bossom friend. she is a blessing from our God. she knows my heart and i have so appreciated talks about our faith, talks about the journeys we find ourselves on, and the need to be real even if it means that the words we use do not sound okay in our Christian communities. she has challenged me on being honest in my pain and has allowed it to be real. pam i need to say to you that i am and will be forever thankful for you and your family and their kindness to myself and my family. i also need to share with you that if you move to the coast i will never leave you in the summer times like your sister! our youth families and the youth themselves. there have been many families that have had us over to their houses, that have invited us in to journey with their kids and themselves, you have all been so instrumental in our stay. your kindness has been overwhelming and your support to my family has not gone unnoticed. i thank you. to the youth, thank you for sharing your time and energies with scott. it means so much to me to see you all so excited about him and i take joy in watching him interact with you all. i know that you have worked your way into his heart and it won't be easy to let you go. thank you for being excited about him when he came and encouraging him during his exit. now for the moving on part. our journey continues, regardless of the people we have to leave behind. it brings us back to the west coast to the little town of langley. scott has accepted a position at trinity western university as a residence director...this means that we will be living on campus and interacting with the college students. each dorm has residence assistance that live with the students and share more one on one with them. however, scott watches over and cares for the assistances and encourages them with the decisions they make and the challenges them on their problem solving skills etc. this position will also allow for myself to be apart of the trinity challenge course, something that i have been passionate about for some time now, since i myself was a student there. it will also allow us to take some courses and further our education...i am excited...scott ummm, i hope he embraces that part of the move! so to langley bc we go...we come... we are excited. our hearts are lifted with the news yet saddened by the reality of leaving. i must continue to pack... our move is happening fast... i need time to say goodbye... i hope this helps...me.