Oh, how lucky

Goodbyes are the worst.

I've decided one of the reasons heaven is so heavenly is because of its eternal nature-- there are no goodbyes.

No goodbye tears or goodbye hugs or goodbye heartache.

The scariest part of goodbyes is knowing nothing will ever be the same.  

No person, no relationship, no point-of view.  

When I come back to the 719 there will be new buildings, new people, new lots of things.  

My world is going on without me all while I trade it for a new one a few miles East. 

And above all else, I’m never going to be the same.

The words "I will miss you" don't seem to cover the feelings that fill my heart as I say farewell. It seems more like mourning than "See you at Christmas!"

I'm trying to challenge the hurt of my goodbyes with thankfulness.

At least gratitude makes parting bittersweet instead of just plain bitter.

As my long-term bud Winnie the Pooh one said

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

but I think Pooh's small vocabulary may merit some edits.

In my world it's more like 

"How BLESSED//THANKFUL//AWESTRUCK I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

But I’m going and I’m adventuring—and today, I must say goodbye to the home I've known for so long--until Christmas at least.

So goodbye, beautiful mountain.

Thank you for being a constant, in-ignorable reminder of God's creativity, grace, and magnitude.

Goodbye, beautiful church.

Thank you for bringing me up in Him, for teaching me what a body is supposed to look like even when it’s hurting.

Goodbye, beautiful school full of beautiful people.

Thank you for teaching me about the world--but also about myself and the value people can have in my life.

Goodbye, beautiful mentors.

(Hey Dannie--You're on this list.  I couldn't find a picture of your face next to my face. Let's fix that.)

Thank you for pouring into me and showing me what it looks like to be a Godly woman, I wouldn't be who I am today without you.

Goodbye, beautiful family.

Thank you for raising up a Christian, loving me unconditionally, and giving me just enough dysfunction to be interesting.

Goodbye, beautiful friends.

(If I missed you--it wasn't on purpose  Photo collaging is harder than it looks.)

Thank you for pushing me, supporting me, and being there whenever and wherever I needed you.

Goodbye, beautiful Colorado Springs

For you, I am grateful.

There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:

   a time to plant and a time to uproot,

   a time to tear down and a time to build,

   a time to mourn and a time to dance,

   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

   a time to keep and a time to throw away,

   a time to be silent and a time to speak,

  a time for war and a time for peace.

                                              Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 106:1

Now to the real stuff...

I need to decide which song is the best "headed to Boston" theme!