There sat Jordan and I in our newly empty first home. This was much harder than I thought it would be. We had so many wonderful memories in 7625 Edinborough Way. We had such a great first three years in the cities. I remember unloading our wedding decorations to put on the walls. I remember searching for the perfect couch and chair combo for that little living room. Painting the kitchen to match our new dishes. Deciding we should use our wedding money to buy a bedroom set that we can have forever, and placing it in the bedroom at the condo, where it fit perfectly! Then there were the times that we had friends over... for supper, for football games, after going out, to play cards or shake dice, for an extended amount of time (Jacob), for a weekend away trip for our families. Entertaining company in our very own place... with our very own nice things. It was like playing house, but for real. Then, after all the busy, came the quiet. Oh how we loved our quiet time, too. Relaxing on Sunday afternoon with the game on. Making a Saturday morning breakfast together, going for that fall walk, watching the first snowfall through the big sliding door, hearing the birds chirp and the water slowly gush from the waterfall... my heart was so content. What happy memories I have of those first three years. These memories are why it's sometimes hard to say 'goodbye'. It's hard to close that chapter of our lives, even if I am excited about the next one. I'm afraid. What if it never is as good as it was at Edinborough Way?!? What if all I wanted or needed was already right there in our little quiet, secluded life? Then again, what if it's even better? How could I possibly handle that?
I'm still very overwhelmed with the wonderful things that are surrounding us at this point in our lives. There are many things I am so glad we will never again have to miss out on b/c we will now be (literally) a hop, skip and a jump away from almost all of our immediate family. Case in point: Here comes Sunday (my birthday). Dad invites us out to the house for a fish fry. Not only do Jordan and I get to go, but both of my sisters and their families are there, too. What's better yet? Jordan's family is also able to come celebrate because they are close enough to be able to join us for special occasions. All (minus 2 brothers) of my closest family is there to celebrate my birthday. Who can say that they still get birthday parties at 27 years of age? Well... I guess I can say that I can. Perk #1 of our big move. I'm sure there will be many more 'perks' as I go along in the next week and then month of Chapter 2.
So today, I'm thankful for happy memories. I'm thankful for the peace and joy that God blessed us with for our three years in Edina. I'm also thankful that although apprehensive about all the changes, I'm still finding joy and excitement in some of the 'simple' blessings that He is giving me.
"If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity,and their years in pleasures." -Job 36.11
