Goodbyes...

suck.
The past week has gone by SO fast and yet so slow! It's hard to explain. I'm ready to get this show on the road, but I am not ready to say goodbye to family and friends. The anxiousness of the unknown about all that is this new experience will be elevated when I get there, but it's taking a long time to get to that point. Yet, the sadness of saying goodbye has happened way too fast.
Such is life.
I said a lot of cheerful goodbyes a few weeks ago at my going away party. It hadn't (and still hasn't) really hit that I am leaving so I hugged and said goodbye to some great college and work friends. It was a great party. If you don't believe me, read the post below.
Sunday night I spent the night in Denton with my friend Lacy who was working at a clinic up there on Monday the 16th. So we had a slumber party where I couldn't keep my eyes open and had no idea what Lacy or I were talking about. (I've never been good at slumber parties. I always just want to go to sleep.) So we woke up the next morning and had a good, long breakfast at Panera before Lacy had to go into work. It kind of got a little real at that point, but I talked to Lacy later that day as she drove home... so I still wasn't too sad. Yet.

Fast forward through a week of packing up my apartment to dinner at my Aunt Susie's. It was so great. She made the enchiladas that I dream about. They are a childhood staple for me and I was so glad to have them once more before I left! My Aunt Judy, Uncle Steve, Tracy (cousin), Vanessa (cousin), Aunt Susie, Uncle Van, Granny, PawPaw, Mom, Dad, and the rest of my family (little ones included) were all there, so it was a fun family gathering! The little ones played outside on the swing and in the water table while the adults chatted and got caught up. My granny made me a travel quilt that I am so excited to take to Korea with me, and my PawPaw supplied me with more hand and feet warmers for the bitter cold that I will endure. Both will keep this Texas girl warm and happy. Toward the end of the evening we went through old pictures of my parents, my brothers, and myself. Pierson got to see what Grandpa looked like when he was his Daddy's age. The resemblance confused Pierson for a little bit when we pointed at my dad and asked "Who is that!?" He hesitated and pointed to Nathan and said, "YOU!?" As much as I've always thought Nathan looks more like the Gillis side of the family, there is no doubt he is a Hall.

Nathan and Pierson at the beach in Vancouver June 2011

Dad and I near Galveston in summer of 1986?

Hopefully you see some resemblance.

My first hard goodbye was to my sister-in-law Melissa while leaving Aunt Susie's house. She is at a retreat this weekend and that was the last time I got to see her in person before Christmas. She has been a part of this family (in my eyes) since I was a freshman in high school-- 1999? I cried most of the way home.

I went home and continued to pack up my apartment and get ready for the move. Jared came over on Tuesday and we moved most of my apartment into a tiny storage facility! I stressed out the majority of the time we were moving because I was convinced it was  not going to fit. Early on Jared said that we might have to take the legs off my table to make everything fit and sure enough, the packing Yoda was right. I am always amazed at how he is able to tetris things to get everything to fit just right. It's a gift. Even though the weather was hot and moving was hard, I had a really fun time with my brother. He is one of my best friends, and he made moving fun!

I cleaned the rest of the day and went over to my mom and dad's to go to sleep. Wednesday was probably my most productive non-teaching day I have ever had. I ran errands from 8am to 6pm and got everything done! Well, except one thing. My AC adaptor for my computer blew out on Monday and I went to Best Buy to get another one. I quickly called the computer savvy brother and Nate didn't recognize the brand of the only adaptor that would supposedly work for my computer. So, he ordered two off Amazon and had them here by Friday. And as you can tell, my computer is alive! Thank you, Nathan! (I have the best big brothers. In case anyone was wondering.)

Wednesday was also the day I said goodbye to Molly. She is one of my best friends and worked with me at Otis Brown for 3 1/2 years! We were blessed to get hired at the same school! God is pretty cool! We had lunch at Chipotle and said goodbye-- and it sucked. I love Molly, but I am really going to miss her.

My mom took off work on Thursday and we got to spend the day together (minus some time at the dentist, but with my screwed up mouth what else is new?). We ate at Twisted Root (great burgers) and got our nails done. Then I bought a new backpack (since Jared found out that I have had his for 6 years-- stupid moving). We met Nancy and Bill Yates at La Hacienda Ranch for dinner and had a great time. The Yates are basically family and I am going to miss them so much!

Bill and Nancy outside of La Hacienda Ranch

We missed you, Lindsey, Tim, and Kyle!

After dinner I drove up to Lewisville to say goodbye to Jim and Patricia Welch. We had snowcones at Bahama Bucks and chatted for a while, then said our goodbyes. I held it together until I got in the car, and again, I lost it. I love those two. They are such great friends and we always have a fun time together. I will miss our "Real Food Mondays" with Bachelor, Bachelorette, and Dancing with the Stars.

Friday morning I woke up and met Ashlee at our coffee shop, Java Me Up. We, as usual, sat outside on the patio and drank our coffee and got caught up. Ashlee was my roommate for two years, then we lived across the street from each other for another two years. She has become one of my best friends and has been such a blessing. I couldn't hold it together for that goodbye and had a nice cry before I got in the car and continued to cry all the way to lunch with my parents. My mom and I ran errands after lunch then went home to get ready for dinner at Babe's. I drove myself to dinner because I am one who likes to cry by myself. I need no consoling nor do I want it, and I knew I was going to cry.

Uncle Hadley, Aunt Gaynell, Brady, Courtney, baby Callan, and the whole Hall gang (minus Melissa- we missed you) were there to enjoy the good food. I ate WAY too much (as usual there) and had a good time seeing everyone. I said goodbye to my extended family, then had to say the dreaded goodbye to Nathan, Erin, and my nieces and nephews. Not fun. I tried not to cry because I didn't want to freak Macy or Pierson out, but it couldn't be helped. Jared is going to see me off at the airport, so I wasn't too worried about saying goodbye to him yet. I hugged the kids, hugged Erin, and hugged Nathan for so long his shirt was wet (sorry, Bubs). I hugged Jared mostly because he was holding Reid. Reid apparently thinks my ugly cry face is HILARIOUS as he was laughing the whole time. I love that kid. I left first because it could have dragged on longer than needed, and headed home.

The night was spent watching the opening ceremony for the Olympics and teaching my parents how to use Skype.

I woke up this morning and started unpacking and repacking my bags for Korea as all three are over the weight limit. After repacking,  now only two are over the weight limit. Today will be spent reassing all of my luggage until most of it is under the weight limit (I'll let one go over).

I'm pretty overwhelmed and distracted which is good right now. Once I get everything in order and run out of things to do, I will probably start to get more nervous.

I can still feel God in control, and I know who to run to when I start to freak out. As much as my friends and family love me, they can't calm my anxiety. I continually go back to February when this all began and remind myself of how perfectly this all aligned. It is God. I am doing what He wants me to do, even though I'm scared. It's exciting to be called, though. I have no idea what exactly I'm in for, but I know it will bring God glory.

Hallelujah!

-Sara