Starting to Say Goodbye

I am totally amazed by God's blessings in my life. Tonight was a going away party for me in Platte. It was a lot of fun to be able to catch up with some of you and share a last meal together. But, I hate saying goodbye. I am still trying to avoid thinking about that part of it, and focusing instead on where I'll end up, but my wall is starting to crack. I was totally blessed and overwhelmed by the generosity of my friends who all pitched in so I'll be able to buy a guitar in Singapore. Every time I play it, I'll think of all of you, and the joy you've brought to my life in the last few years. After supper at the Pizza Ranch, Heidi and I took some of the youth group girls bowling. It was a blast! I won the first game with my highest score ever 147! After our "regular" bowling, we played a round of Party Bowling, where each person gets to choose a goofy way to bowl. We were laying on our backs, stomachs, bowling with our eyes closed and all kinds of other crazy things! We stayed for awhile, but eventually, all good things must come to an end. It was hard to drop the girls off tonight, knowing that youth group will go on without me, but hating that I'll miss seeing on a weekly basis what God is doing in their lives. One of the girls lingered at her house, letting in a ton of cold air, but not ready to say goodbye. That same girl called me a few minutes later, and when I asked her what was up, she said she just didn't want me to go, she wasn't ready to say goodbye. I wasn't ready either. I'm excited to see what God is going to do in their lives, but I'm really going to miss them, they have been such a blessing. God has used my time in Lake to help me grow closer to Him, learning to rely on Him each and every day for all of my needs. He's taught me that I don't have to know the plan, just be willing to say "yes" when He tells me to do something. He's taught me the joy of loving others unconditionally, and the peace that comes from knowing He is in control. I'm so thankful for all the things He's taught me, and all of you that He has used.