I really don't like January

Its pretty crazy that we are leaving Ireland in 4 days, where did these 9 months go?! Its so weird to me, I've been living life in 4-9 month increments for a while now and it always starts off a little daunting and then before I know it -its over. We've had some long days over here in Ireland, but I'd say the weeks have gone by fast, and the months, really fast. It's always bittersweet to leave, but I'm constantly amazed at how quickly it all goes by.

January is my least favorite month of the year, I just don't like it. Its after all the holidays, relatives leave to go home, there isn't anything to look forward to for a while other than rain and cold weather and a long, long month. Every year January feels like 5 months to me and I'm always so relieved when its over. Well, I feel like May is becoming my second least favorite month. May is starting to mean goodbyes, transition, and change, and for me - I'm not a huge fan of those things either. As weird/unlike me as it sounds, I've intentionally not made many friends over here. After leaving Pasadena and then shortly after that, Bass Lake, I decided I was all "goodbyed out." I've gone to a play group on a fairly regular basis here but kept it all very surfacy so as to not have to say goodbye (which, if you know me at all, is so not how I work). The 2 girlfriends I've made are both Americans and I know I will see them again, so that helps a lot. Tom Nelly (as we call him in this house) is Irish to the core but I know we'll see him again -since he's getting his Phd in New Testament studies he'll be at the conference that Adam goes to every year (for theology dorks...er I mean, theology folks) and so, we'll see him. So really, the goodbyes will be minimal which I'm so thankful for, its just easier this way.

Now..its on to laundry and packing, which will pretty much consume my week. I CANNOT wait to go on vacation! (for you loyal readers I'm sure its seemed like these past 9 months I've been on vacation :)). We're meeting Adam's parents in Rome on 5/31 and we are so excited! For all the folks wondering "What's next?" that's a great question -we don't know. All we know for now is that we are going to Rome for 5 days, then onto Norway for 7 days, then back to Ireland for 2 days (to get all of our stuff) and then to Oregon for the summer! As of right now its looking like Oregon will be our home for the next year but, anything can happen between now and August so...we wait and see. Clearly, this isn't what we were hoping for, but God's ways our higher than ours and so we trust him and blindly move along until he reveals whats next. To be real, super duper, uber honest.. I miss my stuff. I'm ready to settle and have my things back and set up Brennan's room and sleep in my own bed -that's what I long for and pray for. I don't want it to come across that I'm okay with all of this not knowing (crap) and am at total peace b/c I'm not, not even by a mile. But, its where we are right now so...theres that. It will be weird to be living back in the northwest since I haven't since 1996, crazy! Neat to be by family for the first time in ages and for B to spend some quality time w/ the grandparents and aunts/uncles/cousins. This is the good stuff, the stuff that makes all of this uncertainty somewhat okay in my mind. We'll get thru this, its not going to look how I wanted it to or how I envisioned but I'm confident that in the end, there will be a story and a purpose and for that -I can't wait! Thanks for sharing in the journey.


(This pic might seem random but we've been having weekly movie nights w/ Tom since we moved here, we always eat m&ms. Movie night is one of the things that I will miss the most).