A Life Changing Week

I really have just been a blubbering chick all week....

I just completed my last week of work in Pascagoula, MS. As I have mentioned before, I am transferring sectors as Jim & I have moved to Destin, FL. This past week has really made me stop & make a few observations:

* I need to smell the roses ALL of the time, not just when I realize that I am moving from the rose garden....
- It really wasn't until I was facing saying my goodbyes to people that I have gotten to know over the past 3 years just how close I had become to so many! I look back on these 3 years and I am saddened to think that I missed out on this realization while I was there. Going forward, I am going to make an effort to appreciate people and appreciate friendships all along, not just when I am faced with leaving them.

* Never think that your actions and attitude don't have an impact on people.
- One thing I tried to do during my tenure in Mississippi was to live for God and let my actions/attitude show that. Believe me, I had many days of failing at this, but with the help of God, had other days when people asked 'why are you so happy all of the time'? What a wonderful question to be asked, and how wonderful is it to be able to respond 'what do I have not to be happy about?' I had many conversations with co-workers about my faith and what it means to me. I really believe that I was put there for that very reason. How neat it was to find out that those that meant so much to me there, also felt the same way about me and my friendship. SO many tears shed that last day as I said my goodbyes & exchanged those hugs!!

* A great friend will not always be your same age or have the same experiences.
- One of my very best friends at work was the manager that worked for me. Sorry CM, but he was old enough to be my dad. :) The neat thing about our relationship was that we worked so well together professionally - we just clicked. I loved how he dealt with his staff and I also loved how we were able to work so well together to accomplish mutual goals on our program. But even more importantly than that - I learned so much from him about just being a GOOD person. He always carried himself with such dignity and class - he has the kindest, gentlest heart, with so much compassion and decency to EVERYONE. He and his wife became such good friends to Jim & myself - they'll never really know how much they have meant to me over this past year when I really got to know them. I will definitely miss them!!

* I can live in chaos!
- Because we really started to move about 1 1/2 months ago...I have basically been a nomad for this entire time. We have had the house on the market for a month, so I have not really been 'living' in the house. I have been doing as little as possible there so I didn't mess it up! I hardly cooked and basically did nothing more than sleep & get ready there during the week. On Thur nights, I would drive to Destin to stay the weekend at our NEW place, which is also chaos! When we moved Jim over here, we took just a few essentials like his office stuff, a bed (the spare one) and 2 lawn chairs to serve ALL purposes, inluding beach chairs. We took one of everything for the kitchen so he could cook during the weeks and we could cook during the weekends. But needless to say - there have been boxes and tons of Jim's medical equipment being shipped here almost daily - and nowhere for us to put anything because of a lack of furniture/storage. Add on top of this, I was at the house in Mobile on Friday for the movers to pack/move our stuff. So I cleaned the whole place again when they were finished and drove to Destin that night. I leave for Washington DC on Monday morning for my new job. The movers will deliver all of our stuff on Tuesday, so I will come home on Friday back to a whole new level of chaos - and boxes everywhere!! The weekend will be spent unpacking, and then back to DC for another week. So I have basically felt like I didn't have a *settled* home or environment for about 2 months. I am ready to "nest"!! Once things are back to normal, we can start accepting visitors! As much as I hate to admit it, this past couple of months has really made me realize that I really am much more of a creature of habit and order than Jim. He is absolutely fine with living in complete disarray - it hasn't phased him! I just crave getting it all back in order and going from there.

* Bring sunblock to lunch- Yes, you can get sunburned having lunch with a friend on a Saturday afternoon. Jim & I met a friend for lunch and both of us have the bright red faces to prove it.

All in all, it was a week I will never forget - moments of goodbyes that will forever be etched in my memory. Shared tears, and exchanges of 'please keep in touch' and MEANING it. I felt so loved this past week, with lots of lunches, happy hours, food days and cakes. Plaques and handshakes, embarassing speeches from my bosses, but accepting the compliments with humility. Pictures and toasts, packing the boxes - sending out the new address and contact information, and leaving our first house, now empty - turning the lights off for the last time. Walking around the house with memories just flooding my head of all the great times Jim & I shared there both alone and with loved ones.

Now - I turn my attention to our exciting present and future in a new place, making new friends and new routines - working new jobs with new coworkers and contacts. It has been a great ride! Now...I am ready to get off the roller coaster and get settled though! :)