Today was marked by yet another Amazon order. Somehow the shopping requirements for this venture seem endless. And then there’s the packing, preparation, wrapping things up with life as we know it, hanging out with family and friends as much as possible… hmmmm, restful? Circumstantially, not exactly.
Yet, I have had an AMAZING week-and-a-half! It started with a weekend at the cabin with my family, then a week split between my sister and her family in Indiana and my brother and his family in Ohio. It was a kickback week that included shopping (it seems I can’t get away from that!), coffee shops, good conversations, time with niece, nephews, siblings and in-laws, late-night talks, more coffee, walks, hikes, and even time alone.
Choosing to be away from home for more than a week while facing a daunting to-do list and “millions” of people I wanted to see, was a tough choice. Yet I realized that 1) it’s more restful to spend a greater length of time with fewer people, and 2) while being gone for a year, I’ll likely be most grateful for the time spent with family (no offense, dear friends!). I also had several unexpected opportunities for some incredible interactions with friends in the past week, despite the distance, for which I am very thankful.
So, while I’ve been able to check off a few things in the past week, I’m most thankful for the memories made and the relationships that have been strengthened. After all, isn’t life more about this than striving to complete an endless list of tasks? It’s a mere 2 weeks from today that this crazy adventure begins. My goal is to focus on relationships, prioritize well, and find (create) moments of rest. Hopefully, if I accomplish this, not quite everyone will forget about me while I’m out of the country for a year!
