Post-Deerfoot, the last few weeks of my time in the US were all over the place. Thankfully, I was blessed to be sent off well by a bunch of family and friends who have been a part of my life, many in different seasons. AND I was able to do so without a cell-phone (thank you all who had to deal with that clown-town business—you know who you are).
A highlight of my last two weeks was a trip down to DC and Baltimore. For a few days, I was reunited with one of my closest brothers from my time at Deerfoot, Dave Seawright. Newly married in July, he and his wife (!), Kendall, didn’t hesitate to have me in their home for the weekend. If you knew how big he is, and you know how big I am, you would understand this is no small undertaking when it comes to the eating arrangements.
We ate tons of waffles, had many laughs about past times at camp and newly made memories at the wedding, and thanks to two other brothers (shout out to my boys James and Hunter), made a very last minute decision to head down to Charlottesville, VA, to visit UVa for a night. This meant leaving at 8 pm from DC and returning at 4:45 in the morning. You’ll quickly find out that these guys only know one speed: LTD (aka, living the dream).
After surprising the Hullabahoos, a guys a cappella group that was the most significant part of my college experience, playing farkle with YOUR boy Johnny McMann, and an emotional goodbye with a brother of mine, Donell, that walked with me in this past year and will walk with me for many to come, I said goodbye to Charlottesville. I said goodbye to a place that has been my home for the last four years, and carries with it many of my fondest memories (let’s just say that the boys and I left a lasting imprint that night).
(some of the friends visited in DC…at the wedding)
I spent the next few days with another Deerfoot brother of mine, Kyle Sherman, and his wife up in Baltimore. Kyle and Emily lived in Charlottesville for the past two years, and have been a huge part of several different season of my life down there. Kyle is just starting the MBA/MPH program at Johns Hopkins (legiiit) and Emily is teaching in the Baltimore public schools (veeeery legit). It was awesome to spend a few days with them, and see their new life there…and hit random people with a frisbee on the Johns Hopkins main campus one night. Right Sherm?
All to say, it was an eventful few days down in DC, Charlottesville, and Bawlmeer.
My last few days spent in CT before leaving for Chicago for launch consisted of a lot of packing and re-packing, speaking at church, seeing another lifelong friend, Trevor Williams (who flew in from LA for his sister’s baptism—what an awesome surprise), and the best part—being sent off by our family’s small group. I was sent off encouraged, empowered, and expectant. Thank you to all of you who poured life into me before leaving…I’ve taken it with me.
