When Leaving becomes Going...

I'm not sure exactly when it happened. 

It could have been when I bought the airline tickets.

 It could have been when we went to have pictures taken for our residency cards. 

It could have been when I watched my boys tell their cousin, Riley, "see you soon" as they held hands and danced about in a circle being silly for a few moments longer all together. 

It could have been when Alex told me I could take whatever I can fit into 100 cubit feet of box and I crazily started sorting books, clothes and toys. 

It might have been when I realized the 18th marked one month until we drive to NY, the 19th made one month to fly out to Iceland, the 20th would be our arrival to the Netherlands...in one month. 

Suddenly we are "leaving" has become we are "going"...

We are excited, we have worked hard, traveled much, packed little, prayed a lot, been blessed by God's people and their excitement to see His kingdom expand by sending our family to Holland to share His love!

We are sad and grieving the distance that will soon exist between parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, nephews, friends, Church Family, and Chic-fil-a :0)

We have many new things ahead of us...life without a car, lots of rain and walking, new language to acquire and the list could go on for a mighty long time!  And still  I cling to what has become my answer to it all:  Rejoice in Hope (and it's not just any hope it's the hope that God gives Romans 12). 

So, please hope alongside of us as we say "see you soon", as we get on the plane, as we walk into a new place and people!

A picture of what the front of our apartment will look like, though this is not it, they all look the same ;0)