See You Soon...

Well, it's time...the suitcases are packed.  My Mom, my sweet, wonderful, gracious Mom (you know the one) her house does not look like we are packed. But we are BECAUSE all suitcases are at 50 lbs and that's that...guess we'll make do without the permanent markers, bath robe and various oddities that were in the "take" pile and are now in the "take not" pile! 

All silliness aside, I have to be quite honest in saying that the whole "see you soon" thing AIN'T no fun. 

You can tell I mean that by the fact I used a word I do not appreciate: ain't. 

So a few of our recent "see you soons"...

We were able to go home to Henderson and see our Carey Church family.  They are having VBS this week and we miss being a part of that adventure.  It's always a joy to go and see the faces of friends, Sunday school teachers, pastor, secretary old and new and enjoy their company. 

Last night we said "see you soon" to the Steele Magnolias (it's a long story how we got the name, but we let me sum it up with who we are: four families, now 3 generations, who recognize the importance of loving, learning and leaning on the people God puts in your life!).  Not everyone was able to come but it's always a beautiful thing to be with people who you love and who love you through every stage of life.  Thankful, thankful, thankful...pictures to come...once I find the camera cord.

This afternoon one of the dearest ladies in my life brought me cookies.  Mrs. Null has been my across the street neighbor since my family moved to Albemarle almost 25 years ago.  She has been like a grandmother to me in many ways and I have learned so much from her.  Her cookies, and everything else, are always perfection...I watched her walk back across the street, thankful but yet another "see you soon".
 
And then tonight...Aunt Jenny does not have favorites.  I love all nieces and nephews equally and I take the pictures to prove it!  However saying "see you soon" to my Ariana was so very hard.  We both ranked in the sincerely sad.  Please pray with me that God will use these times of "see you soon" to draw Ariana and all of our nieces and nephews, friends (old and young), brothers, sisters, parents, in-laws (I prefer "in-loves") and grandparents to Him and not allow satan to trick them into bitterness! 

 I heard this song on the radio just as I was about to sink into a state of discouragement (and that is so eloquently put it almost sounds like it would be slightly lovely, but believe me, it was not lovely!) and I'm going to share this song with you now...

Next time you hear from me I'll be across the pond...Lord willing!  See you soon!