So many goodbyes. Thinking of hello

The past two weeks have been especially draining and exhausting for all of us, especially Randy and me. So many goodbyes by family and friends has been draining. So many tears shed, both in happiness and sadness. Each member of my family has processed us moving away in their own way. I am grateful that I have the blessing and support of those I hold most dear. My grandmother and mother both remind me that it is not "goodbye" but simply "so long". In this era of technology and due to the constraints of the pandemic, we have all already learned how to stop letting geography prevent us from staying connected. I am grateful for that.

There are so many people that I know I will miss. There are so many people who, I realize, will miss me. I am trying not to think of all of that right now as I sit in our hotel room about to go to bed.

As the woman who was on the hotel shuttle with us said, pointing to our luggage tags, "An adventure indeed. And, even if things don't go as planned and New Zealand doesn't end up being where you will settle for good, your kids would have gained so much from the experience"

The word "Adventure" has always been the most apt way of encompassing all that this move is for us. A stepping out on faith, following God's direction when he said "move!". A refusal to stay in a place where we need to constantly beg or demand the acknowledgement of our humanity. There is a liberation that comes with redefining success and happiness and detaching from material things that were once hard fought for in order to seek out immaterial things that are much more critical to a well lived life.

Adventure by definition includes triumph and failure, good and bad, overwhelming and excitement. Burden and liberation.

I have no expectations of perfection. My intent is to embark on the journey of truly deciding for myself and my family what discomforts we are willing to endure and which we will not abide by. Our intent is to embark on the adventure of seeking our bliss. I am going to focus on that as we prepare to leave the United States tomorrow. After so many goodbyes, I will think on the hellos.