Change

Saying goodbye is never easy. Most of these people that I've been working with for the past year I will see again at some point - it just is always so bittersweet to see a season pass. These last 7 weeks (is it that soon?!) is going to be me getting some last minute travel in, getting a couple of gifts for folks back home, organizing my life for the next stage, and getting back into a couple of good habits that I let slide most of this year. I think 2012 definitely holds promise to be a great year!

I was talking to one of my best school friends the other day on Skype and we were talking about this year. She asked me how my year was - she proceeded to tell me that her year was a GREAT one. I had to stop and really think about my answer. If I was completely honest with her and myself, this year had a lot of trials for me - some physical, some mental, a couple spiritual, and a couple emotional. My health was the biggest ongoing issue and I think (knock on wood!) I'm past the worst of it - it can only go uphill now! But despite the hardships, this year was a really good year for me, too. I have been blessed so much and even with the ups and downs of living halfway across the world from my friends and family, with language and culture barriers, dealing with doctors who don't speak much English, not always having the small comforts of home (that surprisingly make a big difference), I can't deny or even begin to pretend that I didn't see the Lord's blessings in my life - the job, the people, the place(s), the life experiences, and growth have enriched me so much! So accounting for everything this past year has held, it has been one of the most trying years and yet, still one of the best years!

I can feel change in the air, I feel this season coming to an end and I can see a path that could have been but won't be. As much as part of me wishes I had the option to take that path, I also understand that there are other paths before me which are still open to me and which, I'm sure, will be just as wonderful if not more-so than the closed path. And who knows, as great as the closed path looked, it could have ended up being not so good. As of now, I can only see my path for about 2 months in front of me, from there, it splits into several paths and who knows where they may take me. But that's part of the journey, not knowing what may come, enjoying the ride, and having faith that God will take care of me, providing for me as he always has, and helping to guide my journey. I've had such a wonderful life journey so far - I can only imagine it will get better and more exciting through the years!