Goodbye?

Why can't we get all the people in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos.
- Charles M Schulz

I asked myself the same question the other day. Why can't I just take all these people I love with me? Why do I have to say goodbye? Such a hard question, really. I know this is all a part of life, but we really do love these people, and we love doing life with them. Honestly, the city of Clarksville, Tennessee doesn't have much to offer, but the people are fabulous. In meeting them, we are so blessed. We're better people because of them; they've helped us grow so much in the last ten months.

And we have hope for all these goodbyes - Houston may be 14 hours away from here, but many of our friends are in the Army, and may get relocated to Texas. And some of them may just need to fly down to see us! Of course, we'd love to come back and visit, but we are going back to not having any vacation time when Austin starts his new job. We also have hope in meeting again in heaven, but we do hope to see our friends again sometime before then!

I've felt that God is confirming us leaving Clarksville in the last few days, which is helping with the goodbyes, though it still won't be easy. I know that since we covered this issue in prayer - as many of you did, too - that we are headed in the right direction. I'm very excited for our future in Houston, for the friendships we already have and friendships that are yet to be made. Our hope is to get involved with some of the ministry opportunities we were involved with, as well as missions, and primarily, find a church home!

Tonight is my last night at our women's small group (we're reading So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore) and tomorrow is my last day at work; Austin's last day is Friday, and then we'll load everything up, and head out of here. We'll be in Houston on Sunday! If you'd like to help us move in the heat, please let us know! The more the merrier.

How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.-Carol Sobieski & Charles Meehan, Annie 

Goodbye, Clarksville...

Love,
E

Anniversaries, Moves, and Stress

If you've seen any of my posts on Facebook, you know that we're moving into our apartment in Houston in 12 days. We are excited, but it's been a little stressful! Here's the back story:

We went to Houston May 16-20 to have some interviews. Austin interviewed with a company in the Galleria area that does water quality/water remediation - his dream job. We want to get involved with doing water-related missional work in Africa, which explains why the groom's cake at our wedding looked like this:

Living Water International is a Houston-based company that helps bring clean water to developing nations. We love what this company stands for.

Austin transferred from Texas State to UH to pursue Civil Engineering for the specific purpose of working with water/missions, so he felt getting actual experience in this field would be perfect. Anyway, our interviews were the 18th. Austin's went really well - so well, he kept me waiting in the car (I should have gone home!) while he went to lunch with his future co-workers. Who does that?! I had an interview very early in the morning, and was delusional because I was so worked up about the whole thing. I know people say that worrying means you have no faith, but I swear I was praying most of the night, honestly hoping it would mean I'd rest. My heart was beating too fast to rest, though! I don't know how I made it through that interview!

Last Tuesday, when I thought I couldn't stand waiting anymore, Austin got a call from his (future) company. Friday, he got the offer. Yesterday, he put in his notice here. And all weekend, we packed and worked and tried to prepare for this move. We have an apartment booked as well as all our utilities and insurance. Austin will be working down at the Eagle Fjord and, if I get the job (one more interview on the 27th!) I will be planning annual meetings/conventions for medical groups, such as radiology associations, etc. The company I'm interviewing with also manages the administrative aspects of those associations. I'm excited about it because it will be a weekend-free event planning position, so keep that in your prayers!

We now have 60+ boxes packed, and are down to the bare bones here. We still have a few things to work out, which is why things are stressful. We'll be back just in time to make it to the Niell (Strickland) family reunion, and, ironically, almost a year to the day that we left Houston to move to Cleveland!

We have truly made some fantastic friendships here in Clarksville, and some lasting memories: the Kentucky Derby, the Smoky Mountains, trips to Nashville and other adventures. Our sweet small group from Grace has made this time pass quickly, and so have our friends at work. I sincerely wish we could pack you all up and take you with us! We're looking forward to being close to family, and we will not miss the 14-hour trips back to Houston. We're not looking forward to the drive home with a 17' truck and car trailer!

On another note, we celebrated one year of marriage on Sunday! We both worked an event on Saturday at the winery, but the week before we spent a night out in Nashville celebrating our anniversary, complete with an art walk, a nice dinner, the Pancake Pantry and some macaroons (which I had been craving!). It was a great mini-trip to celebrate our time there!

Now we're looking into another trip to Europe for next year... maybe an anniversary trip! I'm thinking SPAIN! ;)

Love,
Elizabeth