How do you....?

How do you say good bye to 4 years past.....

Today is the last day of work at a special place that has been a part of this family's life for the last 4 years. My husband, the man of the house, the king of this castle, the super father and provider for us girlies is leaving his job. He has been hired at another place of work and will start immediately on Monday. This new work looks to be incredible. Not that these last 4 years for Clanc and all of us hasn't been incredible. There needs to be an understanding of where we came from and where we are now. All by God's grace and mercy in directing our path as one family unit. This family can only understand it best.

At the end of '08 we moved from the west coast and went on an adventure to our place we call home. We  were lead here because of the job, which after today will be no more a part of our lives. Today we brought Clanc to work "for a last time" he just happened to need a ride to work so we all piled in the car and brought him to the parking lot for the last time. I realized 4 years ago his first day at work started out that way! Then, we all piled in our rental car, since ours was still on the moving truck, and brought him to the parking lot and dropped him off at work. We didn't plan this to begin or end this way, isn't it wonderful how God allows us to see things like this? I need a beginning and an ending to stories and trials. I guess in a way we all do.

Come Monday, Clanc will be going in the opposite direction to work. And in some ways there will be a few more opposites as he gets settled and learns about his new job and place he will call "work" for how ever long. He will have to leave a bit earlier in the morning to make the longer drive. We all will get up just a bit earlier to enjoy our family time together as we always do every day, sending him off to work, much like we welcome him home every night. We all work together in this and understand how much we need each other to remain unified.

So how do you say good bye to the years? You have too many lunch dates that over flow the "2 weeks notice" amount of time. You enjoy a gathering at the local pub and tell war stories with everyone from work. Your receive a fun framed cartoon drawing of yourself that all your co-workers signed. Most importantly you look behind you at the bridges God has allowed you to construct and you remember to never burn them! And then you come home with all of the boxes which represent the place where you sat and talked and worked for the last 4 years. But actually, you end it the way you began, getting dropped off one last time in the parking lot and going about the day because you are called to provide for your family and serve a wonderful God!
I love my man!! And I love our God who blesses us every day with wonderful things.
K.

P.S. by the way, we are NOT moving! YAY!