Traveling

Micah left on July 12th. Andrew, Elijah, my parents and I also left that day for NC. Thankfully, my mom and dad had come up to KY to help with all the packing. Since then, The boys and I have visited Wilkesboro, Statesville, Mooresville, Stony Point, Blowing Rock, Boone, and Jefferson, NC, as well as Greer, SC and Atlanta, GA (and many south Atlanta vicinities). Micah has been camped out in Atlanta of course. We will head back home Friday until we know where we will go from there. Here are some of my favorite pictures from our travels:

Micah and me right before he went through security at the airport.

The boys at "Sharks on the Parkway" (as we call it:)) headed for outer space!

Uncle Matt camping out with the boys in the backyard.

Helping Chelsea clean out the pool where she is a lifeguard.

Sir Andrew conquering the swing set.

The boys posing with "Bessie"--- who loves attention!

At the New River after inter tubing about a mile.

Visiting with Uncle Matt and Aunt Stacie- excited about having a new cousin!

In 5 p.m. Atlanta traffic~ We made it through!

In Olympic Park in Downtown Atlanta...

At the Georgia Aquarium...

I just really liked the jellyfish~

Micah pointing out the huge fish and whale sharks...

Mommy trying to get a picture with the boys before they tried to climb up the rocks...

The look on Elijah's face is hilarious!!!

One of the many Chick-fil-a billboards in Atlanta and one of my favorites.

In the Chick-fil-a museum at the Dwarf House Diner replica.

Outside CFA Corporate Office.

The Long Goodbye

The last couple of weeks have been strange. First, as I mentioned before, Micah was accepted into the Interim Operator Program with Chick-fil-a. He is at training in Atlanta right now. It is very exciting and humbling to have been given this opportunity. He is being treated very well and enjoying meeting so many people within the company. After this training at the end of July, we hope he will be assigned to go to an Interim Position at a store. This would be anywhere. Before we all left Louisville for these three weeks away, we started preparing to go. We don't know how soon he will know where he will be relocated, so this has made us both consider seriously the way we speak to friends when we see them.

We moved to Louisville 8 years ago. There are many friends, especially those we met at SBTS, that have already moved on. There are also many friends from Bagdad (KY) to Shepherdsville we have been trying to see, maybe for the last time or at least the last time for a long time. For all our friends who are believers, Micah even began using the phrase, "If not before, we'll see you on the other side!" I have thought about this at length as you can imagine. What a hope we have in eternity to spend with those who love Jesus! This isn't a profound conclusion- as I have believed this for a long time. But the reality of it in our present situation is sobering and comforting. I have been convicted of all the times I take for granted either time I have or will have in the company of friends and family alike. I was especially convicted when I watched my husband go through security at the airport before boarding a plane for Atlanta. We are all in the hands of our Creator as we walk on earth and look beyond. Goodbyes are difficult and sad but ultimately, they are only temporal.

He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

One day in the fullness of time, we will know the reason for every part of our journey including our time with each of you! To our dear Louisville friends, if we don't see you again, we pray we see you on the other side. For friends all over the US, we may be headed to a CFA near you!