You spin me right round baby....

The final days are here at good ol' 1201.  Crazy.  Packers are moving at lightning speed!  It all seems surreal.  I'm grateful that Greg's company is giving us this luxury of packers and movers. We've done it the hard way before and I'll tell you- this is the way to go!  Especially across the country!
Yesterday I woke up with lots of anxiety and stress.  To the point I had to cancel plans with a couple people because I was feeling quite ill from it all.  Not what I wanted.  Mid-afternoon one of the student's mom planned a "I'll talk to you later" party and planned lots of yummy food.  I knew I had to pull myself together to make it there.  I rested some more, did a few things around the house and just gave my stress and what-not up to God.  I knew I wasn't going to rid of it on my own.  I did come around and had a good second half to my day. 
I'm so so grateful to anyone who has ever just popped in to see how I was doing, messaged me, calls, brought me a coffee, babysat, planned "talk to you later" parties, even in these final hectic days.  Those things are what keep me going.  This has been a very lonely process and I've learned a lot about myself and the people around me.  I'm not one to ask for help and luckily there are people I'm surrounded by that know me well enough to just step in. 
My hours are counting down fast here.  Bittersweet.  While I'm so excited and gitty about being with Greg again and anxious to see what God has in store for us at our new place, I can't help but feel tore up inside about leaving the friends we've made here.  I have made some incredible lifelong friends that I cherish.  They have left a huge footprint on my heart.  From experience, I know too, that I'll meet new people and build new relationships.  It's always hard.  Every move.  And this time, we can't get in the car and make visits to old neighborhoods.  However, I do know this.  Anytime we are up visiting, we will be coming back to LZ.  This place is filled with so many memories and wonderful people! My cup, it over flows.

#tearfest2012

#tearfest2012, goodbye party, celebration, cookout, Mary's last small group...whatever you want to call it, it happened and it was everything and more than I could imagine!  I was weepy just getting ready to head over to the usual meeting place just knowing this would be the last time I'd get to spend with this group, in this setting.  You see, this group has changed and molded me for the past few years.  They are so much more than they ever give themselves to be and so much more to me than I will ever be able to express.  This group of students will undoubtedly be global changers.  They are "a generation stepping up to take their place" in an amazing way.  Like most other leaders, I wanted to jump in to help them.  I learned quickly that they were the ones helping me.  They stretch me, humble me, confide in me, make me vulnerable and make me excited to take huge leaps as they have been incredible cheerleaders along this crazy journey.  I LOVE THEM ALL.  Period. 

Watching the incredible video that was made for me!

The fellow leaders are just as amazing.  They give so much of their time and selflessly give up time with their own families because they believe in these students.  They believe that these students are strong enough and bright enough to get friends and their whole community to rise up.  Unless you've experienced a Wednesday night with these incredible leaders and see their passion, you can't possible comprehend what I've witnessed.  They have left a huge imprint on my heart.  And they have raised the bar.
So to everyone who made me feel so loved, thank you.  To everyone who had a part in the incredible video, bravo!  To everyone who has challenged me to go further and to completely surrender, I thank God EVERY day for bringing you into my life.  You have changed me forever. 

Here is a link to the video.  I believe the intro to it was "This is the part of the night where you decide not to move and to stay here"  xoxoxo  So many laughs and tears all packed into one video- you guys rock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAnit_lsYmU&feature=share