Looking Back
As we’ve passed the four year mark of living overseas, I’ve
done some looking back. Looking back to
see how far you’ve come is a good thing.
As I’ve looked back … I’ve discovered some things I’ve left
behind … some things I’ve gained … and what I do with both.
The next three blog entries will chronicle those moments of
looking back. Today, here is what I’ve
left behind.
We came to live in a new country after giving away most of
our earthly belongings, selling our home (the place that after 8 years was the
longest place I have ever lived in my entire life!), and sold the one vehicle I
ever got to pick out.
- We said goodbye to family, friends, church-life, career, schools, and all familiar social circles.
- We left behind Brahms, Sonic, Target, Chick-fil-a, Hobby Lobby, and free coffee refills at Hastings.
- We left cake mixes, taco seasoning, brownie mixes, good marshmallows, jolly ranchers, Crisco, vanilla, cheap sweet potatoes and whole turkeys … behind.
- We said goodbye to traditional Thanksgiving meals with family, Christmas parades with friends, birthday gatherings, long weekends at Grandmas, July 4th, the American flag, OU football games, garage sales, sno-cone stands, voting booths, and 7-11 Pumpkin spice cappuccino.
- I left baby boxes, old taxes and photos in my mother-in-laws garage.
- The last gift my Mom ever gave me before she died, a piano, is now sitting in my sister’s house.
- A set of dishes my grandmother gave t me when I was 13 were given away to a friend.
- My favorite “big blue chair” – the most expensive piece of furniture I bought as an adult – rests comfortably in my mother-in-laws living room.
- Most shocking … and what I did not realize needed left behind … was the loss of pride, self-confidence, the feeling of being known and ego.
But wait! There’s
more … stay tuned tomorrow!!
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