Making the Transition

If you glance to my sidebar, you will notice that I've changed my profile description.  I removed the Titus 2 verse and have replaced it with a sentence inviting readers to follow along as I chronicle our family's transition, not only into a new home, but also into a new community and a new culture.  I believe chronicling our family's transition is part of obeying Titus 2's command for the older women to mentor the younger. 

The need or desire to move to a new area has never been a necessity like it is now for many families.  Although reports indicate a slight improvement in our nation's economic downturn, I continually hear of families and individuals having to make the tough decision to leave their established communities to obtain employment.  It is my prayer that our family's experiences will be a light of encouragement to others who also find themselves not only in new communities and new cultures but, far away from extended family and friends.

I have many acquaintances whom I know to various degrees.  However, I have only two friends.  In my world friends and acquaintances are not the same.  I hold my friends as dear and close to my heart as I hold my own family.  I can be 100% me with my two friends.  They know me and have seen my good (which is pretty great), bad (which is really bad) and my ugly (imagine the bottom side of mud - yuck!) AND they still choose to like and love me.  They are my loudest cheerleaders and, besides the Lord, my greatest supports during times of trials.  I know that if I need something, these two ladies will be there to help me anyway they possibly can.  I truely love them they way I love my own family.

I am a fairly friendly person who doesn't have too much trouble finding and making acquaintances, but since I have trust issues (yes, I wrote that out loud) it is very difficult for me to make genuine friends.  Right now I am trying to figure out how to live day by day, week by week without the companionship of my friends.  Yes, we have the telephone, e-mail, the postal service and prayer, but being 1,500 miles away from them has forced changes in our relationships.  Most days I am fine.  I have LOTS to keep me busy therefore, I don't have much time to dwell on how many miles actually exist between us.  But, I occasionally find myself desiring to invite them over for a meal, or out to the movies for a chick flick.  My heart breaks when I hear that one has been ill and I'm not there to help lighten her load by cooking supper for her family or running an errand.  Knowing that if they need me to help them, as they've helped me so many times in the past, I'm not there - I'm too far away.  All I can do for them is pray, listen over the telephone or send a note of encouragement.  I can't give them a hug, or hold their hand or cook them a meal.  Yup, cooking meals - that's my thing.

Mr.B and I worked tirelessly and saved to extremity for 15 years to achieve the purchase of our new country home.  During all those years of work and saving, I didn't fully grasp that the Lord could, and eventually would, bless us with our dream 1,500 miles away from "home".  How will this aspect of our transition play out?  Will I recover from leaving my friends?  As time passes will we adjust to the distance between us?  Will I ever have the blessing of cooking supper for them again?