It's time to say "see you later" to yet another state, NJ friends, and this sojourn on the journey we are on. This farewell is definitely not the first nor will it be the last, I'm sure. I was talking to a student last week about moving and saying "good-bye." And we were talking about how it is hard. But I reminded her that as Christians we do not have to say "good-bye"; instead, we get to say "see you later." And that thought makes the leaving exponentially more bearable though it is still not easy or fun.
So I thought for this current "see you later" I would commemorate some (and indeed, it would be impossible to do all) of the great times/people/places/memories of NJ, but first, a few things I will not miss:
1. The ants...I'm surprised that they have not carried away the house by now, but unless new renters move in soon and hire the exterminators like we did, there may soon not be a house to move in to.
2. The New Jersey roads: this includes, but is not limited to, the traffic, the turn-right-to-turn-left shenanigans, and the endless potholes that ruin the alignment on any and every car that even thinks about driving in New Jersey
3. The non-regulating shower with which we have put up for the past three years...one minute it was barely warm, and then the next, scalding hot. And when it was scalding hot, turning on the cold water made it hotter, and when it was barely warm, turning off the cold water made it colder...I know...first world problems...
And now for the list of what I will miss:
1. Liquid Church: I will miss the good preaching and teaching and the vision that this church has for reaching the lost in New Jersey and serving the least of these. We loved the preaching and grew in our walks with God during this stage in our lives. We are also thankful for B and A for their premarital counseling that took us a whole year into our marriage to complete. Pastor Tim and Pastor Tom were also so influential in our lives.
2. Our Life Group: T and J (and G), R and J, A and A, S and J, E and H, J and A have come to mean so much to us because you lived life with us. Your accountability and friendship means the world to us! You came into our lives during a time when we really needed friends, and your support and encouragement have sustained us through some rough times (especially for me during Liam's absence). Some of the best memories are trying Taylor Ham and Egg sandwiches, bike riding (especially across the bridge), kayaking the Delaware, great discussions about the Bible but also about what animals we would all be, Girl Scout cookies, and Apple Jacks, Bazooka, Cranberry Sauce, Doritos (why, oh why, do I remember that?), great memories of eating not-so-great Persian food, and of course, my first time at the shore...in the rain and fog and cold.
3. Veritas: Once again it has been my privilege to be a part of a great Christian school with a vision for discipleship and Christian education. I do not know why God only allowed me to work there one year, but I am glad that I crossed paths with such a great staff and so many awesome students that give me hope that God is still at work in our society and in the younger generations.
4. Telling people that New Jersey was better than I expected it to be. I was expecting miles and miles of Newark-esque city, but instead, I was pleasantly surprised by the rolling hills and the lakes and the green and the amazing flowering trees in the spring. And when most of my students came to school in cowboy boots and fish hooks stuck on their hats, I knew that I was not in the stereotypical version of New Jersey.
5. Our little lake cottage home: Despite the ants and the non-regulating shower, our house was such a great place to start off our first three years of marriage. We had some ups and downs our first three years of marriage (as every couple does), but in general, the memories are happy ones. And we had the best neighbors we could ask for, too! Thanks J and L.
6. Cinnamon Indian Restaurant...enough said.
7. Picatinny Arsenal: I think I may have been spoiled by this military base because I am sure that this introduction to military life was not typical, but I'm thankful for the easy transition into military life. And for the fellow wives that I met at PWOC and for their encouragement and empathy.
8. The marvelous times spent in God's creation which included Appalachian trail backpacking and hiking trips, river kayaking camping trips, hikes, mountain biking, skiing, car camping, lake kayaking, picnics, and drives through the woods, plus all the bear, deer, and turtle sightings. It really is a beautiful state.
I could go on, but most people have probably already stopped reading, so I will stop writing.
See you later, New Jersey.
