The End.

Well, this is it.

I'm exhausted, but to be honest it still hasn't hit me.  I had a bit of a mad day today.  I got up went on base to check mail and drop a bunch of stuff off at the thrift store (which wasn't open - what happened to the first saturday of the month policy?!) to consign.  I came home for a bit, made some lunch, did final food preparation for Philip and decided that it was time to make my final run into Cambridge.  There were a couple of bits I wanted to get for Christmas gifts, so that was high on the priority list.  I also wanted to have one final mini charity shopping spree. 

So I made my last journey into Cambridge.  I decided to drive into city centre rather than take the park & ride bus.  As I was driving into town I thought back to my first drive into Cambridge.  It was January 2008.  Philip had just left for three months of training in the US.  I was really wanting to get some household supplies I couldn't get anywhere on base, so I made my first trip into the city infamous for its horrendous traffic.  I remember so clearly the great sense of accomplishment I had of doing it all by myself.  I was only first doing the driving on the left hand side of the road/right hand side of the car thing solo, so it was a big deal.

I rushed back from Cambridge just in time to take a shower and get ready for a night out with some of my sweet RAFM girls at one of our favorite pubs, The Walnut Tree.   I have to admit, when I stepped through the door from Cambridge I was already exhausted to the point of tears and overwhelmed that I still had an entire house to clean and several more loads of laundry/dishes to do.   Thankfully, the Lord allowed me to be able to put that to one side and have a wonderful evening.  It was a night filled with laughter.  Very precious time with very special people and a wonderful last night in England.

tammi - i had a chocolate junkyard (now renamed 'chocolate chaos') just for you ;)

sad news - the owners are selling the walnut tree :( 

glad he kept it open for both of our "leaving do's"

So, what am I thinking/feeling.  Not tons as it is 3:44 am, and I'm shot.  My body is going to be so screwed up tomorrow.  I have an 11 hour flight (but won't complain too much as it's a direct flight) - I'll try to sleep as much as I can on the flight to pass the time.  I'll land in Minneapolis around 5 pm local time.  I'm thinking tomorrow night will be an Ambien night if I'm actually able to sleep all day on the plane.

I feel really sad aboutl leaving.  Especially leaving by myself.  And then I feel guilty that Philip will have to do the same thing.  I hate the thought that I may never ever return to this place where so many special things have happened.  I'm trying to ease the sadness by reminding myself that we verywell may be back at a different season in our lives.  I wouldn't mind being in the US for a couple of tours now so that I can do school and then we can do the baby thing in the same country as grandparents (the thought of having a baby in a foreign country doesn't bother me but I know it'd kill my poor parents), but I'd love to be back in Europe in a heartbeat - either back in the UK or in Germany.  I think we would have probably extended in the UK or gone to Germany this time around if it hadn't been for the school stuff.  I'm excited to see the Lord unfold the path that lies before us. 

*PS I do plan on doing a comprehensive list of "This I will miss about living in England / Things I'm looking forward to about life in the US" as a follow-on from my facebook status theme the last 10 days.  I also still really want to do one looking at "British English vs. American English" so stay tuned*

Goodbye, England.

Goodbye house.

Goodbye home.

Goodbye life as I know it.

The End.