Moving Update

I just wanted to update you on what we know about moving. We don’t have all the details arranged, but we’re making progress.

We’re aiming to make the move the last week of May/first week of June. The goal is to be packed up before we leave for Phoenix on June 1. We’re still making arrangements for moving our belongings. I got an estimate from a moving company today, and we’re still trying to find other alternatives.

Next week I will be flying to El Paso to look for a place to live. Right now I’ll be primarily looking for a place to rent until we find a house to buy. I’m pretty sure that we will purchase a home in the near future, and the market seems right for it. But it’s not something we want to rush, either.

We’ve started the packing process (Sara’s done more than I have). What’s really amazing is how many things I find that I can really get rid of—even after just three years. Besides the physical packing, there’s also a lot of things I have to do to wrap up loose ends here. I need to hand off  things that I’ve been working on. I need to make sure the right files and records are left in the right place or the right hands.

And then there’s the most difficult part of saying good-bye. I haven’t had to say final good-byes to anyone yet, but the initial discussions have been hard. When I’m talking to people about my departure, there are two things that I want to say (but it’s usually hard to say without becoming emotional). The first is just how much I’m going to miss this place and (especially) the people here. But at the same time I don’t say that in the sense that I’m going to wish that I hadn’t left or was back here. I’m looking forward to what is ahead, and in that sense I’m not looking back. But it is hard to say good-bye to so many kind and wonderful and supportive people. I’m going to write something more about this later.

The second thing I want to express is how much of a privilege it has been to serve here and how grateful I am to have been able to do so.