Amanda's First Post

For any of you who know us well, you have probably been able to figure out that Craig has done all the blogging so far. This is not because I am not interested, but it is because he is addicted. Seriously... you want to hear the conversations we had about blogging years ago. He's done a complete 180.

Anyways, so it is now my turn... and as tonight is our final night in Canada I thought it appropriate to finally add my say to the mix.

We have just arrived home from our dinner out with my parents and my Aunt Cathy where we were treated to an unhealthy amount of meat at Montana's. (Just so everyone knows... their apple butter rib tips are no longer on the menu. Sigh...) I think I spent a lot of time today avoiding the fact that we are leaving tomorrow... and I don't think it's because I am scared of the goodbyes. I think it is because I am somewhere between nervous and anxious about starting out somewhere completely new again. I know we've both been to Trinidad, Bolivia before... but starting a new life is something that we've not done there before. I am nervous about the fish out of water feeling and I am nervous about not being able to communicate clearly initially... I am nervous about meeting tons of new people and having to make new friends all over again. So... not terrified, but a little bit more than nervous... and then I am still going to cry at the airport... leaving home is always hard.

I actually spent the last three days re-reading a set of books (The Silk Series by Linda Chalkin) which I got when I was 7 and have read 4 or 5 times previously. I haven't read it in over a decade, but I strangely felt that need to re-read it... like going over it one more time re-enforced the emotional connection I have with home. My sisters did laugh at me... but just wait till they move to another country. I actually stayed up to 5 a.m. last night rapidly trying to finish the last book before we left... and success. Please do not view this as a recommendation to buy these books... remember, I got them when I was 7. Anyways, it felt good to go over that again.

Despite all the sentimentality, I do not feel at all like we're doing the wrong thing. It is at times like this that I have to look back on the last year and remind myself that God has clearly led us to this point. Over and over again He has shown himself faithful and though I know I will still experience that lovely fish out of water feeling, I know that He'll be there through that.

I have had such a good time in Canada... strangely it has not been that far removed from my day to day life while living in Canada, and it has reminded me that I was very blessed with my life pre-marriage, especially to have such a wonderful family - parents, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins... and grandma (who attended her very first movie screening last night - unfortunately there were not enough people in attendance for it to meet her expectations). I will miss you all...

P.S. As we'll be travelling over the next two days and then settling into life in Trinidad we might not be able to post on here for a while. But we will post something as soon as we can, so please keep checking back.