Texas Exodus

From Kristin's entry in the family travel journal:

July 29, 2010              odometer 152,550

This is the big one!  We have left beautiful Bellingham by the Bay, City of Subdued Excitement and are relocating to Austin, TX, for Michael to attend Seminary.  Today was a blur -- loading the moving truck, packing the van, saying goodbye to friends, sending the cats with Kimberly (last night), applying for a scholarship until 2 AM, sending Dale off with the car and our houseplants -- then driving away from 3374 Southbend Pl #202 into new lives.  I labeled our mix CD "Texas Exodus." As I sit tonight in a hotel room in Quincy, Washington, maybe 4 1/2 hours from home (home? Bellingham? - yes - that feels true) I am utterly fatigued and disoriented - but also elated that we are actually here and doing it!  Living out this great adventure, taking this giant risk, trusting God - being amazed at how the doors have opened over the last 2 1/2 years as we have moved ahead, full of fear, faith and awe at this opportunity, this call to serve.

Tonight we watched a mile high cumulus cloud tower over the Cascades -- shocking white as we crested Steven's Pass on Hwy 2, then pulled out like pink cotton candy.  Our daughter decided the cloud was "gold," Michael chose "pink granite."  In near darkness, we watched the jagged edge of the Cascades fade from view -- as we leaned down to peer out the side view mirrors -- the back of the van is so completely full that Michael swears the roof is bulging.  "Goodbye!" we proclaimed all afternoon -- from our old driveway, to Fairhaven, to Chuckanut Drive -- to mountains that have been our ridiculously beautiful, giant backyard.  All we can do is say thank you -- again and again.