Sweet Parting Sorrow

So...it's no secret that I'm moving soon. 

It's a bittersweet thing. 

Sweet in that we accomplished exactly what we had hoped for while here in the SB and at ND.  But bitter in that we didn't really think about all that we would have to leave behind when the time came.

Coming to Notre Dame was one of the most directed decisions of my life.  I knew before we even went to Kenya that we would end up here.  And for so, so many reasons I now understand why.

It really never ceases to amaze to me how the God of the entire universe knows exactly what kinds of experiences we need, and that He can orchestrate the lives of countless individuals into a customized symphony, that is more beautiful than we could ever dream of composing ourselves.

For me personally, much of my experience here has been the people (isn't it usually like that?).

The ward, my co-workers, the friends that I've made--it was pertinent to my life to meet them all.

And it will be the people I will miss the most.

(The ND band's game day march-out coming in at a close second.)

This past week I have been blessed by the generosity of others as they have wished us well with baby gifts, catered gourmet breakfasts and other tokens of luck (yes, including a four-leafed clover).  I am humbled by their thoughtfulness and by the relationships that I've been been blessed with over the past year.

It's slightly premature, but the feelings are on my mind today, and so I wish to bid farewell to yet another era of my life.

I will miss so much about it (the least of which, I can assure you, are the weekend house parties).  But grateful to live in a time where connections forged are not easily lost, thanks to the cursed blessing of social media.

But really, to all of my SB friends who may or may not ever read this:  Thank you.  I love you all and will miss my ND days with you.  I really will be forever grateful that my life's path took a jaunt past the South Bend of St. Joseph's River.  What a life-changing blessing it has been.

Good Luck

and

Go Irish!