This upcoming weekend is a rather momentous one, as it marks my last weekend in Columbus. It’ll no doubt be a flurry of packing and last-minute gift-wrapping and getting-things-to-who-they-belong-to-ing.
Next week will probably be a bittersweet one, saying goodbye to my Sunday School class, to my coworkers, to many of my friends.
But this weekend was a beautiful treat before the last minute busyness.
This week I’m thankful…
…that Daniel made it safely
He’d been busy last week with dead week projects and the usual work and church and volunteering stuff. And then we’d been talking rather too late into the night. I worried that he hadn’t gotten enough sleep and he’d be drowsy on his drive up. But he made it safely up.
…for time to just hang out
We hadn’t really planned anything for the weekend, just planned to spend time together. It was wonderful–making waffles, watching an episode of Downton Abbey, talking while I “bolted” fabric and Daniel worked on some top-secret stuff for my sister, watching The Avengers with Anna.
…for an unplanned visit to Aunt Martha
Anna had Bunco Saturday night, which meant that we needed to find somewhere else to go (since we don’t want to be alone at home late at night)–but since Columbus doesn’t really have any places to just “hang out”, we went up to Norfolk. My aunt recommended a good restaurant and we enjoyed our shared Hawaiian fajitas before dropping by Aunt Martha’s house to visit. Martha was welcoming and we had good conversation until she kicked us out…
…for new experiences
Aunt Martha kicked us out because Daniel was starting to get pretty tired–starting to fall asleep where he was sitting, in fact. We needed to get back. Only problem was, Daniel was quite tired–and we had his car, a manual. So-I learned how to drive a manual (well, enough to get us home). That was interesting.
…for lunch with friends
We had the W’s over for dinner Sunday afternoon. I thawed some Barbecue Brisket and put it in the crockpot, bought some deli salads and chips, and we threw some leaves back in the table. It was lovely to just have an informal at-home dinner with their family.
…for precious tears
Many times throughout the afternoon, the ladies at my Highland Park bridal shower brought me to tears. I was so blessed by their encouraging words. They drenched me with blessings. Whether they were needling me about how my face lights up when I hear Daniel’s name (I can’t help it that I grin whenever they say his name) or telling me how I’ve been able to bless them over the past couple of years (I’m humbled and honored that I could do so) or laughing over where I rank in the desert island list (I didn’t make it), it was a wonderful time.
…for the end of weekends
This next weekend will be our last weekend of long-distance relationship. We will spend the weekend before Christmas together and then I will be moving to Wichita, where I will get to see Daniel regularly (even daily!) God has blessed us with these lovely weekends together, but I am very much looking forward to easing into a routine of everyday togetherness-the casual togetherness of non-long-distance relationships.
God has been gracious in giving us these precious weekends. And He is gracious in bringing them to a close. Thank You, thank You, Lord.
A flurry of activities to be sure. You have a lot on your plate at the present. Congratulations on making it to the end of the long-distant part of the relationship! I’ll be praying the move goes smoothly!