THE END...THE BEGINNING...THE END...THE BEGINNING...

Everything is packed.
The suitcases wait at the door...Stephen will be here shortly to move me to my friends' home.
The garbage is in bags at the door too.
The apartment is clean ... and empty.
A young woman from the rental agency has been here to check that everything is OK.
The map of Brussels given to me by the church has been packaged and picked up by Fedex.
My barrels have been picked up by a moving company.

Hummm... I think I remember that I started my blog with a similar picture:  I was leaving my home in Repentigny to come over here to Brussels!  That was two and a half years ago.....the beginning...

Now it is the end....

But it is also the beginning!

A new apartment to make into a home
A new life to make for myself
A new adventure with God
Renewed relationships with my children, grandchildren, siblings and friends
A new car to buy
A new me

Thank-you, Abba.  It's been fun....it will be fun.

Soli Deo Gloria!

GOOD-BYES

"How lucky I am to have something
 that makes saying good-bye so hard"
- A.A.Milne, Winnie the Pooh

So hard to say good-bye ....................

It seems that's all I've been sayng for the past two weeks, and it's not finished yet.  Dear, dear friends who want to "have me over" or invite me out for the last coffee.  So much more important and meaningful than packing,

but I have to do that too: 2 barrels and 2 big suitcases.  I've started but I'd rather be outdoors in the sun on a terrasse, drinking coffee or a beer with friends.  A moving company will pick up the barrels next Monday, and I'll keep the suitcases with me until I fly out on July 18th.

Today was my Farewell at church.  I did the children's story and talked to them about love.  It was so interesting to ask about 10 people in the congregation to stand up and say "I love you" in their language.  Then I taught the children how to say it in sign language.

St. Andrew's presented me with a large framed map of Brussels - just what I wanted.  And a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers and red gladioli - stunning!

Then we all had wine and cheese together in the church hall.  I had the opportunity to officially say goodbye to so many dear ones. 

The week ahead is full of goodbyes, packing up and doing some personal visits to spots I love in Brussels.  It ends with the church picnic on Sunday.

I'll write one last blog at the end of the week.  This has been a wonderful adventure with God and so delightful to have shared it with you.

..... and Belgium just beat Russia in the FIFA World Cup games in Brazil!!