Situating S.T.U.F.F.

AHHHHHHHHHH! The stuff we have acquired! Of course, every woman needs her collection of shoes and purses to do what my husband calls...."accessorizing!" But WOW! We have spent the last 72 hours loading and unloading, organizing and moving, and lots of rearranging of all of our STUFF! Well... it is probably more accurate to say all of MY stuff. I can just picture Brock's face now as he looked at me in defeat... "More!?! When have you used this! LAUREN! Put that in the Goodwill bag!" Then I justify keeping my stuff and adding to my "stuff" pile by giving him my puppy dog look and pleading my case on how "I just can't live without this!" or my favorite my saying, "But Brocky you don't understand, I love it!" I really have never taken the time to go through all of this STUFF; the STUFF that I just can't live without! But after moving it all and feeling really overwhelmed, I have realized that filling life with stuff crowds your vision of the life around you. So, after 3 full trash bags of Goodwill STUFF and 2 trash bags full of garbage....I'm just not giving up anymore of my STUFF!

Leaving Lynchburg

In my 4th grade classroom a sign is posted that says "Where ever you go, you leave footprints behind." I laughed and thought, "Yeah, yeah, that's what we tell the students to motivate them to do their best and be kind to others." But then I really got to thinking...
"Where ever you go, you leave footprints behind." It's funny to look back and realize the life that Brock and I are leaving in Lynchburg. Football and teaching is over with and we are left with a feeling of great accomplishment and pride. But then I really got to thinking about the dear friends and relationships that we are leaving behind and it really began to weigh heavy on my heart. As the move is getting closer and closer I find myself with tears rolling down my face... "I am really going to miss my friends," I sobbed to Brock! We have been so thankful for the love, encouragement, and support that we have received during our time we have spent in Lynchburg and it makes me sick to know that we are going to a new place where our support systems will not be. If it weren't for our friends we wouldn't be where we are today. They have been the best mediators in our toughest arguments and the best audience in our goofiest of times. Our friends have left their loving words and fun memories as footprints in our hearts. And these footprints will forever be with us where ever life leads us. As for this journey, I find strength in the relationships we have built with our fabulous friends and I find strength knowing that their footprints will be with us in Italy.