empty

My family left Tulsa this morning. I went up to see them off. They are driving out east and then flying to Russia on September 4th. The next time I will see them is around mid-June. Ten months. I deleted the "home" entry in my cell phone.

Saying goodbye hurts. A lot. Especially to your favorite people in the world. Especially to someone like Isaac who can only communicate face to face. He doesn't talk on the phone. He might forget me by June. That hurts.

There are a very few things that make it hurt less. One is the fact that I will see them. I was thinking about the olden days when people got on a boat, went to another country, and never saw their family again. When letters took months to get there. I live in the twenty-first century. That helps. I have incredible friends and community here that will now be my home. That helps too. God is good, faithful and sovereign. That helps.

But.

Also I forgot to take my camera to Tulsa. That was upsetting.

I'm trying to explain, not complain.