Time for a change

Before I went back "home" for my parents 50th anniversary, my parents were having some health issues. I did not like it that I was not there for them. There's not much I can do when I am 1600 miles away. I began to think about moving back "home." While I was there I had a conversation with my parents about their plans to move to a retirement community. Were they really ready to make that move or if they could, would they stay in their house longer. I was sort of surprised by the answer I got. I expected them to say that they were ready to make the move. The answer I got was that they would love to stay in their house but they could no longer take care of all the yard and house work. After some thought and prayer, I was about 90% certain that I would be moving back by the time I left for Colorado. I was waiting to make a final decision until my parents had talked to the retirement community about how staying in their house would affect their status if/when they needed assisted living or one of them did and the other would want to be there with them. When I found out that it would not affect their status and in fact they were number 15 on the waiting list (which could mean several years before there would be an apartment available), I made the final decision to move back. I had been asking God to make it clear to me if moving back was not the right decision. He brought nothing into my path to say that I should stay in Colorado. In fact, one Sunday morning when I walked into class late (I'm always late because of singing in the choir) the discussion was about our changing life stages and life tasks and how we should be prepared for those stages. One gentleman talked about how it was never God's intention for the government to take care of our elderly but that the family should be taking care of them. That definitely was not an indication that I should stay. :-)

It is with mixed feelings that I will leave Colorado....I love the weather, I love the views - I can see Pikes Peak from my office, I love my job and the people I work with are great. But those are all just "things". PA has horrible heat and humidity and gray winters but it also has my family and life long friendships. In the long run, relationships are more important than the weather or the mountain views. Other than my sister, I never really put down deep roots here or developed deep relationships. So, even though I will miss this place, it is far better to be where God wants me.

Today I turned in my resignation, I was a bit emotional but I think most of that was because I was nervous all morning and I was making a major decision. At times it seemed surreal - like what was I doing?!? After breaking the news to my immediate boss, the CFO and another of the directors, I had an evaluation to do for the gal who has worked under me since September. I broke the news to her after the evaluation. The CFO told the leadership team in their monthly meeting this afternoon. Tomorrow morning, she will tell the rest of the staff. My exact departure date has not been determined but will be sometime before the middle of October. I'm not indespensible but what I do is pretty specialized and although if I left in two weeks, they could carry on, it would put a burden on others in the office. Since I am in no great hurry to leave, I have said that I will stay as long as they want me to as long as it is no later than the middle of October.

Stay tuned for more of this new journey on which God has sent me. It will be interesting and exciting to see what happens along the way.