Change. I’ve had a lot of it in this life, and I’ve gotten pretty used to it.*

For a bunch of good reasons, we’re going to be moving. When? Not sure. Where? Nope, don’t know yet. All of which is ok, because God.

However, I seem to be getting sentimental and I don’t much care for it. I’m not attached to these “things” I’m sifting through, at all – except for a very few of them, giving and tossing aren’t hard for me. 

Since I know this about myself, I was caught off guard last night by a tsunami of big, brimming Emotions. Blindsided with feelings of loss and missing and the next thing I knew I was just … sobbing. Why? I suppose that while I was fine with getting rid of the “things,” I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of sweet memories that stole my breath away, over and over all day long. Without my noticing. And I suddenly got overwhelmed with it all – the Love, the joy, even the hard – so much has happened here in these 18 years. I wouldn’t trade a minute, and I’m realizing that I might miss here forever. Not here, this place.

But here, this season, the sweetest one of my life so far. That is what I’m attached to, and it is ending as surely as we are moving. We are not moving “on” though, we are simply moving forward, and we will carry all these memories with us when we go.

And as I cried myself out, what popped into my head but this promise: 

“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ NLT)

And now, once again, peace reigns. No second thoughts, at all. Endings can be hard AND good, and this is one of them. Here we are Lord – we’re ready!

Love,

~Angie

*Note: I may be pretty used to change, but PLEASE don’t make me ever ever ever get a new phone again. That’s over my limit.

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Angie Clayton Author|Speaker|Storyteller

Angie Clayton is an author, speaker and editor who has a passion for connecting with the hurting. She is a storyteller, and her writing is rich with diversity. On her blog, Framing the Days, Angie shares with you the joys and beauty of both the mountain tops and the valleys of her life and the lives of those around her. Her book, “Peering into the Tunnel: An Outsider’s Look into Grief,” is a collection of real stories, as well as helpful suggestions to best serve someone who is grieving.

Angie is a long-time Bible teacher who is passionate about connecting with younger generations, and engaging with the hurting. She spends much of her time doing life one-on-one with women. Her speaking engagements include numerous in-person, radio and podcast appearances on many topics, including Grief, Grandparenting, chronic illness, and life after Retirement.

Achievements:

Angie graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in Accounting and Business Administration, followed by her CPA certification

Personal Interests:

Angie and Greg, married for 36 years now, live in the Kansas City area, and they have two children and four grandchildren. Angie enjoys spending time with the grandkids, reading, puzzles and amateur photography. She is passionate about walking out life’s storms with those around her.

Contribution to the Community:

Angie and her husband were foster parents for a number of years. She volunteered for more than a decade at Camp CUMCITO (City Union Mission’s Camp in the Ozarks), which serves hundreds of low-income kids, primarily from urban KC.

Angie was recognized as “Kindest Kansas Citian” in 2003 for her work with children.

Fun Fact:

Angie homeschooled her kids while they were in high school, which was no easy feat!