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Thursday, June 7, 2012

500

This is my 500th post on this blog...I never thought I would stay with it so long...who knew I would love it so much!!! I thought we could look at a few pictures from when we first arrived....
Arriving in Lagos July 2009

Meeting Happiness for the first time!! July 2009

first beach trip August 2009


first day of school August 2009




And, now a few from just a few weeks ago......they have changed so much since we moved to Lagos...

Jeremy and his Teacher
It's funny, I heard once that people cry when you move here and they cry when it's time to go.  I didn't really understand that when I first came here. I didn't think I would ever get used to living here.  It took a few years, but I have felt so much more comfortable here this last year.  And, now as I type this with tears in my eyes, it is time to leave and I don't feel like it's time to go yet.   I feel like there is an aching pit in my stomach which I haven't been able to make go away for the last few weeks.  I am having the same feelings I had when I moved here, but in reverse.  I never expected to ever be happy here.  I never thought I would meet people I would truly care about.  I am mostly an all or nothing person.  I won't do things half way...if I'm in it...I'm in it.  I threw myself into the Beach Foundation and the kids schools, and I loved every minute of it.  I made new friends and I knew I would have to leave one day, but I didn't realize how much I would hurt inside.  I am happy that I'm going back "home", but somehow, I feel different now.  I know I am not exactly the same person I was when I left to move here three years ago.  I hope I don't forget what I have done and what I have seen while living here. I hope I was able to make some small difference here.  These past few weeks, I've been busy packing up bags and saying farewells...


Good bye to the Beach School Foundation...




The kids have had farewells....

 And so have we....
 I've met so many great people here who are hard working and they will always have a piece of my heart...
Daniel, me, Happiness and Josephine
I don't even know how I will say good bye to Happiness. (Please pray for me...I mean it...I really don't know how I will do that.)  We can't even look at each other these past two weeks and not cry.  How do you even begin to tell someone she saved you from the fear you had about coming here????  She is truly a special person with a beautiful spirit, and because of her, I will always be forever connected to Nigeria.  I will miss so many people I have met here dearly, but I will have them in my heart forever.  If you know me, I don't like change much.  I never have, but once I accept it, things usually are okay.  The only thing I know which is constant is change....nothing stays the same forever. The kids and I leave tomorrow, June 8 and Guy will follow later this summer. I have heard that with every ending comes a new beginning, and I hope you will join me as I adjust to my life back in the states right here on this blog.  Thank you so much for joining me on this amazing journey!!!!:) And to my friends on the other side of the ocean...I am coming home!!!!!!!

3 comments:

  1. Mer, my heart goes out to you as you make your journey home. We will be so happy to have you back in the states but I can only imagine how difficult it will be for you and your friends who were like family while you've made your home there the past three years. I hope facebook, email or even snail mail can help you keep in touch so its not a goodbye as much as, talk to you later! Travel safe. Love you!

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    1. Thanks, Mindy!!! I'll call you when I'm back in the U.S. thank you for sticking with me through this adventure!!! love you!! m:)

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  2. I can't believe that is has been three years! What an amazing adventure that your family has been on. I feel so blessed to have gotten to share it with you via your blog. Thank you!

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