5 years

I can hardly believe today marks 5 years. I was wiping away tears driving a jammed packed Ford Fusion through Ohio with the GPS set for Georgia. 5 years ago tonight marked the beginning of the most challenging 2 years of my life.

Regardless of how much has changed since that night--my experiences, my addresses, my jobs, my last name…5 years does not seem like that long ago. “Will I ever not think about it? Not think about what happened down there?” I often ask mom during our extensive “solve all the problems of the world” conversations. The farther I walk away from these milestones, the less it stings…I think.

While it's still cloudy on why God walked me as far as he did in Georgia, in a way, I’m glad for the move, the challenges, the experiences, and to some degree, the sorrow. Surviving those 2 years proved that I am ultimately stronger than I gave myself credit for (although mom and the dog may argue otherwise).

My biggest healing strength is Richard. From our first date he has challenged and destroyed every aspect of what a relationship is I learned in the South. Because of the sadness and hurt, I love and appreciate my relationship with him so much more and I daily thank God for my husband. I don’t think he really knows how good he is to me.

On this day two years ago after I had moved back home but before I had met Richard, I was a mess. Tybee was a 3 month-old puppy barely keeping me functional. Yet today, I do not remember with sadness or regret and that holds so much healing and hope. No, I don’t think I will “ever not think about it,” at least not anytime soon because it was such a pivotal growth-spurt in my life. I anticipate as we add children (Lord-willing) and years to our relationship and life together, my short 2 years in Georgia will continue to grow dimmer and dimmer. But for right now, may the healing continue.