| | "I cannot say good-bye to those whom I have grown to love, for the memories we have made will last a lifetime and never know a good-bye." ~ Unknown How do I put the last four years into a few short little paragraphs? How do I pull myself out of a place I have grown to know and love? How do I say goodbye to the best friends I’ve ever had? Even though I’ve been home for a few days now, I have to confess that I still don’t exactly know the answers to those questions. It’s still hard to grasp the fact that my time at HQ is over, yet I know God has led me home and will continue to lead, and by His grace I will continue to follow. God has been so good to me over these last four years. Both in the good times and the hard times, He has proven over and over again to be trustworthy and has patiently drawn me closer to Himself. I am thankful for every circumstance during my time at HQ that He has used to strengthen my faith and to make me rely not on myself, but on Him (2 Corinthans 1:8-9). He is Faithful! In leaving Headquarters, I have come to see with awe the depth of the friendships God has given me. Each of you has pointed me to the Father and encouraged me and challenged me to a deeper walk with Him. I truly consider each one of you and the memories we have made together to be a gift from Him. You are all my heroes. I know that moving home is not really saying goodbye nor is it the end of making memories. It’s just the start of a new chapter. My home is always open…come visit the Sunshine State! “Goodbye may seem like forever; Farewell may seem like the end. But in my heart, there’s a memory; And there, you’ll always be.” ~ The Fox and the Hound R a n d o m M e m o r i e s… Road trips, The Gang, cheez-its, red scarves, work parties, glow bowling, Rhaiza, Tanya, Tanya, Damaris, Uliana, and Alosia, Russia/Pensioners, ice-hockey, taking the train, coffee, big cameras, Messiah concerts, The Family, chocolate chip cookies, shelter, 10/10, Ultimate Frisbee, SNOW, speed-volleyball, Dutch Blitz, lunch, department jokes, late-night cleaning, Milacci cocktails, round-robin, Giordano’s pizza, GCBC, Valentine’s banquets, bell choir, Fun Girls, CSO, 5K, Manor Care, Disney World, Jamba Juice, Larry Dalton, crocheting and tea, Trout Day, skiing, downtown Chicago, Northwoods, Russian church, juggling, talks till wee hours of the morning, popcorn, string quartets, Starbucks, door hinges, fall, Super Bowl XLI, Christmas Conferences, yellow lights, Russian lessons, walks to Hinsdale and work…and so many more. You all are in my prayers! May God bless you with His strength and joy as you continue laboring for His kingdom and His glory. I pray “that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you…” (Colossians 1:9-12). May "the Lord bless you, and keep you: The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26). Trusting Him, Ruthann |
Have a good trip back home. I send you one of the biggest hug from Italy and Germany and hopefully it will arrive soon (shipping to the States can take a little bit 
