Everyone was tired, stressed, and on a very short time schedule.

Goodbye to my husband and our dog who will follow in a week. Goodbye to our home that we had been renovating and the state I had lived for my entire life.

Hello 20ft Uhaul truck packed with just about everything we owned with only three seats, no CD player, a floor that heated up with engine use, and a max speed of 65mph for a trip halfway across the country from Oklahoma to Maine.

After three hard days of driving and finding ourselves deceived by the shady rental agent, Goodbye not renovated paint-chipped townhouse with homeless man sleeping across the street.

Hello storage unit and little old inn with nearby café with dad’s new favorite bleu cheese bacon burger and our go-to breakfast of eggs and toast for $3.99 we like to split.

Goodbye to old residency program and job with people I love that was terminated only 8 weeks ago because we apparently cost too much money.

Hello new residency program and job with wonderfully nice people, lots of organization, and willing to offer a spot to me in a full program.

Goodbye mom as she flies home to take care of grandma who became sick again and fell.

Hello dad’s protection and help as we wait for my husband to join me so I’m not by myself for several days. Hello Dunkin’ Donuts that I haven’t had since I was a little girl and my papa would get us little munchkin donut holes. Hello residency family get together with a bounce house and lots of lovely children and families. I brought my dad.

Goodbye dad as I stay with him through airport security since airports have changed since the last time he has been on an airplane.

Hello night of crying through “50 First Dates” while eating peanut butter from the jar and a glass of milk. Hello new day, new week, and arrival of husband and dog.

Goodbye hotel living with limited wifi and no phone signal in my room.

Hello new church family, new friends, and kindness that invites our little family to stay in their home and borrow their futon. Hello new little rental house on French Island with a friendly landlord who lets me pick out the paint color of the walls.

Hello little vegetable garden. Hello garage and little yard for the dog. Hello little sunroom and pretty flowers. Hello Farmer’s Market and fresh fish. Hello beautiful drive to work. Hello new opportunities in college. Hello little baby room.

Hello new life adventure with each other and God.