amiebeadling - Instant Peace

I was picked up from the airport one Monday afternoon last month by a young lady I've had the privileged of doing life alongside for the last year, but something in her had changed. This was the same girl who was crying in my office only a year ago unsure of where the Lord was leading her, is now overseas with our first CGA missions team trained to lead a base.

Later that evening 6 strapping men assisted my move to a spacious basement apartment about 8 minutes from the office. The night following ladies gathered my personal belongings and spent hours transporting them, carefully placing each one in my new home. As I flopped on "Big Blue" (my 13 foot teal couch I haven't been able to enjoy since before the Race almost 3 years ago) a ginormous grin crossed my face. My friend Ben said he hadn't seen me smile like that before.

I felt home.

It was like instant peace.

The past year and a half since returning from the Race and moving my life and all my possessions the 600ish miles south I haven't felt settled and sometimes, even known here. Just a few weeks ago I was sharing with a friend how excited I was for my teammate of 7 months to have the opportunity to squad lead but how I was going to miss the only person who really "knew me" here in Gainesville. She held my hand, looked me in the eye and said "Amie Beth, there are a lot of people here who really love you."

And you know what, she was right.

As I sat on Big Blue, I looked around at all these "strangers" who gave up their evening to help me move on the very coldest of days, Seth Jr. and Neil putting together my dining room table, Ben and Jordan hauling the three piece sectional down and around the back entrance, Colby and Andrew lifting the king size mattress over their heads, Sarah Ann with her artistic eye, Kelli packing and unpacking all of my clothes, Erin and Libby carrying box after box, Tina even brought her father to help! Suddenly I realized, these are my people. They love me, are excited for me, this is my Georgia community.

And this, while it might be temporary, this is my new Georgia home.