The End, and a Beginning

It's time to shift gears for me. I am planning to take one or two loads over to Tim's this morning, and then clean up around here a bit. By afternoon, I intend to relax. My big plan for the evening is to paint my nails. I need to chill out.

I was reflecting this morning on a verse from Second Timothy, wherein Paul writes, " I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." I can say that, regarding this period of my life. I was married in 1992, and endured a most grievous time. You have read my various tales of my husband's abandonment, drug use, and the ensuing horrors. He left in '99, but we were not officially divorced until 2002.
I've been alone, then, for a decade. My days have been largely joyful, though sprinkled with financial stress. God Himself has provided for us, often miraculously, always faithfully.
I have minor regrets; things I'd love to do over.
But not a lot.
Overall, I see that God has given me a tremendous gift in the challenges of the past 18 years. He has given me a deep and abiding awareness of my own ignorance, sinfulness, and limitations. This is crucial. I have always been Strong, Intelligent, Determined, Self Righteous, and Proud. I'm kind of a brat. So, the world benefits from a good 18 years of humiliation and discipline applied liberally to my psyche.
And now I have finished with this phase of my life, and am ready to embark on a new one.
I pray that I might remember the hard-won lessons of the past. I would like to take with me all the humility, and none of the baggage.

................All of the above was written this morning, when I was fresh from my time with the Lord. It was early, still. I was all spiritual, and hopeful, as I faced the day. Allow me to bring you up to date on the events so far.
So, Kara came over this morning and helped me with the general insanity, in the hopes of being done before my patience ran out. She is an angel, and a godsend. Her car was loaded to the rafters, as was mine, and we set off to Tim's to deliver the abundant contents of my closet, to his. When, what to my wondering ears....I rounded a corner, and heard the the flap-flap-flapping sound emanating from the driver's side front of my vehicle.
A flat tire.
Very flat.
Dead flat.
So Kara came to add the contents of my car to her own, and to deliver it all to Tim's. I sat and waited for Tim and the AAA man. Tim changed the tire while I sat in the shade. The AAA guy arrived to find the job done.
I have to tell you that a flat tire, on a day like today, is enough to send one to the fetal position to suck one's thumb. Although, now it seems kind of harmlessly amusing.
I still have not begun that relaxing thing I was planning to do today. Neither have I showered. Nor cleaned my surroundings. Other than that, my day is going swimmingly.

I have moved all of my clothes into Tim's closet. Bless his heart. I have way more clothes than him, in case any of y'all had money on that little bet.
Now I am going to shower...and then go to see a movie with Tim and the kids. To start that relaxing thing.
This is my wedding weekend, after all.
I'm on to a new and exciting phase of life.
I'm go glad to have finished strong.