Well…the day has come for me to say goodbye to Birmingham…the place that I’ve called my home for the past 2 1/2 years. My life has changed so drastically during my time in Birmingham that it’s really strange to leave it now…even stranger than leaving Auburn after living there for almost 18 years. The time that I moved to Birmingham was a time of growth, movement, adventure and excitement. There has seldom been a slow hour, let alone a slow week. It’s been amazing.

My friends here have played a huge roll in how much this chapter of my life has shaped me. I’ve met so many amazing people during my time in Birmingham, people who have taught me, encouraged me, and pushed me to grow. I most certainly can say that I’ll miss my Birmingham family.

I think one of the weirdest parts about moving is knowing that I’ll never room with Paul again. We’ve been roommates and best friends for a few years now, and have practically spent every waking hour together. We share a bedroom, travel around the world together, sit in the same office 80 hours a week and then, hang out in almost all of our free time.

Paul is staying back in Birmingham, and will most likely be getting married in the foreseeable future, so he’ll have a new roommate at that point in time. I knew that one day (soonish) he’d be getting married and our stent as roommates would come to a close, but I didn’t expect it to be such an abrupt thing as me leaving for New York within a month of hearing about it as a possibility.

I’m going to miss having Paul around all of the time and I’m already thinking about when he can make it up to New York to visit.

I’ll be starting work at Times Square Church on Tuesday and it looks like my first assignment with them will be to travel to Haiti to document the aid work that’s going on there in hopes of inspiring more people to contribute and make a difference. It’s almost surreal even thinking about going to Haiti in the wake of the past few days.

I did talk to Roger again today and am so relieved and happy to know that he’s safe and heading home soon. I hope that you all will keep your thoughts, prayers and attention on Haiti. The difference you made to all of Roger’s friends and family by caring was huge. Just imagine what we can do for Haiti if the whole world shows that sort of care and concern about them.

-S