Transition

So, just like that, without much (actually, not any) pomp, circumstance or ceremony, one chapter in my life has ended, and a new one has begun.  After 4 years, 11 months & 2 weeks, I had my last day at my "old" job on Friday.  (It feels slightly dishonest to say that I worked that job for 5 years, since I was technically 2 weeks shy of that benchmark... but over time, I'm sure I'll be just fine getting rid of the 4-, 11- & 2- disclaimer).  The last 5 years have been amazing in so many ways:

• We moved from Southern California in April 2006
• We moved into a house just 2 miles away from my parents, in the Memphis area
• Our children went from: 2 kids (aged 5 & 1) to 3 kids (aged 10, 6 & 3)
• We've made some wonderful lifelong friends
• Our lives have been transformed, more and more, into the likeness of Christ through the community of believers with whom we have been fellowshipping
• I received my MBA
• My job was incredible -- tough work, but I loved it!

And now, as of yesterday, one additional step in our transition was completed.  After a couple of months of talking, planning, filling out forms, reviewing and processing paperwork, etc. - I have now officially become an Expatriate; I'm now on my corporation's "international" payroll.

I'm actually on my way to Singapore now (sitting in a place that has become oh-so-familiar over the past few years -- Chicago O'Hare's United Red Carpet Club Lounge in Terminal C); my flight to Hong Kong departs in just over an hour.  After a brief layover in HKG, I'll be on to what will soon be our new home -- Singapore.  I'll be arriving at my hotel about 24 hours from this very moment.

I'm going to be spending a couple of weeks in Singapore this time around -- I'll be starting my new job on Tuesday, working for ~10 days, working with real estate agents to narrow down our choice of homes, and then I'll be back home on May 1st.  I will be essentially "working from home" back in Memphis for most of May as we wait for the kids to finish up school.  The packers show up on May 31st, and we'll be flying out on our "final move" trip on June 3rd.

These are crazy, but exciting, times.  I am incredibly blessed, and this adventure that we call life just continues to blow my mind. :-)