Goodbye Peyt's Island... Hello Peyt's Park

The time has come to move forward from the peaceful, serene space called Peyt's Island. It may seem silly to admit I am tearing up about saying goodbye to a silly blog of all things, but those of you who have stuck with me this long know how much heart and soul I have poured into this place. This place very much represents home to me, and sadly, I find that, ready or not, it's time for Peyt's Island to come to an end.

I remember so clearly the first post I wrote. I woke up very early one morning in Guam (jet lagged) and sat on the floor in front of the bed in the hotel room while Nick slept. I clicked away energetically typing out the first paragraphs about our first 24 hours on island. I was so excited to share the initial stories and perceptions of our new home with everyone we were leaving behind. More than anything, I wanted Peyt's Island to become a space where our friends and family felt they could, in some small way, come with us and join us in what was sure to be an unforgettable adventure ahead. Our island did not disappoint and, in fact, far surpassed any expectations we may have had when our feet hit the ground. And Peyt's Island was the place where I tediously and passionately collected each story as it transitioned from current events into sacred memory. It's where a small, faraway island transformed into paradise.

So today, with admittedly far less excitement, I introduce to you Peyt's Park. While not as romantic or exotic a space as Peyt's Island, Peyt's Park will be a place for me to, well, park. Among the many life lessons I learned in Guam, I learned that I love writing for fun and sharing stories about what's going on in my life and in the lives of those I care about. And much like a park, it will be a convenient and simple place in the neighborhood, close to home, for anyone to come and meet me here, just as you are. Together we can catch up, remember the good old days, and share meaningful ideas about whatever the future holds.

So I hope you will consider dropping in at Peyt's Park (or Peyt Spark depending on any scathingly brilliant ideas that happen to emerge). Please bear with me as I try to get excited about life on the East Coast. Paradise is a hard place to leave, but I know it can also, in time, be redefined. I look forward to sharing those discoveries with you.

And who knows, maybe along the way, this new, unfamiliar place will eventually steal my heart as Peyt's Island sure has.

One last order of duty... saying goodbye.

Goodbye, Peyt's Island. You were the place where all my dreams came true. I will not soon forget you, but rather will fold these island epiphanies into the person God continues to lead me to be. For those who have made the journey with me, I owe an enormous heap of thanks. As I say goodbye to these silhouetted palms, I hope to reunite with you all again back on the mainland for more stories and discoveries at Peyt's Park.

Friends, thank you for joining me on this incredible journey! Hope to see you soon at http://peytspark.blogspot.com