11 years of jam packed life experiences and memories. The kids are all 'grown up' now... yes, even Lexi... the punk kid is as feisty now as she was then...!
We are about to close out the final chapter here in this part of the world. I have a new job that is taking me to San Francisco and leaving the family here in Utah. I didn't hunt down this job, it really came to me.... It worked itself out as the last couple of opportunities have done... an interesting side story....Just as I was working out details before the offer came through we had a hand written note suddenly show up on our door from a family living in Indiana... Here is what they wrote:
" You don't know us but we have been admiring your home for over 20 years. We don't know your situation, but if you ever wanted to sell it, we would love to buy it from you."Woah... Talk about timing... Maybe a coincidence....? No, we see through coincidences much better these days.... Back in the 90's they may have tripped us up a bit... but not so much anymore.
We felt it was the second little post it note from Heaven nudging us forward. We have since wrapped up the deal. I move out in Jan and we all move out of this home in Mar. So, I try and reflect upon this rapidly closing chapter in our lives. There are a lot of moving parts to try and hang on to....like a really fast merrygo round....we are mostly just trying to hold on tighter. But when you are married to the world's greatest project manager, it all comes together pretty nicely.
One unique way we have begun to close this chapter was to take another photo... same place....same clothes..(almost!).... same pose.... same stairs.... but not so same kids. Landon did a fab job by going to a second hand clothing store to find as close to the same things they wore originally. We positioned the bears just so too..... Seeing them all sitting there now, side by side to the original is quite the scene to take in. One can get caught up in the details of shades of color, smiles aren't quite the same, shadows here but not there, etc... etc...
I don't see those things.....
I see brothers and sisters that grew together over those years... working things out, helping each others, getting in each other's way at times....fighting over all the same cliche things that every family deals with. They all 4 played all 4 years of High School soccer. They cheered each others games, they went to each others' plays. They terrorized the neighborhood together. Their personalities went in all different directions. Despite that, they learned to pray, they learned to get a long. They excelled in everything they chose to do. . Together they conquered all that was placed in front of them. They achieved their goals. Most importantly, they all grew testimonies of Jesus Christ each in their own way, in their own pace, in their own space. They have blessed so many lives just be being their best selves, most of all their Mom and Dad.
I look at them and see the same togetherness and love that has glued them altogether through this collective experience we have had together. It feels right... it hurts good.
So, we try and find the last few words on this the last page...... Each one carries a world of emotion, each one reflects the immense gratitude we feel to God, for guiding us here, and for everything we found and did. We close it not with regret, not with longing or looking backward... we pause to pose, one last time to close out this chapter with a picture... a picture that conveys a thousand words. Well done kids.... thanks for making it so perfect!
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