It's taken me a while to write this post. I have a difficult time getting too personal on the blog. I also feel if I don't write this post many people will be confused with all the posts following this one. You see, we've moved. It was an unexpected move so it's hard to write about it. We weren't planning on having to say goodbye to our dear friends so soon or so quickly.
For those of you who don't know the story...here are a few details. In June the time came when we needed to make a decision about residency and what was best for our family. In the end (or should I say the middle because I feel like we're still in the middle of all of this), the results have led to us not finishing residency in Ohio and moving to Texas with our family for a while. I know it doesn't make sense to leave behind a critical job for the growth of your career without another one lined up to move in with your in-laws, but we felt like it's what our family needed to do right now. The hubby is looking for work, and we don't really know where things are going to go from here, but I do feel a lot of peace about it. It still feels right even though it doesn't make much sense, but there you go. Through lots of prayer I know that God is aware of our family and things will work out for the best.
Despite all the peace, it was still really difficult to say goodbye to our friends in Ohio. I cannot even list on here everyone I love there. I was in awe of all the help we received as our life quickly turned upside down on us. The ladies in my ward threw together a goodbye lunch for me and the kids. We had so many friends come help us load up our truck and clean the apartment. Meals were brought, multiple friends offered to and helped watch my children for me so I could get things done. During the past five years, our ward had become our family, and it was so hard to say goodbye. I will always be grateful for all the help and support I've received during my time there in Ohio. I love the friends I've made there and will miss them terribly. Here are a few pictures from our last days there. I wish I could have gotten pictures of all the people I love there, but I didn't even think about it so all these pictures come from my friends who emailed their pictures to me.
The Jensens - I loved this family the minute they moved into our ward. We have kids the same age and so many of the same interests. Carrie taught me so much and is always full of great advice. Jonas still asks to go to Bubba's house everytime we get in the car. It breaks my heart that I have to tell him no.
This girl and her hubby moved in next door to us just to be our neighbors and then a month later we had to go and ditch them (I think we win the "worst neighbors ever" award for that one). I will say that month was awesome! We had Sunday dinners and game nights and did all sorts of fun things. They're second parents to our children and a true blessing to our family during the past year. Before Jonas was old enough to go to nursery, they would take him for me during the second hour of church. It may not seem like much, but during those months that Adam was on call and never around it was often the only break I got. Right before the move we did our nails together. We're rockin' our matching blue toes.
The Wagners - Our dear Rexburg friends who followed us out to Ohio a year after we got there. Okay, maybe they moved to Ohio because they had family there and got a job there, but we like to think it was because of us. In high school I had a teacher tell me, "Most of your high school friends you'll never talk to again, but your college friends become lifelong friends." I think that describes our friendship pretty well. We jokingly tell them that in a year they'll be moving to where ever we're living. They've been great and we'd love to be close to them again.
This picture breaks my heart a little bit. See C's face...that's exactly how I've felt about saying goodbye to everyone. The second thing about this picture that breaks my heart is the fact that she's saying goodbye to Sally. These two have been the best of friends and were going to go to preschool together this year. Sally has the right idea though as she keeps remind us that "We're still friends" even though we moved away.
Jack gives Charlotte the giggles like no one else. It's really cute when they're playing at our house. It's really cute too when it's during sacrament meeting, but not so reverent. : ) She's really going to miss his sense of humor!
So this post is getting pretty long, and I'm really sad that I didn't get a chance to write about everyone that touched my life. And I'm really really missing everyone as I write this. If I didn't write about you it's because you didn't send me a picture, not because I don't love you. If you send me one I'll write a post just about how awesome you are.
Coming soon...all the reasons why we're happy we moved to Texas!
