The west Texas dust has
settled and new life is emerging here on the flat lands that we now call home.
I found it difficult to
reflect all that was taking place during our move- we were overwhelmed with
tasks, goodbyes, anticipation… It was both exhausting and exhilarating.
And now here we are on the
other side of it all- looking back at our beloved time in South Dakota as it is
no longer home but a memory of home.
The experience of stepping
away from a place you love full of people you love can be described in many
ways (as I’ve already done above), but most accurately to me as: sacred.
Sacred. So often we are numb
to the beauty we live in. We are ignorant of the gifts we’ve been given. We
take for granted the people that make up our little world. When I realized the
move was inevitable- I saw before me a whole host of blessings I had been given
in the last 4 years.
There are moments I will
treasure always and they are:
1.
The Saturday
evening before we moved the Jacobs had us over for dinner. Allie and I shared
the piano for an hour as I taught her ‘Heart and soul.’
2.
The Monday night
before the movers came and Toby, Ava & Jaydn piled into Reese’s room to say
goodbye one last time. I said goodbye to Nichole while the sunset lit up the
sky pink.
3.
Gathering
handprints for Reese’s goodbye book from all of her friends at school, church,
everywhere.
4.
Our last Sunday
at church. I read a goodbye letter to the congregation which was what I needed
to say thank you to the church that I love. The childrens choir sang “Friends
are Friends Forever”. Dillon got a
standing ovation. After church there was a reception and we were presented with
a framed painting of the Chapel in the Hills, a framed photograph of Sylvan
Lake, a basket of goodbye cards, a photo book of memories. People lined up to
hug us.
5.
Hiking up
‘Sequoia Mountain’ (the hill just across the street from our house’ with Reese,
Lee and Brenda while the movers loaded the truck.
6.
Going to the park
around the corner from our home one last time (shortly before #2 above). I
pushed Lee on the swing and made lots of mental memories of this place we came
so many times.
7.
Goodbye dinner at
our friends The Kahlers. They were able to share with us their exciting news
(pregnant with #3) and we stayed out past bedtime playing nerf wars with all
our kids.
8.
Goodbye dinner
with our friends The Kenners. It was so wonderful to meet their newest member
Miles, a child we have prayed for, for years. Cherished friends.
9.
Goodbye dinner
with The Johrings at Murphys. We love this restaurant and these people so much.
Mark and Tina have a true gift with children and Reese and Lee adore them.
10.
Goodbye to my
dear friend Sunny and her son, Reese’s friend Crosby. We walked around
Wilderness Park with her new baby Ruby, and ate packed lunches. When it was
time to say goodbye as we got in our cars, Reese yelled from inside “Crosby you
will always be my best friend!”
11.
The Saturday
before we moved, the four of us drove up to Mt. Rushmore one last time (we have
been at least a dozen times over the years. We did the short hike around the
presidents and ended with ice cream.
