Lessons from Montpelier...

Last night I went out with my girlfriends- it was kind of a going away party of sorts... We went to the Mexican restaurant and took the biggest booth they had. It was so fun- and we were so loud (in fact nobody sat near us)... I am going to miss my girls!

Thanks Clover, Jenn, Liz, Aleisha, Kathleen, Jamie, Annie, Amber and Kristie- you made it an awesome night!

After dinner, Jenn, Jamie, Clover, Liz and I went to the hypnotist show (it's fair week), it was pretty funny- but more, I just enjoyed the company.

We, as a family, have been through a lot the last four years since moving to Montpelier. And I get a little teary as I go from room to room in the empty house...

Ty learned to ride a bike on this street. And skinned his knees on the side walk out front more times than I can count. He learned how to catch grasshoppers and how to make new friends. He learned the importance of the phrase "neighbor helping neighbor" as we served those around us and received their help in return. Ty knows everybody on our street and has made friends with them all.

Ryan was born here. He scooted down the halls of this house and learned to take his first steps here. He also was able to take comfort in coming home after his accident last March- and he was able to see first hand (even if he can't remember it- I do) the compassion that exists around him.

Kate was born here too. As I packed up her room I cried as I thought about the first time we brought her home- how small she looked in her crib and in her own room. She loved to make a mess of it- pulling clothes out of the dresser and watching Mama flip out was her favorite game.

Shaun and I also learned a lot of important lessons here. We really learned what it meant to be a family. Since we were so far from each of our homes- we really relied on each other as friends and companions. I think we got closer here than we ever have been before, and I am so grateful for the friendship that he and I are leaving here with.

I am also so grateful for the friends I have here. I think that's the hardest part about packing up and leaving- is the friends I am leaving. I have always believed in the importance of friendship- but never so much as I have since living here. Toni Morrison once wrote,"She is a friend of mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order. It's good, you know, when you got a woman who is a friend of your mind."

I know that we've all heard the saying that it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all- but good-byes are just painful sometimes. I know it's not a forever good-bye, but it's enough of one that I won't be going to lunch with them next week- and that stinks. My girls have really pushed me to be more than what I was when I came here- which I wasn't expecting.

I don't know if they'll ever read this - but if you guys do- I hope you know how much you mean to me and how much I will MISS you!