My parents packed up and moved away this month, leaving Illinois behind for a new stage of their life. Before the big move, they came here for a visit. We squeezed in a track meet and my dad's 64th birthday, along with basketball games in the driveway and Snoopy Sno Cones made my Kaleb and Grammy.
When it was time for my parents to drive home to Illinois, I went with them. For a few days it was just me, Mom, Dad, and Eric at home together. I called it my goodbye tour of where I grew up. We ate at our favorite restaurants, visited our high school, walked through the mall, attended church at FVBC, and spent an afternoon with my grandma and extended family. I got together with some special friends one evening, lifelong friends of mine, and came away feeling incredibly blessed to have these women in my life. Eric and I helped Mom and Dad pack, and I tried to wrap my mind around the fact that 37 years in this house was ending. Leaving this place I've always called home, and saying goodbye to a part of my life I will never have again, wasn't easy. "Do the next thing" became my motto this spring, along with lots of prayers! The time I spent with my family during those days is a gift, really. I'll treasure it always.
 |
| Giordano's! |
 |
| All together at church |
 |
| I spent countless hours in this gym growing up. |
 |
| My sweet grandma and me :) |
 |
| Fradillio's! |
 |
| Jacobs High School |
 |
| Remembering Station 1 on the Fox River |
 |
The only original piece of playground equipment left from Eastview.
In the background are the T-ball fields. |
 |
| Goodbye #13 |
Derek met me at the airport, and just like that--I was back in the reality of my present life. :) We had the May whirlwind in front of us, which brings me to today.
 |
| DQ after Kaleb's band concert |
 |
Aaron at the Trails & Rails field trip, my favorite one of all.
We made cornstalk angels as part of Pioneer Days. |
Braylen keeps reminding me he's very glad to be done with his freshman year of high school. He'll soon be driving himself wherever he needs to go, which brings me a mixture of terror and relief. I'm trying to hold on to each day we have left of this stage of life, for I know it will be over in the blink of an eye.
Derek officially turned 40 last week, and honestly, I feel like I'm having an out of body experience. My parents moved states away, my son is on the brink of 16, my husband is 40--it feels like I'm observing someone else's life!
 |
| Derek and his parents |
 |
| Happy 40th Birthday with my Love! |
This past week was National Police Week, and I wrote an article about what it's like to be a police officer's wife. Another web site posted it for me since I needed to keep my name off of it. If you saw it floating around Facebook, and wondered if it was mine, it is. :) Derek's mom helped me put up some blue ribbons around town, and the police wives did a fantastic job bringing food into the station for our officers all week. LESA (Law Enforcement Spouse Association) is being revived, so hopefully next year we will have an even bigger impact on our town. It would be wonderful for the community members to rally around the officers, but until they do, the wives will take care of it!
Summer "vacation" starts in 4 days and if only I could find a way to make it last and last...
And that's where I'm at right now. Living it out one day at a time. :)
