As this season of our life comes to an end this week, there is one word I think of to describe my feelings. thankful. I'm so, so thankful for these eight months that we have been able to live so close to family.
When we came home from India in August, we planned to move in with my parents short-term. They have great space upstairs and were so awesome to let us take over their house. So when I say "so close to family", we really did live soooo close to my family :) We thought we would possibly be gone by the time our baby was born in November. ha! It is April, and we are still here! We never thought we would live with them for so long, but we are thankful that they don't (seem to) mind us being around. I really feel like the months have passed so fast. They might feel differently :) It's really been great and enjoyable living with them. There are always extra hands to hold/entertain Grayson, a willing Pop Pop to watch Grayson if it is his day off and I am running to the grocery store, grandparents who encourage us to go out to dinner while they watch the baby, shared cooking and cleaning... I could really go on and on :) Of course, a lot of this probably has to do with the fact that we really have our own whole living space and so we aren't all living on top of each other. AND parents who respect us and give us space (they ask if they can come upstairs to get something out of a closet... umm, yes! it is YOUR house!). I am so thankful for my relationship with them, how well Chad gets along with them, and now their love for Grayson.
An added bonus to living with my parents is that Uncle Scott also lives here. Uncle Scott talks to Grayson about sports, women, heretics to look out for...
Chad's parents live less than 2.5 miles from where my parents live. So we get to see them frequently and spend time with them each week. We love and are so thankful for our weekly dinners there. They have introduced me to blackened salmon over the past few months and it has quickly become a favorite. G's Papa and Nana love to make him laugh and get smiles out of him. We love how excited they always get to see G and spend time with him. We will surely miss having them just a short drive away from where we live!
Possibly one of my favorite things from the past months is walking around our neighborhood with my parents in the evenings. I'm sometimes in awe of the healing that has taken place, specifically in Mom's leg, since the scooter accident. As we walk the neighborhood together, I think back to the three of us in the hospital together in India, and I'm overwhelmed with thankfulness to our great God.
We could dwell on the sadness of moving away from family and knowing we will probably never live so close again (I mean, we live in one of their homes). But I'm choosing to be thankful...
Thankful for the gift of time we have spent together over the past 8 months.
Thankful for how they have loved and served us.
Thankful for how they love Grayson.
Thankful for the relationship we have.
Thankful that the Lord is leading us to SC for the next year and excited to know we are right where he has called us.
4 comments:
Thanks for making me sob this morning. I am a very selfish person and do not want you to go. I will babysit every day, change diapers, do whatever if you stay. I love you. Oh, I'm too old to accept changes of this magnitude. Miss y'all so much. Please keep a picture of me (a good one with at least 3-4 chins not 20) beside Grayson at all times so he can remember me.
Aww this is so sweet. I was just thinking "Linda is going to cry when she reads this". Let me be the first to say - I know exactly how you must feel and can only imagine how hard it will be to move on when it is our turn. We are so spoiled as well. I love that we can have such great relationships with our parents and in-laws :)
Blessed beyond measure to have you 3 with us these months. I am grateful to the Lord for allowing us these memories - and thankful for how He plans to use you and your willingness to go where He leads! So blessed to be your mom and to have Grayson in our lives!
The pictures are beautiful, meaningful and memorable. They are also joyous. Thanks to you and Chad for being caring parents, grandchildren AND great grandchildren. How can life be anything but wonderful for you two.
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