The Long Goodbye

A little more than nine years ago, with a whole lot of optimism and not much more than faith in our pockets, we took a wrong turn and stumbled upon a little piece of country in Forney, Texas. Something brought us to this small lot of land and before we knew it, we put down money to start building and the rest they say is history.

Nine years. That was almost four years into our marriage, two little boys ages 3 and 2 weeks, a new job, a new congregation to worship with, and virtually everything else new and unfamiliar. 

Now we have almost 13 years of marriage, two big boys that amaze and exhaust us every day, added two more members of our family that have washed us in a sea of pink and pretties, music and more craziness than we ever imagined. We have had six different jobs (3 job losses!), joined the military life with 2 deployments, numerous church callings, hundreds of mosquito and red ant bites, made countless friends that are now more like family, received one college degree (and almost finished with a second one), cried through two Presidential elections (and losing my mind over a third one), and so much more.

It is with heavy hearts and that same optimism and faith (buoyed up and bolstered by a lifetime of lessons) that we say goodbye to this life that has become so familiar to us. We are pretty sure our hearts are going to break, but at the same time we can't help but look forward with excitement to our next chapter and feel grateful that so many miracles have unfolded to confirm in our hearts that it is time to go. 

The kids are already mourning the loss of their best friends, but can't wait to get their arms around cousins and aunts and uncles and grandma and the mountains and hiking trails and Pace's ice cream and fries. Alfer is struggling with saying goodbye to his first good office environment since we were first married, but excited to continue in the company at a new location as well as transfer Air Force Reserve units. As for me, I hate to let go of people and mourn the familiarity of relationships, but I cannot wait to get reacquainted with old high school friends and mission companions. This is a big move for us and we feel like a fresh start is just what we need to propel us further in our faith and our familial relationships.

What started out as the Forney Four is soon to become the Syracuse Six (You know I love me some alliteration)...