Essentially our summer was: pack up the house. De-clutter. Sports. Kids running around with the neighbors. Swim lessons. Doctors procedures (Maddix had an adenoidectomy/turbinate reduction surgery/ Nala had work done on an ulcer on her eye as well as a surgery to remove a tumor on her behind/ Addie had to go in for an MRI to rule out spina bifida, as well as few other issues)
Repeat.
- I also got to fit in several “last nights out” with different friends; including an 18hr away to a hotel and dinner with Trish and Catie.
- Garett stayed with us for the month of July and we got to enjoy having Gloria and Luke stay the week over the 4th of July.
- I got to attend my last girls camp!
-planned my last freedom 5k/ EQ breakfast (church activity that I started when we moved in)
- Aaron turned 10!
- And Aaron had his LAST ball tournament as a Raptor, ever; and what an ending it was. Friday was HARD to sit through because yet again it was another weekend of watching him sit the bench all day and not even get to get to bat… I almost took him and left. I didn’t have time for it anymore. And he was miserable. Saturday though he got to bat and the pitcher beaned him (my prayers were answered) and he got onto base! He eventually made it home. Jazzed and excited, his next up to bat he hit a triple!!!! He almost made it home. If you knew what this season was like… this was a moment that was a HUGE BLESSING! He finally got his moment. His pay off happened. I cried. Other parents cried. They cheered louder for him than their own children. He deserved it more. They knew it. When he ran home the stuck the “big batter” cowboy hat on him for those who it triples or home runs and he was in heaven. His team went undefeated and they took 1st!! They were the new state champions!!! What a way to end. They signed a ball for him, a jersey, and his hat. They gave hime a farewell send off with speeches, dog piles, and cupcakes.
Our goodbyes included luncheons, bbq’s, dinners, parties, cards, drop-ins, dinners that were already paid for when we went to pay, and tears; lots of tears. Our ward and neighbors came to help us pack and they worked all day in the humid heat and never stopped helping us. And when we ran out of room and ended up having to rent another trailer the next day, some of them came back and tirelessly continued to help us until the bitterest last moment. Maddix and Aaron spent their last night in Mason City at Callum and Kael’s while the girls spent their last night at Lexi’s with Lexi and Fin. Kael cried as he walked Aaron home at 3am and hugged him goodbye. Lexi and Fin hopped on their bikes and raced our vehicles as fast as they could, crying as they yelled goodbye.
Man. I look so forward to Heaven. Where everyone cries out with tears of joy for reunions. And we no longer have to choose between the people we live in one location or another; we just all get to be together… I cannot imagine anything more heavenly.
