A Sad Day!

Almost three years ago Paul and I moved to Arizona for the very reason of raising our kids around family.   We felt it was the best decision for our family because we wanted our children to know their grandparents, to be comfortable around their aunts and uncles and to be best friends with their cousins.   As we searched for a home there were times that Paul wanted to look further outside of Mesa so we could have more home and more property for less money but I was determined to be within bike riding distance of my family that lived here.  We found a home and it couldn't have been more ideal.  It was approx. a miles radius from my parents and my three sisters yet we were in a different ward, even a different stake so we would be able to have some of our own identity.  I really felt that I had arrived and this was what we had been working towards for the last eight years - to live by family.  

Soon after we moved here one of my sisters moved about 15 minutes East of here (may not sound that far but it wasn't part of my plan).  About a year and a half later my parents announced they had sold their home and had bought a home in Alpine, UT.  We were shocked.  These were my roots and they were digging them up without my permission.  It hurt pretty bad but time has helped heal and I've held tighter to my sisters and the bonds we developed as we worked through it.  

Well, it gets worse, because yesterday my baby sister moved to Utah with her cute little family.  Of course she let us know months ago yet I held on to the hope that it wouldn't really happen.  Even when her husband found a job in UT and started to commute I still held onto that hope because I didn't want her to go.   She was supposed to be a part of helping raise my children and I was planning on helping her raise her kiddos.  Maggie (her 6 year old) was supposed to be a teenager hanging out at my house after school and telling me about her latest boyfriend.  Johnny (her 4 year old) was supposed to get in all kinds of trouble with Charlie and my disciplining would be equal to what his mother would give.  And sweet Ashton (her almost 2 year old) was going to consider me his favorite aunt (he really does adore me) and thank me at the pulpit as he was giving his Missionary Farewell talk.  I had it all planned out and it was taken away from me.  The hope that I had held onto is now gone because she's gone and she took her cutest kids with her.  It's not going to be the same without her and her family and there will definitely be something missing at our family events.  But I don't doubt they're doing what's best for their little family as hard as it is for us left here in AZ.

We had a goodbye party for her at my house Friday night and Charlie helped put things into perspective for me.  After the party was over Charlie said to me in his sad four year old voice, "I'm sad Johnny is going to move."  But without missing a beat his voice perked up and he said, "But I'm so excited I'm going to be five."  It reminded me that it's o.k. to be sad for a moment but there is so much I have to be happy about and it's time to focus on that.  I love Anna and her family and I know we'll still stay connected though far apart.  I have two of the greatest sisters who live here still and combined they are giving my kids 12 cousins to love and I have no doubt we'll be there for each other as we raise our children.  Life is good!!