Long story short: Graham and Marie move to Colorado, Spring 2008. Moza and Lauren get married Fall 2009 and move to Colorado Springs. Ben moves to Colorado Fall 2011. Esther is born March 19, 2012. Moza wrestles for OTC until 2013, at which point he joins the Army National Guard, still wrestling. Emily moves to Colorado Fall 2013 for six months. Army moves Greco-Roman wrestling to State College, PA winter 2014. Moza and Lauren welcome Jeremiah on January 30th 2015. Army moves Moza and family to State College March 2015.
Looking back over the past six years, I see clearly that I ABSOLUTELY took their proximity for granted. We'd often spend the weekend together with them. The girls would have a grand time with Esther. How many times did I have a full house - Ben, Moza, Lauren, Emily, us - siblings and children enthusiastically enjoying each others' presence? More times than I deserved. We'd laugh, talk, joke, reminisce about last year, the last decade, the last generation that grew up on the family farm. We'd honor our parents by reflecting on their quirks and cracking up over stories from childhood (out of love, of course.) "Pizza at seven o'clock?"
And now a big part of our Colorado lives has moved away. I texted Ben after our last weekend all together: "...it's hitting us hard this afternoon." "Yeah, me too, sad." It's that Sunday afternoon feeling, like a dark cloud and a heavy burden that settles in and you think you'll feel like that forever and you hold back tears and smile for the kids' sake. Just went through that last year with Emily. This is how it feels when people precious to you move away.
And yet. A new start for the Fays is God's plan for them. It is good. (Mind you, it's no sunny Colorado with mountain views...) They'll start fresh, encounter new friends, find a niche, make their home. We will visit them early this summer. We will meet in the middle in Iowa now and then. We will adjust and be okay. And pray they end up near us again someday. Squeeze those babies for me! I'll see you soon.
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| Fay baby shower and going away party |
