FAMILY SESSION: Saying Goodbye

I'm in a bit of a quandary with regards to "words" as it pertains to their story...

there is so much to say...

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I suppose I could begin by gushing about my adoration of this sweet family...

How I watched this family of SIX interact in their home...

how Daddy is an instigator who is FULLY present in the lives of his kids...

how Mommy SHINES in her role and somehow still looks like a teenager...

how ALL.THE.BOYS. are definitely ALL BOY, while simultaneously not only know when to reign it in, but how to be gentle and kind, to show respect and obey...

how baby sister relishes her spot in the lineup...being able to hang with the brothers, and dish back whatever is given...while still twirling in her dresses and loving on her baby dolls...

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I expect, I could next discuss how they've lived in this house for years...it's where they brought home their babies and built their memories...

how every room has a hand made touch...from built in bookshelves to shiplap...and curtains to chalkboard doors...

how each nook & cranny has a story of it's own...where love has grown and relationships have been cultivated...

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Ultimately though, it all comes back around to the  whole STORY of it all...

We live in chapters...

There are the main characters...who are affected by other minor characters throughout the narrative...

There are details...like favorite toys or haircuts...sports or books that influence those characters...

There is definitely action...it's a constant...it's the way the characters move within their story...and it's always changing...from one season to the next...

And, there is a Setting...

and for this family, the setting of HOME has been this house...

If the walls could talk, they could tell you all about each 'character' that has lived within it's spaces...the laughter and tears...the friends and adventures...the plans and late night talks...the parenting dilemmas, successes and failures...

there has been a tender security in this place...

where "two became one" and out of that came a full family...

Yes, "home is where your heart is", but that doesn't lessen the meaning and the memory that went into the building of that home in the first place...

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They wanted to commemorate and celebrate the "setting" of their story, in this season of their life...

it doesn't mean that memories won't continue to be made...it doesn't even mean that they won't continue doing the same things they've always done...games and baking, basketball and reading...

it will just move to a different location...

but for now, they wanted to honor THIS time...HERE...

And so, they baked cookies in the kitchen...like usual

they played dominoes on the dining room table...like regular

they pulled out the legos and jumped on dad in family room...as typical

they read books and played video games in their rooms...they cuddled in their bed...they sat on the steps that they climb everyday...

and they will remember...

they will reminisce...

and they will be thankful for the HOME that they built together...