Making Memories

We just spent a fun evening at the pool with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and my nephew.  We   have had lots of fun times at the swimming with this crew, but tonight was different.  In a few short days they will be moving to TX.  I am happy for them.  Tully is starting an exciting new job and Lauren will be close to her family in the city she grew up in.  Eli is almost 2 and a great age to move.  Really, timing could not be better for them and it just proves that HIS timing is perfect.  But as I reflect on Tully and Lauren and Eli, I am so thankful for the time they did spend in GA.  Lauren and I from the time we met formed a common bond.  We both love outdoors and sports (although, she is much younger and way more in shape than me!)  We love the simple things like cooking and enjoying a simple meal together.  We love deep conversations over a good cup of coffee, and a nice 5K...maybe not in that order!   The first time I met Lauren, I was nine months pregnant with Miah.  Shortly after she moved to GA and a year later she and Tully got married.  Shortly  after they got married Lauren and Tully got Shooter.  We have had lots of dog drama together and in the end, somehow we ended up with two dogs and they ended up with two dogs.

We have lots of fun memories of the dog park, and then of course there was the incident with Shooter and the stitches at our house... We were so excited when we found out Tully and Lauren were expecting. So thankful that we got to be at the hospital when Eli was born. I can remember waiting in anticipation to find out it was a boy or a girl.  I can remember when I told Ethan that Eli was a boy.  He was over the moon excited.  After 2 sisters and 2 cousins that are girls he was ready for a boy to join the family! Eli is the sweetest little thing ever. I love to hear Lauren tell Eli stories and I love to watch my kiddos love on him.  It is so sweet to hear him talk and to see him play. When we told the kids Tully and Lauren and Eli were moving to TX they all were a little sad, but I think it really hit them when we told Eli good-bye at the pool last night.  We are all going to miss that boy!   The kids have grandparents SC that we don't get to see real often and I was trying to make them feel better last night.  I told them that this would be like Meme and Papaw.  We still talk to them and know all about what is going on with them, we just don't see them a lot.  Miah told me very quickly that this was different because they were use to Meme and Papaw not being here, but it was different because  Tully, Lauren, and Eli have always been here.  Lauren said something in one of our conversations about us making the effort to keep our kiddos close.  I think that is so true.  When you live in the same town, it is easy to be close because you are literally close in distance.  When family moves you have to make the effort to be close, it doesn't just happen naturally.  We still have lots more memories to make with Tully, Lauren, and Eli, they will just be in chunks of days on visits, lots of emails and FaceTime and Skype instead of spread out over days and weeks. hmmmm.... maybe a nice joint beach vacation is in the future for us.  We are so thankful for all of the time you guys have been Georgians and all the memories we have made, I wouldn't  trade it for anything. Let's definitely make the effort to keep our kiddos close.  Praying for you as you move and adjust in the next coming weeks and months. We love y'all so much and are so thankful to have you guys in our lives, no matter where you live.