Three words that have rarely been strung together in my vocabulary.
We are moving.
For many people moving is the norm, a way of life, even, for some.
But not for me.
Where we live now is two blocks from the home where I was born and raised.
I never moved as a child.
I have seven siblings and some people have jokingly said that we have short umbilical cords. We all live within either walking distance or a very short drive of our childhood home. It was a good home. Not a perfect home but a good one. It was a safe place, as homes should be. It was full of laughter and tears and warmth and hugs. And most importantly, love.
My mom used to tell me that I would be her child that was going to move far away. That wasn't the case. I settled down just two blocks North. My children have gone and are going to the same grade school, Jr. High and High school that I attended. Our youngest graduates from 6th grade this week.
We have lived in this house for just under 18 years. Our two youngest were born here. And much of the raising of all four of our children has occurred in this little brown brick building. It has been a good home. Not a perfect home but a good one. I hope my children remember it as a safe place full of laughter and tears and hugs and warmth. And most importantly, love.
I have lived in the Timpanogos 3rd ward for, I would say, 40 of my 43 (almost 44) years. My grandmother was my primary chorister, my sister-in-law was one of my relief society presidents, two of my brothers served in different bishopbrics, one of my brothers was my bishop. And I have loved every minute of it. I have seen people come and go. And now I am one of those going.
I love the people of this ward and they have loved me into the person I am today. I am going to miss seeing their smiling faces, their warm handshakes and their gentle hugs on Sundays.
But now we are moving.
I will be honest with you. I am nervous. Nervous about going to a new ward in a new neighborhood. And it's not even that far away. (I am actually moving closer to my sister, YAY! although we will not be in the same ward.) Will people like me? Will they "get" me and my sense of humor? More importantly, will they be there for my family, for my kids, like this ward that we have lived in for years?
How is this all going to go down?
I don't know. I just know that when my mom passed away last July there was a "loosening", for lack of a better word. And I feel that this move is right, it is good. We will take this new, larger, brick and siding building and make it our home. And it will be a good home. It will be a safe place. Not just for our family but for everyone. We will fill it with laughter and tears and warmth and hugs. And most importantly, love.
We are moving.
