SAYING GOODBYE

Kids - Amanda
5
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After we had everything loaded up there were some last goodbyes before driving out of the yard. The boys stayed home to help Grandpa so this was it for them. She’s only moving 30 miles away. We’ll get to see her often (we hope anyway). I can’t imagine how difficult a transition like this would be if she were moving across the country or to a different part of the world.

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Nathan is taking this especially hard because having Amanda come home from work each evening was something to REALLY look forward to! It was a change in our day…. it signifed the end of whatever work we had been doing here at home and the beginning of the evening time routines which all summer had included a bike ride. Oh did he have some CUTE things to say to her when she would pull him on her bike… “why are you breathing so hard… why is my cart shaking so much going up the hill….. you can do it Amanda pedal harder…. I can get out and walk up the hill, that’s what mom makes me do……”
Josh, otoh, being a little older realizes that eventually she’ll get hungry and want to come back home or meet us for dinner! He seems ok with the move here, but HE is the one offering to dial the number each night so Tater can call to say good night.

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Grandma & Grandpa C came up to say goodbye. G&G B are gone on vacation right now.

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Nathan wanted a picture of Amanda with him and his kitty.. and he always says “mom, take this picture for YOURS (yep.. yours not your) blog.”

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I think Amanda will miss all of us to a certain degree… but Nathan raked up the most goodbye kisses.

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Amanda did leave her dog here. It’s actually “our” dog, but she likes to call Casey “her” dog. I suppose that’s because she’s the one who took her to dog obedience classes, combs her hair, takes her to the vet, etc. The other kids have been feeding her and filling her water dish for quite sometime – actually ever since Amanda got a job a few years ago.

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Even Casey wasn’t ready to let her go… she wouldn’t get off from the trailer!

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**I can’t imagine how difficult a transition like this would be if she were moving across the country or to a different part of the world.

I suppose common sense would tell one that it IS harder to have them move far away where you can’t see them at least once a month or so…::sniff:: BUT I think the biggie is the fact that it signifies the end of a season of parenting and family life. It’s not that you’ll not see her more often but it’s different…..and THAT is a pain you will feel whether they move 30 miles or to timbuktu…..I’ve had two other friends who children moved across town and they were also hit very hard by the move out. I’ve had one friend whose children (like ours) moved across several states and it IS hard, hard, hard…..so maybe it is a bit harder not to be able to see them all the time….but I guess what I’m saying is that it is more the end of a season of life that you miss and that is going to happen regardless of how far they move. I know that I was sad thinking of Cy moving out the other day. LOL

Our kids are incredibly close and it was a hard transition when Jordan left for Missouri. The neat thing that has happened is that their love for each other has grown evem MORE. It’s so cool to see them all want to hangout with each other.

Cynthia, thank you for sharing your trials through Amanda’s move. It is important to have this all down and I am so thankful to have it as I know we will be there sooner than I would like.

How is Nathan doing?

The pictures of Nathan are so sad, at least he has his kitty. It’s good that he can call her each night.

What a big adjustment for all of you.

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2
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