Yes, that is a snake. Yes, it is real. It was in our garage AND it was the third snake we've had inside of that house (Shhhh--don't tell our home buyers). It stirred some boys up right out of bed:
Alas, the day already proved exciting.
We were not prepared for the overwhelming response to our plea for 'moving help'. By 11:00 AM a slew of men and children had emptied our upstairs.
By 11:15 I began to have my first official breakdown....but by God's grace at 11:16, Teri Sullivan walked in at just the right time to ward off any emotional frenzies. And at 11:17, Michelle walked in with a Starbucks. God's grace manifold.
Soon other women joined us--and feeling strength in numbers, my panic subsided. Sometimes you just need a few women on the job, Amen? (by the way, in case you are wondering, here in the Bible Belt, rhetorical questions are ended with hearty Amens).
Many a men labored hard all afternoon, sweating through shirts, socks and ball caps. Oh, we are forever grateful for facing the heat wave for our sake. Forever grateful.
By late afternoon, we were astonished to find our house almost completely empty. While world records were being smashed across continents, I believed one had just been set here too. World's fastest truck loaders, I'm certain of it.
Then Starbucks #2 walked in. My friends sure know how to rack up points. And it seemed like the appropriate time to break and watch the 10,000 meters. Well, everyone stopped working except
After screaming hoarse and jumping up and down watching Mo Farrah win the gold and Galen Rupp take the silver, we got back to work. And did all those piddly little last minute things that seem to take forever when you are packing up a house. Nancy worked the vacuum like no other while Teri and Wendy labeled and boxed.
Friends came to say some last minute good-byes as we finished emptying the house:
We were so far ahead of schedule that Eric and the B&B moving crew (Bates & Brunton) decided to go ahead and head west.
...And I decided to head west too, for one last farewell at one of my very favorite spots in the world:
...And I decided to head west too, for one last farewell at one of my very favorite spots in the world:
With some of my very favorite peeps in all the world:
Afterwards we went back to Wendy's for a nightcap of friendship. Some more special people dropped by...
Friends for life, these are....whether across town or across air waves...
forever friends
The next morning Wendy and I got up a bit after six to watch the women's marathon live.
And then we didn't say good-bye, but
see ya soon
And leaving the girl slumber, we headed over to the grandparents to pick up the boys....
And said our 'see ya real soon's' there too.....
And with lumps in our throats, we drove away, looking at the skyline one last time as Louisvillians
...knowing that our next look will be as visitors.
Good-bye our beloved Louisville...
our home for 10 1/2 years...
...the city that saw the birth of three of our children...
...the city that blessed us with grandparents two miles down the road...
...the city we watched our children grow up in...
...snapping memory after memory of 'firsts'...
...snapping memory after memory of 'firsts'...
...watching their very first and last baseball games and all those in between...
...the city where our family fell in love with running and logged mile after mile...
...the city where we baptized three of our children...
...the city where we grieved the loss of a dearly loved mother...
...the city where an Ironman was attempted and accomplished...
...a city that housed all of our homeschooling memories...
...job losses, career changes...
---Highs and lows, losses and gains---
A place full of people we won't soon forget.
--Goodbye--
but see ya real soon.
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