Sometimes it takes a child....

...to make you realize how you really feel.

I tucked the best kids in the world into bed tonight for the last time in at least a really long time. I have been babysitting Katie, Henry, Joseph and Andrew since Katie and Henry were 8 months old, and Joseph and Andrew were 3 1/2 years old. Needless to say, I will miss them... a lot. These four kids continuously make me smile, laugh, and feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It is impossible to not fall in love with these kids. Its true, they have me wrapped around their little fingers.

Its true, Joseph and Andrew are now cool 7 year olds who around any other people won't show me any affection. I get it, they're going into 2nd grade! You can't act like you like girls in 2nd grade :) But tonight, they both gave me hugs, told me they'd miss me, and told me they'd love me. I don't try to cuddle with them, because I most certainly don't want to embarrass them! But its nice when I get a moment to just talk to Andrew or Joseph when they're not around anyone else because they tell me what they're excited about. They have things they want to tell me and want to brag about, they just want to make sure no one else is looking. I also think I've gained points over the years because I have a slight knowledge of Star Wars, Bakugan, Pokeman and other boy things! Watch out when these boys get to High School Mike and Elena... they will be breaking hearts and setting records for their sports teams!

Over the years I've spent a little more time with Katie and Henry because of so many "9-1" mornings when the boys were in school. I remember when I first started, they couldn't walk yet, and I'd go upstairs to get them from naps and have to carry them downstairs one in each arm. If I wasn't good at multi-tasking before watching Katie and Henry I'm amazing now! I will never forget how they loved Avacado, and watching them move from sitting, to crawling, to standing, to running.... to swinging on the swings, swimming in the pool, and chasing after their brothers during keep-away in the backyard. These two still love to cuddle with me, still give me hugs no matter whos watching, and still have their little kid laughs that make you smile no matter what mood you're in.

These kids are family to me. They were at our wedding, and make me smile when I saw them walking down the aisle. They have made me a part of their life and have become a part of mine. I've always felt comfortable, welcomed and trusted by Mike and Elena which totally allows me to relax and love their kids the best I can. I will miss them all immensely, and you can bet when we come home to visit we'll be stopping by to see my kids :)

Moving Ups and Downs

So I'm really excited to move to Connecticut. Really I am! Its an amazing opportunity that later in life Steve and I may not be offered and may not be able to take if we don't now. The area is beautiful, the school is great, and the fact that we were both offered jobs? Priceless. So we are pumped, and we understand that blessing that is being handed to us through these positions...

But this is gonna be hard.

Most everyone we tell that we are moving is excited for us, but sad for us to leave. We feel the same way. A few times a week, I get really sad when I start thinking about having to say goodbyes to people. Yesterday, I told the family I've babysat for almost 4 years that we are moving, and that news added to the news that their neighbors are moving had the mom of the family in tears. Talk about hard for me to be excited about moving in that moment... I wanted to cry with Elena because it will be so hard to move away from the lives we've made here, and our friends and family. We hope and pray that the paths between Ohio and Madison, CT will be well traveled. It will be friends ad family visiting and falling in love with Madison like we have that will make moving seem easier and more and more worth it. By no means so I have any doubts or hesitations, I whole-heartedly believe in what God is providing for us, and know that it is right. There are amazing teachers and staff at Grove whom we have already met, and I'm sure more who we have not met yet. We will find our community, our closest friends there, and those that become like family. It won't be right away though I'm sure, and I'm trying to be okay with that. Moving to Kent for school doesn't seem like much of a move at all now!!!

Either way... I will bawl my eyes out everytime I say goodbye to someone while reminding myself that we will be back to visit very soon. I will probably cry multiple times once we get there just being an emotional girl and adjusting to everything. But I am confident that this will be good for us... Mike and Elena and my parents up and moved to new cities away from everyone they know right after they got married, and my parents especially have told us its awesome and that we should go. They are more excited to visit us in Madison than in Akron anyhow!!

Okay Madison, this isn't the last I have to say about you... but I need to get back to teaching now.