A Big Change for Us

 Wyatt and Lily:   The summer of 2012 changed our lives in a big way.  At the end of May, Daddy was offered a new job.  While it was something he thought he might like to do, it was located in Morgantown, WV, which meant we would have to move.  We talked (and talked and talked and talked!) about the pros and cons of moving, and we really didn't know what to do.  We LOVED our neighborhood, our house, our friends, our churches, the school district, and pretty much everything about the area around Bellefonte, PA.  It is a fantastic place to live.

The only thing we ever really disliked was the fact that we were so far away from all of our family.  We've been very blessed to have both sets of your grandparents willing and able to visit us often.  While we could do a 3 1/2 hour drive to Uniontown (and a 5 hour drive to Parkersburg)  with minimal effort right now, Daddy and I started thinking about the future. 

Before long, both of you will be really busy with all sorts of wonderful things.  This is great, but it would make traveling on weekends much more difficult.  While we were happy that Papa and Nona and Grandma and Papaw visited, we wanted more for all of us.  

I grew up playing with my cousins and seeing my grandparents often.  I remember going to Sunday School with Ben in the old Methodist church up in New Martinsville and biking around town with Andy.  We would get into all sorts of adventures in my grandparents' basement, too!    Daddy's grandparents watched him during the day as a baby and after school for years. One of his fondest memories is coming home from school to the wonderful smells of Great Nonnie's cooking!  Daddy's cousins are like siblings to him.  During our many talks, we both expressed that these close familial relationships have had major impacts on who we are today.  We realized more than ever before that we wanted you two to have those kind of day-to-day experiences. 

We wanted your cousins to be some of your best friends.  We wanted you to be able to look over from the basketball court on a school night and see your extended family cheering you on.  We wanted you to have ample opportunities to really KNOW your grandparents.  You are very lucky kids--your extended family is chock full of kind, wonderful, hilarious, good-hearted people.  We just had to get you nearer to these folks!
  
 So, while we had the perfect situation in Bellefonte for the present, we decided to choose what we thought was best for our future.
 

I just couldn't believe it when I first saw the sign. 

Be very glad that you two were young for all of this!  

Wyatt:  When Daddy and I explained to you that we were moving, you were very concerned.  Your first comment was, "But I LIKE this couch!"   When we explained that the couch, your bed, and all of your books and toys were coming with us you were totally fine with everything.  You were so excited when we told you that we were going to live much closer to our family!   

Lily:  You were really too young to understand anything at all, so you were cool with the move, too.  You really had a great time helping me pack (more on that fiasco soon).

Daddy and I were the ones that were a mess!  We had spent almost 15 years in central Pennsylvania. That's a lot of goodbyes.  I'll spare you the details--let's just say it wasn't pretty as we broke the news.  

While this was one of the hardest decisions we've made, we ultimately knew that we had to leave our home to be able to truly come back home.   I hope you both love the childhood you'll have with your family as much as Daddy and I loved ours.   xxx ooo