So, we moved.
We packed all the things and we drove west and here we are now, in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, Canada.
When we left the little farm in Saskatchewan, a new family was just beginning to snuggle into the big old farmhouse. Two sweet boys and their parents, and a whole new batch of LEGO and toy trucks and dirty knees. It made me happy to know there would be bugs in jars on the windowsill of the kitchen, once again.
When we drove away from that little farm, I cried. Carter was with me, and my foster daughter, and I was tired from a long week-that-felt-like-a-year. I was on my way out-of-town for the last time and the farm was my last stop, and when I hugged the new farm-mommy it was a hello and a farewell and a I hope you love it here as much as we did, and I thought I was good. But then, as we were leaving, Carter asked me to stop.
I’ve never been brave enough to jump from that tree, he said.
Do you want to? I asked.
Ya, he said.
So I waited in the car and he ran out to the tree from which his brothers and their friends had jumped to often and so carelessly and he climbed it like a squirrel and without hesitating he leaped.
That’s when I cried.
Because of the leaping.
Because it was the perfect ending and the perfect beginning and because it was brave and cool and the absolute best last-thing-to-do-before-leaving-and-beginning-a-new-adventure thing ever.
My Men and Me 
July 28, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Aw, this made me cry. I wish you all the best in your new adventure. It will be full of new memories just as the past has been. Many hugs my friend.
July 28, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Thank you, Susan. It’s been a crazy time and not much writing or reading of late. I am looking forward to making new memories here.
July 28, 2015 at 6:19 pm
Tears. Tears and joy for you, oh-sweet-friend-i-do-not-know. My heart is with you in the leaving. But even more in the *arriving.* ❤
July 28, 2015 at 9:57 pm
Thank you! Internet friends are a blessing:)
July 28, 2015 at 7:29 pm
Beautiful!
And welcome to B.C.! You’re going to love it here.
It’s supernatural.
July 28, 2015 at 10:01 pm
I do love it. I remember your post about painting in blues, and I’ve thought of that often. This is a blue place.
July 28, 2015 at 9:07 pm
Oh that is so cool Janelle. Made me a bit teary as well. I will miss you, but we will keep in touch, and I know you will have many great adventures and memories in BC as well!
July 28, 2015 at 10:02 pm
I feel like I was just getting to know you! Next time you take a road trip to the mountains you must go just a little farther and come see us:)
July 29, 2015 at 11:04 am
We’re brave. We’re stoic. We talk about the postitive change…the things that we don’t have “here”. We think we are in control–then our sweet, tender-hearted child comes home, heavy-shouldered, from his last day of school. His shirt is covered with signatures of those he will probably never see again. Sweat is dripping from my chin from the humid tropical heat. I’m just not ready as he lunges his arms around my neck and sobs until he can no longer breath. I question our decision. I second-guess our future. My first thought is to unload the trailer…”We can’t inflict this kind of pain on my boy’s tender heart.” My heart hurts, but his is breaking. He’s Mexican with a bit of Canadian. We’re snatching him out of the home, the culture, the language that he knows. An eternity passes. We both gasp for air, then ponder on the many ways we will miss our Mexican lives. We wipe the tears and chat about the “other world” opportunities we will embrace in Canada. We breath deeply. Again, we are resolute; our attention is drawn once again to the front door–more neighbours and friends have dropped by to wish us well. We stuff the doubts, the heart-ache, the second-guessing, and we accept the well-wishes and and promises of future visits to see us in Canada. It feels good to know that we have loved and been loved in this beautiful country. And we know we are loved “over there” in our new home…sigh….but it still hurts.
Thinking of you…and a tinge jealous that you are leaving the Saskatchewan winters behind.
July 29, 2015 at 2:02 pm
Oh my friend. I wish I could have hugged you before we left. I know how your heart feels. Come see us. There’s always room.
August 11, 2015 at 11:08 am
oh, this made me cry too. It’s that leap, whether we are old or young, we leap and it always increases our faith, in the Lord, in ourselves, in our ability. What a beautiful, beautiful post. I cried when we left our house in San Diego and I never thought I would, it was not my dream place, but it is where we raised our girls. Memories cling to us and it is hard to leave the place where memories are made. Best of luck to you, and good luck with those boxes…