Goodbye West Virginia

Each time we leave some place the goodbyes get harder. We loved West Virginia, or West Virginie, as Austin used to say. It is such a beautiful state with beautiful people. If you can look past the pot-hole ridden roads and the hotspots you can really fall in love with the place. This is where at least Mariah and Chet will remember living. Their "first" home. Mariah struggled the most with leaving. That last week of goodbyes were real rough. 

Our friends Anna and Tom had promised the kids they would take them slack-lining before we moved and the kids loved it. Those two were so great to our children. 

 We took Weston swimming with us one day and they about froze to death. Weston was one of Mariah's first friends in Morgantown. We are going to miss their sweet family. 

 At Tanner's residency party Mariah bonded with Gardenia the goat. That made leaving all the harder.

 We had one last Pittsburgh dinner with friends. 

 Saying Goodbye to the Daugherty's was really rough. This family became family. Our children loved like siblings and fought like siblings. Tanner and Levi enjoyed dad jokes and med talk together. And Ally and I could talk about anything and everything. Ally's way of showing love is by making delicious food and my way of showing love is eating delicious food, a perfect combination. Can't wait until they move right next door. Right guys? Right? 

 I didn't get a picture of the Fidlers but they were our other homeschool family that we did so much with. They were always up for hikes and last minute parties. Jen is such a great example to me of Faith and sacrifice for your children. 

There are so many others that we are going to miss so badly. I had such a great support system of wonderful women who were willing to sacrifice and serve our family so many times. From a baby to Tanner's back issues, to being far from family, so many people did so much for us. To those I didn't say goodbye to, I'm sorry. Leaving is so painful so I often pretend like it's not going to happen. As we pulled out of our driveway for the last time Tanner started singing Country Roads and Mariah and I bawled. He can really be a stinker sometimes. But it really is almost heaven...

Although we had definitely outgrown this house, I will always have fond memories of this place