New Beginnings…

In November of 2010, your Mom and I moved into a house. It was nothing special. Like other houses, it has 4 walls, windows, and a few doors.

We had been married a few years. Your Mom was working on her doctorate. I was in my 2nd year of being a principal. We had three dogs, two cars, and not a care in the world. We moved in a couple of days before Thanksgiving. I can still remember cooking baked beans for Nana’s house on Thanksgiving Day. As I went to take them out of our brand new oven (literally installed 72 hours before), the tin pan gave way and spilled all inside of the oven. That is my first memory of this house….

Goodness, if only knew what was to follow….

I can still see where I was sitting when your Mom told me she was pregnant with Avaleigh.

I can still see what I was doing when your Mom told me she was pregnant with Lindley.

I can still see where we all met each other for the first time. I can still see Avaleigh reaching out for Lindley when she met her. I can still see the spot where I embraced your Mom and both of you when we lost Paw. Ironically, those spots were the same.

I will forever see yall in the backyard playing on the waterslides while Nana, Mom, and me were sitting on the deck grilling out.

I can see both of you outside, standing together hand in hand, waiting to go to school for your first day when both of you were in Pre-K.

I can see the smile on your Mom’s face when she was sitting in the my seat and I told her they named me superintendent.

I can see where I was sitting when I got a phone call from Uncle D that something was wrong with Papa…

I can still see where I was standing, looking at your pictures, when I begged God to make me a better man for my kids. This is where I learned his faithful hand had been with me…all the way…and that is always would be.

In November of 2010, your Mom and I moved into a house. In May of 2020, we are moving out of our home. I can’t help but be a little sad…

If there is one thing I gained while we lived in the house at 601 Normandy, God allowed me to learn what true joy was….

I will forever remember our time at 601 Normandy…but I look forward to the rest of our journey.