So long, Brooks Drive!

Over 21 months ago, we left our home in Georgia to move to Mississippi, where the Lord had called us to serve at Hardy Street Baptist Church.  For the last 21 months, we have been trying off and on to sell our house in Georgia.  Yesterday, thanks to many, many fervent prayers on our behalf, and a miracle from the Lord, it sold.  We signed the papers and drove home to Hattiesburg.  

This is the picture I took of our little ones the day that we moved to Mississippi.  They have grown up so much over the last months since our move!  Yesterday, we drove back to our house to walk through one more time because we felt like we needed to for closure's sake.  

On our way, we stopped by to see this precious man, Mr. Jerry.  He has been a godsend to our family.  Mr. Jerry lives up the road from our house and has helped to look after it for the last few months.  During our time in Austell, he loved and encouraged us so very much!  Still does to this day.  

When Tilly and Story were born, Mr. Jerry and his precious wife, Miss Beverly (who has now gone on to be with the Lord) fed our family meals upon meals, so we didn't have to worry about cooking.  I always think of them when I take a meal to a new mom!  David has since become good friends with Mr. Jerry's son, Bill (Dr. Bill to us), who pastors a church in Rome.  We adore this family, and I am so thankful we were able to visit with Mr. Jerry before we left.  He provided snacks and drinks for the children, which was invaluable because we sat in the car during closing, ha!

And here we are.  On the front porch once again.  They've grown up so much! 

And one more picture on the swing.  We always took pictures on the swing after or before important events.  The swing was a gift from Mr. Jerry and Miss Beverly when we moved into our house.  It was there waiting on us when we came home from closing the first time.  So many memories.  

 This was taken on Mother's Day in 2011.  Tilly now wears that dress Summer has on, and Story wears the dress Tilly has on.  

This picture was taken on Father's Day, 2010, the day we dedicated Story to the Lord.  There were so many memories made on Brooks Drive.  All four children learned to walk here.  We brought home Tilly and Story from the hospital here.  We grew our first garden here.  We learned how to be parents on Brooks Drive.  We had many birthday parties here.  We spent a full week cooped up inside when a snowstorm hit Atlanta in the Winter of 2011.  So many memories.  We experienced heartache in this house, too. That's just part of the ebb and flow of life, I suppose.  Yesterday, we said goodbye to Brooks Drive for the last time.  Carter and Summer vaguely remembered our time here.  Summer remembers me making them run laps around the garden for exercise, ha! Carter remembers me crying in our playroom.  Tilly and Story don't really remember much about our time here.  They did remember where their room was in the house.  David and I remember a lot, some of those things we would like to forget.  I am sure in time, we will forget the ugly and just remember the good.  I hope so.  There was so much good.  So long, Brooks Drive.  New memories by a new young family are waiting to be made in your walls.  Thank you for being good to us!

When we finished our goodbyes, we drove over to the closing office in Douglasville to sign the final paperwork.  The children and I sat in the car eating Mr. Jerry's snacks and watching the new American Girl Movie while David took care of the bulk of the work.  He's always doing that for us, taking on the bulk of the work.  When it was time, we tag teamed, and I went inside to sign my papers.  Then, we were done.  It is still all very surreal.  I have to confess, I doubted we would sell that house.  I thought we would always own it.  Such little faith.  I am not proud of that.  So many people, dear sweet friends and family are responsible for the selling of this house.  So many have fervently petitioned on our behalf, and we are forever grateful.  One of my sweet friends asked me, "So what now?"  My response: "Now?  We we keep loving life, serving the Lord and making memories in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.  Not much different than before, but with a huge burden lifted!"