A Bitter Sweet Feeling

Andrew and I moved out of the group home a couple weeks ago.  The transition took place on Saturday Feb 16.  Andrew and I finished packing that morning (there wasn’t a whole lot left, thanks to the Vera’s who came the night before and helped load almost everything.  I don’t think I could have managed without help.  I was still in so much pain from having Madden) and were out of the group home by 11 am.  The girls were at the gym when we left.  It was the plan to have them out of the house when the transition of house parents took place.  It was a sad moment when we left the group home for the last time.  We have so many memories there, some good and some bad, but I will cherish all of them.  I also cherish the relationships we made with the girls while living in that house.   I would sometimes get annoyed that there was never a moment of quiet time and Andrew and I rarely had alone time, but we've only been gone a couple weeks and I'm already missing the chaos.  I miss having the girls at dinner and hearing about each of their days.  I miss the hugs I got when they were having a bad day or when they knew I was having a bad day.  I also miss the van rides, jamming out to Taylor Swift.  I knew that leaving the group home was going to be hard, but I also knew it is what would be best for our little family and for the girls.  Andrew and I knew that we wouldn't be able to split our time between Madden and the girls and they all deserve to have our full attention.  Those girls became family and it was so hard to leave. I have been forever changed by some of the experiences we went through with these girls and I am so grateful for the opportunity we had to live there and be a part of their journey.

Memories
Water fights in the kitchen, ending in me getting tackled
Laser tag
Running through the sprinklers on the golf course
Sitting around the fire
Outdoor movies
Singing in the van
Hiking