goodbyes...

It's hard to believe that two weeks have passed since I last wrote. It's funny how as soon as you wash your car, it rains.  As soon as I posted the last blog, little things started happening over at the property.  First, the tree protection went up:

The workers will have a lot of navigating to do but it is all worth it to save the trees.  When we built our house in Virginia none of this was done and several of our big trees died.


In preparation for the house and garage to be demolished, we invited Habitat for Humanity to come in and take everything they wanted.  They came early on a Saturday morning:

and came back the next day to take all the metal off the garage:

Then things quieted down for a few days, at least over at the property.  At home, we were preparing for Michael to leave on his mission.  We said goodbye on Wednesday January 25th:

A friend said, "It's like putting your heart on legs and watching it walk away."  So very true.  But I wouldn't have him anyplace else--he will grow up while he is gone--and learn some very important lessons about life, other people, God, and himself.  And when he comes home, it will to a new house!


From that day until now, emotions have been running high.  Joe and Rob had to let off some steam by taking their turn inside the little old house:

Using paintball guns, a hatchet, knives, screwdrivers and baseball bats they did what boys do best:  DESTROY.  ("Mom, you have to post the video."  Me:  "I don't think any of my friends would want to watch it...")

And today, destroy was the keyword as the little old house came down:

This machine was like a big monster!  The sheer power was amazing to me and I took way too many pictures.  It took about an hour to go from this:

to this:

and that was a teeny, tiny bit sad.  Someone made a lot of memories in that house.    Some of the neighbor kids sat on the fence and watched.  Goodbye, little old house!