One Epic Swing Set

About 18 months ago K asked if she could have a swing set in the backyard.  Innocent question. I mean she was 6 at the time.  Seemed like a reasonable ask, right?  But for us... It was a much much larger conversation than a swing set. Stephen and I talked about getting one and redesigning the backyard on Serendipity to accommodate a swing set. And then we started talking about what I perceived as the commitment of installing a swing set. To me, it meant that we weren't moving anytime soon. It meant that church would continue to be 30-40 minutes away on a Sunday. 90 minutes on a weekday. It meant that Stephen's ambition to attend Theology School would very likely be later, if it ever happened.

And so... Because of the conversation of a swing set... We decided to move. We spent the next 15 months searching for a house, finding a house, contracting for the new house, staging our house, putting our house on the market, having over 18 offers on the house that either fell through or were crap, having major delays on the new house, Stephen STARTING THEOLOGY SCHOOL!!!!, Stephen having a middle of the night ER visit that turned into surgery and a 3 day hospital stay, closing on the Serendipity house the week between Christmas and New Years, moving to an apartment, K starting a new school, both of our companies being sold/acquired, to finally moving from the apartment into the new house.

It's been a crazy CRAZY ride the last 18 months.  Stephen is wrapping up his second semester at St. Stephens this month.  It's been a challenging year for him. With all of the things changing at work, home and new demands of school... He's had his hands full and continues to care for K and I as if we're the only thing that matters.  K's adapted to a new school. A school with the same name, in theory the same rules and yet... just slightly different enough that she's had a good amount of acclimating to do.  We've been in our house 108 days.  We have less than 10 boxes, total including the basement, that haven't been unpacked.  And as I look at this swing set, and we have nights like tonight where the neighbors came over to 'test it out' and play, giggle, sing and dance in the back yard, I see it all coming together.  I'm SO incredibly thankful for all the support, shoulders and love we have received over the last 18 months.  Friends who have helped with K while we did the 'grown-up stuff' that needed to be done. Friends who've checked in and asked what's up, how things were going and offered shoulders when I needed them. My sisters who gave Stephen and I a chance to have a break and go out for dinner, or picked K up from school so I could go get my hair cut... The neighbors who have remained close at heart and dear friends... who came to bring us breakfast for the morning of moving day, who we spent the 4th of July with on the beach...

I love you and from the bottom of my heart I thank you!!

This swing set wouldn't have happened without you.