the red umbrella

i've mentioned it in previous posts. there have been many times when i've called it something else. for all intents and purposes, it has been our main stay, our community since we've been in louisville. and as i sit to type about it, i'm not sure i can put words to it. we were talking a few days ago, as we reminisced about the red umbrella and we said we should write a book. all of us contributing our piece. this post will not even scratch the surface, it is not a complete picture, but it's something. a beginning point.

every day, if it's not raining, or snowing, all the kids in the neighborhood come out to play. and while the kids play, the mom's sit under a red umbrella and talk. we parent too as we navigate our children, but mostly we get a chance to connect. every day. for hours. so you can imagine the friendships that have been formed.

the reality is we're all up in each others business. we're all in the same stage of life, husbands about the same thing. we help each other save money, we're quick to share our tricks on how to make it work. we're watching each other, learning, comparing, sharpening. each of our belly's grew, each of us gave birth. joy, tears, laughter. cooking each other meals, taking each others kids, even cleaning each others houses.

and today marks the end of an era, as the first of us leaves. the lump in my throat has been there all day.

i've said goodbye before. moving is a part of my life and story. i'm not sure why this one is so hard. maybe because i'm the one being left instead of the one leaving. maybe because i feel like i didn't get enough time. or maybe it's that i'm not ready to start this process. the process of people leaving little by little.

that's the really sucky thing about seminary. every one is here for a season, every one is in transition. so you know eventually you'll all go your separate ways. but this is the first, and the bonds forged in the last year are strong and true...constant.

she's taking the red umbrella with her, it's hers after all. and i wonder how big the hole will be. i wonder what louisville will look like without them.

this picture was taken on wednesday at our 'going away/christmas party'. the coloring is not great, but i'll forever be grateful for it. each of us with our newest additions, there are 6 other kids not seen here. and rachel, in the middle, had her baby 2 days go.


when i was going through pictures, i found some of our kids together and was shocked at how much they have grown up, and grown up together, in the last year plus.

jenna & alaythia then - just weeks after we moved here.
jenna & alaythia now.
lauren & isaiah then.
lauren & isaiah now.
we love you bilbys. you will be missed!