Goodbyes (part 1)

The Fergasons came up to Waco to celebrate mine and Sarah's graduations. It was so fun to have them here. I got to tour them around campus and show them where I take classes and where I work. We also went to the Bear Habitat, where Lady was just coming in from her walk and so we go to see her go into her side for a little, then open the gate with her nose and head in for a nap with her sister, Joy, who was already asleep in her den.

I thought this picture was really amusing, because trying to get all three of these kids to smile at the same time is like trying to herd cats.

Here are Andilyn and I at Chili's in Waco, for our big graduation dinner. John and Karen treated us, and they got to meet Myles, Sarah's boyfriend. This was a really fun time. Also, John regaled me with the story of my new car (see next post) and why it didn't make the trip to Waco with the family. That night the kids stayed overnight at our apartment (all except little Drex, who stayed with mom and dad at the Super 8). They stayed in Sarah's room, which was a great boon for me. :) We stayed up late watching Jonah: the Veggietales Movie, and had biscuits for breakfast. Then the family went with me to UBC, which was fun. Afterward, we had hoped to picnic in Cameron park, but the weather was bad, so we relaxed at the apartment instead. It was a great weekend.

Later, we all said goodbye, and I started crying, then we all started crying. Even knowing that we were going to see each other soon, and knowing that I might even get to visit in the summer, was not enough to make us forget that this season of being so close together, of getting to be a part of the lives of the kids on a regular basis, etc, was coming to an end. It has been a great two years in that respect. John and Karen's home has been a place of respite and safety for me as I struggled in this community and with the workload. I am grateful for their love and hospitality, for the same from Dorothy and Nick, who often felt like back up parents since mine were far away, and for the friendships I made in San Antonio over these last two years. I will look forward to my future visits.

While the formal cohort goodbyes are coming this Friday, this is a photo from our "Cohort Hootenany" - our last official Cohort party. It was both fun and bittersweet to be celebrating one last time with this group of friends. I look forward to our future times together at conferences and reunions.