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So, my brother Tony and his wife Gina may be moving. The good news is that it might be Johnson Creek...not terribly far. The bad news? Their current home is only about ten minutes away AND has a pool. If you know me at all, you know I LOVE to swim. It is one of my most favorite things to do. I am thankful that my kids also share that love with me. This summer, we were there almost everyday. It was a HUGE blessing because, aside from the chemicals, some occasional toys and other small miscellaneous items, it was free. If it wasn't raining, we were pretty much there. There wasn't a day where I didn't thoroughly enjoy and savor every moment. I would sometimes close my eyes and listen to their conversations, soaking it all in. I loved watching them, laugh, play and make up their own games.
Since I love the water and needed to develop some sort of exercise routine, I decided to combine the two. Every day we would swim, the kids knew that for at least the first 10 or 15 minutes, they needed to stay out of my way so I could swim laps. It's not a 'lap' pool, but I made it work. After my laps, I would use the resistance of the water to do arm, ab and leg strengthening exercises. I lost 30lbs this summer. It. Was. Awesome.
Another bonus? Tony and Gina were kind enough to allow us to bring friends along. We live in a condo. It's a great size for our family and has four levels with decent size bedrooms. While I am thankful for our home, it is not really suitable for entertaining and our yard is painfully small. I LOVED sharing the pool with friends.
While the endless swimming, watching the kids play, exercising and sharing with friends meant more to me than I can explain in words, one of the best things was when Tony and/or Gina would come home from work and visit.(Oh my goodness, I am starting to cry.) It was so nice to see them and spend time with them. Even if just for a little bit. Not only did I enjoy seeing and talking with them, I loved seeing the look of excitement on the kids faces when Tony and/or Gina would show up.
The fleshly part of me wants to try and do everything in my power to 'make' them stay. I know that wouldn't be right. They need to do what's best for them as a family and whatever the will of God is for their lives. I have questioned God...why would he take this wonderful gift away from our family? I examined my heart. Was the pool 'my god' or was I being to 'showy' with it? I immediately apologized to God and repented, worrying that might be true. He could easily give my brother a steady job in the area. The truth.....while I love (I know, I'm using that word a lot) the pool and all it has to offer our family, God knows best and sees the big picture. That's true no matter what the situation. I know it might seem silly that I'm so attached, but the pool meant more than just swimming everyday.
So, Tony and Gina, whether you move or not, we are so thankful (ok...this crying needs to stop) that you were extremely kind and generous to our family and our friends. Thank you so much for giving us MANY awesome memories to cherish forever. Love you both and I support you in whatever your decision might be.
:)
