We moved to Kansas a little over four years ago. It was after what was, for me, a very difficult 8 years in Georgia. I loved the people very much, but I didn’t ever acclimate to the climate or the exhuberant flora and fauna.
Kansas immediately felt like home to me. It is peaceful and beautiful. I love wide open spaces. I love being able to see the sunrise and sunset. I love being able to watch the storms roll in. I love seeing the hard work of farmers. I grew up in Wyoming as an outsider. I was a “city slicker” by their standards, but I loved seeing the farm work that was done. I still do.
We have also been able to live closer to Jen’s family. Everyone in our family has benefited from that. We originally moved here because to live close to Jen’s brother and sister-in-law Ben and Jamie and their family. Not long after we moved here, Rachel and Beck, two of Jen’s sisters, and their familiies moved here too. It has been so wonderful. I feel like overall, this has been the most pleasant and comfortable time of my life.
Yesterday was the last of three garage sales Jen has worked hard to put on. Outside of what we’re taking with us, the rest of our worldly possessions will be in a room in Rachel’s basement. We are very grateful to them for storing that for us.
Jen and I will making one more quick trip to Utah. We are taking Jack and Hyrum with us. Millie had a stroke about a year ago. She already had arthritis before that. We also know that her kidneys are failing. She is blind in one eye and, according to our vet, she has 15% vision in her other eye. Cynthia says the doesn’t hear well and gets confused easily. She has also been staring at walls. Though Millie doesn’t communicate that she’s in pain well, we believe she is in a lot of pain. We will be driving to Ogden, UT on Friday so that we can be with Cynthia while a vet helps Millie pass away on Saturday. I’m not a dog person, but I love Millie. She has been with us for a long time. I miss her presence. I miss hearing her walking in the house. I miss having her come and put her head on my knee. Cynthia has been spoiling Millie, and Millie loves Cynthia very much.
We got Millie from friends when she was a year old in May of 2013.
Today was the last day I’ll attend church here in Arkansas City, KS as a resident, at least for a while. We only have one more Sunday here since Jen and I will be gone next Sunday, and the Sunday after that is Stake Conference. I didn’t really realize that until about an hour ago. I love loved the people here in this ward and the kindness and wisdom that they’ve shared with my family and me. I got released as a Sunday School teacher after four years. I love those kids. I have enjoyed spending that time with them and learning from them and sharing stories and lessons from the scriptures.
Tonight was the second to last time I’ll attend the Winfield Correctional Facility. I’ve been going there for over three years. Usually, it is twice on Sundays (once for the Medium security from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and one for Minimum security from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm), then on Wednesdays from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. That calling has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. When I first started going there, I could feel the deep love Heavenly Father has for these people. Some of them feel like they are societal outcasts. Beyond saving. He doesn’t feel that way. He, of course, does not condone sin. But He also doesn’t see us as the sum of the worst things we have done. There is more. There is hope. There is forgiveness. I will miss them very much.
I am so grateful for this time.
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