Saying Goodbye

 Have you ever thought about all that the walls in your house have heard or experienced? That is what Rick and I thought about last night when we sat together after the kids were asleep. You see life has changed again for the Gilmartins. We got an offer on our house two weeks ago and a contract the next night. We will be moving to Staunton in May. We still have the details to work out with inspections and closing dates, but it looks like it is a go. As we sat in amazement at God's provision for our family, a mix of emotions went through out minds. We are mostly excited and so grateful. Our hearts are in Staunton as we minister there each week and look forward to really getting to know and serve that city. We have been praying boldly since our house went on the market about 70 days ago that God would bring a buyer to our house. Seeing that prayer answered so quickly is a reminder to us of the faithful God we serve that hears our prayers. So this move is exciting!
 It is also somewhat sad. These walls have seen and heard so much with our family. This is the house we brought our baby boys home to. This is the house that we have grown our family of 6. And this is the house that we survived cancer in. It is funny, besides normal transitions, the cancer part is the hardest for me to say goodbye to. Don't get me wrong, I am glad to say goodbye to cancer, but it is the memory that every room holds here. The places Andrew got shots from our dear friend Margie. The couches we held him on when he wasn't feeling well. The cribs that Andrew slept in while he wasn't at the hospital. The kitchen that prepared his favorite meals to keep him eating. Rooms I saw dear friends scrubbing from top to bottom in order to "de-germ" the house for our boy coming home from chemo. Even little things like stickers I have packed that he received from friends to keep him busy while he waited on scans and surgeries. It is amazing how many memories this house could share regarding our cancer journey. As we entered the beautiful spring time with our trees blooming and flowers coming up, I am reminded of last year when we had just weathered the storm in the winter and how alive we felt. Our house has been a safe haven for us, as well as many family members and friends that came to help, during that time. So yes, there is a part of me that is ready to turn the page and be done with the "cancer house," however, there is another part of me that is grieving.  We are saying goodbye to a huge chapter in our lives and taking a step of faith to believe that the next chapters, even if they are scary, will be perfectly written. There will not be a mistake in the story or something that we could have avoided. God knew what house we needed to be in to walk through cancer with Andrew and He knows where we need to be for the next chapters in our lives.
 Becca made a chain tonight counting down the days until we move into our new house. We have 22. 22 more days of packing. 22 more days of "suburban" living. 22 more days to look around at the walls that weathered so much with us. And 22 more days to get excited about the next adventures we will have as a family of 6.

 And so because there is not much happening with cancer here now (and hopefully forever), we will also say goodbye to this blog. This blog was started to keep everyone updated on Andrew's progress and what was happening in the hospital. It ended up being an amazing tool to help Rick and I process through so many deep thoughts and emotions as well as share our story with those who wanted to keep updated.  But Lord willing, we will not have to go down that road again and so we will say goodbye to our friendly readers. Thanks so much for your love and support. We are forever grateful to you and especially to our great God and Healer.