July 16, 2009
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The Path……
So over the past 6 years, I seen a lot of people leave LBOM. Over the past 6 years, it doesn’t get any easier to say goodbye to those people. When you live in such close community with people you tend to get close to those people.
Across from my house is another house whose occupants seem to change too often for my liking. It started out with Brick and Kendra and was dubbed “the girls house”. At that point, the only grass on the property was still at the Lackey’s house. We all just had dreams of having grass yards but alas we lived with our sand yards. However there was a definite “path” that was walked often between our house and theirs. The path went both ways as we spent just as much time at their house and visa versa. Saying goodbye to Brick and Kendra was hard, but then we got new neighbors…….
The Bryant’s and Jon Heller moved into “the girls house” and soon it was changed to “the Bryant’s house”. The dynamic changed a bit as now kids were in the picture for both of our families. Also the dreams of having a grass yard became reality as both Kev and Jermiah started making yards for our kiddos to play on. Once again, the path remained the clear cut separating our houses. Often times Kev would yell at me and tell me to not always walk on that spot as he was trying to get grass growing. We left for furlough that year and came back to not only no dog, but no neighbors either.
The path began to grow over. I remember looking at it at one point last year and feeling sad, like it hadn’t been walked enough. I rarely went over to that house as most of the time it was empty and was soon dubbed “Guest House #1″. People came and went over the year, but the path continued to grow over. I remember Kev was pretty excited that grass was finally covering that bare spot. Me, it was just a reminder that people that I cared about were gone…….
This year though the house became alive again as it first of all became part of Semekelang’s forever home, but also it housed Serena! In addition it’s hosted many female scouts as well as our two female interns. It once again was dubbed “the girls house” and soon…….the path returned!
You see Serena was with us for 6 months helping our family. She walked that path at least once a day and often times it was with my son on her arm. In addition I found myself walking over there again and enjoying some quiet moments with the girls when I needed to get away from Andrew’s loudness. It was nice to look across the way and see lights in it again and also see Semekelang stay here instead of having to go back and forth to Francistown.
Serena commmented one time that she never felt she needed a flashlight since she just knew the way…..the path was there and she walked it so many times that she could do it with her eyes closed. A few weeks ago, when coming from the house I noticed that indeed the path was back to it’s orginal status…..no grass!
Yesterday my eyes welled with tears as I watched Serena and her sister Sierra (who came to visit and volunteer at the end of her visit) walk the path for the last time. I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to that path as we turn a new chapter in our season. One thing is for certain…..the path is a reminder that even though the people change in seasons, that the memories those people have in my heart do not! While it’s hard to say goodbye, my life is blessed because those people are a part of it.
**And on a side note……the paths have extended to our next door house too which housed the Walker family who left in November. Then Brenda returned and now the house will soon be filled with babies who will be loved and cared for! I am sure there will be a nice well worn path between our house and that one!!!
Comments (6)
I remember the path well. I remember one night in particular, you guys had me over for dinner and Kev walked me back to the “guest house” and I said to him “I will never get use to this” and Kev made me stop and we turned off our flash lights and he said look up. So many stars, more than I had ever seen or have seen since. He said, that’s what makes it worth it.
I did not know the Walker’s house is being turned into Baby House? What happened to the other property for the baby house?
What a beautiful and moving post!! Love you, Sarah!
@Trudy4God - I totally remember that!
It’s okay…..it happens often especially those first days! 
And that view….well it STILL gets me after 6 years! 
As for the baby house….it’s now on the property in the house that had the boy boarders in it when you were here and then soon after became the Walker’s new house when they moved out of the other one. Now Brenda is in there and it will be where the baby’s are at until the new facility is built on the property. The previous baby house was taken back by the owner, but this is SO much better as we get to have them close to us now!
that is very sweet. Soon, we can start a path between my house and yours. it may involve roads as i may live off the plot, but we will cut one none the less
It really is a sweet post.
Awe, yes. the path. I almost never walked it WITH a torch! Always just b/c that’s where you walk. The moonlight usually lit up the path too by bouncing off the sand. I cant beleive how much grass there is now in that picture! Crazy. Well, though the paths in the sand have changed, the paths we walk together are still just as walked on as ever. I love having you in my life and love that fact that it all started with a path to Wendy’s on our way to a hotel room! LOL Mmmm. Remember that dream I had that you and Kenny knew aobut a Wendy’s in the desert and werent telling me? I woke up so mad at you guys! LOL
Sarah, thanks for writing this! I’ve got a LOT of memories walking that path in February… shucks I’m getting all nostalgic thinking about it now