Full Circle in Madison

We moved to Madison three years ago, spending our first weekend celebrating July 4th. Three years later we are spending our last weekend in Madison celebrating July 4th... we've come full circle.

We started our journey in Michigan first a year of long distance, an engagement and move for me before we headed to Colorado with Murphy. We spent a year in Colorado and left with Murphy and our son John so it seems fitting to be leaving Madison with Murphy, John and our daughter Rosie.  Kevin and I were both living in Wauwatosa the year we started dating and eight years later we are headed back to raise our children.

I know once we get to 'tosa we will feel home but until then Madison is home so it's bittersweet to leave. Our marriage has grown in Madison, I've become a mom in Madison (John was so little when we left Colorado), Madison is home at least for the next week and it will always hold a special place in my heart. We've made friends here. Kevin and I have many wonderful memories together as well as with John. John and I have had countless days and nights of special memories while Kevin was working extremely long hours.  My time with just John will always be very special to me, it's funny because most likely John won't remember any of it other than the stories we tell him and that's okay. While I hold these memories so very close to my heart John (and Rosie) will remember life as a family of four.

I am proud of us for getting through graduate school, an internship and a residency. While Kevin was the one studying and putting in the long hours at work I was at home caring for John and these last five weeks Rosie, running the household. It seems like we would always be in this stage of life and now that it's over in a week it's funny to say but I'm going to really miss it.

Stages in life come and go and this stage is one I will cherish forever.