My neighbor of the past nine years moved out last night. She raised her family in this house, now they have all grown and she has grandchildren to boot. Walking through the newly emptied house to make certain nothing was left behind; I couldn’t help but imagine all the memories she was leaving behind. Raising a family for many is the highlight of life; it brings meaning and challenges, love and joy beyond our wildest dreams. We bravely embrace parenthood with the hope of healthy children, and many of us are blessed with just that. The daily challenges of feeding the souls of our amazing charges often times fed our souls in return, stretching us and making us better people. Our children are our greatest teachers, reflecting all that we are back to us in the mirror of their eyes.

Before we finished packing the last of her belongings the newest owners arrived. A young woman stood before us, ready to embrace her journey into motherhood. We wished her well; my neighbor told her what a wonderful house this had been, giving her the blessing of hope for another generation of beautiful memories.