The end of one chapter...

Photo Credit: Jonathan Cracroft. See more at www.jonathancracroft.com


It has been "official" news now for a few days, since I gave my official written notice on Monday: we are moving to Virginia! This is a big change, and we are looking forward to what the future brings; but pursuing this opportunity comes at the expense of leaving a truly great life behind. For therapeutic reasons, I feel like acknowledging that fact and writing about it here for a few minutes.

First and foremost, we will miss our Utah family!!! When Amanda and I got married in '02, we decided to start out in Utah where the majority of our relatives lived at the time. We couldn't have made a better decision. By doing so, we have felt a boundless sense of love and support from some of the most important people in our lives. From spending our first weeks as a married couple living in Nana and Papa's basement to recent events like Nans and Pops having C&W for 3 days while I recovered from H1N1 --- our family has always been there for us. Parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins... we have been richly blessed to be surrounded by and so often served by you. This is the hardest part about leaving, for we will not have the same physical closeness, but in other ways, we expect to grow even closer through this. Our sincerest gratitude is to you, our family, for the love you have shown for us even to the point of supporting our decision to follow this new adventure. We love all of you so much and will miss you dearly!

Next, friends and neighbors. Our "other" family in Utah has been our special collection of dear friends we have made along the way. From buddies made in Cottonwood 2nd while living in our first apartment, to our dear friends from Kayscreek and Weaver Lane and "the GE experience," to the priceless friends we have made in Highland Park and Crystal II--not to mention that special handful of local "forever" friends from years past--we will miss each of you sincerely! Our neighbors have been the best anyone could ever ask for, and we wish we could just move them with us to our new location. You know who you are!

In a related offshoot from friends and neighbors, there has been a special subgroup of folks we have been involved with in voluntary and service capacities. Working in such capacities has an amazing way of bonding people that is difficult to duplicate. Topping the list for me personally has been working the past seven months with Greg, Mark, Bruce, Roger, Kevin... and all the group leaders, and also serving with Matt, Steve, Andy, Dusty... that's only the beginning of the list, but you guys have blessed my life and my family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your faithful and selfless examples. We will always be connected, regardless of what doors life opens for each of us!

Finally, we will miss the community, the Salt Lake Valley, and Utah's beauty at large! Our fondest memories will include playing in the beauty of the Firs up Millcreek Canyon this past year, drives south to St. George and Vegas to visit dear friends, our roadtrip to the Pacific Northwest, trips to Cafe Rio and the "princess park," walks to and through Sugarhouse Park, surprise visits to Nana & Papa, Nans & Pops and crew, Grandma Bertha and Alpine, the whole extended Adams crew in UT Co, even simple drives as a family to our beautiful downtown to "daddy's office." Utah is a natural beauty. While we feel blessed to be going to similarly beautiful place, we will miss many, many things about Utah.

In his biography, Mark Twain is quoted as saying: "It is from experiences such as mine that we get our education of life. We string them into jewels or into tinware, as we may choose." I am so personally grateful to the many jewels that we have added to our lives while calling Utah home. If you are reading this, YOU are likely one of those treasured gems. Please keep in touch and keep us posted on your adventures!

Sincerely,

Justin