stealing precious moments...

...before departure

to another city - and moments like these will be no more...

as grandpa reads a story - but secretly, i think, really reveled in being close to the little ones more than anything - that pleasure derived in soaking up their essence - (dirty faces and all) for today is the last day for them to be together - the family is moving out-of-state for employment purposes... it's how the story goes these days - what must happen for families to survive - but oh, how difficult to endure the emotions brought on -

the packing up; boxes full of belongings, things sorted through - selling of the house - purchase of a new house - establishment with setting down new roots - having to say goodbye to friends and loved ones, to family - the realization it isn't simply a vacation or time away - knowing nana and grandpa aren't a hop, skip and a jump away anymore... when will it really sink in for the children? all these things in culmination...

but for this one time - in a small corner of the kitchen - sat grandpa - with a couple of the grandkids - stealing precious moments - making 1 final memory to hang on to - and in spite of all the rest - having it be...

a

happy day.....