This will be the last blog post I write from this apartment.
As I sit here, surrounded by boxes and empty walls, I'm struggling a bit to find the right words to represent what I am feeling.
My dream of writing to an actual audience became reality here. I still remember that very first post I wrote, and how it felt pressing the "Publish" button to send it out into the universe.
I spent the next few hours obsessively hitting the refresh button on my blog analytics chart to see how many people were reading it. Still can't believe I've been doing this for over a year and people are actually reading it!
So much has happened here in the last 6.5 years. Sometimes it feels like it was just moments ago when we first moved in.
Jacob has gone from a kindergartner with still slightly chubby cheeks, to an introspective, creative, logical young man who challenges my way of thinking about life just about every day.
Ryder has grown several feet and a few pounds of muscle, excelling in every sport he plays. And achieved high honor roll most of his middle and high school years. He has literally turned into a man before my eyes.
I am grateful that they have adjusted well after the divorce and that their dad and I have built a solid co-parenting relationship.
And me?
Well, I found my true independence and a whole new perspective on life here.
Even though these changes really had nothing to do with the actual apartment, this place will always hold significance for us.
When we move to our new home in just a few days, we won't be saying goodbye to a physical location, but instead to the memories we made here. To the struggles we went through, the breakthroughs we had, the tears we cried, and the strength we built that will carry us through.
And just like that...it will be time to start the next amazing chapter in this perfectly imperfect book of life.
See you on the flip side!