When Andrew and I were looking to move out of Fuller housing, we were saddened by the thought of leaving the dear community that we had come to love at Trinity. There were some great times there and the memories will forever be cherished. We made some great friends who will last a life time and although are now spread out over the country, remain dear to our hearts.
Celebrating Andrew's Fuller graduation (the first time) with Trinity, etc. friends!
As sad as we were to leave, I must admit, I was not upset about moving from an apartment to a little, quaint guest house! Andrew and I were, and still are, so grateful to have known people who knew people that needed renters at just the right time! Moving up to the Raymond property in December 2008 was a fabulous day.
Although we quickly fell in love with our new home, it also became clear, quite immediately, that we were lonely up on this property! Our house sits on the back of a large lot, with a much bigger home in front. When we moved in, the current tenants of the big house were not residing there as they were renovating the home. It was very scary to be alone in our house for the first few nights - knowing that no one was around us! You see, we had become quite accustomed to walking out our door and chatting with our Trinity neighbors or knocking on the door across the staircase to borrow a cup of sugar...this was no longer possible at such convenience!
Andrew, from the beginning, had the idea that the front house would be a perfect community home for friends of ours that were looking to try their hand at communal living. Like I said, there was a family that intended to move back in, and eventually did, so I thought he was crazy for even considering this idea.
I should never doubt my husband.
Sure enough, in the spring of 2009, the family of the big house decided that they were moving on and heading to Idaho...this left a vacant, large home looking for renters. At the same time, our pals of Trinity (and beyond), the Moore and Retts families, were looking for a place to call their own.
Leave it to my sweet talking husband to seal the deal.
In the summer of 2010, we were no longer alone at the Raymond property when David, LeahBeth, Joel, Silas, Chris, Kim, Zoe, and the only teeny-tiny developing Audrey at the time, changed their address from Trinity as well to 17-- Raymond.
Here is the 1st of many community dinners - of course open to others - to be held on the Raymond property.
And so life began at the Raymond compound, as we grew to fondly call it. Many a times my husband would be lost for hours - only to be found sitting on the couch of the big house, or standing outside with another member of the "family", even playing a game of NCAA when he should have been changing the laundry :) My afternoons were spent in the backyard, watching the kids play (the # of them multiplying over the year or so) and catching up with the girls. Evenings were often spent together - sharing meals or desserts - and laughing into the night hours. We watched fireworks on 4th of July from our driveway, we chased mice out of rooms, we shared births and birthdays, our children learned to know more than the one or zero siblings they may share by blood, our parents became family to each of us, we were able to go on date nights and leave kids at home, we ate really good food together, and we especially learned the value and delight in sharing everyday life with others. These were very special days. Although there were difficulties, this is not to be ignored! If you thought it was hard to live with someone for a week at summer camp, throw in some little kids, stressful jobs, and 24 hour encounters with one another! Of course we had our challenges! This, however, only made the experience more real. We had to learn to talk and share and be honest and to realize what it means to put others first. Without these struggles, this experience would have been much less beneficial or authentic.
A few of the good times in sharing life together...
Andrew and Joel work on the garden.
Football on Thanksgiving
Joel and Zoe playing fball - Thanksgiving 2009
Everyone being present for my water breaking! Especially notice David in the background!
Evie's homecoming
Joel and newborn Evie
Evie and Audrey riding in the car together!
Ev, Joel, and Zoe girl
Evie D and LB
I could add hundreds of other pictures of the meals and parties spent together, the laughter shared, and the memories made!
However, all good things do come to an end...
Last month we began the process of moving on. The Moore's have moved to a new, lovely place up in Montrose and who knows what the next months hold for the Retts' and Wright families. The season of "The Raymond" has come to an end but the experience will go with each of us for the rest of our lives. Evie seriously thinks she already has 4 siblings and I hope she feels this way about Joel, Silas, Zoe, and Audrey for the rest of her life! This was such a meaningful part of the experience...having Evie grow up with other children and know other adults so well. I am so grateful to each of the other "parents" that Evie has known and loved for her entire life. I miss it already.
173- Raymond. Love you guys.
Beautiful.
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