I celebrated my 45th birthday on Wednesday - birthday number 12 as a Step Mom! Yikes on both accounts.
Lisa's 45th Birdthday - Opening Gifts
Being a Step Mom this birthday seemed even more relevant than any other so far. My Step Son Jax was packing up his things to leave for College in another state. He's lived half of his life in our home, he is our son, a member of our family. Most of the day was spent doing last minute laundry, picking up the things we forgot, organizing everything and ultimately packing up the part of this life he wants to take to his new one waiting in another state.
Raylan and the kids took me to my favorite restaurant but more importantly "our" family favorite restaurant that we frequent for most of our special occasions. I realized as we all piled into the car and headed for the restaurant it would be our last meal as a Party of 5. We will of course have other meals, but this was our last meal with all five of us living under the same roof. We will always be a Party of Five no matter the distance, but as every parent knows thing will change when he leaves our home.
In a lot of ways Wednesday felt like an end. I knew before I stepped foot in the door of the restaurant, I would savor every moment, remember every detail, relive every laugh because it would never be like it was at that moment again. When I started this journey I had no idea that I we would be able to create this close knit family of five or that I would love our family in a way that hurts now that one of our kids is leaving the nest.
It feels like we just made it to the top of the mountain and were given five minutes to enjoy the view. Life has dictated that we all will move on and start our new journey tackling a new mountain with all its own challenges.
Hartman - Party of 5 - please follow me this way......................