Everything that Stays the Same Changes

The shirts are still hung in the closet, all neatly pressed and patiently waiting.  His "good boots" are still by the door looking like they were just kicked off.  I'm sure those light bulbs that are out are ones that he meant to change.  The house still smells the same when you walk in.  Outside, his truck still sits in his driveway, right where he left it 75 days ago.  The dogs are waiting at my house, watching for him.  All the things that he was going to get to tomorrow are still left undone.   The grass has now become dormant and stopped growing and is now a crunchy brown instead of the lush green when he last saw it. The leaves have finally changed into their golds, browns, reds and yellows.  The pool now only holds memories of the summer.  The air is now cool and inviting.  Summer has finally given way to Fall.  Our babies started school and have now learned to read and recognize words. An entire season of high school football has passed.  The state fair has come and gone.  Halloween is now just empty candy wrappers and a buggy full of reduced costumes at the Wal-Marts.  We blinked and August turned into November. 
 Even though at first glance you would believe that everything is the same at his house just waiting for him to walk through the door, life has gone on.  Even though we have missed everything around us, we know that next time it will be sweeter and not taken for granted.    Sometimes it felt like walking through a long dark tunnel, feeling our way around.  Then we would feel someone grab our hand and lead us through another day.  I believe these were your prayers that you prayed. These prayers you not only prayed, but you believed with all your heart.  And they came true.  We saw the light at the end of the tunnel a long time ago we just had some walking and hand holding to do.  Now, finally we are reaching the light at the end of the tunnel.  The light happens to be Crow Lake Road - home sweet home.  Heath knows as well as our whole family that this is not where we go back to our regularly scheduled living, but now instead of a tunnel we see a field- a field of opportunities and dreams.   Wait- maybe Heath sees a roping pen instead of a field - those are really just fields without grass anyway.

Since the beginning, people have consistently asked me two questions : How is Heath ? and When is coming home? - Well ya'll - Friday November 12, 2010 Heath is coming home.  Get your dance moves ready.  (and your tissues! )

                                                    Picture edits by Amanda Sexton