DadStayedHome

While putting the girls to sleep for the last night as a TN resident, it was surprisingly more difficult than I would’ve imagined. We’re not leaving because we hate it here or anything like that, were leaving for the right reasons.  We’re coming home for family and friends. We’re coming home for birthday parties and play dates. We’re coming home for Mickey Mouse and Florida sports. We’re coming home to what we grew up with, but when you think about it Tn is where we grew up (as adults). We bought our first house, Addison went through optometry school, I tried a few careers, moved across the state for a job, had our first child and followed it up with another. TN is where I went from Nick to Dad. It gave me my happiest and scariest moments of my life.  So as the excitement over the last few months has been mounting I didn’t take the time to think about what TN means to me. I watched Kendall take her first steps in Moms office and was so proud and excited when Natalie walked across our kitchen floor. TN gave us Lucas but is also where we said goodbye to Hannah. TN taught me that life  can go at a slower pace and has some of the nicest people around.  So as I get in my car with my 3 cats, my dog and turtle followed by my wife, kids and a 26 foot moving truck I can’t help but think this is bitter-sweet.  It will be hard leaving the place where all of my memories with my kids were started.  I will always have a special place in my heart for this state.  Thank you TN for welcoming a Florida boy into your state and making him feel like home. You will be missed and I won’t forget you.