When my mother died and my sister and nephew left town, my sweet father-in-law asked us when we'd be moving back over toward Houston. Andy has 2 brothers and a sister and we are the only ones who've left the area. We see them a few times every year; mainly holidays and birthdays and now graduation kinds of times. I feel my nieces and nephews don't really know me, but that is how things are when you do live apart.

Anyway, after he asked us that, we talked about leaving and finding a new life closer by. Andy checked openings in his field and I hit the houses in the towns he brought home, and we talked about being closer to Erin and Gregg. Then, we came to a conclusion that my father-in-law just doesn't "get." Pleasanton IS home. So much of our lives are rooted here; our history, our church family - we are not ready to walk away from that into an uncertain place. Tonight that was shown to me again, when we went to the football game. Former students, co-workers, folks from church, etc. were all around us. Kids that we've watched grow up are now in band and cheerleading and playing on the team. We sit on the bleachers where we've sat for several teams, right at home with our crew. It was all so familiar, and felt so right.

I'm not saying we'll never leave - only God knows those kind of things, but for now, we'll stick with Pleasanton. Why? We've been very blessed and feel like no other house could be our home.