Columbus, Mississippi

After we left Pigeon Forge, we went to Atlanta and spent some time with our friends and shared our work with some of their friends. Then we left for Columbus, Mississippi.

Counting where we are currently living, we have lived 10 different places. Each and everyone of them has been home. In every single place, we have made and kept good friends, we found a church we loved and could actively serve. There were always favorite eating places and favorite sightseeing places. Good memories were made. We had good times and bad times and had people to rejoice with us or stand beside us. Everytime it was time to leave a place, I felt I was leaving part of myself and taking part of the place with me.

What makes Columbus, Mississippi so different. It is definitely more than the southern ways, southern customs, southern hospitality and southern food, most of which I found endearing and heart-warming. It is more than dogwoods and azaleas, magnolias and crepe myrtle. In part, it is where our kids grew up. Those fond memories of hot Krispy Kremes and Chick-Fil-A on youth group trips. Football games and soccer games and band trips and eating at Wendy's after every cross country meet for six years. Those precious memories everyone has from the place they watched their kids grow up. All of our kids graduated from high school while we lived in Columbus. Nathan was baptized there. Just a few miles from Columbus we happily watched Nathan take Julia, whom he met in Columbus, as his sweet, lovely bride. Six months ago we all returned to Columbus to watch our daughter pledge her love and become Mrs. Matt Fitzgerald.
It was the best of times and the worst of times. We also sat weeping and sobbing, surrounded by friends and family, not only from Columbus, but from everywhere as we buried our oldest child. We were supported during our grieving and during Nathan's struggles that followed the loss of his brother.

That is what makes Columbus, Mississippi different from other places we have lived. When we left for Illinois, we left a little bit more of ourselves behind.

It is always fun and exciting to return to Columbus. Visiting with friends is always fun. It is bittersweet as well. It is often we are there and, with tears, remember the best of times and the worst of times.

Terri