IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Okay, so I will admit, I am not a big Hillary Clinton fan. My Southern, Democrat, Reese Witherspoon look-a-like, former Miss Nebraska, marathon-running, Arkansas native, neighbor, Myra Katherine (M.K.) is. A few years back Mrs. Clinton wrote a book with the title "It Takes a Village...to Raise a Child."

M.K. would refer to Team Utzig, and others close in their children's lives, as her "Village." Perhaps it was pride or stubborness that I didn't want to agree with Mrs. Clinton, yet, I must admit that I am 100% behind this idea now.

Gone are the days where grandpa's and grandma's are down the street, along with uncles & aunts, to help raise children. With families living in different parts of cities, regions, states, and even countries, "others" besides relatives have increasing importance in our lives and the lives of our kids.

This past Tuesday was a sad day for Team Utzig as we had to say goodbye to a big part of our "Village." My size zero, Southern dynamo "Miss Myra" and her gang moved to Fremont, NE. These "Villagers" were very dear to us. We could completely trust them with our children, they treated them like our own. When the kids were with them we knew they were well taken care of, not hearing bad language, not watching junk. The "Fritz Four" were safe...and loved.

I will greatly miss Coulter, age 5, Summer's twin. Many times if Coulter was with us out to eat, at the library or park, people would smile and ask me if they were twins. Yes they are, just have different parents. I will miss watching Coulter and Summer on the trampoline, riding bikes, and playing soccer in the backyard. I will miss Emma Claire, age 2. I will miss her walking in our house and saying "Miss Mary I'm HERE!!" I will miss her wanting me to paint her fingernails and toes. I will miss this blonde angel climbing on my barstools keeping me company while I was in the kitchen; and asking for "Fruit chews, please."

Before we moved to SF I asked God to please lead us to the right house with neighbors we could connect with. God was faithful! It was hard to say goodbye. It is hard to look at their dark, un-lived-in house across the street. Yet, I will cherish that friendship, the place in each other's "Villages" we had, and pray God's blessings on them in this transition.

We may no longer hear on a daily basis "Hi Miss Mary" or "Look at me, Mr. Mark" or "Can Summer come over and play?" but you can be sure those sweet voices will ring in our minds and hearts for many years to come. Thank you Fritz Four for being in our Village the past 5 years. As we all said, it is not "goodbye" just "see you later!" Never miss an opportunity to be a part of a "Village," you will be greatly blessed...Team Utzig sure was!