Marcus is Home

And I can’t stop crying. I’m so sad he’s sad he had to leave and I’m so happy to have him back.  It’s been a roller coaster of emotions the last couple days as he said goodbye to so many people from teachers, coaches, and neighbors to friends and family. 

I flew down Saturday night and never even saw Marcus until the next morning as we raced to get him to his final day of a lacrosse tournament where he played on team Classics with players who came from as far away as the East Coast and Texas. Marcus played well and it was so fun to watch him play even though it was 95 degrees and so hot! I really missed out on his amazing lacrosse season this year and that hurts my heart. 

After his team played in the championship game and lost but we didn’t even care because it was so dang hot, we drove back to Farmington and packed up all of his belongings in the truck as Marcus continued to get texts from people who wanted to stop by and say goodbye, and this was after the huge farewell party his friends threw for him the night before.

We began the long drive home as we both cried our eyes out. I was unprepared for the big emotions I’d feel as I watched Marcus leave a place he loved. No one knew what his five months in Utah would be like but we never expected him to develop such strong friendships and influence so many people. Marcus is easy to love because he makes everyone feel special and he loves to have fun.  People are drawn to him and he is a natural leader. He was the only junior to be chosen as a captain on his lacrosse team and for being the new kid, that’s a very big deal. I’m not sure many other people in his situation would’ve made such an impact in so short a time span. Marcus was not the only new kid at his high school who had transferred there for sports but even the principal and his teachers raved about him just like people do here in Washington. And that’s part of the reason it was so hard for me to let Marcus go. I’ve missed the front row seat I usually get to have as I watch him live his best life.  It was a sacrifice he will never understand until he’s a parent and I can’t wait for the day, years down the road when he’s a dad when I know he will call me and ask what made me do such a crazy thing to let him live in Utah. 

A picture of sadness: his empty bedroom

His best friends Porter and Caleb

Marcus had been partying hard so he slept most of the drive home

We were both so tired after packing him up we laid down on the deck at my dad’s BBQ. 

One of his last dates

They let off floating lanterns into the sky and he said it was as fun as it looks.