After 40 years of practicing dentistry and accounting, my mom and dad are retiring!  We are so proud of all the love and care they have given their community, and we are excited and also a little sad this chapter is coming to a close in their lives.  

Pam and Meredith have worked with us for decades, and we are so thankful for them!  We couldn’t have made it without them!

 

I remember sitting on the front porch of the office as a kid, staring at these letters.  Time is a lot slower when you are a kid.  I have good memories here.  My parents were so kind to their patients. 

I chose a black/white theme as a symbol of an ending and a beginning.  Endings are always so bittersweet.  Michele, John and I bought them these lovely flowers.  That made our parents tear up! 

 

There are so many memories from my childhood playing in the creek under Mom and Dad’s office.  Jumping rocks was a favorite and just being still and listening to the ripple of the water.  I will miss this place!

Meredith, Poppa, Rara, and Pam made such a great team!

Before the party was over, the girls had fun playing dentist/patient.  They are always so imaginative!

 

Every time Anna Kate giggled, Dr. Noelle added $1,000 to her bill, lol!  I think Anna Kate ended up with a $4,000 bill!

 

The cookie cake was all Mike Pond.  It’s sort of our thing now to think up silly cookie cakes.  We’ve started this tradition with friends, so look out for yours! When we saw this owl sitting on a sideways branch, it reminded us of the office over the creek.  Meredith said they had an actual owl a few years ago come visit for two weeks straight before he flew away.  I didn’t know that!

 

I loved this shelf growing up as a kid in my dad’s office.  We were so cute!  Sometimes when I would drop-in the office as a teenager, Mom would be so busy she wouldn’t even look up, but the window would always fly open and she would say, “How may I help you?” and then she’d see that it was me, and we would both giggle.  I had to get one last picture of her opening the window in the waiting room, and was so tickled that my girls got to walk in and see her open the window just like I did all those years with their own eyes, making their own memories.  Oh, I forgot to mention, this was a surprise party!  So when Rara opened the window and saw the girls, it was amazing seeing her joy.  I’ll never forget it.  Just so very sweet, and the love is so strong and alive.  Truly brings tears to my eyes.  Then, the girls patiently waited under the counter to jump out at Poppa when he came out from the exam room.  They loved being in on a big secret and pulling one over on their grandparents.

 

Here’s what it looks like under the office building.  The creek runs straight under it!  I remember as a child worrying so much that it would fall in.  I even had dreams about it, but my grandfather (Pawpaw, Granny’s husband, Gary Arnett) knew what he was doing and built it strong.  It has stood the test of time through many storms and high waters.  It’s so peaceful getting your teeth cleaned with this view! 

What a job well done!  I’m so proud of these folks!

 

We only had time to make a day trip this visit, but we went to Poppa and Rara’s house to swing before we headed back home.  The girls love visiting their grandparents in the country, and this visit was a memorable one.  They have helped so many people during their time serving their community, and I just wanted to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for everything.  xo, Mo