Stop.
**
I wrote this last week and didn’t publish because it was a low day. I find myself doing that–self editing my own writing when I’m not comfortable being 100% positive. It’s harder when I know that mostly friends/family are reading. I found it easier several years ago to write to “strangers” than I do now. The move has been good and bad. Not surprising. Most change usually is.
I’m working hard on happiness.
Sometimes, it isn’t the easiest thing to find. Overwhelmed with change and terror over the house not selling–I forget to see what is good and what is right in front of me.
So today, I stopped. I skipped the gym and walked downtown with my girl after dropping the Mo Man off at school. I took in the blooming trees. I enjoyed looking at the beautiful old homes lining the streets of our new town. I smiled at fellow walkers and said “good morning”. I stopped at Starbucks and got an iced tea–even though I had my water bottle. I stopped at the park and watched the ducks swim in the pond. I smiled at Leighton cooing to the ducks and noticed how beautiful and endlessly green the moss was at the bottom of the dark water.
We walked home slowly. Took a new street to see new things. Stopped at the park near the school to take advantage of the swings. Spent a little extra time going down the slides before getting into the car to head home for lunch. Called a friend that I love dearly and caught up. A little slice of home that I miss.
I made a mental list of what is good. Green grass, flowering trees, farmer’s markets, lakes. New friends, great parks, family. New house, big yard, new opportunities. We will find our groove. This will be home.
I keep telling myself that it’s ok. It’s just new. The people I love in the desert are just a phone call away.
Happy Mother’s Day from Morgan
Sorry that these are tiny- WordPress isn’t cooperating on the size. Here are some pictures of Morgan’s Mother’s Day gifts. Love them.
Here he says “my mom likes to take care of us”
This is my favorite: My mom is so smart: She knows a lot about love. Other kids wrote about their mom’s ability to cook or shopping…and my baby thinks I am great at love 
Morgan’s class held a special tea party for the moms on Friday. Once again, I found myself teary eyed over the amazing little guy that I get to call my own. He is so thoughtful and sweet. I am a very lucky mama.
Change is hard.
No matter how much you love something new….leaving something good behind is really hard.
I’ve caught myself complaining quite a bit since we’ve moved north. It’s been very hard to leave the best friends that anyone could ask for and start again.
It’s been terrifying not to sell our home in desert.
It’s been a struggle to start over…I said that, didn’t I?
The kids have been up and down. I have been up and down. J has been exhausted from the fast pace at his new job. We’re all trying to figure it out.
We love the new house, but it still feels empty. It will take time to make it ours. We’re discovering new things that make us happy–trips to the farmer’s market, beautiful parks, a plethora of outdoor festivals and neat community stuff that we longed for while we were in TX.
People are great here–everyone is making us feel loved and wanted. It helps.
But I’m homesick. I know that this will become “home” in time.
We just have to keep breathing and figure it all out. And pray that our house sells.
Still living in a construction zone. After the
Still living in a construction zone. After the third week, I’m threatening to put the builder’s crew in my guest room. They are a great group of guys–working hard to make sure that our dream home is the way that we want it. Still, a girl can only look at construction dust for so long…
Meanwhile, we’ve had a busy social schedule connecting with family and friends from the area. J’s friend Leigh brought us some local treats on Saturday- wine, a picnic blanket, and some seriously delicious subs from a nearby shop. HEAVEN.
J’s parents watched the kids on Saturday so that we could celebrate our 8th anniversary. We happily headed downtown to walk the main street and then went to a small bistro recommended by our friend Anna. The chef knew of us–there are some home town connections there–and we got a great corner table and a delicious seared scallop as an amuse bouche. The food and the company were fantastic. Ah, how I’ve missed just hanging out with my hubs.
Morgan started swim lessons at the YMCA this week. I cannot get over the quality of the YMCA system in the northeast–the one that we had in the desert was pitiful. He loves leaving school with his gym bag like the bigger kids who play a sport. It’s so cute.
Leighton is taking an art class in a neighboring town. They have a beautiful museum that offers enrichment classes for toddlers. I meet a friend there and we enjoy working on a project with our two little ones.
Weekends are usually filled with get togethers, good wine, and a generous dose of unpacking. I know that we are going to be very happy here.
Again, sorry these are abbreviated. It’s always hard for me to jump back in to the writing.
Getting Settled
We’ve been in our house in the northeast for approximately 2 weeks now. I’ve really had writers block in the chaos.
We drove cross-country with the kids, lived in hotels for about 4 weeks…went from 80 degree weather to blustery wind and snow…and I am so glad to be done!
The kids love their new yard and having a house with stairs. Morgan started a new kindergarten program and has once again impressed me with his resilience and outgoing attitude. He makes friends so easily. He’s pretty exhausted going from a half day program to a full day–but I think his body will become used to it in time.
Our house wasn’t finished when we got here, so I still have workmen coming and going. We’ve been lucky to have a very responsive builder as we work the kinks out of the new home. All in all…life is good.
More to come!
T Minus Seven and Counting….
Moving time is here and the mixed emotions continue.
We are packing up next week and the kids are enjoying their final week of school in the desert. I’m cleaning and sorting for the movers and still trying to keep the house staged in the hopes of a (rare) showing. We had appointments for two showings this week and one stood us up. The other spent 40 minutes here…which we thought was an awesome sign…and then we heard nothing. Sheesh. The Spring break “rush” for home shopping has been nothing short of anti climatic.
Seven more days until we load two kids and a chihuahua into two vehicles and depart for the great northeast. I’m psyched to see our new place completed and a bit freaked out that it is still snowing up there. STILL SNOWING. Isn’t it spring?!? This southern girl is in for a culture shock. I’ve spent the past week at the park in a tank top and I was quite ok with that!
It’s our first move with the kids–I’m hoping that they are going to be champs. They travel very well by plane…but a week in a car is going to test everyone’s limits. If you have some good recommendations for road tripping I am all ears.
The hardest part remains–saying good bye to our dear friends. I have been so fortunate to meet the most wonderful people here. Life in the desert has brought me the awesome cool girlfriends that women envy on TV like Carrie Bradshaw’s girl posse 0n Sex and The City. I am going to miss everyone so much!! Thank you for being our desert family and sharing this time with us. Please come visit when you need a break from the scorching summer weather and I will do the same.
Don’t steal my sunshine
I’m savoring the last few weeks in the desert. Warm and sunny skies, cool breezes, happy mama.
Nothing has changed on the house here. Trying to live in the present and remind myself that there is still time for everything to happen. Come on Spring Break House shoppers!!!
I am so very excited about our new place in the NE. Whenever I need to go to my “happy place” I mentally walk through the new home and imagine all of the changes occurring in the final weeks before it is completely finished. We got a few new photos this past weekend and I practically squealed.
The home we bought is in the final stages of completion. All of the finishes are going in now and it feels like the house is coming to life. We fell in love with the windows, the backyard, and the potential. I find myself overwhelmed with joy at the idea of having a HOME. Military mamas will know exactly what I mean by saying this.
We’ve had our house in the desert for nearly 7 years. It’s furnished, but I never bought curtains, painted a wall, or changed anything to make it mine. As with all Army moves, you do what you need…you get excited…but something always stops you from truly making it your home. It must be some sort of mental distance that is needed to be able to leave when your time is over.
Now, the idea that we have our “forever home” makes me feel like a little kid at Christmas. I already picture the house coming alive with our family inside. We will finally get to grow with the house and make it exactly what we wish.
And I am going to buy curtains….
