2 months from today the packers will be here, putting our things in boxes to move back to Oregon. We have been selling furniture, organizing possessions, digging through the attic, booking hotels/accommodations with friends for our road trip, plotting out what fun things we can do on our 3,000 mile 'vacation' with 4 kids 8 and under, and planning what food/activities we are going to bring with us in our ONE car that will be packed to the brim. Oh, and did I mention turning in resumes and shutting lights off, one at a time, at this current job? Yep, we are living a crazy existence right now.
The kids are troopers. They always have been, but I feel it especially right now. They are going with the flow, being flexible with things like mom and dad spending an entire day in the attic organizing bins. We are embarking on a brand new adventure here in the next few months. We are leaving the nomadic life in the military to embrace planting our feet in a more root-growing location. We are moving to a familiar, yet unfamiliar place. Our original 'community,' where both John and I were shaped and molded into who we were when we got married. That part is familiar.
But we have been married for a decade now (or will be by the time we get back there) and we have been given 4 blessings in the form of walking, talking people. We are different than we were when we last left our original community. We have grown and changed and aren't quite sure where our new dynamics are going to fit into our original community. So that part is unfamiliar. But we are excited to see how everything will fit together as we settle into our new normal.
In the meantime the kids have been practicing their skills in the kitchen, making cookies, and getting into every cupboard possible (Emmett).
We've been watching quite a bit of, "GEE," on Netflix, that is Curious George for those who don't speak Emmett-ese.
He insists on stripping down to his diaper, putting Sissy's goggles on, and "CHHHHH!!" is the sound that goes with 'swimming.' He jumps from one bed to the other, landing in blankets and pillows, then hops up and gasps for air, like he's coming up from a dive. I don't know where he gets these ideas.
We've had the pleasure of friends visiting. This is Maxwell and Emmett, who are about 5 months apart in age (Emmett is the elder), and they did a pretty good job of sharing with one another.
Played outside, building forts and obstacle courses.
Aubrey and Mimi, two peas in a pod.
And then it snowed!!! For about an hour! We got our snow suits out, bundled up, and made miniature snowballs while we had the chance. Emmett wasn't a big fan but the others had a blast. The snow was melted by noon, just in time for hot cocoa and naps.
John and I wake up each morning, take a deep breath, and put one foot in front of the other as we try to keep our heads above water with all the things on our 'to do' list. And at the end of the day we pile into bed and say, "Isn't God faithful?" Because He is. And He doesn't need us to stress out about anything right now...He has it under control.
