Fresh Breath

Can you believe that I almost forgot what today, more like tonight is? I was just going along with my daily chores when my husband came in with a bottle of wine and the statement, "We may want some of this for tonight." For a brief moment I thought to myself tonight? which was shortly replaced with, oh yeah! 2009! WHAT! 2009! My favorite day is tomorrow! You get a clean slate, a new year, a blank piece of paper, a fresh sheet of snow, a renewing, a refreshing, a "reset" button, a chance to redeem yourself, a chance to become who you wanted to in the previous year, new adventures, and if you're like me this year, a new place to call home with joy and anticipation as to what that holds. I LOVE JANUARY 1st! But let me first say, "God, I'm ready to see what you have in store for me and I am thankful for everything you did last year! Thanks again!" I wake up with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for giving me, my family and my friends another year and I let go of the past. THAT'S IT! That's why I like a new year so much! While typing this it has become clear to me that why I love January 1st is because I can shut the door on all the past mistakes again and I can move forward with new vigor. I like it because when I wake up on the first day of the new year, I feel as though I've walked through an open door where glorious colors and gardens with a gentle breeze invite me in and where I can declutter and dejunk myself. It's like taking in a deep, fresh breath of life. Whether that makes any sense to anyone else but me I'm not sure, but I see that vision even now as I'm writing. I only have five more hours before I embark on a new journey on a new road and I can't wait; it's one part letting go and 90% anticipation that I thrive on. It's extrordinarily exciting, don't you think?!~

Great Surprise

Christmas has come and gone at our new home; a month ago I couldn't even picture where I was going to put my Christmas tree and now it's almost time to take it down. The tree ended up standing stoic and proud in our dining room just close enough to the window to reflect the lights. This morning I felt a bit of nostalgia while I was finishing up the daily chores that I used to accomplish in our old home; it's a weird feeling. I'm not even sure it was nostalgia as much as it was, "I would never have guessed where I'd be a year ago," or "Look where we're at....didn't see this coming," or "It's not near as bad as I made myself believe this extraordinary move to be." This is the first Christmas in a long time that I've opened up the blinds to the sliding glass door and been in awe of the snow crystals gleaming and glistening under the clear bright, bright, brighter blue than the city will ever see, sky. We were also blessed with a Christmas surprise of Chelsea and Danielle making there way up here on the 26th to give their father the gift he really wanted and to make him cry, of course. That's all he really wanted for Christmas and while we have enjoyed being back with friends and family, we have also missed friends and family this Christmas...all my husband wanted was to be with his girls even though we knew it probably wouldn't happen this year...so what a great gift to him from his beautiful daughters. The best gift they could have given him. So while another Christmas is gone, I'd like to say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's from our new corner of the world to yours with many blessings to come. ~

New Place

Cody is upstairs watching the Broncos game, the kids are watching The Polar Express for their rest time movie and I just finished putting groceries away. Whew! Sunday mornings were busy down in Denver, but with the added 25-30 minute trip to church one way and the crowds we fight to grocery shop afterwards, I am exhausted. When we got home Samuel said, "I'm tired." AMEN to that! Cody has requested my "football dip" for half time and so that will be part of our newly implemented "left over" dinner menu for tonight. I don't know about you, but I am tired of throwing away perfectly good food every week and there is really no good reason for it...so whether they like it or not, "left over" night starts tonight. Actually, we'll see how long this lasts, they may be making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before to long as I think I'm the only one in this house who truly likes left overs. Samuel has made this move, adjustment, and transition very well; it's amazing that I was really concerned about him with school and all. He has made a handful of new friends and has even had one over to play already; plus there already is a girl in his class by the name of Morgan who just can't stop talking about "the new boy, Sam", or so her mother tells us...here we go. It's Isaac, who so desperately wanted to move up here months before we did, that is having a little trouble. He just can't seem to figure out where all his friends from Denver went...so we are on a mission to make new ones. He says, "I like living here, but I don't have any playmates" and who can blame him, after all he always had two little girls at his heels and I think he's kind of lost without them, but we have a play date scheduled for next week with one of my friends and her 3 year old son...so I think that will help. Plus I've already plugged us into a MOPS group and a bible study here...so as soon as they both start back up after Christmas, I think he will be just fine; his same schedule, just a new place. ~

Made It

AHHHHHHHHH...I'm actually sitting down, sipping a cup of tea, watching my Christmas tree lights flicker and enjoying the quiet - all in my new home. YES! We made it! More like, YES I MADE IT! I hate change, as anyone who knows me, or has read my blog knows...so most of my anxiety is subsided now that we are here and unpacked enough to be comfortable. We are even in the routine of things here and that helps adjust my brain tremendously; now my next mission is to find a few friends for my four year old to play with; he needs some playmates. I remember thinking around Thanksgiving that if I lived through the next three weeks I could live through anything and I remember thinking, "keep your eyes on December 10th when you know you'll be moved, you will make it." I even remember thinking, "I'm never going to get my tree up and Christmas is going to be in the mountains, you've got to be kidding me. Are we really doing this?" Now here we are and guess what? I do have my tree up and it's beautiful and we are going to have Christmas in the mountains and we are going to be surrounded by so much family that it is going to be GRAND! This will be the first Christmas that my sister's family and mine are together since we had kids and the cousins are looking forward to it sooooo much that it makes my heart all warm inside. ~

"Good Byes"

We have a ton going on today and I wish I had the nerve to tell people that I'm sorry, but I just can't fit you into the calendar between now and Monday; we need to finish getting this house packed! I love the fact that people want to meet with us and say good-bye, but it's starting to stress me out; it's not like they want to help me pack while they say good-bye...so my last two days have been filled with "good-byes" and little packing and I'm starting to freak that we will not be ready by Monday. Cody is on his way to Fort Collins for an appointment with one last client who feels the need to meet before we go and I was planning on doing some more packing, but instead we have people on their way over and I can't handle it! I needed this time to finish the upstairs and start, START on my bedroom; oh well, it may be a late night tomorrow night, but that's just the way it goes. Samuel and Isaac are being good about getting rid of things and they are being good about packing up their toys too. We made sure they packed two small bags of toys that they would like to have with them while the rest are in transition and so may not see until Tuesday; Samuel understands, but I'm not sure Isaac does. He keeps asking me, "When are we going to see our toys again?" and when I try to explain to him that they are all moving to the mountains with us, he gives me a strange look. Well, I guess I'd better quit blogging, more like venting today, and get on with the packing. ~

Checked Out

I am tired of packing; I'm exhausted! I want to write out Christmas cards and can't; I want to do something other than packing, but I really can't. With Cody going to get the truck on Sunday and us loading it up that same day, I really need to make sure everything is ready....can't wait until Monday when we are on the road and I know that at least half the "fun" of moving is over. Cody is out with Clint having a beverage, beer no doubt, and getting in his last goodbye with his younger, but old friend. Today Cody and Isaac went and had lunch with Chelsea and Danielle; Isaac came back smelling of his older sisters' perfumes and so I know he relished in a few nice, tight, bear hugs before coming home. Samuel checked out of school today and while I expected him to come home a little sad, I was glad to see that he made it home without a tear and in good spirits. Everyday I have been praying that God would help the boys (particularly Samuel) make this move, transition and adjustment well as his friends and teachers have had a hard time of it; more than I thought they would I have to say.....so I was glad he came home okay and still excited to go. I watched Mickale and Maliya for the last time today and I have to say that it was more emotional for me at 4:00 p.m. than I would have liked it to be. I felt like I was losing my own children, after all, I have had Mickale since she was 8 weeks old and now she's 2 and even though I have only watched Maliya for a year, I was still sad - I guess I've developed an attachment to them I hadn't planned on. So now we look forward to Monday - our move day, and while I am sad about leaving so much here, I have to remember that there people on the other side of the hill excitedly awaiting our return. We're on our way! ~