One Last Look

There were days when I thought this would never happen.

Stagnant days.

Days spent treading water.

Days of feeling pangs of envy and longing when the world around me moved forward, and we stayed right where we were... where we had been for so long.

Even as I walked through our empty house, it seemed like it was all too good to be true. Like someone could still yank it all away and taunt, "Awww, so close, yet so far away!"

But it happened.

It happened, and though it's something I've wanted for so long, it felt bittersweet. The way one might feel after finally- finally- climbing a harrowing, daunting mountain. Sore. Tired. Achy. Victorious. Weary of turning and starting toward Home.

Bittersweet.

I just needed one last walk through the place that housed our family, started our family, grew our family, before heading down the other side of that mountain. One last look at the spaces that are now just our jumping-off point.

One last look...

We haven't made it all the way through the hard stuff yet... heck, we're only starting our way back down that same harrowing mountain, but being in our new place (despite all the cleaning left to do and, well, you know, the fact that there's no carpet yet) just solidifies what we knew all along- it was all worth it.

27/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

Audrey at Mimmy and Pappy's house, holding every pool float they own.

Henry in Mimmy's pool, with Swim Face.

Right Now

Right now, I'm...

...moving! Wish us well, folks- there may be a short pause in my presence in this space as we wrap up our time in our old house and get things up and running in our new Home! Can't wait to show it off... have a great week, and Happy Monday!

The 4th, In Photos

Hope everyone had a safe Independence Day!

Sparkle, sparkle.

Just What We Needed

The full-scale packing all around us this week has really turned our home into a chaotic no-man's land. There's no place for anyone to sit without having to weave their bodies around boxes or stare at boxes or think about boxes (full or waiting to be filled). There's no pillows left on any of the couches because they've been claimed as cushioning for breakables. We're down to the basics in the kitchen and are about to be the same with all the bathrooms... and the kiddos are left to hover through these emptying spaces, to the tune of a parent telling them, "Don't TOUCH that! Stop pulling on that! Get off that!"

Ugh.

There's no longer a space for either of them to call their own, as boxes from neighboring rooms have invaded their playroom, and even their own rooms have been semi-packed.

It's a blessing that the weather has cooled down out of the 100's, but the backyard can only offer so much retreat from what's going on all around.

Yesterday, they needed a break. They needed a change, yet something familiar at the same time. They needed some positive, calm attention.

Out of nowhere, Audrey asked me, "Mama, can we go to the park today? It's not hot and there's nothing to pack there."

How could I say no?

It turns out, I needed a trip to the park, too. We were only there for about an hour, but our visit there seemed to calm everyone down and perk everyone up at the same time. When we got back home and I started to make dinner, the kiddos played together with empty boxes, making a fort of some kind and sharing, and after dinner they invented some game that involved hugging and kissing each other and laughing.

Music to my ears.

Aaah, the wisdom of my little ones, who are really an open book when it comes to what they need, if only I pay attention enough to notice... and strangely enough, what they need always seems to do me some good, too.

Yesterday was just what we all needed.

26/52

A portrait of my kids every week for 52 weeks.

A mustache diptych of blurry, laughing kids (mustache courtesy of Mimmy). 

Right Now

Right now, I'm...

...still getting used to glancing up at the driveway and not seeing a 'For Sale' sign up there.
...enjoying the spoils from our last weekend participating in the food co-op... last, at least, until we're settled again, and honestly I have no idea how long that'll be.
...still eating peaches from the 20-pound box I got from the co-op last weekend.
...treasuring- treasuring- the sadly infrequent peaceful sibling moments lately as the kiddos unknowingly respond to the changes and stress sensed all around them with bickering and meltdowns.
...finding reassurance in this article, and trying with all my might to curb my own frustrations and save a little energy for them.
...wondering how to plan a weeks' menu when there's no telling how many nights this coming week we'll all actually be home to make or eat dinner.
...looking around at all that was accomplished this weekend and all that still needs doing, and telling myself to get off the computer and get to it!

May we all find focus and patience this week. Happy Monday!