Wednesday, July 25, 2012

pardon my absence

Sorry, we're in the process of moving. 
I'll be back in the swing of things next week after we've settled in.


Friday, July 13, 2012

this almost-claustrophobic, box-filled house

Afternoon turned into frustration as we continued to pack.  Miss K white-knuckling every. little. thing. until I finally gave up in exasperation, telling her to take a break.  Lord knows, I needed that break more than she did.  She'd been fighting me tooth and nail to keep every school project, every handcrafted artwork, every paper.  It was exhausting and every time I glanced left, then right, it all just seemed like a whirlwind of chaos.

Mother Teresa called and it wasn't a moment too soon.  She was child-less and had an hour to spare.  She was headed our way, thankyouJesus.  She stepped right in and heavens-to-Betsy, we had 3 more boxes packed!  Then, Mother Teresa had an errand to run and asked Miss K to tag along, so off they went.  The man ran outside to play one last long time before it got dark and I wrapped and packed all the pictures from the hall and some from the living room.


In the meantime, Nana called.  She was house sitting and that always calls for a house party, Littles style.  So, off they went to sleep over.  Thank goodness it was at someone else's house tonight because last night we hosted two chicks for a total of three and they must've left their library voices at home.  And Miss K must've thrown hers out the window.  At midnight, they decided it was time for a snack of bagels and ice cream.  These hormonal gals are crazy I say.  It was almost 12:30 and they were like a flock of hens, still cackling away.  I guess they finally settled down but honestly, I was too tired to know the difference.  I was out like Shout!  I love them to death but, boy, I was exhausted.


This morning I woke up to sleeping bags and pillows in total disarray.  Two were using blankets and not even in the bags and one didn't have a pillow at all.  I finally decided to wake them up at 10.  Slowly, they ate and got ready.  So tonight, I am never so glad to be alone in this almost-claustrophobic, box-filled house.  This week's been busy, good, but busy and I'm in need of this peace and quiet.  Hope your weekend finds a little peace and a little quiet too.


Thanks for hanging with us Miss B from Tennessee and Double-A from VA!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

5 + 1 favorite things from our week...

1. Aunt R's dinner grits - I'm hooked! I said so long to mashed potatoes last night. Looking forward to getting her recipe and trying them myself.

2. Having Cousin D spend the night and an awesome play day with my tiny boy.

3. Great conversation with Handsome Husband. Can't wait to see you!

4. Visiting our favorite aunt, uncle and cousins. And even though we stayed out WAY too late, I always enjoy being with them. Gonna miss you!

5. Feeling accomplished, almost completely packed 2 whole rooms + started on Miss K's. Now if We could keep Nana out of our yard sale pile!

6. {excellent} dinner and conversation with family - worth mentioning twice! Aunt R's a superb cook, no matter what she says.

Monday, July 9, 2012

life is like a lot of boxes

Life as we know it, looks a little like this these days...



There are times when I wonder have we been forgotten?  I know in my heart it's not true, but there are days when the thought crosses my mind.  I ponder what His plan is for us.  Is this really meant to be?  How long will we have to wait before it's all revealed?

The last two and a half weeks have been frustrating and question-filled.  We're new to this and it's not been so easy.  Finally, the day before we left, I felt like there was a breakthrough.  It was all becoming more clear and there was an overwhelming excitement and joy that wrapped itself around me.  Suddenly, I couldn't wait to get home and start packing.

The blessings continue to flow..."Mother Teresa" called this morning and offered to watch my small man while Miss K was at Summer Quest so I could get some serious packing done.  So, I flew like the wind to get him over there and then, I settled in for a breakfast of trail mix and packing.  I'm happy to report that our bedroom is almost completely done and while I dread clutter, this is truly a joyful sight.  These days, boxes everywhere are a welcome sign.  They make me feel all warm and fuzzy.  OK, maybe not so much.  But they remind me that the clock is ticking.  The time for reunion is near.  They whisper, "Three or four more weeks to go!"

Oh, how I long for the day when we'll all be settled together.  No more fourteen hour drives just to hear his heart beat or fall asleep in his arms.  No more fourteen hour drives just to play cars with daddy.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

thursday at the lake

Leaving is always hard.  Lucky for us, great friends kept us loved and entertained as we prepared to make the last leg of our trip.






Wednesday, July 4, 2012

down in the valley

I sit here, frozen.  Not wanting to move, not wanting the day to progress any further than this very moment. 

Tomorrow, we leave. 

We head back to the place from where we came. 

We abandon the "Land of Lincoln", the "Prairie State".  

And I don't want to say goodbye. 

I don't want to travel those eight-hundred-forty-two miles to the place that is still called "home". 

I don't want to squint through the fog of tears as we pass the wind turbines headed east.



I don't want to avoid my camera like the plague or post color photos from weeks ago that I'm only slightly happy with. 

It's Independence Day for crying out loud. 

Yet, here I sit wallowing in this sorrow. 

I'm avoiding photographing this town, packing our stuff, getting out of this bed. 

It all sounds so ridiculous, but at this very moment,
I feel paralyzed.