We're Home!

Just a quick update - We're Home!!

The last day of packing up was sad for me but I had already spent time thinking about the transition.  Brian and I were rushing around trying to get the Uhaul returned that I didn't even realize that we had left the old house for the last time together!  Probably a good thing though.  By that point, I was tired and ready to be done.

Several friends from his Bible study and our church family helped us move and that was such a blessing to us!  PawPaw and Granny watched the kids for us a ton that week so we could get some necessary work done.    We are still in the process of unpacking.  After moving day, we had VBS week at church and then I took the kids to GA to visit family there.  We are now here and slowly unpacking and arranging along with daily living.  It seems to be a slow process.  Maybe we'll be done by Christmas!?

From day one, it has felt like home to us.  Although I was a little scared the first night - the lock on the back door wasn't working and I kept hearing strange noises.  I was secretly hoping that Brian's parents would sleep here with us (sometimes it's crazy to think I'm the adult now)!  We survived that night and Brian's dad fixed the lock so I'm good now.  All of the kids love it and haven't looked back.  We look forward to making many memories here!!  Hopefully I'll share some those here sometime!

Our Last Day

I really should be packing right now ... but I wanted to take a few minutes to record these last few thoughts here...

Last night we took the kids on the walk-through of the new house.  I wasn't sure how they'd do with the move - especially Calvin with his need for familiarity and routine.  But they were so excited and didn't want to leave.  Calvin had already packed his favorite cars in his backpack so he was sad when we told him we were leaving to come back to this house!  He can't wait to go!

At one point after we came back home, we all sat down together  for one last family devotion in this house.  During that time we shared memories we all had of our time here together.  It was all I could do to hold it together...  Even now every time I do something today  I think, "This is the last time I (we) will do ..."  Each thought brings tears to my eyes...

We have brought 5 precious babies home to this house ... lots of hours spent feeding, rocking and loving on those babies... first steps, first words, many, many firsts...  I remember holding Coleman in his room just crying thinking of the blessing of having a child.  I had no idea then how hard parenting would be ... many prayers for grace have been offered up here...

Most of the kids have learned to ride bikes here...

We've had hurricanes take out trees, mailboxes and our bedroom ceiling...

Many hours have been spent playing in this back yard...

There have been good times and bad, laughter and joy, as well tears of all kinds.  There also have been many moments that I wish I could do over again ... but all of these things have molded us and shaped us.  It has been encouraging to look back and see the evidence of God's grace in our lives ...

As one chapter ends, another begins and we know that we will be making new memories and pray for God's grace to continue to sustain us through this next season...