Tag Archives: #write31days

Day 10: In Mourning {#write31days}

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Last night, I sat on a blanket in our backyard watching the boys play, the sun set, the stars appear, and I let myself grieve.

I realize I haven’t lost a loved one, but this is a very hard change, so I’m taking the advice of a fellow #write31days blogger and allowing myself to grieve. I’m mourning the end of an era–I openly admitted this to my man and told him I know I’m being overly dramatic. However, that is how I feel. I sat in our backyard as planes flew over our heads and thought of how my boys have grown up in this house–I can remember bringing C outside on a blanket before he could even sit up and laying under the shade of a tree that’s no longer there. We’ve played catch, chased each other, played in the water, mud, caught bugs, chased frogs, laughed, and cried in our backyard. I will miss it. I will miss the boys pausing their play to watch a plane fly overhead. I will miss them running circles around the hot tub we rarely used. I will miss Izzy running back and forth, back and forth along the fence barking wildly at the neighbor’s dog.

airplanes last night sandbox

I am fully aware that great things are in store for us–and I wholeheartedly trust that we are doing the right thing, but that doesn’t make it any less difficult. I will do the next thing. I will continue packing boxes, and as I do, I am certain I will shed more tears. I will mourn.

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Photos: these are far from technically perfect–iPhone photos taken as the sun was setting–however, they make this Mama’s heart happy. The first is my little man watching “airplane” fly over us, the second was taken on accident by C, and #keepinitreal, I had been crying both from sadness and great gratitude about our times in our backyard, and the third is where C would often sit when we came outside to play. I will forever remember our last night in our first backyard.

Day 9: Gripe or Grateful {#write31days}

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I am reminding myself that I have a choice to make: I can gripe or be grateful. Today I choose grateful. (tomorrow might be an entirely different story)

I’m grateful for, in no particular order:

  • my husband–he gave me a sweet card and some of my favorite chocolates last night
  • the fact that we HAVE a roof over our head
  • boxes to put all our stuff in
  • plenty of friends and family who will help us (and already have helped us) move
  • the funds to rent a U-Haul
  • a new house to move into–we won’t be homeless!
  • running water
  • jobs! They help us pay for the new house and running water.
  • my Savior–He knows the number of hairs on my head, and He knows how crazy and overwhelmed I am, and He still loves me and wants me to cast my cares on Him.

Today I choose grateful.

Day 8: Wherever {#write31days}

Day 8: Wherever {#write31days}

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Day 7: Pinterest Saves the Day {#write31days}

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I wish I could take credit for all the packing tips I’m using, but alas, I’ve stolen 99.9% of them off of Pinterest. I think Pinterest should adopt the slogan, “Pinterest Saves Lives.” I used to believe Art Saves Lives, now, I’m choosing Pinterest.

This board has been a handy dandy source of tips, tricks, and o-my-goodness-why-didn’t-I-think-of-that?!?! ideas.

Today, I plan on pulling trashbags up over most of our clothes. I’m also using a pretty handy labeling system (paper and duct tape–yes, I’m an Okie) and keeping track of it all in a spreadsheet….more on that in another post perhaps.

If you have any of your own packing tips, I’d LOVE to hear them!

Day 6: Cry me a River {#write31days}

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Pardon me while I spill my guts…

For the past 48 hours, I have cried at the drop of a hat. A nail went into a board crooked: sobbing. My baby fell asleep while rocking: sobbing. I looked at our pitiful dog: sobbing. Our three-year-old decided he needed to jump on my back without warning me: sobbing. Stared at piles of boxes in garage: sobbing.

It seems that e v e r y t h i n g has hit me at once. It’s as if I didn’t realize until a couple days ago that this moving thing is actually going to happen–granted something could fall through last minute. {Please spare me your horror stories of closing day catastrophes}, but it seems things are actually falling into place and we are moving in FIVE days. We don’t have to be out until the 17th, but this coming Saturday is the ONLY one between now and closing. AHHHHHHH. So for the past 48 hours, anything I see triggers a memory or some thought that leads to tears. Thoughts about how we are leaving the only home my babies have ever known, or all our Christmases as a married couple have been within these walls. These walls have heard the first giggles and first words of my boys. They’ve heard my cries of desperation during middle of the night feedings. And I am suddenly scared to death to leave them.

C.S. Lewis quotable

I know the wise words of C.S. Lewis, “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind,” but if I’m being perfectly candid, that doesn’t help me not want to just curl up in a ball and cry. I don’t do well with change, but in the next five days, I’ll have to put my big girl pants on and “do the next thing.”

Any words of wisdom or encouragement regarding change/transition/moving?

Day 5: Do The Next Thing {#write31days}

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From an old English parsonage, down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me;
Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, as it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.
And on through the hours the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration–“DO THE NEXT THING.”

Many a question, many of fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows, Child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, “DO THE NEXT THING.”

Do it immediately; do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His Hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all resultings, “DO THE NEXT THING.”

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
(Working or suffering) be thy demeanor,
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing,
Then, as He beckons thee, “DO THE NEXT THING.”

-author unknown

Day 4: Izzy {#write31days}

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The only other female in our house, is our dog Izzy. She is my husband’s “daughter.” He loves her like a human being–they cuddle every night, and she craves his attention. Also, if the boys or I are messing with him in any way, all he has to do is say, “Izzy!” and she’s on the attack. I got her from a shelter six years ago as a Christmas gift for the hubby. For two years she was our only “child,” and she slept on our bed with us every night until baby boy two came along. She’s highly intelligent, fiercely loyal, active, loud, and loving. She also has lymphoma.

Izzy2008

We’ve known for a month now, and she’s on some medication to see if it will send it into remission–there’s a 50% chance. I dread the day–be is soon or far away that she is no longer with us. The boys LOVE her, and every time we walk in the door after being away, they say “Izzy!” and try to find her. Moving will be a HUGE adjustment, but losing Izzy will quite possibly be harder. Harder to explain, and I’m certain, will bring many more tears than packing boxes does. For now, hopefully we will fiercely love our crazy dog a fraction of the amount she loves us.

Izzy2014

 

Edited to add: On October 18, 2014, Izzy passed away in the arms of her “daddy.” We will forever miss her and are grateful for the way she fiercely loved us. 

Day 3: Exceedingly Abundantly {#write31days}

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Late Wednesday night after a very long and stressful day, I got a call from our realtor–our entire deal with our buyers is contingent on their home selling. They had a closing date set on September 30th, but apparently their closing has been pushed back to next week. NERVE-wracking. Our realtor didn’t seem too concerned, but I {unfortunately} am a worrier and made the assumption that things are falling through. As soon as I had that thought though, I was reminded that God is still on His throne, and He is in control. EVEN if this deal does fall through, He has a plan, and it’s far better than anything I can think of–exceedingly abundantly, in fact!  

exceedinglyabundantly

Day 2: Our House {#write31days}

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If you’re anything like me, then as soon as you read the title for this post, you started singing “in the middle of the street.”

OurHouseTimeProgression

We bought this house in 2008, and it has been a HUGE blessing. We’ve built our family here–it will be very hard to leave it when the time comes. When I look at these pictures though, I see how much the plants have changed. Before we bought it, there was a large bradford pear tree in the front yard, but an ice storm caused it to have to be cut down. Since we’ve lived there, small bushes have flourished and died, and two other bradford pears have had to be cut down (in case you’re looking at planting a tree, I’d avoid a bradford pear). All this makes me think of Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers, the flower fades, BUT the word of our God stands forever.”  I’m thankful that in spite of any uncertainty or changes in life, I can trust that God’s word is still truth, and He’s on the throne.

 

Day 1: Make a Move {#write31days}

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We MOVE in sixteen days! Sixteen days! {and I’m currently singing Ah, Freak Out!} I’m fairly certain the next two weeks will F L Y by. We will FINALLY make a move. I am, to be perfectly candid, slightly freaking out. The idea that what we have been planning and hoping for for at least a year is finally coming to fruition is scary, overwhelming, and exciting all at the same time. I wrote previously that one of our goals this year was to MOVE! As a “to-do” list kinda girl, anytime I can check something off my list–whether it’s a task or  goal–I get excited!

Over the last three months, I’ve kept Ecclesiastes 3:11 in my mind, and I also kept going back to something I read from @intentionalhome on Instagram :

“Sometimes the time that passes between the conception of a dream and the birth of it feels hopeless….[BUT] the TRUTH is that God’s GREATEST works often happen in the waiting. Maybe not outward ones, but definitely ones of the heart….there is as much purpose in this in-between as there will be when I see it all finally unfold…This waiting room is something He designed. For me. For a purpose. GREATER THAN MY OWN. And I can rest in that. Rest in HIM. And REST IN HIS PERFECT TIMING.”

KarenStottquotable

 #Write31days is going to be a challenge–and I want that. I want this to be an opportunity to make writing more of a habit. For the next 31 days, I plan on using this space to spotlight real life selling-a-home-packing-moving-making-a-new-house-home tips. {Whew! I’m tired just thinking about all that.} I also openly admit that this will at times become a place of processing my thoughts, possible venting, and maybe cutsie graphics. 🙂

Feel free to follow along and tell me any and all your packing tips and tricks!!! I need LOTS of suggestions as this is the first move we’ll be making with two littles!