Moved in...sort of

Here's what the moving van looked like on Friday when we finished loading.  Note: 2 additional vehicles were filled to the brim as well.  Translate that to the new place and presto!  My present life!

Actually, things are coming along very well.  My mom did an amazing job on the kitchen cabinets.  For example, check out the wonder she did on the spice cabinet above the stove:

My brother & brother-in-law were the Hulk Hogans of the weekend, using their brains & brute strength to move all manner of heavy boxes & furniture.  They saved my aching back, for sure!

Now I have to run to work...presentations to give tomorrow and Saturday and I haven't exactly thought about them.  Wish me luck!

A new adventure

I wrote this post on Sunday, July 17; however, my internet service just came up today.  

They’ve just left.

My parents, brother, & brother-in-law, all of whom gave up their whole weekend to help me move, just drove away.  I’ve collapsed on the couch, exhausted.  They don’t have that luxury, with a long drive home and duties demanding their attention when they get there.

I feel overwhelmed with gratitude to all of you who gave me such a nice sending off.  So many people had me for a meal, helped me pack, loaded the moving truck, wished me well, and made sure I knew how much I’d be missed.  Words cannot adequately express how much I appreciate your love and support, not to mention how much I will miss you, how blessed I am that you’ve been (and will continue to be!) in my life.  

I’ve received a warm welcome here.  One friend recruited another couple of friends to help me unload the truck.  I’ve briefly encountered several people whom I know and/or will work with who’ve expressed their delight at my arrival.  Really, aside from the fact that C*mc*st has royally messed up my phone and internet hookup and won’t make good on it, everything has gone with hardly a hitch.  Miraculous, like so much else in this whole adventure. 

I feel a sense of unreality about it all.  My beautiful new house does not really feel like home - every once in a while, when I imagine going home, I picture my old (beloved) house and realize with a wave of sadness that I’m never going back there.  Fortunately, I’m too busy to dwell on that...and I hope that by the time the busyness abates I will have come to think of this house as home.

Every once in a while I ask myself:  What am I doing?  I’m leaving a house I’ve loved, a job I’ve enjoyed, dear family and friends to pursue this adventure into the unknown.  I’m not really an adventurous person; I don’t make snap decisions like this!  Why have I made these sacrifices?

What am I doing?  I’m saying yes to God.  I did not go looking for this adventure; I did not seek it out.  The offer came to me.  And after I discerned that it was truly from God, His invitation down a new path, I said yes.  I am stepping out of my comfort zone, confident that His plan for my life is good and will ultimately make me happy - even if there are short-term challenges to face and sacrifices to make.  

I anticipate that the coming year will be busy, challenging, stressful, and even sad on some days.  But I also anticipate God’s blessings as I respond to His invitation.  I know I will grow as a person;  I know it will be an adventure!

Let’s pray for each other, as we respond to His invitation to follow Him on our respective adventures.

Happy 4th of July!

I have some pretty terrific nieces and nephews, and they provide a steady stream of entertaining comments as well as some great adventures in my catholic education about life.

My oldest nieces & I had planned a trip to the nearest American Girl museum earlier this summer, which we had to delay when one of them broke her leg.  So I decided to spend the day with them, teaching them to knit and then joining them for a fireworks celebration in the local park.

The day became one long potential blog post.  I wish I had pictures to show of my nephew drinking pickle juice straight from the jar, or my youngest niece crying "Cheers!" as she clubbed us all with her cotton candy.  My oldest nieces (and my crafty sister) proved themselves quick learners and made great starts on their knitting projects.  Everyone enjoyed the symphony in the park and the fireworks show at the end, although we all agreed that Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" piped over a PA for the grand finale did not have quite the same effect as the symphony rendition of the 1812 Overture earlier in the show.  (It reminded me of my boat ride on the Sea of Galilee with "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" playing over the loudspeaker.)  And I learned that I don't know the words to songs such as "Dixie" or the Marine Corps hymn, but I can sing every word of Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American."  Mental note:  Rectify that soon.

I now find myself 10 days out from my life-changing move.  I'm so grateful for precious time with family & friends before I become swamped with the transition into my new life.  I'm excited about the changes, but glad to savor this time too.