Bin Decorating and Making Lemonade

I actually have not "been" decorating....we are not going to think about decorating or hanging pictures here. What I have been doing is buying "bins" and putting everything from clothes to books in them. We don't have much closet space or storage so you do what you can.

                                      (Boys watching our previous cities baseball team)

Something interesting has happened over the last couple of days.....I'm not feeling as homesick. I think the hectic month and being exhausted caused my body/mind to collapse. Seriously. My arms and hands still ache. But enough of that....I feel like I've been sort of in a fog...or down in the dumps....something? So, part of moving forward is walking out of the fog and climbing out of the dump.

I'm embracing apartment living....if you could have seen me today. I do believe that I'm the strangest tenant our maintenance guys have ever come across. They really don't know what to make of me. I'm somewhat of a squeeky wheel. Our unit was not in the best shape....so as I mentioned....I requested a new washer/dryer. Thankfully, today it arrived. The junk and muck underneath it was disgusting!! I got on my hands and knees and cleaned the junk up....layers of dust and who knows what (from 8 yrs of renters!). They said that I was the first resident to actually clean it myself. I'm pretty certain that they would have just put the new washer/dryer over the caked in muck???

I'm thrilled to have a new, clean washer/dryer. I'm missing our house less and less. I'm liking the small space. We are trying to make the best of it. Now I just need to work on getting the playground repaired!

That's where the lemonade comes in......trying to turn some negatives into positives.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

 

 So, I have a smorgasborg (is that how you spell it?)...anyway....I have a whole bunch of random pictures. I'll try to make some sense out of them. Though, I rarely make sense anymore.

The above picture is the lovely cake that our sweet friends surprised us with before we left NY. It was delicious.

 I love this picture of Sam holding his friend's face. Sam has a habit of holding peoples faces while he talks to you. It may sound odd....but it's really sweet (and he only does it to those he is super close with). 

I just may cry while posting these photos....these people are so dear to me.

My girlfriend, Carol, wove me....yes, she hand wove me a beautiful basket (that I didn't photograph-oops). Take my word....it's adorable. She's so talented.

  

  

This is a rare event.....I actually got a photo of Carla(she's on the couch, in the black) and her girls (Sandy too!-she's Carla's oldest friend, and a very funny lady).  So....we got this random idea to cut some hair. Karis was our target....bangs were our goal.

 

She was such a good sport. 

I think they look great on her. That was a fun afternoon of good laughing.

My girlfriend gave me this cute mug. The other side says "how you handle plan B is the true test of character". I think I've been failing in that area.....trying to do better. Pick myself up off the ground (more on that later). 

  

We were so blessed....thankful...and touched by the support and love that surrounded us.

They have been friends since they were toddlers.

  

A snowstorm arrived the day of our move. Greg was on his way home from a business trip....he arrived the moment the movers were leaving our driveway.

What a day.

My super-star cleaning buddy. 

A special goodbye to great grandma and great aunt Nancy. They are such sweethearts. 

There were so many pictures that I forgot to take.....of so many things. I wish I had taken more of our last month in NY!!

  

On our way to our new state...in another snowstorm. That's Greg's car in front of me.

We arrived safely....went to our hotel and ordered some chinese food. We thought this random noodle on the table was sort of funny....looks like the Christian fish symbol. Yes, we are weirdos.

Home sweet temporary home.

  

The best part of our apartment complex.....the play area (more to share about that later, too)

  

So, there you have it....our new adventure has officially begun.

So Much.....

....has happened in such a short time. This move has had me on an emotional roller coaster....usually in the span of a minute. Up....down....up....down. Most of the time, I am feeling joy. But then I start thinking about everything....feeling homesick.....moving from the home that we built to this rental.....and the joy starts to fade. It's as if my mind is saying....."you shouldn't be feeling joy, you left your family and close friends....you left a spacious home and property and now rent a small townhouse among rows and rows of rentals". It doesn't seem rational to feel joy. That's when I know that it MUST be God. Only the Lord can fill me with this joy.

I'm slowly re-programming my brain. Re-programming the way I think.

What I have always believed, but have never been tested on.....is that being with my family...having my husband love his job.....is far more important than having a large house...and all the fancy material things that go with it.

As Greg said....."we've done big.....I'm tired of big...I'm tired of house projects and yard work". He seems like a weight is off his shoulders. A bigger weight will be off once we sell the house. It's going on the market this weekend. Praying.

So....let me share a few stories from our move.....

*My oldest friends (Greg's friend's too!) planned a going away dinner for Sat night.....we were so chaotic...I was so emotional (weepy at everything) that we did not make it to our own going away dinner. I was a wreck on Saturday.

*I met a homeschooler in the hotel lobby....she seems really sweet and has already called, sharing info.
*Ross threw up in that same hotel.....during the buffet breakfast. (that's a full story in itself)

*Our rental was SO filthy. G and I were so sad/frustrated when we walked through. It's finally clean and many problems have been fixed...including a new washer/dryer/dishwasher. These are supposed to be "luxury rentals"...I was shocked.

*While having a crazy first day, I started chatting with a really sweet couple who were moving out of our complex. We shared frustrations about our rentals and exchanged phone numbers...after chatting and coming up with a plan for us to take their rental. Anyway....I had no idea....but the guy is a professional football player(Marqeus Douglas) who played for the NY Jets. They were on their way to NC where they own a home and he will play for the Panthers. He was so nice and came over and said "hi" to Ross and Sam. They said that there are more Jet's players in our complex (I'm keeping my eyes open-not that I'd have a clue who they were). Their training camp is down the road.

*I have lots of pics to upload (my laptop is still not working) We just got online....catching up on things. Still  unpacking....feeling completely disoriented. My life feels completely different....I barely recognize it. More soon......
Miss y'all.
Love,
Mimi

In 1 Week

Just a quick check in. I have so many pictures that I would love to share, but my laptop is having some issues and I'm having to use Greg's old work computer. Some pics were taken today (Carla!!) that need to be shared....words alone cannot describe our afternoon. Let me just say...I belly laughed a lot.

In 1 week the movers will be packing their truck. Just 1 more week. Oh my....I have a lump in my throat just thinking about it. G signed our lease today. He said our new dwelling has some pretty views....he said he's happy with it. We chose it from the floor plan drawing....yep, we are flying by the seat of our pants.

The boys have been playing a ton in the basement....which makes me think....what are we going to do without our space?? Without our sports filled basement?? We will adjust. It will be fine.

I had to cancel my hair appointment...which means that my next haircut will be in our new state. Fun.....new hair adventures. Something tells me that I will be paying a bit more for my haircuts. Maybe I'll get a new style??

Because of all the packing and planning....lack of my laptop...lack of time...I've spent less time online. I've experienced a bit of withdrawal. I'm realizing that I had a bit of a computer addiction. I'm realizing many, many things.

Moving On.......

This has been a very strange interesting month. In some ways, I don't even feel like myself right now....or, I feel like I've changed. How can that be? Maybe it's just exhaustion and confusion from the non-stop packing. From the moment I wake up....until we go to bed (usually early) I'm on the move. Gone are my relaxed days with multiple coffee breaks.....a-hem, blogging breaks.  Gone are my evenings with a glass of wine or cup of tea. I love having some wind down time in the evening. They are gone for now....but not forever. February is turning out to be a "limbo month" for us. Our routine is on hold....it feels like our life is on hold. Actually, just in transition.

                                          ( It's so strange to see the playroom packed up)

G has been traveling....and will continue to travel for the rest of the month. He is currently stuck in a snowstorm in Maryland(airports closed)....we are currently 2 ships passing in the night. But...again...this is temporary. What a strange month. We are making the final plans for the move. I'm looking forward to getting settled and to investigate our new city. I'm not looking forward to missing our loved ones. Wahhhhhh....that's me crying like a baby. But, I'm hopeful too. If I get myself to focus....I get downright excited.

                                                           (master bedroom closet)
The house doesn't really feel like home right now. Many pieces of furniture have been put into storage. As soon as we move, we will list it for sale. My mom, the realtor, already has everything ready to go. I'm praying that the Lord brings a buyer....the right buyer....quickly. I pray that the next owner will enjoy this home as much as we did.

Time to go snuggle with the boys and watch Charlie Brown.....hope to check in again soon. Much love to y'all.