Changes

I’m thinking about my sister Gabby today. She and her family are in the middle of a move. They are moving from NYC, a place they have loved, to Denver a place they will learn to love and I am so jealous.

Family picture of the Blairs. This one is my favorite. See more over at Designmom.com.

We have been here for just about 2 years now and I am getting the moving itch again. People warned me it would happen but I didn’t appreciate the force it would have. I have been cleaning out closets and storerooms and drawers. I took 7 bags of clothes and shoes and “stuff” to the Goodwill today.

Some people hate moving and I will freely admit, there is a lot to hate about moving but mostly, I love it.

It is always sad to leave neighbors after we’ve learned each others’ family rhythms as well as all the comings and goings that generate conversations like: “Go and see if the Herndon’s have two tomatoes for the salad.” “It’s Thursday mom, they’re at gymnastics.” “No, Dalton came home from school with a fever so they didn’t go tonight.”

It is hard to leave homes where we’ve reached memorable family benchmarks and accomplishments; bringing babies home from the hospital, promotions both at school and at work, Robin’s shoes size going from a lady’s 6, to a 9 1/2 in less than 12 months.

It is also hard to say goodbye to a place that has been the venue for our happiest, most memorable days; like all the single adults in our living room watching the X-Files every Sunday Night, riding bikes (with babies in tow) through the animal park, adventures with Melanie and Shannon or making signs for the unit homecoming. All the different people who have been a part of our lives as well as the ages and stages of our children make those times impossible to reconstruct and so they are that much more dear in my mind.

Having said all that though, it is so great to move on, to clean out my closets, to throw away those nasty throw rugs that I refuse to get rid of otherwise, and to add more people to our Christmas card list. Not only do I love having a new house to decorate, there is a new town to discover a new ward to serve in and new people who will become friends, sounding boards and confidants.

I really like where we are right now and I am probably the most content I have ever been in my life. I just planned a zillion summer activities for the kids and my garden is planted and growing. I like having a solid base for Robin to think of as home when she leaves us this fall. I love making plans for the house and yard with Paul. Then, because Paul can do anything, I love getting to watch those plans materialize even better than I imagined.

Hmm . . . Oh Well . . .

I guess for now, I will finish cleaning out all my nooks and crannies, weed my garden, get some new throw rugs and live vicariously through Gabrielle as she and her family finish saying goodbye to New York and head out west. Good luck Blairs.