Move #7

I got home from Utah late Wednesday night, and Thursday evening the scouts came to moved us. They were an awesome crew! I just wished I had another day to advance the packing first. We moved just a hop and a skip of a quarter mile up the road. So the boys would take a load up, unload, and I would pack like mad until they got back to load up again. They were a blessing to us! Friday I attempted to unpack and put things in their rightful place in our new home, then Saturday we moved in the remainder of our belongings. It was a quick move, largely in thanks to the scouts and the friends we had helping us. 

Unpacking, and organizing... That was not so quick, but that is to be expected. The very worst is the kitchen! Honestly, unpacking the kitchen gives me more stress than almost anything else in moving. Organizing dinnerware, pots and pans, and utensils makes me feel OCD. After that is done I breathe better! And, once we got a few decorations up on my wall, I finally could allow myself to relax a little bit.

This move was expected yet entirely unexpected. It was less than a year ago that we moved to Kingstream... 

In the beginning, we anticipated being able to live at that house two, three years... We had signed an open ended lease. But our landlady loved that house and she was suddenly ready to move in. So a bit shocked and frustrated, I tried to foster some positivity in looking forward to the next move, though we still weren't sure when the move was to be... Joan has three houses in this neighborhood. She gave the boot to our friends, living in another of her houses, so we could move there. It wasn't until they found a house they could buy that we knew when we would have to start our move too. This move, for us, was not the result of strategic planning or prayerful consideration. Where to move, when to move, it was all out of our hands, that's probably what got me grumbling most.

I would have done things differently had I known our stay in that house would only be a short eleven months. Some things I purchased particularly for that house (like wall vinyl), which I would not have done had I known.  I would not have worried so much about decorating.  I had just hung my gallery wall... I was so proud of that wall! I did it myself too.  I taped paper squares and rectangles, carefully up on the wall, made sure my spacing was accurate and neat, and nailed each object up on my own... perilously planking across the stairs, forget the banister. All in a nights work... a late night... while Devin was sleeping. And I loved that wall. I smiled every time I walked past it. 

Moving appears to be the story of our marriage... Seven moves in seven years (five of those was right here in VA). It's exhausting. On the bright side, I have had ample opportunity to sort through and rid our home(s) of junk. You would think that by now I would have the art of moving mastered. However, Devin can tell you, I am not very graceful when it comes to moving. Nothing about moving is fun. It is a lot of work. Each house has its own quarks to work out, Devin's To-Do list is two pages long (note pages), and our furniture will not make it through another move. But still, looking to the bright side, this is our last move (fingers crossed) in Virginia. And, I think, for real this time, we can stay however long we need. 

Our new house is the same layout as our last house, which helped ease some discomfort because I knew already where most things would go, but there are some differences. We down-graded from a two car garage to a one car (or 2-motorcycle) garage. We won't be able to play Annie-I-Over the house anymore either. And we left our favorite neighbors behind (but not too far). On the flip side, the new house has better storage space, the wood floor in the kitchen is better at hiding dirt, we have a better yard, and we're on a cul-de-sac.

The house seems to be full of paradox's... expecting the unexpected in terms of when to move, the speed at which we moved yet the never-ending organizing, and my graceless attitude intermingling with feelings of extreme gratitude for our present situation.

Yes, moving was inconvenient. Yes, I had a difficult time keeping the mope out of my voice. Still, we have a great landlady, whom we still really appreciate! We are still in the same great neighborhood, living by our awesome friends, and with a bunch of little people, and one big person, that I love and claim as mine! (And honestly, I think this house is a better fit).

I guess I will now choose gratitude. It suits me better. Besides, I have a new gallery wall to smile at.