Reflections on Moving

I can hardly believe we have been in a new state for 8 months. It has been one of the hardest seasons in my life and honestly I have not handled it well and I am fully aware of this!

I am not sure how one leaves best friends, or the familiar sights and experiences of the day to day. I am not sure how one is to move from one life into another. How do you leave behind friendships that nurtured your soul, or families that loved your children, I don't know. I don't know how you leave behind a wonderfully full life and enter into a different, lonely quiet life.

Strangly, one moment I am being brought cookies from a dear friend, kids are dropped off from playing, friends call and move throughout my day to day and the next moment I am staring out my windows into a yard void of familiarity, I am lost in the traffic on hot, dry, lonely trip to the store. Moving is strange like that. One moment life is rich and full of so much and the next, you realize you are entering into an unknown that will press hard on you. It will make you plead for God's grace and mercy daily. It will bring you to your knees in prayer over the loneliness you have as you desire for just one person to reach out and invite you into their life. Moving for this girl has not been easy.

But in all the heartache, I must recognize amazing graces that we have seen along the way....
*The day after we moved in, neighbors welcomed us warmly (even set up a snowcone stand when it was 115 degrees, my boy loves selling things and stands of any sort make him happy)
*The day we had to move back in (after a terrible move out of the house into a hotel), neighbors welcomed us warmly
*Our yard is full of trees and adventures!
*In the quietness of my day I have learned to cook and actually prepare good meals for dinner
*The kids have wonderful teachers who have handled their hearts and minds with care
*Neighbor children play in, out and around our house daily (we aren't really alone)
*I have found a grocery store that has flowers for my table top
*With a small social life, I have learned to enjoy the simplicity of mothering and especially the joys of spending my days with a 10 month old boy

Finally, we have a beautiful weeping, whimsical tree that Tim put a swing on. We sit on this wooden swing and life slows.... we slow, it's magical like that. Swinging on this swing attached to the arms of this magnificent tree can bring such delight! Even the deathly hot sun peaking through the wispy branches cannot disturb us while we sit upon the swing. Finally peace, finally calm and a new familiarity awakens.