Moving

It has been a while since I last blogged.  I truly hate that but there have been lots of changes going on and my life has been disheveled in many ways.  (mostly all good).

As most of you know by now this past week Jody, Cade and I moved.  It has been a long time coming and a very good thing.  Our previous 2 moves were because of job changes.  Those moves were across country (Texas to Illinois and Illinois to Texas).  While they were very necessary and brought with them some interesting lessons, this move has really brought some interesting thoughts and feelings.  Most of these, I am still analyzing but many you can understand why they hit me.

• I have way too much stuff.  As much as I have tried to not be a stuff-centric person, I still have way too much.  
• Along with that stuff problem, after 5 years, you begin to find stuff you haven't seen in 5 years.  Processing all of that stuff and deciding its necessity is not always easy.  
• Our move was a little faster than anticipated.  We had some friends help us move and did it on their schedule which meant we did not get to go through everything and just packed and moved.  Now that we are unpacking, we are realizing junk and good stuff and have lots to throw away / donate.  
• It doesn't happen overnight.  As much as I would have liked to pack up/move/ unpack and be all back to normal -- that ain't gonna happen.  It is not realistic.  You begin to look at priorities of the move and look a little harder at what is important.  
• Family is important.  During the move, Pepito got loose.  In 20 minutes, we chased Pepito and had Houdini locked in the car.  Cade was sitting on our front porch alone.  It was scary.  It was a new neighborhood and there was lots of uncertainties.  You start to realize how important safety and security is for everyone.  The loss of control and craziness makes you appreciate even more the safety you find within your home.  
• You fully appreciate the people who are willing to help you.  We had so many people offer assistance in packing and moving.  It was wonderful.  We did not even get to use all of the people that volunteered.  It really makes you feel loved.  

There are so many more things to be learned from this move.  Many more are discovered daily.  I have grown to appreciate my grandmother more.  She is probably sitting in heaven and laughing at me because I want our old house spotless before we hand over the keys.  I am beginning to spot every little blemish and want to fix it.  I know it is not possible.  I have to let go of that control.  

Yesterday we also learned a valuable lesson in - when everything is going right, things can still go wrong.  We are in the final stages of cleaning and moved a chair downstairs to clean the fan.  It slipped from Jody's grasp and fell through the window at the bottom of the stairs.  As much as making that phone call and paying for that glass fix truly sucked, it again made me realize that all of this is temporary.  Stuff is stuff.  Money is replacable.  All will come out in the end.  That is not an easy lesson but one that needed to be had.