Going...and Groaning...and Growing...oh my!

image found here

There's been a vacant sign hanging over my blog for some time now, and I've debated just hanging up the "Gone Fishing" sign and calling it good.  But I know I'll be sorry in a few months, when the cobwebs and chaos have cleared, if I do that.  So, instead I've just tiptoed around pretending I really don't need to write anything down right now.   I know I should, it's just hard, and somehow when you write down something it makes it real.  I don't want this to be real.  But it is.  You see, for the 22nd time in 17 years of marriage-we're moving.  And I'm sad.

We moved 19 times in 7 years, yes that's 19 times-it's not a misprint.  Then we stayed put for 3 years, and I kind of liked it, and kind of missed moving.  Moving can be fun, it can be exciting.  Always new places to discover and new friends to find.  New parts of the country to learn about, and new foods, sights, and sounds to relish.  We've lived in Texas (Dallas & Houston), Kansas,  Oklahoma, Utah, New York, California, and now in Arizona.  

And with one exception (sorry Houston, just never found my groove there)  I have loved every place we've ever lived.  I loved the history of New York & being in such close driving distance to so many different states and places.  I loved the wide open spaces and fabulous zoo in Kansas City.  I loved the mountains in Utah and the divine snow.  I adored Dallas-my all time favorite city, the people were amazing and something about that city just clicked in my heart. 

We lived in Oklahoma when the Federal Building was bombed, my little apartment windows shuddered with the blast.  My husband spent long hours volunteering with the clean up and rescue while I watched the TV coverage and held my baby a little closer. 

Those years hold lots of memories, of zoos to explore and parks to discover, new restaurants to enjoy, and so many interesting people to meet, and so much to learn.

Then our kids started getting older, it was almost time for our first to start Kindergarten, and we decided we needed to find a place to stay put.  So we moved cross country, bought a house, and we stayed in one place for the first time ever.  For 3 years.  It was a long time.  I missed the thorough decluttering constant moving forces on you.  The first time I moved the fridge I couldn't believe the filth that had accumulated in the year we'd lived there.  It was disturbing. When you move every 6 weeks or even 6 months dirt just doesn't accumulate like that.  I learned the need to deep clean, even when staying put.  I was sad when work forced us to sell our house and move to the deserts of Arizona.  But it was just a house, and the idea of new places and new people was fun and exciting.

We moved over the 4th of July weekend, and I think it was 116 degrees F (46.67 C).  I thought I had died.  I wondered if we'd even survive the move, let alone ever really like it under the blazing sun.  Fast forward 7 1/2 years, and I can't believe how much we love it.  We love the swimming pool parties on Halloween weekend, and the sunshine for Christmas, we love the 9 months of the year we wear flip flops and the way our bones chill when the mercury dips below 70 F (about 21 C).  Even more than that we love our friends-our family we found in this desert.  I never dreamed the desert would bloom in my heart with so much love.  And I'm going to miss this place, more than I could have  imagined when I stood on that sidewalk with heat shimmering all around me, and the sun blazing down, because here we found a home.

image found here

So, we're Going, and I'm Groaning, but I'm also sure I will be Growing.  I would never have believed when we left our first house that I could find some place even better for my family, it seemed impossible! But we did.  And we can do it again.  It's just going to involve some growing pains for a while, I'm sure.  For now, every time my heart (or my family) groans over moving I remind myself (and them) of all the possibilities, and encourage us all to remember the positive things that will come from the move.  Like Dad actually being in the same state as the rest of the family for longer than 48 hours (wooo hooo!)

I know hard times bring great rewards.  I know trials that stretch us help form us into better people.  I know we'll all find new friends, and new favorite restaurants,.  I know we can stay in touch with our friends here easier than ever. I know, I know, I know.  But it's still hard.  

This post inspired by the letter "G"