Sunday, April 15, 2012

Six months....

It's been six months since we moved north.  In so many ways, I can't believe it's been that long.  And in others, it feels like so much longer.

I knew saying good-bye would be so hard.  But I forgot how hard it can be to say hello, as well.  I'm still working on that part.  My friend put it perfectly... "it's hard when you come back and life has gone on without you, but there's still not really anything at home for you yet..."  God has to tear down the old in me to make way for the new....which is awesome in its own way, and still so HARD.

I think I'm at that funny in-between stage where I WANT the kinds of relationships we had in Omaha, but I feel like I'm betraying our history and our friends there by "moving on".  It's ridiculous, I know, but that's just how I'm wired.  (And NO ONE has made me feel that way -- but THOSE relationships were absolutely IRREPLACABLE to me, and it's hard to imagine finding that again.)  I also have to remind myself that it took us four years to build the kinds of relationships that make good-bye so heart-breaking.

The kids are so much more resilient than I am -- they have settled in so nicely here.  Samantha definitely still has moments where she is missing her friends and those she was closest to in Omaha.  Some friendships really are priceless and you can't find a friend THAT amazing -- but those are the times we are thankful for things like Skype, cell phones, email, and (gasp) snail mail!  Samantha is super involved in school -- book club, spanish club, writer's roundtable, etc.  She loves to be active and in the middle of everything.  (Hmmm....can't imagine where she gets that from!)

All 3 of the big kids are playing soccer this spring...which they ALL love!  It's awesome to see the huge smiles on their faces when they're playing.  Easton thinks he's a part of the action from the sideline, too -- that kid has quite the foot!  :)  

With school out in mid-May, we are all EAGERLY awaiting days where we can spend the afternoons on the boat and at the pool.  The boys are enjoying learning to play golf with daddy, and Easton thinks our morning bike rides are the best thing ever.  He misses our weekly Bible study time, though -- he wants to see his friends!  :)

The kids have all picked out vegetables that they are going to care for in our garden and Hudson insists that we can use his combine to harvest our plot.  :)  Some things never change....!

 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~ Jeremiah 29:11