The Big Push Starts Today!

Me and Lisa, both sad about leaving



Friends from the Spouse Group


Seth and Lilah with friends, Brenna and Ava

So we are in the final days of being in Ohio as we get ready for the move to Michigan. I have procrastinated on packing as much as possible as I have chosen to live in a state of denial about the move for quite a while now. That time is over. I really have to face reality and get things ready for the move now because it's happening on Saturday, whether I'm ready or not. when I was in jr. high I had a teacher (Mr. Hunsucker) who used to announce every day when we got to school that "The big push starts today!" He was talking about Math and I never completely understood what "big push" he was talking about since every day was pretty much the same and I certainly never FELT like I had to work any harder at school on any given day (those of you who went to Christian Academy might understand what I'm talking about). But nonetheless, the phrase stuck in my head and I am now using it to psyche myself up to start REALLY packing and cleaning and doing everything that needs to be done to get ready for Saturday. So, tonight after the kids go to bed I am going to pour myself a drink, turn on girly dance music, and start packing my laundry/storage area and the rest of my basement. And then I am planning to get a significant amount of packing and cleaning done every day for the rest of the week. I tried to start packing hardcore on Friday night and started on a couple boxes. Then I got depressed and overwhelmed so I watched a movie instead. We are excited about the move to Michigan for professional reasons and are looking forward to more time together as a family (hopefully). But we are really going to miss Columbus and are especially going to miss our friends here. The Significant Others Support Group did a going away party for us and Lisa (who is also moving) yesterday. It was so wonderful to enjoy one last picnic with so many of the wonderful families who have made us feel so at home here in Columbus and who we have genuinely enjoyed sharing this part of our journey with. I'm so thankful for a group of women to learn from and laugh with as I continue to take on the challenges of motherhood. It's so nice to go somewhere with friends and know that if my child hits another child and I miss it, that another mother will handle it (and usually more gracefully than I would) who I can trust and who won't spend the rest of the day talking about how awful my children are. =) lol ...What a blessing it was to start our residency in Columbus. I sincerely hope that the friendships we made here will be maintained in the years to come and I know I will always look back at this time of life with great joy and many happy memories. We have a busy week ahead of packing and moving and saying goodbyes. And then we will be off to Michigan to start the next part of the journey! Thanks for all the memories, laughs, sometimes tears, and abundance of support and help all of our wonderful friends and family have provided us these past few years.