Okay - so much for mixed emotions....

I've moved on and now I can look back and think of the things I do miss about Baltimore. You know, the last thing we did was to visit Ft. McHenry for the FIRST time? Pretty funny. We really enjoyed it though despite the wind. There were so many things we didn't do that were on our "list". Oh well. We will miss the ward and all our friends there. There were many people who touched our lives and the lives of our children there. I really will miss those stinking trees and flowers as they change with the seasons which we won't have in Cali. I miss Jar's orchestra teacher. The alley life will be missed...in a bittersweet sort of way.

Many of you are probably looking for what we are doing and all that stuff. I know I would be. We did find a house. Our realtor thinks that we got the house because of Cob. He was pretty cute each time we visited the house. And she played on the fact that he was "homeless". We sold our B'more house very quickly and for just what we asked. We left in a whirlwind - it seemed so sudden although I kept pushing back the mover's day. We flew to Utah - all except the Dad - who closed up the house for the last time. I think I would have cried if it had been me. It looked funny all empty!

Lucky survived the flight rather well and is getting along with his "cousins" better than I thought. My Mom has been great to put up with us all in her once quiet house. We've tried not to take everything over. Jar is in school here and will finish here for the year. He likes the 7 pd day and his orchestra class. Jam has been in preschool here too and will have his last day on Tuesday this week as we head for Cali. Cob has almost adjusted just in time to leave as well. It has been good to see family - those that have found us. How exactly do you appropriately "arrive"? Do you send an announcement "We're here - come see us"? Or just wait and see? It feels funny, rather self-centered to invite them over that way - maybe that's because I've been "away" so long?

We did get a house in Cali as I said. It will require more love than I am excited about. Remember buying that first house and being so excited to decorate and landscape it? I'm so over that!!! I need to paint so the rooms work with our stuff and Dad needs to do sprinklers and the ENTIRE back yard! We do need to tile the kitchen and put in some fans. We did paint one room already! Yea! We had to buy a fridge and a washer and dryer. Thank heavens it was a good relo package and a good tax year for us! We couldn't have done any of this without the blessing of our Father in Heaven. All things come from him, but this year I feel his hand in our lives particularly strong. He wants us there. Now to find out why...what an adventure!? It does give me pause - what does he have in store? What blessings and what challenges?

The ward is nice. It was split last year and is small and reminds Dad of Parkway in Texas. I think it will grow on me. They were very nice when I visited last weekend. Jar laments the 9:00 start with a 15 min drive. Oh well. There are plenty of young folk in primary and YM to keep them busy.

We move this week without Jar. He is staying here to finish the school year. We need to be together - Dad and I. I'm running out of steam without him and getting a bit stir-crazy knowing all I have waiting for me to do in Cali. I'll post some pics later today if I have time and then there will probably be a dry spell again as life picks up and carries us away on it's shoulders. Oh if I could do anything with the reins I've been given!