Good-bye California. Hello Washington.
We arrived at our new home Sunday night around 6pm. The drive up was long (for sure) but our kids all did so well, it really didn't feel as long and miserable as it could have. Ethan and Rachel didn't even whine once! They did a range of different things; slept, colored, looked at books, listened to music and watched a few movies. Kara was such a trooper! She only really got fussy during the last hour (which ends up actually being the hardest part for everyone). She slept a lot, ate in her car seat, enjoyed the rest stops when she got to get out and run her energy off for 15 minutes and then slept quite a bit.
The drive through Oregon was absolutely breath taking. That is one beautiful state! We took a few pictures (I'll post them in a different post) with our cell phones and they just didn't capture its true beauty.
Portland is a great city and looks like its a lot of fun! It reminded me a lot of San Fransisco.
When we got to our house, the kids came in and screamed, laughed, jumped, ran, you name it! They were so happy to be at their new home. We all kind of feel like "wow, we're actually here." Its amazing how you plan and get ready, but when you do it, it kind of shocks you. Last night I went up into my new room, looked out the window at the gorgeous view and when the thought of "I can't wait for my Mom to come over and see this" came through my head, quickly followed the thought "she can't unless she gets on a plane or drives 12+ hours to see it." I sat down and had a good sob and got all my emotions out and then admitted to myself "this is going to be hard. But you can get through it. You'll make new friends and you can call your family whenever you want."
Washington is a beautiful state. We're enjoying being in a place where there are very obvious seasons. The trees are so amazing, full of color and bright! I can't get over how green, orange, red and yellow they all are! Ethan rides along in the car and yells out every so often "Look at the amazing trees here!!"
The kids seem to be taking to the move quite well. Kara is a little more attached (if that's at all possible) but Ethan and Rachel love it here. They keep telling me how much they love this house.
I've noticed they talk about friends and family back home a lot and Ethan typically follows it up with "I know we can just go see them anytime, so I won't ask about that." :) \
We're already anxious for visits, so please... feel free!
Today we went to our new Target (can I just say, WOW!) Its huge and has a grocery store inside. I've never seen that. Then we went to Costco and laughed out loud, because the layout inside is the exact same layout as the Costco we went to, back in California. Ethan kept asking me "did Nana's Costco fly up here or something?!"
Our house has some clothes in it, some toys and paper products in the kitchen and the rest of our stuff will not arrive until Thursday. We feel like we're camping out in a really nice hotel :)
Jason and I have been having fun figuring out where everything will go. In a way, its been nice being able to slowly get the place ready for all the furniture and boxes, instead of being bombarded with it all in one day.
The kids LOVE the upstairs loft and Rachel has commented more than once about "how amazing and wonderful the big kitchen is!" Kara goes up and down the stairs like a champ (which I was thrilled about since I did not want to be a slave to baby gates) and everyone has slept really well in their new rooms. I wasn't sure what to expect, moving far away to a whole new area, in a whole new house, but all 3 of our kids have done remarkably well.
Thank you everyone for your prayers for us!! We love you all.
The drive through Oregon was absolutely breath taking. That is one beautiful state! We took a few pictures (I'll post them in a different post) with our cell phones and they just didn't capture its true beauty.
Portland is a great city and looks like its a lot of fun! It reminded me a lot of San Fransisco.
When we got to our house, the kids came in and screamed, laughed, jumped, ran, you name it! They were so happy to be at their new home. We all kind of feel like "wow, we're actually here." Its amazing how you plan and get ready, but when you do it, it kind of shocks you. Last night I went up into my new room, looked out the window at the gorgeous view and when the thought of "I can't wait for my Mom to come over and see this" came through my head, quickly followed the thought "she can't unless she gets on a plane or drives 12+ hours to see it." I sat down and had a good sob and got all my emotions out and then admitted to myself "this is going to be hard. But you can get through it. You'll make new friends and you can call your family whenever you want."
Washington is a beautiful state. We're enjoying being in a place where there are very obvious seasons. The trees are so amazing, full of color and bright! I can't get over how green, orange, red and yellow they all are! Ethan rides along in the car and yells out every so often "Look at the amazing trees here!!"
The kids seem to be taking to the move quite well. Kara is a little more attached (if that's at all possible) but Ethan and Rachel love it here. They keep telling me how much they love this house.
I've noticed they talk about friends and family back home a lot and Ethan typically follows it up with "I know we can just go see them anytime, so I won't ask about that." :) \
We're already anxious for visits, so please... feel free!
Today we went to our new Target (can I just say, WOW!) Its huge and has a grocery store inside. I've never seen that. Then we went to Costco and laughed out loud, because the layout inside is the exact same layout as the Costco we went to, back in California. Ethan kept asking me "did Nana's Costco fly up here or something?!"
Our house has some clothes in it, some toys and paper products in the kitchen and the rest of our stuff will not arrive until Thursday. We feel like we're camping out in a really nice hotel :)
Jason and I have been having fun figuring out where everything will go. In a way, its been nice being able to slowly get the place ready for all the furniture and boxes, instead of being bombarded with it all in one day.
The kids LOVE the upstairs loft and Rachel has commented more than once about "how amazing and wonderful the big kitchen is!" Kara goes up and down the stairs like a champ (which I was thrilled about since I did not want to be a slave to baby gates) and everyone has slept really well in their new rooms. I wasn't sure what to expect, moving far away to a whole new area, in a whole new house, but all 3 of our kids have done remarkably well.
Thank you everyone for your prayers for us!! We love you all.
Comments
I've had fun following your twitter updates, and you've been on my mind a lot...prayer too. Love you guys!!!
I am praying right now for you that God will bless you in your new home and church and community, and that the bittersweetness turns sweeter every week. ((hugs)) I know it's got to be hard.
As for the being neat thing... I totally agree. What about having a clean and tidy and put-together house makes me a freak? Seriously. :) I consider it a joy, a duty, and even biblical. Obviously there is no command or even anything in Prov 31 about the woman having "a place for everything and everything in its place" -- but I think order, beauty, and care are all very Scriptural.
Maybe you know what I mean. :) Or maybe I *am* a freak. lol.
Melissa, I don't actually hear many people slamming clean people. I was mostly kidding. But, I have heard a bit of it in my lifetime. People used to make fun of my mom and act like she was a "clean freak" when in reality - she just worked on it bit by bit every day and never had a huge mess to clean up like so many others do. The ones that save the mess and then have months of cleaning at their feet, they're the ones that don't understand how we live :)
And Melissa and Stef- I have been mulling over the idea of filling out that questionnaire. It is not off the table, but I still don't know... we'll see. :)
It will get better. as soon as you find a church, make friends (which you have never had a hard time doing), and meet good neighbors you'll start missing home less and less. you'll miss certain things and the closeness of family, but Washington will feel like home, and Brentwood just a place to visit on the holidays and summer vacation.
love you bunches!!!!
Thanks for posting those pictures on Facebook, Stef. Beautiful house!
And Melissa and Stef- I have been mulling over the idea of filling out that questionnaire. It is not off the table, but I still don't know... we'll see. :)
I am praying right now for you that God will bless you in your new home and church and community, and that the bittersweetness turns sweeter every week. ((hugs)) I know it's got to be hard.
I've had fun following your twitter updates, and you've been on my mind a lot...prayer too. Love you guys!!!