This was the scene Saturday night. A full 24 hours in the house and the progress had been slow and steady…and messy!
Currently, I am feeling like an episode of Hoarders!
But, I’m home.
Today, as I was unpacking I realized I haven’t had the greatest attitude about all of this.
The move was not exactly seamless and most of it was totally out of my control. The move took an extra 24 hrs I had not expected, I was away from my kids for nearly a week, the loaders on Thursday were rude, and I was dreaming of cardboard and packing tape every second of the average 5 hours of sleep I was getting. Our 15 passenger van will be in the shop for 2 weeks, my husband had to go back to work earlier than expected, and our new city was/is/and soon will be again covered in snow. My heat was shut off a day early in my old house (while I was still there!), I have a sub-compact for a rental car, and I still haven’t figured out where they packed my coffee pot.
So, yeah, every time someone says something about the move or the house or the past month of searching for a house, searching for a moving company, searching for my van keys (that ended up being located in the freezer…you know, where EVERYONE keeps their van keys!), I sort of sigh and give my exhausted half-smile face and then tack on some ungrateful remark about one of the aforementioned events.
But today I thought, “Wait a second. I’m here. I’m home. It’s all okay.” I knew it would be. So, why the stress?
Isn’t it funny how when crisis is happening to you, you feel out of control, helpless, as if it will never end. But, when the worst of the storm is over, you look back and think, “That wasn’t so bad. I’m okay now.”
And then there are the blessings amidst the storm…
*Finding a beautiful home for rent in a great location. One twice the size of the home we were turned down on because we had “too many children.”
*Having AMAZING packers and movers (the ones who unloaded us). In fact, the woman who packed up my Emmy’s things had lost a child too, so she was very gentle and kind.
*Having THE WORLD’S BEST Grandparents for my kiddos!
*Praying God would lead me to the right box to find a shirt my husband needed the first morning we were there and opening the right box the first try (might need to try that with my coffee pot!).
*Having a friend willing to come pick up a cranky toddler AND feed him supper to boot!
*Having awesome landlords on both ends of this equation.
*Having a refrigerator with crushed ice.
*Turning 34 today. 😉
Thank you so much for your prayers during this move! They’ve blessed me and my family so much!
Charity says
Happy birthday Amy!! Continuing to pray for your family.
Andrea says
Happy Birthday! I must say that moving seems to always be tough for us but for a few more years a necessary part of life. Hope the rest of the unpacking goes smoothly and you will be able to breathe a sigh of relief after it is all done.
Jen says
Happy Birthday!
Erin says
Happy Birthday, Amy! So glad to hear you are settling in, despite the stresses 😉
LouAnne says
Happy Birthday to you! Sorry the ride to the other side was a little bumpy, but thankful you’re there!
Nikki says
Happy Birthday to you!!!I turn 34 this year too.We just found out we are expecting baby #9 and I think it is going to be a wonderful year.:)Looking forward to hearing all about the new memories you make in your new place.:)
Tanya - Lilyofthevalley says
((((Amy)))) Happy birthday!! May the Lord shower with His love today in the joys and the stresses. Happy unpacking and settling in. The kitchen looks so roomy, bigger than what you ahve had before, I’m excited for you!!
Laura says
Wow, what a move. So happy your in and now can feel a little sigh of relief …minus the unpacking and organizing. I’ll be praying for your transition and that the days ahead go smooth.
Happy Birthday!!!
Rebecca L. says
Happy Birthday to you! Hope you get to have a date with your hubs in a few weeks to celebrate your birthday, after the chaos has cleared. :~)
Amy says
We actually went out yesterday in hopes of beating the storm. 🙂
Tonya says
(((((Happy Birthday)))) Glad you are finally moved,and hope today is great!
Nicki says
Amy,
YOU HAVE A BIG KITCHEN!!!! YEAH! I can’t wait to see pictures!
Amy says
It is absolutely HUGE compared to the last house! God is good!
Kristin says
Lol. As soon as I saw the picture I thought to myself, “That looks like a scene from Hoarders.” It just cracked me up that you thought the same thing.
Annie @ Beauty In The Surrender says
Happy Birthday?
Nicole from lake view, ny says
Happy birthday Amy!
I think the saying is “new house new baby!” 😉
Your kitchen looks beautiful! The phone looks so high though!!!
Amy says
LOL! There was a nail there, so we just threw the phone up there (literally) for now!
Kim says
Happy Birthday, Amy! So glad the move is (mostly) behind you, and I hope that you find that elusive coffee pot soon! 🙂 May your day be filled with love, smiles, hugs, and joy…and CAKE!
Amy says
Thanks! On days like this with a storm on the horizon, coffee sounds wonderful! 🙂
Bonnie says
Happy Birthday!! I am due any time now with # 6….maybe today will be the day and he can share a b-day with you!! I pray that this new home will soon be put together and provide a beautiful sancturary for your wonderful family! It looks like a beautiful house, God is so good!
Melinda @ Trailing After God says
Congrats on the new home Amy! It looks like a nice place! And above all HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! We’re close in age. I turn 34 on the 18th of Feb. Now just relax and enjoy your new, larger home! Boxes can wait, it’s your birthday! I’ll pray for the van and the coffee maker 🙂
Blessings,
Mel
Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God
Blessedw5mom says
Glad to see your attitude of gratefulness … have you seen the book “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp? I have been so blessed by this book lately!!! Wish I had adequate words to explain it all, just been telling people they need to get a copy and see for them selves.
Amy says
I saw she had released a book and how well it was doing. I’d love to get a copy when I have a chance too. I’m so glad it is blessing you!
Deedee says
Happy Birthday Amy! It looks like a beautiful kitchen under all those boxes! :o) Glad you got there safely and for small blessings along the way. Praise God for the big house with plenty of space for y’all!
Kalani says
Your ‘key’ story made me giggle… We made a cross country move 3 1/2 months ago. On the day we left I lost our van keys (& only key faub!). I searched for nearly an hour (cough, we were already running a couple of hours late, cough) retracing ALL of my steps, but the keys were nowhere to be found. We ended up using the spare key & have been using said spare key ever since. Last Friday my husband found the lost keys. In the van. No joke. I have searched high & low in that thing & yet one look & he found them. They were in the back pocket of one of the seats. I turned the baby’s carseat right before we left so I figure I probably stuck them in there “so I didn’t lose them” LOL Anyways, another thing to be thankful for…you found your keys before 3 1/2 months had passed 😉
Glad to hear the move is now finished & you can get on with things!
Amy says
LOL! I am forever putting things in a “safe place” and then forgetting where that safe place is! Glad your keys showed up too! 🙂
Kalani says
Glad to hear I’m not the only one! It drives my hubby crazy 😉
I also forgot to say yesterday…Happy birthday!!!
Suanna says
Happy Birthday!!! I hope one of your presents that you unpack today is your coffeepot. Thanks for letting us peek into your move.
Lynnea Williams says
Happy birthday Amy. I hope you have a blessed evening.
Verna says
Happy Birthday Amy!
Take a deep breathe, and enjoy the snow that you are about to receive. I remember moving in 6+ inches of snow. And wishing I had all my things there already so I could unpack instead of carry furniture. Think of how nice it will be when you get everything done.
Thankful you had a friend there that could help with a cranky little one.
My girl friend moved across town last year, and her toddler told her he wanted to go home. So the move is probably hard on them also.
Hugs to you!
Clara says
Happy birthday, Amy! Your posts always sound so mature, I imagined you are older than you are (don’t take that the wrong way, please!)… But as it turns out, you are only a few years older than me!
It’s so wonderful to read about the blessings you’ve managed to be able to see even amongst the chaos of moving and unpacking. I always find unpacking exciting at first – it’s like starting with a fresh clean page, and “where shall I put this to make my house different and nice?” is a fun question to answer, for me! 🙂 I hope the rest of the unpacking goes smoothly for you all. What an amazing blessing to find a larger house, too. God is good.
Tami says
Happy Birthday Amy!
What a blessing to find such a roomy kitchen, too. I’ll be praying for you as you dig it out. 😉 Just don’t lose the baby in there in the meantime!
corine says
Congratulations on your new home! 😀 And way to go wit the attitude! ;D I’m in agreement; there certainly are blessings amidst the storms!
Corine 😀