Well, it has been interesting...
I don't know if I ever realized just how much of a homebody I am. I feel like I've always been up for adventure, but apparently I overestimated my adventurous spirit. The homesickness kicked in before the move even began. A few months ago, when pulling up to our driveway in Sandy, I saw a couple guys pounding a "For Sale" sign into the lawn in front of our house. Although this was certainly in line with our plans for moving, it was still a shock to see it actually going into place. That was the first time I cried about it. The emotions have seemed a little irrational, but nevertheless, difficult to control. We've now been here 5 days, and although that is shorter than many of the vacations we have taken, it feels like I've been away forever!
It was heartbreaking sending the girls back home on Saturday. We rushed to get here so that we could pull the family back together - Natalie has really struggled with the separation from her Daddy. I wish I were stronger, but this was a time when I realized that I simply HAD to accept the help that was offered. I think that having the girls gone this week will be better in the long run, but I feel extremely guilty (not to mention lonely.) Thank you to everyone for your help!
I really have to mention that Keith has been AMAZING! I realize that he is under a lot of stress as well. He has opened up a new office, gotten everything in order there, made living arrangements for our family, and still manages to be super-patient with me! It's really incredible all that he has done to get our family here. He single-handedly arranged for the condo where we are now staying, and he did a great job picking a place nearby where we are building.
Of course, I did not know what to expect, since I have been unable to be very involved in the process. What I did know was that we were driving to a very hot place 8 hours away from home. It was difficult explaining it to the girls, although I think they got a certain idea. They did ask the whole drive down, "are we there yet?" I would love to be able to get inside their minds sometime to see exactly how they see things - especially how they imagine something that they don't know yet. What did they think it would be like, I wonder. Natalie may have had a pretty good idea. I'm sure that Ava was thinking of something entirely different, since when we finally told her we were here, she exclaimed, "Dis is not Waws Baygus!"
