And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Romans 5:2-5
Not only is that an amazing Billy Joel song, it’s also the story of my life for the past four weeks. Actually let’s make that the past four months.
It all started the day I went to the beach with my dear friend Kaitlyn. I came home to a very excited father who was dying to show me this house on realtor.com. I was impressed. Then we went to see the house and I started to get excited. The next few weeks were spent wondering if it was even possible for us to move or if it was just another dream. For years my parents have wanted to move into single family home, and we’ve learned not to get our hopes up. But everything fell into place and the house was ours. We cleaned our little butts off and listed our house the day after my birthday. And the house remained spotless (for the most part) from September through December.
We knew we were moving, but needed to focus on Christmas and packing was put on the back burner. The week between Christmas and New Years was a giant wake-up call – let me tell you. We got the keys to the new house on New Years Eve and then spent the next few days cleaning the new house like we’ve never cleaned before. My dad painted my bedroom and Sarah’s bedroom – they look amazing!! We also started bringing over boxes. Boxes and boxes and boxes. Guess what? We’re still moving boxes. But that’s what happens when you don’t move too far away. The weekend after we got the keys, we moved all of the furniture with the help of the men in the family. And started sleeping in the new house that night. Since then we’ve been unpacking and getting settled. And also bringing all the stuff we wish we didn’t own from the old house to the new house.
But the past few weeks have flown by. Lots and lots of family time. Lots and lots of sore arms. Lots and lots of driving across the county. And lots and lots of pictures on my phone :) Here’s a look at the house on the day we got the keys…
Packing up the old house… Sarah being so helpful aka watching Tangled
We’ve grown accustomed to large piles of stuff. And also moving our piles of stuff from one place to another. There was still a pile of trash sitting there the other day. Really cool.
And this is proof of how beautiful the weather was!! Moving day was the most warm day we had since the fall – 50 degrees – we lucked out!!!
Moving day started with donuts and coffee at the old house, loading up the truck, and unloading at the new house. It was SO nice to have men pick up the furniture with zero struggle after a full week of lugging boxes to and from the car. We just stood by and watched. It was really nice. Really really nice.
We made them pretend it was super heavy so we didn’t feel so lame about our little mucles :)
We found this wicker furniture along with Sarah’s Pottery Barn trundle bed on Craigslist. Dad and I picked them both up in the city the week before we moved.
Boxes and boxes full of books!!!
Do you like this wall paper?!? Yes I know. It’s gorgeous.
Annnnd this is everything we left at the old house that needed to get brought over in the weeks following the real move…
But as of this past weekend, the old house is back on the market and is ready for showings.
It’s been a huge weight lifted of my parents’ back because they’ve been running non stop since before Christmas and have been working really hard to get the old house cleaned out and in tip-top ship. But finally, were totally living in the new house. And are really excited about getting settled here. It’s been a long month. But hard work pays off!!
I woke up this morning to the sound of someone running up and down the stairs and past my bedroom. I opened my eyes and stared at my white and black floral pillow case. I smelled Mark’s smell because I was wearing this sweatshirt. I rolled over and looked at my room in the morning light. I went down stairs, got a bowl of cereal, and crawled back into bed. I watched last weeks Castle. And I realized how much I love Saturday mornings.
I talked to my parents. I found the piano tuner standing at the front door as I was standing in the kitchen with pajamas, bed head hair, and a mildly embarrassed look on my face. I made myself coffee. And now I'm “cleaning my room” while sitting on my bed watching 500 Days of Summer.
That’s what blogging about my life today amounts to.
Yep that’s it.
If I was a sophomore in college in 3012 sitting in Lit & Arts class and found this blog, I’d analyze what that means. What that means about the girl who wrote it. What that means about society, America in 2012, the world of 2012.
I’d probably notice how her senses were important. How she follows routine. How Saturday mornings were different than the rest of the week.
I’d wonder why there was nothing else important in her life to write about. Seriously? She wrote about her pillow? And her breakfast? Those were the only things worth writing about? Did people in 2012 hate life so much that they had to focus on the mundane details of life to escape the tragedies? Was focusing on the mundane details an escape? Was sitting in her room watching TV something she did because she wanted to? Or was it necessary? Was she hiding? Did she know she was hiding? Or was this whole thing supposed to be some kind of romantic description of the nothingness? Was she trying to find something beautiful? Was she tired of overlooking the simple joys? Is it both?
It’s weird when you can’t decide if you’re distracting yourself on purpose.
Kayla and Bucky invited Bucky’s sister, brother-in-law, Mark and I over for a New Year’s Eve Bash. And it was the most fun I’ve ever had on New Years. We had a amazing food all night long. Cheese fondue at nine, crab dip with cheese and crackers at ten, dessert at eleven which consisted of homemade bark and Gfree brownies, and a toast at midnight. We also played lots of games and had dance parties. Oh and a mustache photo shoot.
Which clearly calls for his and hers Charlie’s Angels poses.
All photo credit belongs to this lovely lady. She also made the mustaches. And the bark.
And Kayla made the food and games. They rock.
Since Mark and I have been dating we’ve ended each year and started the new one together. And I’ve always loved that. It’s nice being together on such a fun night, but it’s also very symbolic of sticking together as old things come to a close and new things begin. It was really neat that the other two couples included us this year.
The six of us are all in very different stages of life, but Mark and I felt so welcomed and included. It was one of the most fun nights we’ve had in a long time :)
Friendship. Laughter. Love.
The perfect ending to 2011.
The perfect beginning to 2012.
Not food left overs. Picture left overs. Christmas Picture left overs.
(It seems like this was forever ago, doesn’t it?)
We celebrated Christmas with my dad’s side of the family after the real holiday.
Lots of Christmas trees, Pineapple Supreme Dessert, bright lip stick, balance activities, old wedding photos, and of course – the ever popular, totally unavoidable, awkward family moments and conversations. The highlight was definitely my Grandmom’s Pineapple Supreme – which I had two pieces of and ignored any trace of flour.
It. Is. The. Best. Hands down.
Sarah also got every teal winter accessory known to man for Christmas.
And is rocking it out.
This will make it into her graduation slide show someday…
It’s always sad how fast Christmas comes and goes… but NYE is right around the corner :)
So it’s been forever since I’ve blogged. Last week I remembered that I have a blog. And then I felt really bad that I totally forgot about her. But life has been super hecka crazy…. more on that later this week. It’ll be one post after another recapping the past month of my life. With lotss of pictures. The most important thing my friends… is this….
I am in love. IN LOVE.
Can’t wait to share more this week!
Happy Saturday!
