It's time, it's time? Did someone say it's time?

To MOVE! Chances are, now that word has a very different connotation for you than for me. I actually have not done very much of it myself, comparatively, but now I can count even more blessings that I did not  realize. The week of packing and moving almost seems like a dream now. The week leading up to it was filled with packing boxes of anything that was not necessary, and I was wondering how in the world we were going to move. I really did not take many pictures of the process because it was inconvenient and I forgot most of the time. so these are just a few of the things we did.

Allison took all the girls to summer camp early Monday morning, so it was nice to not have to worry about finding things for them to do or keeping them out of the way. It was also very quiet, and Monday night, I went to bed a little sad, as it was the first day in 3 1/2 weeks I had not held anyone or colored or played or watched anyone. How will I adjust back home?!

Sweat, sweat, sweat

Mostly, we packed and sweated. Our clothes were soaked with sweat everyday. The heat index was usually over 100 and the ceiling fans had been removed already so ventilation was not great. In other words, we stank at the end of the day!

The moving truck--that has a different connotation too. It was more like an old diesel grain truck with wood sides, but it would not have held grain. There was a tarp to throw over the top in case it rained. Everything was thrown piled stuffed stacked in….not the way I would have done it and not as fast as we from America would expect it to be done. It was a rather frustrating experience, but just one more reminder that I need so much more patience. It took 3 big moving trucks (22 x 8 x who-knows) over the span of 3 days to move most everything. 

Truck load #3

When Kati and I were not packing, we were attempting to fix up the house. Caulking, scrubbing, cleaning, and painting. We may or may not have gotten high off of the paint fumes. It was the thinnest paint I had ever seen! Jenny and Cynthia, I thought about you guys so much and wished you were there to help! We cranked up the country music and painted away, but we gladly surrendered our rollers after a first coat in 3 out of the 4 rooms to guys who were hired to fix up the house. 

Cleaning the walls

That is one pink room!  

Mixing up our paint

First coat on!

That's gonna need another coat, maybe 3.

By Thursday, the seemingly impossible was done, and we drove to Pena Blanca to begin the unpacking process there. 

And then there was one

Sadly, Kati left Thursday to head back home, so that meant I was working by myself a lot more when Allison was running errands or busy with other things. Though a little lonesome and overwhelming, the worst was over and no longer was moving hanging over our heads. 

In the new house!

The kitchen is so much bigger!

Home

All this transition really just leaves me longing for permanence. During this week, I thought several times that soon I will be able to leave, to go to my home, to not have to worry about packing and unpacking. Yet, even my home in Kansas is not forever. I long for a place that I do not ever need to pack up my stuff and leave. For a home that is perfect and ready to settle into without needing to fix it up. For the One Who is preparing such a place for me!  I have a refreshed appreciation for home here and desire and hope for my real Home to come!