(post edit… why is that top section being underlined? {insert my scream here!})

1. In-N-Out Burger.  Need I say more about this?

2. while we are talking about food…. Chik-Fil-A (the only fast food chain that resembles something close to chicken)

3. flip flops year round

4. swimming pools everywhere and admission for $0.75 or less (or free)

5. walking to neighbors (or just the idea that it was possible)

6. keeping all my shoes in my very own closet instead of in the garage due to mud and rain

7. knowing that 99% of the time, the sun comes through the window in the morning

8. a light over the entry way

9. a third FULL bathroom

10. a third car garage

11. housecleaners

12. my studio

13. shopping close by

14. fall break and spring break

15. all the cabinets and cupboards in the office

That’s a pretty good list on the fly.  We are really acclimating to WA and I really do like it here.  I often remind myself that this is home when I am ooohing and ahhhhing over the beauty.  We are blessed to call this home!  I do see the sun just not as often and I can wear flip flops but my toes freeze.  Instead, I am buying all sorts of socks and shoes-its weird!  4 months have flown by and we are looking forward to finding out what the winter weather is all about.  We will have to check out different vacation spots around here.  We are used to taking a 5-6 hour drive over to CA or a 2 hour drive up to the mountains.  We have discovered and learned but there is so much more…

Tim had planned to see his buddies and go on his annual Man Cup Golf Tournament trip.  Zoe said all she wanted for her birthday was to go home to AZ.  Well, that left me and Zane behind.  : (  So, what is a woman to do?  Yes, add 2 more to that reservation!  We all caught the first flight out at 5:15am which meant a 2:00am wake time.  It was scary but exciting.  I sat first class on the way to AZ (thank you Tim) and slept-it seemed like the shortest 3 hour flight ever.  Zoe said it was her bestest weekend in her entire life.  She went to see The Little Mermaid, shopped, saw grandmas and grandpas and opened presents.  Who could argue with her?  I’m surprised she agreed to come back to WA with us. 

The truck was full, my home empty.  It wasn’t my home any longer-a new family would replace what we were. I had nothing to call mine except the suitcase that I dragged with anticipation.   :(  The truck drove away and I cried again.  We took our little rental car, our suitcases and headed to our hotel. We stayed at the hotel for a few nights to tie up loose ends, get papers, cancel appointments and utilities, etc.  Our  amazing good-bye party was on Friday, June 25th, our last chance to laugh and cry and eat with our awesome friends.  The party was a sight to see!  I couldn’t believe that they wanted to do that for us-what a sincere token of love.  I cried and cried until my head hurt.  We met our family for a breakfast on June 26th as we headed to the airport.  I realized that our flights would no longer originate from PHX.

Leaving was so hard.  To my friends and family who I miss, you are wonderful and mean so much to me.  I had an incredible journey in Cortina/Queen Creek and now I have a huge hole in my heart.  I learned so much, I experienced a rich life full of love.  My journey hasn’t ended but taken a turn in a new direction.  Who I am and what I know is simply due to my experiences with you this far.  I know I have much to learn and much growing to do and I am hopefully entering this new stage with an open heart.  Certainly there are good people everywhere I go, right?!  ; )  Thanks for your love, your example, your time, your energy, your humor, your talents, your smiles, your acceptance and the memories.  I cherish them, truly cherish them.  I love you all!

May I take you on my moving day memory land?  Here is the massive truck that arrived on that awful Thursday morning.  Just the sight of the truck brought on the tears.

The packers came the day before the truck.  They packed each room and stacked the boxes.  The movers took them outside and used them between furniture and larger items.  Here they are all stacked on our driveway awaiting their little nook.

Before the shuffling started, they protected the floor and the door opening by laying out and taping down floor covering.  I liked the red carpet service.  Too bad it wasn’t anything special for me.

The rooms started to look empty.  I was sad leaving behind all the time and effort (and money) that was spent in attempts to make this home our home.

One of the hardest things I saw was the packing of the studio.  I was so excited to have that room-my special place to create.  I realize that the new family will have no need for a photography studio and it will become whatever suits them so this was a for real good-bye to something that I loved.

Boxes seemed to be the only thing we owned after the packers finished their job.  Our final count was near 100 boxes.  Our final “item” count was near 350 (includes brooms, furniture, etc-things that couldn’t be boxed).  I was teased about getting rid of everything but we still had plenty! 

This is the room where we entertained and entertained.  Our Festivus parties, our gatherings, our BBQ’s, etc. was shared in this space.  WE laughed with friends, ate delicious foods, hosted parties, and who knows what else in this room. 

The office was a custom addition that was for Tim and ultimately used by me.  ; )  We didn’t realize how much storage it provided until we unpacked what was stored in there… oh boy-finding space for all of it was quite a trick.

Empty studio, empty closet.  Tvedt worked hard at building all of our closets when we bought this home.  Tvedt worked hard everywhere in this home!  So, we have left this all behind and I am ok because we gained so much here.   Again, we feel rich with the love and experiences in this home. 

Here’s our (ok, my version) story:

Thursday we headed out at 3:15.  I use that time because it really was 3:15pm.  My goal was to leave by then because I was somewhat worried about getting up there and setting up and establishing our “camp” before it got dark. I may have seemed a little anxious and nervous about leaving on time but driving the ladies, pulling the trailer and dealing with the dark DID just that-made me nervous.

When we arrived at the Payson RV Campground we were disappointed to see snow that couldn’t decide if it wanted to be snow or hail.  It was like white fluffy hail-that STUCK to the ground.  It was FREEZING (to put it lightly) and we would have been hooked up and on our way to dinner where it was nice and warm but the water would not come out of the sinks.  I have hooked up the trailer many times but I started to doubt all that I knew about it.  We called in the campground host, Jim, for further assistance.  He was kind and patient and just as stumped as I was.  We checked everything and it turned out to be calcium build up at the screen so the water would not come through.  By the way, my dear friend and NON-camper, Gabrielle, was the one with sink and tool knowledge who knew just how to take the facet apart and clear our problem.  Man, she doesn’t camp (or doesn’t love to) but she knows her way around a facet and some tools!  We cleared that and we were finally set (and gave some cookies to Jim for all his help and suggestions).

For our first dinner, we enjoyed some food at the Buffalo Bar & Grill where we ate delicious meals and laughed at karaoke night.  Some of us ended up singing a Bob Marley song just so we could say we sang! When we went back to camp, the trailer was very cold.  I plugged in the heated mattresses, cranked up the heater and buried myself in my sleeping bag and slept sounding for the night.  I am sure those in the campground wondered what a bunch of ladies were doing camping by themselves. 

Friday morning we grilled and made some breakfast burritos and fruit salad.  Then, we had 3 of the 7 ladies do their prepared lesson/devotional/class.  I loved the open conversation and the thought provoking comments and discussion.  I was motivated to make some changes and inspired to evaluate my life.  The remainder of the day was relaxing as we stayed bundled, ate great food, and enjoyed each other’s company.

Saturday morning we made some whole wheat pancakes with coconut syrup and kiwi, more fruit salad and eggs.  OK, yes, the weekend was also about food but is it ever NOT about food when I go somewhere?  After breakfast the 4 remaining devotionals were given and again I was inspired and thought about ways to change.

Sunday we packed up, visited the Cafe 260 for a hearty breakfast and headed home in the downpour.  It was a perfect time to go.  : )

I am so grateful for such incredible friends.  I am grateful for a warm cozy trailer.  I am grateful for campfires, camp grills, and running water.  I am grateful for blankets, socks and thermal underwear!  I am grateful for AZ and its beauty with mountains and snow just 1.5 hours away.  I am grateful for reclining camp chairs and delicious sugar cookies.  I am grateful for the opportunity to rejuvenate, rethink, reprioritize and repent.  I am grateful for duffle bags, Red Vines, and a Snuggie. 

Thank you ladies for joining in and making it a memorable TTWC.  Hopefully it will be the first of many!

We were about 3 steps into the trail when Zoe decided she had seen enough and was ready to turn back.  The trail was about 1.5 miles chalk full of plants, flowers, cactus, and trees, just what she was hoping to see!  ; )  She was limping due to some onset of ailment, Zane’s shoes were bothering him, all of us had sweat dripping down our backs and the worst of all was that I failed as a parent and forgot to pack snacks.  HOW COULD I (they wondered)?  Zoe didn’t want to stop for breaks because it would prolong the inevitable so she wanted to power through it all. 

I turned red to green (as Tim would put it) and saw the dang arboretum.  I liked it. It would be a beautiful place to see the sunset!  I should have chosen a different crowd AND a different day-maybe back in March.  : )  I took my camera (oh yes, that always adds to one of the bad choices when my kids aren’t happy) and figured I would put my tripod to use.  I wanted to be in the picture since AZ will be in our past soon.  The tripod wasn’t the lightest one in the store but luckily it was the only thing getting me out of carrying my children to the finish line (sorry Tim).  By the end, we were hot and tired and quite dusty and a bit stinky. 

I was just trying to be a family, discover some new stuff in AZ and enjoy the Sunday away from distractions.  So much for those motherly efforts full of good intentions…