Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Everyone Needs a Holly.

Holly is my Aunt. She is my mom's youngest (by nine years) sister. She is only 14 years older than me and we have been like pb&j since I was born. Well, except for that time when I was 2 and she got me in trouble b/c she could. I told her I would never let her live that one down.
Even before my mom died we were incredibly close and since her death we have only gotten closer. Holly has been a faithful visitor every place we've lived and faithful supporter of it all despite her obvious disdain at us moving away from her (I miss you too). 

Tomorrow, she arrives. The thing about visits with my Aunt are this: I become a kid again. It isn't like me, a 40 year old looking forward to a visit from her 50 something Aunt. Instead its me, a 40 year old transplanted back to being 15 or so and giddy with excitement that she's coming. Knowing that there will be fun impromptu shopping trips (not necessarily $ involved either), eating out, frozen yogurt, LOTS of girl talk and probably even a fight or two! Come on, we're girls, we annoy each other. It is absolutely the next best thing to having my mom with me. She comes with all her latest and greatest ideas about food or clothes or something in my house. She makes huge messes and I clean up after her and we have an absolute blast even if we're in our jammys most of the time she's here. 
She loves loves loves my kids and so for them its like having Grandma come to town. 
You can't talk too much to her before she's had her coffee but after that its hard to get her to shut up. See, two peas in a pod. 

Holly has walked every road of life I have traveled down and been there with advice and a shoulder to cry on more times than I can count. She is the one constant in my life and no matter what is going on I know I can pick up the phone and she'll be there with an open heart and mind. I know she loves me and my family unconditionally and am so thankful God gave her to me for an Aunt. They say you can pick your friends but you are stuck with your family. All I can say about that is: family or not, I would pick you, Holly because you are a wonderful woman!! I love you!

Friday, January 10, 2014

Moving...again.

Our oldest son, Jared said this would happen almost 3 years ago when we moved in. We had been living in NC for 2 years and found this cool log house out in the country that was a foreclosure. It was a unique foreclosure b/c no one had lived in it since it had been built in '08.
Let me back up a minute. When Brian and I met in Oklahoma, he was there for school and I was there b/c that is pretty much where my family landed after immigrating from the UK in '93 (previously I had lived in Canada).
Brian had every intention of moving back to Florida after he finished school and I was never ever gonna leave my mom (the thought terrified me).
Well, life took its turns, we walked down the aisle shortly after meeting and I'm pretty sure Brian realized at that point Florida would have to wait. We lived in Oklahoma for 12 years and only moved 3 times. There was nothing in me ever at any point that wanted to move.
And then, my mom died. Death is a funny thing. It changes everything. And even though I still had my dad, my sister and all my mom's family there I suddenly felt like everything was off. And in reality it wasn't. We had an amazing group of friends we got to do life with, a wonderful church and fabulous community in which to raise our boys. Life was grand.
In March of '05 we took a way overdue vacation to Florida to spend some time with Brian's family. And God spoke and I knew it. I remember it as clear today as in that moment. B and I were out on her porch swing. I was laying down and B was just standing there looking at me. I looked at him and said, I think its time to move to here. I know he couldn't believe his ears. And looking back I sometimes wonder if it was me or God. But one thing I know, we couldn't of had more obstacles in our way in just considering a move like that. BUT GOD. As a former pastor of mine used to say, when God is in it, theres no limit. Or maybe its a song. Whatever. The point is, He moved all of those obstacles and by June 27th '05 we were on our way to Florida.
And then the moving really began (or thats how it felt). In 3 years there we moved 3 times and since being in NC we've moved 3 times and I meant what I said when we moved in here. This was it! God would have to appear to me and tell me to move. Who likes to move? Not I? And this move is not for bigger and better. And this is not b/c life here is so unbearable. We love this house, plain and simple. Its just too far away, and having a toddler again I feel so isolated. I feel like I am going crazy some days. Its not exactly easy on 2 teenage boys either. And so, it will be very bitter-sweet to say good bye to this house but I am not married to anything materially and God always has a way better plan than I do and so I will sit back and wait and watch with expectancy.
Its going to be so exciting!!!