Wow what a grueling last two weeks. Thank Heaven we have such an awesome real estate agent!!
She told us, "just pack and take what you want to Missouri and go and I'll take care of the clean up and get rid of everything you leave behind." What a huge blessing!!
She'll have a landscaper bring the yard back to our level of clean and tidy after no care for 18 months. Then she'll have the inside painted. It's going to be a wonderful house for whomever buys it. The love is in the walls and trees.
I remember Ben, climbing a tree and playing his guitar to a nest of newly hatched birds. It was so adorable.
So Tuesday we left with the Pearl pulling the trailer and our uhaul truck pulling two uboxes for uhaul.
That was a miracle. Uhaul called us and said they had two boxes that needed to be delivered to a nearby town in Missouri.
They offered us $950 to trailer those boxes. So that basically covered our gas and hotels. We were so grateful for this blessing
Our friend, Vadim, was helping us pack then asked if he could travel with us and help unpack!! Lol what an angel.
He rode with me in the truck and helped me stay alert. We cycled through audio books, music, games, and just talking to keep me alert.
I was grateful he was there. Members of the LDS congregation met us at our house and unloaded five PODS and the uhaul. They came three times this week to help. Ephraim coordinated it all. Angels in jeans! All of them!
So now here we are! Among a pile of boxes! So much still to be done. So grateful for the protection. We saw five flipped cars over our four days of travel and we're almost hit by semi trucks at least four times!! It was running the gauntlet.
Today we fasted for gratitude. Gratitude for the protection, the old house, the new house, our angel helpers, Vadim, Ephraim and Ben, and for each other.
Please keep in touch. We love you.
Autumn and Spring came to visit us on Friday. We drove into San Francisco to pick up Autumn who had been touring about with friends all day to enjoy San Francisco and all the old fun places. Then she let us know that Spring's flight had been delayed to 2am!!! She told us we should go back to Windsor and she'd drive back up in the middle of the night.
They got back at 4am, as they snuggled into bed with me I gave them both eye covers so they could sleep in as much as possible.
When I got up I used the guest bathroom to make as little noise as possible then headed out to the kitchen. Reg was talking so loudly on the phone, I wanted to alert him to be more quiet. "Hey Reg," I said and as he rounded the corner it WASN'T REG!!!
It was BEN and EPHRAIM!!!! SURPRISE!!! NOW I was whooping and hugging and grinning so hard. ALL MY BABIES were back in our house. Just them. It was an unexpected miracle and blessing. SNEAKY Autumn and Spring!
The kids explored and remembered the house and yard and exclaimed and delighted in everything.
Ben had obtained a skate board off of FACEBOOK marketplace on the way home from the airport. First fun of the day was going to the skate park. Then BurtoNZ bakery for breakfast. Then walked the neighborhood. Then went to Screamin' Mimi's in Sebastopol, then got Salt Water Taffy in Bodega,
Our dear friends swapped cars with us so we could fit everyone. As I drove around I was SO happy. I also felt tears and grief and gratitude pouring from my soul. It was so beautiful and so fun to have a magical portal of having my children back again. I can't describe it. It was like time had stood still...a magic day that I wouldn't trade for the world. I didn't want it to end but knew it would. I didn't want to spoil the joy with disappointment so I chose to be grateful. That worked.
Then we had dinner at Yuen King in Windsor and dessert at Moxies. The best day ever playing and playing and talking and reliving all our favorite family memories in ONE day. Then we sat around and talked about our favorite memories of living in Windsor. Everyone brought a totem that represented something we were grateful for. We put them all in a box and buried it as a time capsule. A ceremony of gratitude to the house and yard for being such a wonderful part of our childhood.
Sunday we all went to church together and it was SO lovely to connect with old friends.
Then Autumn and Spring drove the boys to the airport and Reg and I took a nap! When they got home more of their friends came over and just reminisced in the house. It was interesting how their friends just wanted to soak up every last minute of being with us. Some lingered until midnight and had to be told to go home now. LOL It was tender. I knew how they felt.
On Monday, the wonder continued as Autumn and Spring and I went to Goat Rock Beach to see the sea lions and nap on the beach like silkies. Then Guernville for lunch and thrift shopping, Armstrong woods where they made a video about being Cullen Vampires running through the redwoods...hilarious.
Then home to have dinner and games with the Lowes who are like second grandparents to our kids. They are so lovely and kind. So I drove the girls to the airport last night and got back around 4 am. I am so deeply grateful. So deeply happy and feel like this is what I needed to release myself from this Great old beautiful house and the space it gave us for so much love.
LAST week we went to Grants Pass, OR to celebrate our Nation's 250 Birthday with all seven of my siblings and some of their children! I am the oldest of eight children. My parents are both alive. Dad is 89 and mom is 83.
They are remarkably active despite cancer, strokes, TIAs, replaced knees, hips, and such. They have joy, they have Jesus and as we left Reg gave dad a blessing and wept. The Lord revealed to Reg who dad's mighty spirit was and Reg was in awe to be in his presence.
I am so grateful for my family and for this nation, both which have contributed greatly to the joy and growth I've had in my life.
Both have provided the trials I need to become a stronger, better person. And soon we will all see each other as we really are and be grateful and in awe to be in each other's presence.
Have a GREAT WEEK! God loves you and is there to support your awesomeness.
