Moving Day

After three hours of sleep I woke up, looked at the clock and spent the next 45 minutes trying to fall back asleep. I should have just gotten up. There was still so much to do. The girls and I went to breakfast with Michelle and her girls. I consider myself truly blessed to have found Michelle. To have such a kindred spirit around the corner was such a blessing.

After our goodbyes I met my Mom at the school (Tottenham Public) and she took the girls. I then went home to continue packing. The movers had arrived sometime before 9:30.

Stuff! I purged some, not tons. There was just, there is just so much stuff. There were three guys hauling boxes and furniture. Getting the bunk beds taken apart proved to be the ridiculous experience of the day - poor Ken. Cheryl, a Tottenham resident and cleaning woman who I met through the swap came to clean. She was awesome.

Just before 3 the truck was all packed up. The movers left and shortly after Ken left. Then it was up to me to finish cleaning and get the rest of the stuff in the van and get out.

That's when it finally got real. There's been so much to do for so long, and not that I did a great job packing, but it's been a busy summer. And sweeping out the rooms and looking around them for the last time it was sad. Really sad. I really did grow to love that little house. It was a great house - a great first home. There were so many happy things that happened in that home.

I made sure to copy out all the heights on a role of paper and take a pic of the back door.

 And I took a selfie just before I left as I was really starting to lose it.

I have had such mixed feelings living in Tottenham. It never felt permanent. I never loved it, but I never hated it. It was a funny little town. I will miss the beautiful countryside. I will miss being able to walk to the post office and walk to the library. I will miss some truly wonderful people that blessed my life. I will miss 55 Lionel Stone. I will.  I think I will need to grieve a little while.

Driving to Ajax today, I took the long way - hwy nine through Newmarket and then south around Uxbridge. It was a long beautiful drive and I felt a little calmer as I got to Ajax. But I also felt a little frantic, a little beside myself, a little world turned upside-down.  Moving is a big deal!

Oh and one more thing - my silly fun! As I was driving through Newmarket, this happened.

The KEYS!

Today was another trip to the lawyers to pick up the keys, so of course we had to go by OUR house!

EEK! I can't believe tomorrow is moving day. How can you say, not ready?! Here we go!

So many goodbyes

The first gift that Michelle gave to me was Annie. I sill remember signing up for Kindermusik because I hadn't met a friend, and the first day, the minute I walked in Michelle and I were instantly best friends - or so it seemed! And I'm not sure exactly when she gave me Antoinette's information but it wasn't too long after we met. Antoinette wanted to watch the kids of teachers - then no extra kids at holiday time - only her own kids. Camden would be in JK and he would be home with Kate every other day.

Antoinette often sent me the cutest pictures of Kate and Camden.

Today Annie and Camden came to say farewell. We haven't seen them very much in the last few years. Antoinette watched Kate from January 2010 - March 2011, and then watched Alice and Kate from April 2012 - June 2013. I will be forever grateful to her for taking such good care of my girls. I never worried about Kate, or Alice. I knew they were loved and that they were well taken care of.

Happy Half-Birthday

ALICE!!! Is five and a half today. Alice is so independent, interesting, funny, strong-willed, sensitive, loving, intelligent, curious. She's such a great sister - big and little. She's our middlest sister and we love her to bits!

Goodbye Orangeville Ward

Last week we spoke in church - Kate, Ken and I. I played the organ. It was a great day. Lots of hugs and good wishes. It wasn't our official last week in Orangeville ward, but because there was a special broadcast today there wasn't a regular church service, so last week was a little bit like the last.

I wanted to take a picture of our whole family outside the church, but cooperation thy name is not Fiona, and I didn't ask anyone to take the picture, and well, I just didn't make it happen.

I got a picture of Kate, one of Alice and Kate, and one of Me and Kate.

And really. I think it's fitting. (Well, not the absence of Ken.) It is sad to me that at three years of age Fiona won't remember Orangeville. This huge part of our lives, our first home, our first so many things and Fiona just won't remember. I'm not sure what Alice will remember but I'm fairly certain that Kate will remember lots!

We have loved being part of Orangeville ward. We have felt left out sometimes - geographically, and of our own doing - it's hard being 25-30 minutes away from everyone else. It makes things in our busy world too much, but we have loved this ward. It's an amazing ward full of strength and good friends.

I'm glad I took some silly selfies last week. Last Saturday night we went out with three other couples - for the first time. I think it was Terri-Ann that said, "why didn't we do this before?" And it's true. Why do we wait sometimes? Why don't we take the time to seize opportunities to make memories.

Elder Ballard said today that grandparents are memory makers. I think this is true for everyone. All we do really leave behind are memories. I hope that I leave behind lots of good ones.

This is Erin, Me, Terri-Ann, and Kim. We served in primary together before Alice was born - I think I was called in Nov/Dec of 2010? I can't remember exactly. Kim was the president, and Erin was a counselor, I was the secretary and Terri-Ann played the piano. Now Kim is the song leader, Terri-Ann is the president, I was the piano player, and Erin is in YWs. We hung out lots doing play groups and scripture study and book club. They've been a big part of my life the last seven years.

I'm grateful that I have my summers off, and that Ajax isn't really that far away. I'm excited to see how our paths will cross as our kids all move into the youth program. They all have kids older than mine, but our youngers all over lap. Who knows who will be friends again as they go to camp and leadership conferences. I'm grateful for the gospel that binds us, and for social media to make the world small.