I've let this blog just sit for 18 months or so. It probably would have been a great outlet for me to vent about the many adventures and woes that my family has been through. Although, it may have sounded very whiny and I don't like to project myself in that way. Let's just say that lots of stuff didn't go our way and the members of my family have been struggling to find the positives.
So let me be that one that can share the positives ...
Our house in Little Rock finally sold after 18 months on the market. We practically gave away the house and walked away with nothing to show for it, but at least it is not our responsibility any longer. Having 2 houses was too much stress.
My husband's job is going well. He despises the commute, but the job is okay and he's proving to be a great asset to his company. I'm super proud of his work ethic in lieu of the stress he's had to take on. He really is my superman.
While we haven't taken a family vacation since June 2013, we did make a trip to NYCity on Thanksgiving day to see the parade. When I was a teenager, I went with my older sister and her family, but the memory of it is a bit foggy. Taking our girls was fun and I hope that they will remember if for years to come.
Another positive is living about 30 minutes from the beach. I took advantage of that all last summer ... at least 2x a week. We really don't love NJ, but when I sit along the beach, it really just feels like a getaway. For that, I am relieved we have that opportunity. If we are still around this summer, I know I'll be there again and often!
In 2005, our family had moved from NJ to Little Rock. It was a challenging transition at first, but we had a great house and our girls really loved living there. I was probably the only one who struggled. Honestly, I think it had a lot to do with the uncertainty of not knowing how long we were going to stay (2-3 yrs is what we were told) and it made it hard for me to feel like I could put roots down. Eventually, we felt like Little Rock was our home. Finding out at year 8 that we were headed back to NJ was tough on all of us. This time it was hardest for my children and husband. Our lives would be altered, but we tried to remain positive until ...
NOW!
We've been here for 17 months and while we feel like we are catching up with making our humble home look nicer, it just doesn't feel like "HOME".
We've now lived in 4 states ... East, Midwest, South, and West.
The South is where we feel is "HOME". It's where our children were happy, it's where quality of life was just better, it's where we had a great Church family, it's where we had the best swim team, it's where family time was priority, it's where there was calm in the day, and it's where we all felt welcome.
17 months later.
Still missing "HOME"
Hoping that this year gets us back.
Comments