Sunday, November 17, 2013

limbo (or our new adventure)

K's shop open for business 069 sibling love 043 shop hours fungi fun fungi fun car shoes - best things ever!! car shoes Beowulf He loves his daddy!!

We have been trying to really slow down and treasure these last moments here in Oregon but life has a way of speeding things up on us. Kevin received word last Thursday that his orders are now official and we have to move. Just when I was allowing myself to get comfortable again. The news hurt almost as much as the first time we heard it. We tried again in vain to push the moving date back, but there was no way around it this time. I don't want to share too many details just yet but they'll be coming very soon (you know, just like you wouldn't share that you were leaving for vacation on your Facebook page). So much is happening much faster than we expected. These past few months of worry and stress have brought my first gray hairs. Something I wasn't expecting at 34. I can't seem to pluck them fast enough! But perhaps getting this move behind us will help to ease the anxiety, and those pesky gray hairs, too.

One thing I wanted to put out there simply because my stomach gets tied in knots whenever anyone asks me about it: No, our house hasn't sold and no, it's not even on the market yet. Yes, this is a big problem. Okay, now that that's out of the way we can move on...

This will be K's very last week of school. I will be having meetings with a few of K's teachers to figure out what she has already learned and where I should pick up. I am already thinking we'll take the month of November off so I have time to properly plan out our lessons and also to give us time to adjust and ease into our new life.

I am frantically running around packing up any necessities we will need for at least a month long stay in temporary lodging, returning all our library books, stocking up on homeschooling supplies, trying to see our friends as much as possible, gathering things we won't be able to get locally in Idaho and even kissing a few trees here and there. I even ordered a beautiful print of Multnomah falls (taken by this extremely talented and wonderful to talk to photographer) to hang in our Idaho house to remind us that our home will be waiting for us.

I do look forward to our new adventure, as much as it pains me to leave here. I seem to be going through a bit of the grieving process again but it shall pass. We will be together as a family and that is truly all that matters. It's just so hard to make such a big change and say goodbye!

P.S. - Any suggestions for making it feel like Advent and Christmas while living in limbo in a hotel room? I am packing up our Nativity scene, a few decorations, some music, and lots of crafts to make, but that's all I can think of. We won't be able to make our own Advent wreath from trees in our woods this year so I am hoping we'll be able to find one there.

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Comments (16)

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Transition is so difficult. Love and prayers during this time.
Dear Nicole,

I'm sorry to hear that you must move on a short notice. We had to do something very similar a few years back and will again in another 8 months. The only option we came up with was to rent out our house in Portland and are renting the place we call home now. That took a whole lot of pressure off trying to get the house ready and on the market with 3 months notice with a young family too. I have enjoyed your blog even before you moved out to Oregon and I must say that your idea of home is such a cozy one that no matter where you are going to, you will transform that new place into a wonderful home for your children.
So sorry you have to move with such short notice. Can't be easy for any of you I imagine. I hope you're all able to find some moments of peace during it all.

We moved into our house on Christmas Eve when we moved here. The three weeks prior we were staying in my sister in law's house. It was hectic and crazy but we ignored the boxes (I know it's different to a hotel room, very different!) and put up our Christmas tree as the very first thing we did. I don't think we did much else, but the tree was the one thing we had to go up!

Anyway, I'll be praying for you all. xo
Remember that the Holy Family was in transit on Christmas, too!
I feel for you...seriously, I moved from Bavaria to Tucson, AZ, and for a while I thought I would die. But you love the outdoors, and will soon discover what beauty there is in your new surroundings.
My MIL was telling me that one Christmas she was in a Quonset hut and there was no money for a tree--they decorated a tumbleweed!!
You're in my prayers. Remember, God doesn't want you anxious; just look at how many times we are told to 'fear not' in the Bible, right?
Paper snowflakes on the windows, no matter what it looks like inside or outside. That ALWAYS signals winter/Christmas in this house. A Christmas tree, even if it's a tabletop one or a big branch from outside. Don't forget your lovely fingerknit cord I've seen in years past. I think it adds such a beautiful element to your Christmas tree that it would be a shame to omit it. Maybe bake a batch of favorite cookies when you get where you are going. Comfort food helps.
*hugs* Such is the life of a military family. Service first. Your family is close. There's enough love to sustain you wherever you may land. Have faith in that. Your children will remember this as an adventure if you approach it as such. Kids are SO resilient. I'm sorry you are hurting. I'm wishing you some love and peace in your heart so that y ou can be strong for those children.
We are going through the moving process too around the holidays. I was feeling overwhelmed by all we would not be able to do and what moments would be lost in the hustle and bustle. I asked my oldest, four year old son, what his favorite things about Christmas were and his answers were not what I expected...they helped guide me in loosely planning what/how we will be celebrating: bringing Christmas treats to neighbors/friends, hot cocoa in the afternoons, making decorations for our tree...His absolute favorite is making "reindeer food" which is oats, sunflower seeds, breadcrumbs, carrot shavings, and some of that green sparkly glittery cupcake sprinkles. Then, we go for a walk around the neighborhood with our flashlights and sprinkle the reindeer food on our lawn and the sidewalks so that the reindeer can find our houses and our neighbors. You could definitely do that in you temporary lodging! Also, remember to be ready for the most special moments - they are often the ones that are spontaneous and unexpected. good luck!
We moved house this time last year so i know how hard that is, sending you love much love from England x
((hugs)) that sounds so stressful. i hope the whole thing flows super smoothly and you can enjoy some of the craziness of it all. are they planning on having you in regular housing before christmas??
Aw, sending you love!

We moved one year during Christmas. We literally were moving, packing everything up on the day. We decided to make the best if it. We stopped packing and took a little break to make Christmas cookies with our son. We went to dinner at a friend's house. We saved presents family had sent until Three King's day I think. By then we had moved and were fairly settled. We were broke, I stole someone's discarded tree and we decorated it with pine cones outside. We had some lights around the base of our fire place. We made Christmas a day that worked for us. & it's one of the special ones I like to think about. Holidays are what you make of them. Be well, enjoy the kids, love on them, read a good book with them & know you're being guided wherever you go.
Keep Advent/Christmas simple, focus on the true meaning, isn't that the main point anyway? Will you be able to still squeeze in St Nicholas day and St Lucia day celebrations?
Nicole,
I am keeping you and your family in my prayers. And I am sure you know this but God has a plan for you and when we are in the midst of going through it is hard to see, but you will see eventually that it all will make sense.
Blessings,
Tonya
Good luck! And if it makes you feel any better, I got my first gray hairs at 22!!
I'm sure that even if it doesn't feel like Christmas to you, it will to your kids. It's just the little things that do it for the kids- advent wreath, candles, songs, crafts, stories (lots and lots of stories- I'm inventing one for my kids right now about the abominable snowman visiting the north pole- creating for them with words and stories what you can't create for them in real life). I bet you could paint a Christmas tree on a large art canvas and shove lights through some holes you poke in it if you wanted to have a tree but can't have one in a hotel room (like this but a tree http://happyhouseandhome.blogspot.com/2013/08/twi.... I bet when your kids grow up they talk about "the Christmas we lived in the hotel" with fond memories- with less to clean and less to cook you will have more time to be with them- to explore your new town, to read and make up stories, to do crafts, etc.
Advent means waiting, and that is surely what you all are doing. Please be gentle with yourself, and wait for better things in the new year. Take care!
We moved back from Europe last fall and were living with my in-laws while we looked for a job over advent last year. It was really hard. I have three things that I would say...
1) Gather the traditions and objects that mean the most to you and focus on these. You won't be able to do everything you might normally do but a few simple things can go a long way. (sounds like you are doing this)
2) Keep your eyes open for 'unique to this year' experiences or treasures. The church we attended for a few months had an afternoon to make advent wreaths, and while it has fake greens and accessories I would never chose glued on wood (I normally use greens in a metal wreath maker, I think we will use it again this year... somehow it is now very special.
3) Remember that next year will be different. As this advent approaches I am so super excited to have our own things and to be planning our normal readings, etc. It is all the sweeter!
Please tell me what type of dog that is in this post. My dog (15 yrs) is almost identical. He was a rescue from New Mexico and his mom was part Australian Cattle dog, not sure what the dad was possibly a German Shepard (prob a mut) but the likeness is uncanny. Exact coat and coloring, and the eyeliner around the eyes look. What A gorgeous dog you have!

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