The Countdown Has Begun...

I am counting down the days until we move across the country. It's a mixed bag of emotions containing both positives and negatives.

Let's start with the positives:

I cannot wait to get into our new home and do all the things I love doing most. Organizing, decorating and making our house a home are all things I am so looking forward to. The thought of exploring our new area is also blowing my mind. The landscape of where we live now is so different compared to where we are moving to. The outdoor spaces will be so much more beautiful and just different and I want to experience it all. Finding new coffee shops, restaurants, and cute shops is also high on my list of things to do when we arrive. Little known fact about me... my perfect day is getting an iced latte at a small coffee shop and shopping all the boutique stores a small town has to offer. Literally my idea of heaven. All in all, it will be an adventure and I am truly excited for it!

But, now the negatives:

Packing. That's all I have to say about that because packing just sucks and anyone that loves packing should just come on over and give me a hand, but then also explain to me why you love packing. Why? WHY??????

The biggest negative, however, is simply the act of leaving. Leaving my town, my state, my parents, my friends, and my comfort zone. I am lucky enough to have amazing friends who are like family to me and the thought of moving away from them hurts. I know it will never be the same once I leave. How can it be? Making new friends seems both tiring and difficult, especially at my stage of life. Now that my kids are older and no longer in the public schools, I won't have the commonality of kids the same age or in the same activities. It was during those school years that I made some of my closest friends. Or, leaving the friends I have literally had forever... I taught with them and they became my family. They were there when my babies were born and I was there for theirs. But probably the most difficult part will be leaving my parents. They are getting older and they will need me more. I have been so fortunate to live near my parents my whole life... I know not everyone has had that luxury, so it will be hard being a flight away rather than a quick 25 minute drive. I have been trying to convince my stubborn father to move with us, but that has proven to be impossible. (Surprisingly, he is not a Taurus)

Obviously I know there are planes, trains and automobiles to get me back to my old stomping grounds and hopefully for people to head my direction as well, but I know that gets hard. Whatever it takes, though, I will make it work as long as possible because the people I have in my life are not a reason or a season... they are a lifetime and I intend to keep it that way.

As I continue to count down these days, I will try making them more positive than negative because I truly know, it won't really be "Goodbye" rather "I'll see you later".

Now... who's going to come help me pack?