Moving Day!

We decided we would allow ourselves the luxury of having movers come in.

When we moved here years ago we needed a 5 ton truck and so I assumed that we would be just fine with the same this time. Hubby said we had accummulated more stuff but I said, "Nahh!!" I reminded him that we were leaving our kids beds behind because they were built into the bedrooms. Surely that would make a difference!

Hubby took boxes every day that he was going to work. In the morning the baby would wake up at 6:00 am and that would get me up and then we would begin carrying boxes out to the truck. Doing this we managed to get the majority of the boxes out of the house before the movers came. So I knew we would be fine! *grin*

Now on moving day hubby was planning on getting some of the stuff on the driveway before the movers arrived. That would also help, I was sure!

I went to the coast the day before Moving Day (which was Monday) since hubby figured it would be easier to have all the little ones gone. When I came home, Tuesday, I found out that the movers had been working from 8:00 am until 7:00 pm!!!! They had estimated a normal move would take 4-5 hours but since we had moved so much stuff ours would surely be less! So what a shock! What a fortune!! But at least it was done.

We had a disaster of boxes and furniture in the basement of the rental, plus all the boxes that were in the middle of one room upstairs. The minute I drove in from the coast the kids and I got to work unpacking the bedrooms. I can't handle disorder!!

At night I am able to see the dark trees shining on a twilight sky. It is beautiful!! I can see a crescent moon shining above me while I lay on the couch! One early morning when I woke with the baby I sat on the couch and saw a robin sitting in the big tree opposite to our big windows. It was such a blessing cause it really made me feel that I wasn't that far from the country!

The Big Tree Out My Front Windows.

Are We Sure We Want To Move?

Now that we had made the decision to move and the house had sold we had lots to do. We didn't even begin packing until April as there was so much else to do.

We finally started packing and it seemed it would never end! Little guy obviously watched us packing and one day we found him sitting in a cardboard box and pulling the lids shut around himself. So cute. I guess he didn't want to get left behind.

Packing Himself.

Not everyone was interested in moving. I knew that our oldest was thrilled with the idea because he really wanted to be involved in youth events in town. Another was strongly opposed to the idea. He really enjoyed the freedom of having miles of land to run around on, trees to climb, neighbours we loved, and of course our dog was buried on the land.

Leaving our dog was devastating for him. He went out to her grave and had a little chat with her and we made the mutual decision to take her grave stones with us. Our oldest had used a grinder and carved a cross and her name on one of the rocks. Son decided he wanted to create a memorial garden for her on our new property.

A Boy and His Beloved Pet.

He did come around though when I explained to him a few of the good things that would come from our move:

We are going to be 1.4 km from a lake; There is a biking trail around the lake; Plus there are biking trails that have been specially created all over the area. These trails cut through all the woods that are covering the area; There is a youth group within walking distance from our house; Plus they have friends that live in the subdivision.

Little guys were excited about the big adventure. I had come around to where I was really looking forward to not driving 45 minutes every time I wanted to go to town! Plus I could see all the advantages of being near the library, the stores, the hospital!!! - do you know how scary it is when an 8 month old falls on a pencil and pierces the roof of his mouth and you are 45 minutes from help?; the fire department!! actually we will have fire hydrants - til now we have had *no* fire truck coverage out where we lived.

So now we were all on board.

#2 - The Lost Trip - part 2

While hubby was gone I had a sudden thought of having the house assessed for market. Hubby had wanted to move closer to town for a while, but I was determined that my grandchildren would be growing up on the land. There was NO WAY I was moving from my country home!!! So where did this idea come from?

I called the realtor and set up an appointment. Since I had now done this I had to think about what it meant. I decided that since I had done the assessment and hubby was still gone I might as well go and see some land and see if there was anything out there that I thought *I* might like. I knew that hubby liked the area closer to town, so I knew it wouldn't be hard for him to find what *he* liked. Me, with that beautiful view and those wonderful neighbours to lose. Well! That could be hard.

I went on the internet and did a search and printed out tons of pages of land and the next day the kids and I went for a drive. I went on the internet and did a search and printed out tons of pages of pictures of land for sale. The next day the kids and I went for a drive.

Hubby got home and I couldn't hold in my secret. I told him what I had been up to and we discussed everything and talked about getting another assessment.

Well, my feelings were coming and going in waves. One minute I was excited and the next minute I was thinking about what I was going to leave behind and I would begin feeling teary. I felt I was sacrificing my babies freedom. The big kids had grown up on the land and run wild in the woods, meadows and marsh. Would the little kids enjoy being cooped up in the city?

How about this for some pictures of creative fun in the country?

Enjoying One Last Bonfire

A Birthday Treasure Hunt at the Tree House.

Always a Willing Victim.

A Country Badminton Court.

So I went to hubby and told him that I needed confirmation that we were meant to move. I said, "Let's market it high and if it is meant for us to sell the house will sell. And if it is not meant to sell, it won't." He agreed to my idea.

The very next day we got a call from the realtor and she had a showing and apparently her office had been getting a lot of calls from the internet and people thought the price was great. This was our confirmation to leave the price where it was.

Well, long story made shorter. We sold very quickly.

So now I was able to look back and see that if I had gone on the trip this whole move thing would never have transpired. God knew that He had to get me alone and then I would do my research and He could woo me into the idea of leaving the country.

I can look back and see how perfectly it worked out.

We looked for land and we both agreed instantly upon the same piece. It was a beautiful property.

The View From Our Property Looking South Down Our New Road.

I had always wanted to live in an area where I could go for a walk in a 'loop'. I don't like going for walks and coming back the same way - silly I know - but it gets boring seeing the same stuff on a walk each way. Well, this property has a perfect walking loop of 2 km from our door around the block and back again! I had also wanted a lot that was on a street where the boys could bike. This one is wonderful. It is open and feels quite safe.

Then we made a spontaneous trip to visit friends for the month of February. While we were there Hubby told me that our pastor was building a house for a guy and the guy was intending on using it for a rental house. I call the pastor from our trip and he contacted the guy and sure enough - it was for rent and would be available by the 1st of June!!!!! Coincidence??? I don't think so.

What about the fact that this house just happens to be 1.5 km from our land!!! The last time we built we ended up in a trailer with ants, mice, water shortages, bear attacks, plus being 30 minutes from our land!!!

This house could not be more supreme. Just like God to organize a spanking new rental minutes from our land!!So now again it was so clear as to why *I* stayed home from the trip!! And THAT is the END of the Beginning of our Adventure! Stay tuned for more.

#1 - THE ADVENTURE BEGINS..... How it all began - The Lost Trip.

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS..... How it all began

Now that I have discovered Blogging I have somewhere to share all the exciting things that happen in our lives!!

First I will begin with turning back a few pages to the beginning of this wonderful, exciting adventure that we are on.

In November last year we won a trip. I had the sitters all arranged and we were all ready to go. Then the kids got sick. They all got better but then one little guy got croup and did not get well. So at the 11th hour I made the decision to stay home.

Then we had to decide what to do with the other ticket. We decided to do a draw and pull one of either one of the older boy's names out of the hat. We knew that it didn't matter who won - the other would be very upset.

We did the draw and sure enough - one was thrilled and tried to contain it and one was devastated and also tried to hide it. Thankfully someone had the bright idea of sending the one who lost to stay with some friends and so I quickly lined this all up. He ended up with a week being shuttled back and forth between friends and had an absolutely wonderful time.

That first day was awful. I felt so low. But then we started having fun. I had all the little boys and we went out that day and went shopping. We picked up all kinds of junk food - like icecream and chips, pop and hot dogs, plus junk cereal - a treat they never get! Then we went out for lunch - just me and my little boys. We had fun!

I went to Church on the Sunday and gave a testimony saying that I felt that this holiday had been a gift from God and that He had had it in his power to make our little one well, but didn't - WHY NOT!! For the first time in my life I felt that God had abandoned me. It didn't make sense.

But I also said that I had come to a place in my heart where I knew that God had a reason for allowing me to lose the trip and I was going to rest in this belief.to be continued...