This week turned out to be unexpectedly fun and exhausting. I’ve almost completely finished painting Beverly’s room and then I was invited to go boating with some new friends–first in the morning with the moms and then in the evening with another family and our family. Following our family boating evening, I went to karaoke with these new friends. I’ve known these ladies through book club for some years, but it was fun to get to know them better. They are a lot of fun, kind, welcoming, inclusive. It was a very uplifting day. Just as I was about to leave for karaoke, however, Harvey came screaming up the stairs with blood all over his face. He was running down the tiled hall with wet feet, slipped, and fell on his face, causing his tooth to go all the way through his lip. Fortunately, Andy had supplies on hand and we didn’t have to take him in, but set up the hospital bed on some chairs in the kitchen, cleaned it up, numbed it and added surgical glue. It probably needed stitches, but because of where it was, it would’ve been uncomfortable for Harvey to eat, etc. The glue will do the job, but it probably means he’ll have a gnarly scar right there. Once he was tucked in, I headed out. I am not normally a night owl, but we had a good time making fools of ourselves and then my friend, Sara and I left a little early because we were both exhausted from the fun of the day. I loved chatting with her on the drive home. It was so nice to get to know her better and build that friendship a bit more.
The kids are really liking their new school and making lots of friends. Harvey has a new friend whose mom posted on the neighborhood page asking if anyone knew a Harvey, because her son really wanted to have a play date with him. I finally met this new friend and his parents at the school’s fun run, so hopefully we can get them together soon.
This past week just felt like turning a new page. Change has been hard. The move itself, physically demanding. But adjusting to a new space, new ward, etc., is challenging in all the right ways. I feel like this change is helping me see myself a little clearer on things I want to shed off and things I want to add in. I also feel a lot of appreciation for the years we lived in the other house. We went through so much in that house: Covid, residency, adding a fourth baby, gall bladder removal, migraines, migraines, and more migraines, a devastating hurricane, and a long deployment. It was as if that period of time had me wrapped in a cocoon, getting ready to emerge and become something better. I told Andy that sometimes we get comfortable in what we know that we don’t always realize that there is something better. I knew this move was right when we made the decision to put an offer on this house, but I didn’t know why it was right. I’m beginning to. This move feels a bit cleansing, in a way. Leaving some of that pain behind and opening my heart and mind to new friendships and a new mindset. I should be getting my writing desk any day now and then I’m going to save some of my busy schedule for writing. We’re getting a lot done on both houses and I think it is important to make writing a part of my routine so I can reach my goal of publishing. It feels good to feel a bit more settled in.