The Sweet in Bittersweet

Moving back to Utah is always a bittersweet experience for me.  Bitter loss and sweet homecoming. As sad as I am to leave Virginia, I am equally elated to be back in a place filled with happy memories, people I love and it's own kind of breathtaking beauty. 

The day after we arrived, we were driving around and one of the twins suddenly asked: "Daddy, what is that thing?!" We looked back to see her big brown eyes wide with wonder and one little finger pointing out the front window, straight ahead.  At first, we weren't sure what she was talking about, and then we realized she was pointing at the mountains! 

Of course she would not remember the mountains! 

There they were, these giant, pointy mounds of earth, shooting up to the sky- what on earth could they be?!!  Our twins are used to seeing forests and walls of trees driving down streets and highways, not mountains!  I knew it was one thing to point at them and say "Those are mountains," and another thing to  experience them, so the minute we were all unpacked, we took off to see the wildflowers at the tippy top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. 



I stepped out of the car and was overwhelmed with the happy smell of rock and earth and trees I know so well.  A lifetime of memories living, working, playing, and even getting engaged in these same mountains came flooding back to me, filling me with the joy of home.

This is the sweet in bittersweet.

 

 

And the sweetest in bittersweet?  Phoning grandparents and cousins to join us. 

 

Pit-Stop

With all the tumult of the move, we made the pricey decision to skip the insanity of driving cross-country with our throng of mini people, and chose to spend a couple of days at the beach and fly out instead.  Isn't that a much better plan??  We thought so. 

Our good friend Geof not only agreed to drop us off at the beach and drive our van back to be shipped later, BUT he sat smashed between three of our children on the back bench and entertained them with song and dance the whole way there!  Unbelievable.  We'll be taking him on every road trip from now on. 

We drove right through the most intense thunder storm I've ever been in and watched lightening strike ground all around us.  Oddly enough, it eventually put everyone to sleep in the back, Geof. included, so Craig and I drove merrily along in the rain and blissful silence.

It's the little things.

I spent all of 30 seconds snapping photos of our little getaway.  Here's what I've got:

Notice there's no Luke in these shots.  He spent the entire time riding the swells on the edge of forbidden territory.  He's fearless, that one. 

We really had a great time.  I coaxed Abby and Miri into the deeper waves for the first time ever, and there was much hoopla.  When we weren't at the beach, the hotel pool fulfilled all their desires- which never ceases to amaze me. 

So, next time you're in the middle of a move, take it from us-   drop everything and head for the beach. 

Ode To The Bon Air Women

Unfortunately for you, I'm not really in ode mode, but the title seems so right. 

I was thinking this morning about our drive out of town.  Our last moments in Richmond.  Nathan Berryman had raced over to our home and caught us just in time-  for hugs all around.  A fitting farewell.  He and his dad were our first friends in Virginia.  Salt of the Earth sort of people.  I love that family. 

We loaded up and drove away and my heart immediately turned to the women of the Bon Air Ward.  I don't even know where to begin in describing them: solid, good, strong, real, faithful women.  Somehow, leaving magnifies the ties I feel to them and my heart hurts to leave.  I'm not good at goodbyes.  Rather ironic considering how many times I've had to part ways with people I love.  I stumble over words in my mind and end up saying something trite and superficial.  So, I'll say what I've wanted to say here:

Thank You Bon Air ladies.  Thank you for being the kind of women I want to emulate in so many different ways.  Thank you for your friendship and for the silent support I felt from you day in and day out over the past two years.  The kind of support that comes from knowing that we struggle and strive for the same goals, with the same purpose.  Women At The Well  will forever represent the sisterhood I've felt with so many of you. You did a wonderful thing, Darla.

I miss you all, especially now in my temporarily disconnected state- with a sea of nameless, unfamiliar faces before me.  If you don't mind, I'll draw on your silent strength just a little longer-  and maybe forever.

Thank heavens for blogs, and Facebook and email-  a little soothing for the sadness.

Farewell fine friends.

The Bends in My Road

Here's a little announcement:

We moved. 

Again.

Here's stating the obvious:

We're crazy.

Let's see...I believe this makes 10 moves in 11 years.

!

Maybe we should go for one more just so we can make it 11 for 11.  At this moment, that sounds pretty good.  A different home with a few more closets (designed by a woman) would be fabulous...

Sometimes I say that we never meant to move this much, but the truth is, I was born with a bit of wanderlust. Or maybe I'm just not afraid of change.  I do think that has subconsciously played a part in many of our decisions over the years.   I never wanted my life's path to stretch straight out in front of me to the skyline.  As painful as it can be, I enjoy the curves and bends.  I never expected it to be quite SO curvy, and I'll admit I'm a little carsick this week, but when I think back over time, and all those bends and curves, the views and vistas from my life's window have been priceless.  They are part of what has made it so rich. 



So where did we go?  What on earth could compel us to leave a place as steeped in beauty and history as Virginia? 

An unexpected opportunity to move back home to Utah.  A.S.A.P.

It was so sudden, we nearly declined.  But that didn't sit right.  Just as Creighton had finished crafting his email to refuse, we talked it over once more.In a matter of a few minutes, and one walk around the block, we changed our mind.  Just like that.  And just like that, our home sold.  In three days. And the buyers wanted to move in immediately.  And just like that, we found a home in Utah.  And the sellers wanted to move out immediately.  And just like that, there we were, only a few weeks later, packing up and moving out, and heading back across the country...to home. 

And it all happened so FAST.  Just like that.

And we survived yet another big dip, sharp bend, wild curve in our road.

It felt a little like this...



But yesterday, it was starting to feel more like this:




I'm feeling a little weary and a lot disoriented right now.  But it will pass.  For some reason, we need to be right where we are, and I'm more than a little curious to figure out why!