Our Kids Schooled Us!

July 2022. We moved. 

This, right here, could be the end of the blog. Not because there is little to say, but because there is too much and the angst-producing words take me quickly again to ALL that has had to happen to get us shifted. So Much Energy. 

AWESOME teenagers!!! Ben and Evan VP, Ben C, and Andrew M, along with Kevin, move one of the heaviest pieces of furniture we've ever had to date. 

Moving. It's a beast. Honestly, I feel that I've been in "move mode" since 2019. And in many ways I have. My mind ever engaged in sorting, pocketing, packing, tucking, categorizing, purging, rearranging, planning, etc., as a move has been consistently upcoming for the better part of the past three years. How many moves since June of 2019? SEVEN. seven. 7. Se7en. 7even. 

Geoff and his dad find a little bit of respite squeezed in between patio furniture and random boxes at some point during our move.

Categories. Before we went to Uganda, quite a few boxes were packed in 2006 with keepsakes and items to be at the ready in case the "what if" of suddenly being swept back to the U.S. became reality. Then there were the pre-marriage keepsakes; wedding keepsakes; early childhood keepsakes; pictures and the makings of photo books for "some day", and college, travel, and early adulthood keepsakes. Also, boxes of Ugandan memorabilia squirreled away bit by bit, furlough by furlough through our 13 years of frequent cross-continent travels. And added boxes that were stored at my parents' home in California, as well as boxes stored at my in-laws' home in Denver. There were trunks of books and other items that returned with us from the final house clearing in April 2021 of our Ugandan home, plus our home school records. These are all the things, the stuff, the baggage, treasures, and incidentals that somehow squeezed their way into a box or trunk, that we have had on hold (both physically and emotionally) for years. 

In two stages I went through all our stuff. First ,when we moved into our townhome last year I took time to purge many items from the "2006" category. Then just within the past two months I again culled saved things. It was a repeated exercise of take it out of a box, make a decision on its future, put it back in a box. Where is that box of such and such? Do I need that box of this and that? If I'm not sure what is in the box, should I open it and create more work? Where will the box go when it arrives at the new place?  Where will the contents go? Do I need all this furniture? What do I do with it? And, of course, my favorite, "What on earth is this and why did I keep it?" (result: quickly and happily I toss it in the trash–Whew. Honestly, if I have a card or trinket of which either the significance or giver I cannot identify, then I chuck it!)

And, in the process of purging useful things we simply no longer have a use for, we have learned so many rules of thrift store donation. Of course, no mattresses, please. But, did you also know that if you have an item with a locked drawer (that is unlocked, mind you), but you don't have the actual key to potentially work the lock the thrift store won't take it? (Anyone want a nice oak TV stand-–archaic, I know–with a locking drawer, but no key?) As well, we learned that at one particular thrift store the attendant is not allowed to reach hands into the vehicle to help, thus many times we were left to unload items alone, bit by bit while a line of cars piled up behind. However, at another thrift store they were so eager to help that a hawkeye was required so that only items intended for donation were actually removed from the car! 

We have worked SO HARD! The months we spent packing a little here and a little there at Geoff's parents' home were intended to shoulder the weight against a last minute push, and I believe we were in a much better place than if we hadn't done so, but STILL there were such long hours that last week and final few days!! We were blessed to have Geoff's sister and niece come for a week and help as well. It was amazing what they accomplished!!! His sister is a machine! Moving two households is not for the weak OR indecisive. A roll-away dumpster IS helpful, but the process of deciding what goes in it can be conflictive and arduous when items are held with a view to its original value rather than if it has a current use. We frequently found ourselves nearby to "discussions" between the in-laws as to what should and shouldn't get dumped. SO.MUCH.STUFF. Thankfully, over the past two years Geoff and I were given a number of things for free from an acquaintance and had no attachment to the items which made it easier for us to pare down.

In all of it Kevin and Acacia were extraordinarily helpful (Toby has been in Wisconsin leading canoeing and backpacking treks since May). They spent hours helping their grandparents sort and pack. They wrapped, boxed, taped, carried, and made numerous trips to the thrift stores with donations. They lovingly stood by their grandparents as difficult decisions were made and shredders threatened to burn up from overuse.

And in specific relation to helping Geoff's parents move out of their house of 28 years, all of our bodies were worn, minds were exhausted, and our grey matter became "decision-weary". The desire to be at once compassionate yet streamlined, loving yet wise with regard to available space, non-judgmental yet attentive to the realities of what would actually fit or be needed in the new house was a precarious balancing act. 

And, to top it off, for a few months before we ever set eyes on this house we bought we had a trip planned to Pennsylvania. The trip landed in our schedule the exact week before we were to move. And only two days after we landed in Pennsylvania the sellers notified us that they were out and we could move in five days earlier than originally scheduled! Even with the schedule change and the pull of feeling we should be back in CO asap to get the move going, we still immensely enjoyed PA.

We hiked many of the days we were in PA and particularly loved Hawk Falls. It reminded us in many ways of the waterfall at Musana Camp in Uganda.

We toured the PA countryside and landed at a beautiful family run winery. We had a great afternoon overlooking the vineyards and enjoying the expansive view.

The main reason we went to PA was to attend the wedding of Hosanna Hoover and Taylor Dolge.

 But, we stayed the extra week to celebrate our 25th anniversary! We met Hosanna's parents, Sheldon and Mindi, one night for dinner and were blessed to catch up and enjoy sharing news of the past few years. 

We returned from PA late Friday night July 1st, and at 7 a.m. Saturday morning the 2nd, Geoff met with a group of the kids' friends and for the following 12 hours they moved immediately needed items from his parents' home into the new one. While they packed the truck in Aurora I worked with Acacia, Grace F, and our dear friends, the Vander Ploeg family, cleaning the new house in Littleton in preparation for receiving the furniture. After the initial offloading of the in-laws' furniture Geoff, Mike Vander Ploeg, and the kids hauled our things from the townhome. 

The whole moving crew! Victory at the end of a very long day!

The next day, Sunday, our family was back at it again and all through that next week we worked every available minute, getting only a few hours of sleep. On Friday the 8th, the moving company arrived at Jerry and Dortha's and brought everything else from their house over to Littleton. Then the process of where to place things started, and we spent hours of that day and the next sorting, unpacking, stacking, organizing, and relegating to the thrift store donation box, etc. The task of transitioning items from point A (holding container) to point B (appropriate place) became a nagging and unrelenting daily task. It seemed endless.

On the day we handed over the keys to the new owners, Jerry and Dortha walked down to say good-bye to some of their neighbors of many years.

On Sunday the kids said, "Enough!" And this, my friends, was a sweet moment. 

We experienced our kids schooling us in the things we had spoken to them for years. Sabbath. Rest. Rejuvenation. Focus. Release. Worship. They lobbied and insisted that we go to the nearby state park lakes to unwind and soak in God's creation. They emphatically stated we needed to get our minds and bodies off of the tasks and enjoy the rest God provides. Geoff and I were so terrifically sunk in a swift river of task-driven momentum that it was hard to apply the brakes. We were robotically compelled to pick up another box and sort through its contents, assigning places, shelves, and drawers for the masses of things seemingly demanding our attention, while silencing any awareness of how depleted we were. 

But, we listened to our kids. And we obeyed. We heard their hearts and let them plan the day. We completely followed their lead. I think, truth be told, we had nothing left in us to plan anything anyway and God showed us that day the fruit of our labors through the years.

And our schooling by the kids is the main thing that will always stand out to me regarding this massive undertaking that consumed us.

To simply sit by the lake, listen to the birds and the rippling water brought peace and renewal. Amazing to me was how quickly I felt lighter than I had felt in weeks. There is a reason God commanded a Sabbath. It is both important to work hard and it is God's wisdom to rest. I experienced a powerful, God-sanctioned exhale and shedding of concerns by shifting focus away from work. I am flooded with contentment when I reflect on how our kids pushed for our health according to God's design. They spoke things to us that we had taught them. They pursued what is right on our behalf when we were blinded.

We are deeply grateful for this divine boomerang. 

Geoff, Acacia, Me, and Kevin at the quiet little cove where we found some much needed rest and peace!

It helped us to move better into the next week and continue the work of getting settled. Of course we still have pictures to hang on the walls, and bazillions of boxes to sort through, but the furniture is in place and we are fully enjoying our new homestead! By the way, did you know we share it with some critters?

Here we are in front of our newly acquired (as part of the house purchase contract--?!?!?!)

 chicken coop filled with 8 "ladies". I wasn't so sure about them at first, but they give us about 6 eggs a day, so for now I've decided they can live. ;)

Did you know that critters enhance life? Geoff's mom has taken quite a liking to the two cats we recently adopted, and she's been known to be the "chicken whisperer" when those ladies get a bit out of hand.

Jerry frequently enjoys a visit from our new little kitty, McDuff.

And so, we are moved.