The Big Move

 Justin would laugh as I began to plan and pack months in advance, but I knew when the day came I would be glad for my preparations, and I was. When moving day came, we were ready. 

I was proud of the children for the great sports and helpers they were during this time. Justin and I tried our best to make life as normal as possible for them, even though life in reality was upside down. We tried our best to be patient with the transition each day. 

Grandma and Grandpa had flown into Maine where they picked up our moving truck. From there they spent a day driving to Halifax. When they arrived into town it was a wonderful reunion! They immediately got to work spoiling, playing with the kids, and getting acquainted with our little Loren baby. 

We were to move first thing the next morning. Doug and Liz kindly opened up their home to our weary travelers as they knew our place was not fit for guests. Miley had been playing with Ella earlier that day. All the girls liked to come over to our empty basement and run around. I ran next door to ask Jacalyn a question, and she was expressing to me a great concern that she thought Ella might have contacted Lice at school, and she was in turn worried about Miley... 

When I got home I checked Miley's hair right away, but didn't find anything. Later that night before bed, I checked again, and sure enough found signs of living lice! 

I thought I was going to lose my marbles. 

My immediate course of action was to throw Miley in the tub. Next I called Jacalyn- my go to for everything! Jacalyn was over within minutes with lice shampoo in hand. 

By this time it was very late and poor Miley was exhausted and begging to go to bed. 

She sat and cried on the bathroom floor while Jacalyn, Scott and I picked nits out of her hair. :( 

Luckily, we caught it fast and treated it right away. We were not planning on keeping any sheets, pillows, or bedding anyway, so that was lucky as well. 

Paranoia hit an all time high, and I ended up treating everyone in the house for lice that night. We were in bed late, but by morning the lice was gone! 

With that episode behind us, we were right back to work first thing.

We had two of the best little helpers~

The kids eagerly loaded the truck singing together "What's going to work? Team work!"

The weather didn't bless us on moving day, but we worked with it. My poor Mom and Mother in Law froze their little buns off! I tried to caution them about the cold. They found refuge indoors and it was fun to find them off in a room somewhere chatting and catching up. 

The move itself went quickly, and we reached our goal of having the house moved out and clean by the first half of the day. 

As the house emptied my heart ached a little more. By the time I was sweeping and moping the main floor I was holding back tears. It was hard not to envision Miley twirling around on the hard wood floors, or hearing Scotlin's giggle from room to room. 

Before it was time to leave, Justin and I took a moment with our home. 

We expressed gratitude to our Father in Heaven for leading us to a place where our family could be safe, and make so many happy memories. 

We stayed in a hotel room until our departure after graduation. Once every lose end was tied, we waved goodbye to Dad, Grandma and Grandpa as they pulled away on their journey across the Continent. 

 Helene came and kept us company at the hotel until it was our time to go. The babies played on the floor, the kids swam and jumped on the beds while Helene and I visited about what the future had in store for us both. We reminisced about our journey and of course so many of the good times.  

Before we knew it, this chapter of our life was closing, and we were moving on. 

I think it's important to look back and remember where we've been, all the while looking brightly into the future with full hope and optimism.

It's time to progress forward, and our future is as bright as our faith.