National Lampoon

So we are on day 2 of our westward migration which is at a standstill currently as the trailer is being repaired. We're all praying that today will go smoother than yesterday! Yesterday we had 3 yes count them, 3 blow outs on the trailer we are pulling. Fortunately there were no accidents or injuries. That is pretty amazing considering the odds. A miracle really.



The next crisis was when we got into Albuquerque. My in-laws are driving my Jeep pulling a small trailer. Eric attached a large plastic cargo box behind the Jeep that came loose and started dragging while they were driving in a single lane construction area. Eric and I noticed they weren't behind us and pulled to the side to wait, not knowing what had happened. At that point it was late and we were all feeling the exhaustion of the day begin to set in. The worst possible scenarios began running through our heads as we waited and repeatedly called them. We finally heard from them and learned what had happened, much to our relief everyone again was ok. One more miracle.
I've been getting a lot of, "should've stayed in Oklahoma" comments. Admittedly this was not how I had envisioned this trip. I was hoping this would be a fun, exciting trip for us and we've had fun in spite of the inconveniences. We saw a beautiful lightening storm. The girls were thrilled to be able to meet some horses that were being let out to stretch. They had come from a rodeo in Farmville and were traveling home to Indiana, a 32 hour drive.
Overall everyone has kept a good attitude. Sometimes you just have to laugh and give up on trying to make things happen the way you want them too.

life is a series of moments

I've tried to learn as much as I can and to take in as much of my surroundings as possible thus far. I've learned a few things. The most obvious would be that I have so much more to learn and that no matter how much I plan, things will never be predictable. During this time of transition it has become so transparently clear to me that we are truly just travelers and that this life is merely a journey. It is during these times of change when it is so obvious I'm not in control that I am most grateful for my faith in God. 

-My new backyard-

So as of the current moment we have moved into my grandparents home. I don't know exactly how long they lived in this house but I know for as long as I can remember they've been here. I spent a great deal of my childhood in this house so being here means so much to me. I have a few pics that I took several visits ago. I'll post more after we get settled in. That may take a bit. 

My family and I have been working on going through all the household contents. When I was packing our home of only 3 years I couldn't believe how much we had collected in such a short period of time. This house has over 30 years worth of belongings in it. Most of you know that my Obasaan (grandmother) passed in April. Some things are easy to part with. Much of it is not. Many of her clothes still smell like her. She had a library of Japanese books that we have no idea what to do with. We found a Japanese translation of Breakfast at Tiffanys. I had no idea she read that. I wish I had. That probably would've been a good conversation. There are decades worth of photos. Photos of our family, photos of distant relatives, photos of people even my Ojisaan (grandfather) has no idea who they could be.  My Ojisaan  only wants to keep his basic necessities and a few mementos but has given the all clear on everything else in the home. My aunts have been the driving force behind the transition. Without them I  think I would be huddled on the floor in fetal position, traumatized at the mere thought of where to begin. 

I finally received my Texas license so now I can apply for my Arizona license. I'm so excited to start working again! It's not that I've been bored, because there has been a ton of work to be done but I just miss working. I'm excited about meeting new people and I really hope to get busy as soon as possible. I signed up to volunteer at the girls school and applied for a part time job at Starbucks so I can meet as many people as possible. I've always thought being a barista could be a fun job too so I would be excited to get the job. I may change my mind after a couple weeks of getting up at 4 am though, right? 

The kids are making friends in school but of course still miss everyone terribly. Especially Eric who is still in Oklahoma. He will be out here for a few days next week for a visit then will be returning for hopefully no more than 2 weeks to Oklahoma to finish a project before returning for good. Sydnee is a total daddy's girl and she has taken it the hardest. She may not let him go back once he's here! My girl Ashley is coming to visit for a couple days at the end of next week too. I can't wait to see her. I'm taking reservations for our next house guest in case anyone of you is interested. I'll even do your hair while you're here if you want. 

I guess that's all the update I have for now. I haven't been taking very many pics since I've been so busy with house stuff. Thanks for the emails and keeping in touch. It makes me so happy to see a msg in my inbox from my Oklahomies!

A few things we'll miss part 1.......

Here are a few pics from our going away party hosted by my lovely friend Ms. Ashley. Thank you so very, very much for you thoughtfulness. I couldn't ask for more from my bestess.

Thank you to all of my fantastic clients and friends that took the time out of their evening to come out and see us off. I can't tell you how much it meant. I will miss each and every one of you. I really have been blessed with the most amazing people in my life.

I have a ton more pics and will get those up as soon as possible. We are pretty busy right now getting everything ready for the move. We decided to leave Saturday morning instead of Friday since we have sooo much to do this week.

We had a party for the girls tonight with their friends. It was a lot of fun for everyone. I'll get those pics up too, in due time.

Tommy, Matthew and Eric being so cool

Ty and I posing all prom style

My baby sis, who I love so much

My Salon Zen home girls

Smelling the barbicide.............
one of the dangers of having a party in a salon I guess.






Ida is another one of those one in a million girls
I've been blessed enough to have in my life.

The founders of Zen


Everyone kept asking Desiree if she worked at the salon.
Doesn't she look like a stylist?



Words cannot capture my admiration and love for these ladies.



Wendy and I
( I liked this one because I look topless.)

So like I said I have more pics from our little camera and I promise I will post them asap and just because you didn't make the first cut does not mean you are any less loved or appreciate so don't get your feelings all hurt or anything ;)

Up until now the move has seemed like some far, off not real thing. The reality is beginning to settle in and with that there are still a lot of mixed emotions. I have never felt so conflicted before. I am super excited to be with my Az. family and I love being there. I am looking forward to so many things but it is difficult letting the life we have here go.

Another week gone

This will be my last week to work! I really can't believe how fast these last couple of weeks have flown by. It's just been so busy that it has been hard to keep track of time I guess. It's been sad saying goodbye to everyone. Ashley is hosting a party on the 18th that will be a lot of fun but the last going away party we had for a salon girl, we all ended up a crying, snotting, pile of girls on the floor mess. I hope to not end the night that way.

Today we woke up and realized we had NO plans for the day. We probably should have done laundry and worked on last years taxes but I just couldn't spend one more day inside so Eric and the girls and I went to the lake instead. Kevin hasn't been home in several days, he is getting in as much friend time as possible. We didn't forget about him or anything. We took Mac with us and that is always fun. Mac LOVES the water. There were some ducks out on the lake when we first got there that he was trying to swim out to. We kept calling him back in. I don't know what he would have done otherwise. I think he would have tried to swim all the way to them and I was worried he would get too tired and too far out.

Avery practiced floating on her back and Sydnee covered Mac and I in lake mud. I don't even want to think about all the poop and dead fish and whatever else that is in that mud. I just thought of it as a spa treatment :)

This move has really consumed most of our summer. I've tried to make sure the kids don't get short changed by having lots of sleepovers and going to the pool every week but I have to work a little tomorrow so if we don't make it to the pool my guilt won't be so bad since we had so much fun today.

On our way home we passed a girl on the side of the interstate with a flat so Eric stopped in the 104 degree heat to change a tire. She was a young girl with her car packed full of stuff on her way to Norman. She told Eric she was in the process of moving. A few months ago whenever it was raining non-stop I got a flat on my jeep and a couple of guys that worked for Cox stopped and changed my tire for me. I was sooo grateful to them. It was drizzling rain had hailed that morning and there were still chunks of ice on the ground. Kevin had missed his bus so I was taking him to school when I got a flat. I thought I knew how to change a tire but I couldn't even get the lug nuts off! Anyhow, it was nice to be able to pay it forward. Does it still count since it was Eric who did the work? Regardless she was relieved and happy I'm sure to not be stuck baking on the side of the interstate.

As you can see it was a good day. This week will be the craziest week I've had in a long time :( but from here on out the real changes begin.......

Mi Casa

Eric has been working very hard on the house to get it finished before the move. Here are a few pics.

Ready, Set........

I've decided in order to keep everyone updated on our progress with our move to Arizona, I would start a blog. I've never blogged so be patient with me if I fail to update often enough or tend to be boring. I did have a diary as an angsty teen though so maybe that experience will come in handy.

This move is a very big deal for us and thus far has been a roller coaster of emotion for everyone involved including our friends and family around us. I always think that times of transition are the hardest part of anything because change is so difficult for so many of us to deal with, myself being one of those resistant to change types. However, change also seems like a necessary evil to keep us stimulated and engaged in the world around us. Eric and I are looking forward to the move while also feeling terrified of the possibility that it is the wrong decision for us and our family. Plagued by all the what ifs that abound yet we continue to move forward and find ourselves only weeks away now from the "big day." For us it is an opportunity that will not resurface in our lives again until much later if ever. In the end we hope that it will be a fun and fantastic adventure full of growth and perspective for our kids and ourselves. I personally don't feel that fear of change is ever reason enough not to do something so based on that our moving plans continue.

THE PLAN
The plan is to load up and head out into the great west on July 24th. I am working the rest of this and next week and will have my last day of work on July 17th. My in-laws will be joining us for the move so that will be nice to have the extra help and more fun for the kids. We will be bringing 2 of the 4 dogs and 2 cats with us, which reminds me of a few more plans and phone calls that need to be made. My in-laws and Eric will be spending a few days in Tucson, Arizona with the kids and I getting to know the family there and sight seeing. I hope that it will be of some comfort for my in-laws to see that we will be well accommodated. Eric will be returning to Oklahoma for a few weeks to finish up some work that he has then he will rejoin us in Tucson.
During the time he is gone I will be busy getting the kids in school, unpacking and getting myself situated. Mmmm more transition.

I will be working at the salon my aunt and cousins own named Circa 79 salon and gallery www.circa79salon.com I get along very well with and am looking forward to with the fam. I am nervous about building a new clientele and dealing with new people though! I've been so spoiled with great clients for so long and any new clients are referrals that have been told nice things about me so I don't have to work so hard to earn their trust. I also will miss my clients so much, some of whom I've been with for the entire 15 years I've done hair. Just another side to the adventure I suppose.

As far as what Eric will be doing we are still working on that. The plan is that he will continue to do remodel work there as well and we have a few ideas about getting that started too. The thing we keep reminding ourselves of is that he started his career in Oklahoma from scratch too so there is no reason it cannot be done again. If worst comes to worst I'm sure he would be glad to be a stay at home dad ;)

Well those are the logistics so far. I will keep you updated as things change and I welcome your ideas and input as well. All in all we are excited and looking forward to our new life adventure and ready to get this show on the road!