The Move

The move got rolling when the U-Pack relocubes arrived on Friday, January 16.  Robert was home to receive them.  When we moved to NC my parents made the journey with us.  My dad drove the moving truck, and Robert, Mom, and I rotated between our two cars.  This time we decided to do the cubes, ship R's car, and ride together in my car.  A lot of that had to do with me being pregnant and quite ill, and we also didn't want to drive 18 hours on our own.  We've been very please with the cubes so far.  All of our stuff from our 850 sq ft apartment fitted easily into two cubes.  Unlike moving trucks where you have to pay to rent them and you also have to pay for gas, you just pay one flat fee for the cubes.  Another benefit for us in particular is the fact that ABF will store them in MO for us.  This is perfect because our rental house will be ready about three weeks after our initial move, so we won't have the hassle of unloading a moving truck, storing everything in temporary storage, and then putting it in a local moving truck.  

Shipping R's car was a bit more stressful.  At the end of the day, we're glad we did it, but the company didn't assign a driver until very last minute, and we were starting to think we were going to have to drive separately or just leave R's car behind and figure out something else later.  We ended up getting an adorable old man for a driver.  Funny side note, when we stayed the night in Kentucky we saw R's car on the carrier at a Motel 6.  I guess it was nice to know it was safe.  The car ended up getting to MO before us, but my dad was able to sign for it, and Robert's car arrived just fine.

Friday, January, January 16 - My last day at Insite Solutions couldn't have been more perfect.  Julie brought in red velvet cupcakes, and Liz and MaryBeth brought in crackers and dip.  Everyone signed a sweet card for me, and when I left everyone was just so kind.  I made sure to save three of my favorite notes.  MB took me home after work and said her good byes to R and me.  I'm going to miss that sweet friend!  I'm very hopeful that we'll get to see her again soon since her parents only live about 45 minutes away from us.  Isn't it cool that two MO people could become great friends while living in NC?

Anna and Forrest brought us dinner with disposable plates and silverware for our last night in our apartment.  That couldn't have come at a better time.  Robert had turned in our internet modem earlier that day, and everything else was packed up, so our last night was quite but perfect.  We spent it singing and playing the guitar and reminiscing about funny experiences in NC, sweet friendships, sad times, and God's perfect ways.  I may or may not have been a sobbing fool by the end of it.  But it was so encouraging to know that God made NC home, and he can and will do it again in MO.

Saturday was moving and packing day.  Robert had four guys help him load the cubes, and it took just over an hour.  Props to R for having everything well organized and for having a game plan to help things go so smoothly.  I had three girls help me with cleaning, and it was such a godsend.  Robert made fun of me, but my legs were sore the next day.  I think I squatted for about an hour while cleaning, so I guess that did it.  Also, if you think you have a clean house, just wait until you move out everything and do deep cleaning.  Yikes!  We had heard that the housing department was quite strict when checking the apartments and giving back security deposits.  Robert tackled the oven, and it paid off.  We only got deducted for our master bathtub.  I was kind of bummed because Jody and I spent at least 45 minutes on that thing, and it looked so much better than before, but alas, we were still deducted $75 for it.  I just can't imagine housekeeping getting it more clean.  Robert had already tried bleach, and Jody and I used CLR kitchen and bath, bathroom cleaning with bleach, and stainless steel scrub brushes.  Oh well.

One final picture in our first place

Good bye, 1065.  You were a good apartment.

Overall, 1065 was a great first place, but R and I can't help but laugh at some of the funny things about that apartment.  Our clock and pictures rattling against the wall approximately 15 times a day as our neighbors slammed their door with all their might.  Hearing our upstairs neighbor every time he sneezed, which was about 6 times a day.  Living in a handicap accessible apartment but not being handicapped.  But so many great things happened there: meals shared with friends, we found Mittens there, family visited, and that little apartment became home.

We were able to stay with our Sunday School teachers and their sweet daughters on Saturday and Sunday.  This was such a blessing so we could go ahead and pack up and clean our apartment and then enjoy our last two days in NC.  Andrea definitely has the gift of hospitality and made us feel so welcome.

On Saturday we ate lunch with the family, and then I napped while Robert spent several hours outside with Madilynn and Mackenzie.  He came back and said, "I can't wait to be a dad."  He helped them clean out the creek and build a fort.  Mackenzie was impressed by his ability to use an acorn as a whistle.  Mackenzie is also a good story teller and easy to be around and have fun.  At dinner Madilynn said the sweetest prayer asking God to help us make new friends and not to feel lonely but also that we would remember them and know that they will miss us.  I love her awareness of other's feelings.  It's also an honor to know that all four girls want to sit by us.  After dinner we went to our Sunday School bonfire.  It was a great night for a bonfire as it was about 50 degrees that day.  There were even big fireworks, and I enjoyed having Seth and Macie sit on my lap and helping them plug their ears.  They're too cute!  I had helped Macie get dressed for the bonfire.  She had wanted to wear a dress and tights, but we settled on a sweatshirt and jeans.  She also decided to wear two headbands because two is better than one, of course.  The headbands were later traded in for a hat.

Sunday was a bittersweet day with so many good byes at church.  The band provided a breakfast before church to say good bye.  Pastor Richard found us to say good bye.  Our Sunday School class did a special time of prayer for us - another time I got choked up.  We went back to the house for lunch and relaxation.  Macie enjoyed sitting by me, and somehow I managed to entertain her with a headband for about an hour.  Who knew you could use a headband for so many things!  Macie enjoyed having me ask her questions, kind of like an interview.  She has also always loved it when I soft tickle her arms, and she even start just pushing up her sleeve and sticking her arm in front of me.  I love it because I've been known to do the same thing to my mom.  Macie is so animated and can definitely make you laugh.

Later that afternoon Anna and Forrest and Stephen, Desiree, Seth, and Cadence came over for football, chili, and games.  I'm said to say that the girls lost in Pictionary, but it was still very fun.  We said some more sad good bye to those sweet friends on Sunday night.

On Monday morning Andrea fixed a very nice breakfast to send us off.  I enjoyed chatting with Mikayla at the bar while she made pancakes.  I confessed to her that I made pancakes by myself the week before.  She's so easy to talk with.  At breakfast Macie whispered into my ear, "I really like sitting by you."  I said, "Well, I like sitting by you, too."  We said our good byes, and Macie's included a very long hug while I held you.  Their family has been a huge blessing to us, and I greatly attribute NC becoming home to our relationship with them.  They encourage me to do the same to those we welcome into our home.  We got about 30 seconds down the road and realized I had left my phone behind, so we had to go back and say another good bye.

Good bye, SEBTS!

Such a beautiful campus!

I can admit that I wasn't much help with driving on this trip.  I blame my pregnancy, but honestly I never really like driving on long road trips.  I like to say that my contribution was staying awake for all but about one hour of the trip and keeping Robert company.  My co-worker Trey gave us the first four books of The Chronicles of Narnia on audiobook.  This really helped!  We made it all the way through The Magician's Nephew, and we got through 3 or 4 disc of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe on day two.

Had to snap a pic of the Ridgecrest sign for Mom and Dad since that's where they met.

Our journey took us through North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri.  I like to tell people that I drove in all 5 states even though I only drop about 2 hours total.  Robert only drove in 4. :)

A beautiful sunset outside of Nashville

We made a small detour to Jackson, MO to visit my great aunt and uncle.  I hadn't been there since 2006, and Robert had never been there with me so it was a sweet time.

How many places can boast a 600 pound papier mache horse?

Enjoying the park

We visited with Jackie at home, and then went up to the car lot to see Tom.  Robert got to experience his first sandwich from Wib's, the restaurant my great-grandparents used to own.  He was pleased. :)

We arrived to my parents' house around 4:30 on Tuesday.  Overall, the trip was long but good - no construction, accidents or bad weather.