Moving on

One year ago I finished up my job in Morgantown WV and prepared to make the move across the country with my little people and dog to join Joe, who had already been here for 6 months. I stayed in WV with the kids to finish out the school year and to give myself time for closure.  Boy was I angry. I was angry that I was leaving a job that I loved, angry that I was leaving a house that I loved, but most of all I was angry to leave all of my friends and family. For what? For a job that Joe wanted? I already had the job that I wanted. The friends and family I needed. It seemed like complete crap at the time. I cried a lot. often. I blamed Joe. But I also knew that this was a good move for his career and for our little family.

So, of course there needed to be a contract. We all give and take in relationships and this was taking a lot from me. Enter the contract. It isn't a paper contract signed by an attorney. It is one that is carried in my head based on many conversations we had when coming to the conclusion that we would move here. Basically I get whatever I want. Ha! The main reason I can get what I want is because Joe has a terrible memory so I can always chalk things up to being in the "contract". There have to be a lot of things in a contract to convince a Mountaineer to leave West Virginia.

The anger dissipated  - which is always a good thing for relationships.

Now, I get to stay home with Q and F. I get to look around in awe of the beauty around us. I get the opportunity to build new relationships with awesome new people. I get to walk or bike everywhere I need to go. I get to explore a different part of the country. I get to feel like every weekend is a mini vacation with the exploring and fun that we have. I get to run/bike/hike as much as I want since the weather cooperates a little better here - okay, a lot better. I get to eat awesome fruit (all the time). I get to go to the beach anytime I want. I get to see giant redwoods. I get to eat Mexican corn (more on this later).

But most of all, I get to stay home with Q and F. I get to watch it all go down. I get to see Finn aggravate the crap out of Quinn everyday. I get to watch Finn learn new words. I get to answer one million questions every day from Quinn. I get to create new experiences with them. I get to go to tide pools and look at little sea creatures with them. I get to cook s'mores with them. I get to teach Quinn her letters. I get to teach them how to swim. I get to teach them OUR values. I get to hug and kiss them at any point in the day, or trick them into giving me a hug or kiss. I get to make crafts. I get to take them to the bakery to get a cookie in the middle of the day (an excuse to get myself a cookie). I get to be with the two people that I love more than anything in the world all day. That is pretty special (and exhausting). That is worth uprooting myself from everything I know and plopping down in a new area. That is worth everything.

It is a great experience.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss my family and friends like mad. I miss my career. I really miss my parents! I miss pepperoni rolls. I miss sweet tea. I miss my brother. I miss my sister. I miss a lot. Tear.

Thankfully I am in control of my reactions to situations. We are all in control of our emotions. I am glad that I let that anger go because I am sure it would have eaten me alive if I would have held onto it. Thank goodness for that graduate degree in counseling. It's paying off…I talked myself right on into being happy ;)