Visitors!!!

Last week we had visitors! My sister-in-law and niece came to stay for a week. It is probably the best thing that could have happen to me.  I know my posts have been Debbie Downer lately, I just haven’t had a super great attitude toward the new adventure. But guests in my home has changed that a bit. Instead of spending the whole week thinking about what I missed and how things were not the same, I looked for things to do and places to go.  I was doing this for my company, of course, but intern got a great out look on the area and what all there is to offer here. 

I also got to hear myself complaining aloud, and realized how petty and dumb it really sounds. I really don’t hate it here. I live in a beautiful home, my kids have a safe place to play, the area is beautiful and actually has lots of activities to offer. I’m just lonely. And you know what… that is temporary.  I know God has a great plan for me here, I just want to rush it. I want it to automatically feel like “home” and where I came from.  And “home” didn’t feel that way right off the bat… it actually took several years before I didn’t want to leave there everyday, so I know the loneliness is just a season.

The book I am reading talks about 3 different stages of the starting over process when it comes to moving. The first one is where I am stuck and going to try to really, really hard to move past it. Letting go of what you left is the first step. Not always comparing what happens here to what happened there. Not stuck on what you are missing out on, but looking at real opportunities right in front of me. This is much harder than it actually sounds ( I know this because I have been intentionally focusing on this for 3 days).  I don’t want to compare or have a “must be nice” attitude, but I find myself doing it… a lot. So I am just using those opportunities of catching myself in the act, to pray and ask God to give me a heart of gratitude and open my eyes to how I am to be used here (which I am pretty sure is just to be a rock for my kids as they struggle right now).  So in the words of Elsa from Frozen, I will “Let it Go” and look forward. 

So with that thought in mind… you are about to get a picture overload… sorry (not really :)). But I will let you know there are lots of positives to this place, and we have only discovered a smidge of them!  

We found two really awesome parks this week. One of them has a pavilion, lots of equipment, a nature trail, and part of the Three Notch Trail (biking, walking, jogging long paved trail) that connects right to it. Bonus: Clean Bathrooms! The other one has TONS of soccer fields attached, lots of playground equipment, and a .25mile loop around the equipment to get some miles in while the kids play. Super Bonus: Clean, AIR CONDITIONED,  bathrooms. :)

We found an Italian Ice/ Custard place that was good… and Snow White (a really good one, I must say) just happen to be hanging out there the next night!

We hit the beach for a day. In the process of looking up beaches, I found out several other options of water recreation things to do in the area! (Including lighthouses and places to kayak).

We did the pool. This was the same pool where we did lessons, but the kids got to enjoy the water slides and diving boards. All three big kids went off the high dive (it was really high), and the boys were even diving off by the end. They even talked Alice and me into jumping off. It was much higher than I remember high dives being… or maybe I am just old. 

My nature loving kids found a dead frog, a live frog, a dead crab, and several live crabs (fearless are the little people I have that spend their beach days trying to catch crabs).

I got to go on a date with my husband. We found out what Japanese steak house we should never eat at again. ;)(We should have just walked out when there was NO ONE there at 8pm on a Friday night. You live and you learn.) BUT… had a really great conversation without any little people interrupting! 

Eleni got mail! The kids check the mailbox diligently everyday hoping for something in the mail (this is a great thing to do if you want to encourage my kids… they love getting mail).  El was SUPER excited!!!

Spent a day in DC. We did the major landmarks with the kids (they did great with all the walking) and have discovered the HUGE amount of things we could do there… ALL. THE. TIME!  There is just so many things… the possibilities are endless. Landen was definitely the most into it. He already asked me if we could come to DC and do all the things he wants to do for his next Mommy/Landen Date! Absolutely!!!

And the kids got lots of cousin time in! They loved having Taylor here. And I loved having Alice here. It was nice to have someone to talk to, face to face. I am forever grateful for her making the trip and spending her vacation with us!

It was a good week with lots of perspective. 

          

Thanks for joining me on the journey.