One Year Ago Today...

We watched our worldly possessions being loaded into a semi. Who knew we had that much stuff?

We vacuummed, dusted and scrubbed until our house shined. It was never that clean while we lived there...

We locked all the doors, closed the windows and left our keys in someone else's possession. It was a lot harder to leave than I thought.

We picked up the girls (at the time, there were only 2! and 3/4 if you count the one in my belly) from daycare and said goodbye to their daily caregivers who were like part of our NOVA family. That was a lot harder than I thought, too.

We began caravaning down I-95, Don in front, the girls and I tailgating... 5+ hours later, we reached our destination -- Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I was exhausted.

One year later, I still get overwhelmed thinking of all we had to do to make this move happen (and all that has happened in the past year). Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY!

What do I miss?

Our friends

Going to work every day to see people I call my friends (let's be clear though, I don't miss working full-time) and being respected and rewarded for what I accomplished

The neighborhood pool 3 houses down from ours

The scrapbooking stores (the scrapbookers in NC have no idea what they are missing!)

Being part of the "nation's capital" and all its glory

My kitchen and light filled family room

What have I gained?

Keeghan! (most significant accomplishment of this past year!)

More time with Don and the girls -- he has more time with us, too

A great house in a great neighborhood

A warm and welcoming church

A place to call home...