Struggling

Moving is hard.  We knew it would be.  Still, I think I started this process this summer with such a positive outlook on what this move would mean for our family.  I was ready for a change, Steven was ready for a job change, and this position pretty much fell into his lap.  But the move took longer than expected as we opted to go through with Steven Joseph's heart surgery, and then as we waited to find the right rental home here.

We've still had so many loose ends with getting our old house rented, having some doctor and dental appointments, and celebrating birthdays and holidays back home as the kids really wanted to.  Next week will be our last scheduled visit for the time being, and I hope that will allow us to move forward with life here, settling into our home and community, and making the most of this new opportunity God has placed before us.

But right now, I can honestly say that we are really struggling.  We miss our friends.  We miss our family.  We miss our neighbors.  We miss our ballet school.  We miss our church.  We miss our homeschool group, and our homeschool activities.  I miss the mom's nights, and I miss my stores and restaurants.  And I'm in a bit of a pouty stage about it all right now.

I'm trying to be positive for the kids and Steven is working very hard to help us all adjust.  Today I finally convinced Ellie to try out the new ballet studio nearby.  She wasn't impressed, and Mary Clare definitely wasn't...and I'm not sure if it's going to work out.  That makes me sad on many levels because ballet was such a big part of my childhood, and thus far it has been for my girls too.  They have met many close friends and had wonderful teachers who we admire.  And they are very talented.  I would be sad to see them give this up because they aren't willing to give this new studio a shot.  There just aren't many options around as far as dance studios go, so I'm hoping the girls might try it out long enough to give it a fair consideration.

Our homeschool was already struggling before we moved.  It's long days for Mommy, teaching the girls and caring for the very needy boys.  We always have lots of battles, but combined with the lack of outside activities or motivation, it's been hard.  We're pushing through week 13 over here, and I've just ordered a new set of books for Language Arts.  Maybe next week I'll give an update on the curricula we've liked and what I need to change right now.  We still feel this is the best option for our family at this exact time, but that's not to say that we haven't considered other options.  Hopefully the new year and new books will bring about some positive changes that make this a more positive environment!

So now, entering 2012, it's time to move forward...to get into our new routines, make some new friends and find some new activities. They won't be the same as what we're used to, but we can find joy in them nonetheless.  Our house is rented, and after next week we won't have appointments and other events pulling us back there.  I know God has a special little niche just for the B. family here in C.C.  We just need to pray that He will show it to us, to allow us to find our place in this new city, and to make our home here all it needs to be for a healthy and happy family.  Thanks for praying for us and supporting us along the way! 

I have to end this saying that I hate being whiny, but I'm trying to be real about what our family is going through right now.  Still, our struggles pare in comparison to what some other friends are facing.  A family from our old dance school lost their 3yr old daughter Aimee in an accident in front of their house, and our old little buddy Hans is facing some difficult treatments for his cancer in their new home in California.  Others suffer illness, death, house loss, and job loss.  They are all in my thoughts and prayers.