We made it to our new home in North Carolina!! We’re in Cary, just a few minutes outside of Raleigh. It was our daughters’ first time seeing the area and the house and it was the best feeling seeing them run from room to room just squealing the whole time. My oldest said, “Can we please never move again?” I’m not sure it’s because she loves the house so much or she doesn’t want to go through what we just went through again–or maybe both. For me, it’s both!
Our journey here did not go as planned, and it wasn’t straight forward (what is, really??), but after 5 months of planning and dreaming and searching, it feels so good to be here. We had been planning to drive across the country (remember this post where we shared everything we had packed our car with?!), but my grandfather (we call him Pap Pap!) passed last week, somewhat unexpectedly although he was 98, we had to rework our plans. It all happened as the movers were packing our house and we had to make some quick decisions under a very stressful situation. (And it also made a very emotional time more emotional).
The plan was always to go to Chris’s family’s reunion in Bear Lake, UT and then start the road trip, Thursday, June 24th. But that was also the day of the viewing in Pittsburgh. I flew out to Pittsburgh to attend the funeral and Chris stayed behind to make sure we could get our other car shipped from Utah where the reunion was (I didn’t want him to road trip across the country without me!). We’d all fly into Raleigh on Saturday. Even though it felt like we were juggling a lot of emotions and plans, it all worked out. I was able to spend some time with my family in the city I grew up in and Chris had some extra time with his family, too. We all arrived in Raleigh at almost the same minute on Saturday evening. It was the best reunion and surreal to be landing in a different place as a family.
One other thing that happened the DAY the movers were packing up our house was we got word that the first day we would be able to move furniture into our new house was July 19th because the floors needed more time to be finished and cured. We knew that they wouldn’t be done when we got here because we haven’t finalized a stain, but we didn’t know it would be quite that far out. We were able to arrange with the movers to store our things for a few weeks and deliver them on the 19th. Some things we weren’t expecting to be so long without–like ALL of our clothes hahaha! But we are making the most of it.
We’re in a hotel this week while we prepare the guest house (it’s where we’re all running to in the photo above)–which is honestly larger than any hotel room, plus it has a full kitchen!, and we’re going to bunk there until we’re able to move into the house. As things came up, during this whole process, the stress kept building so much so that now that we’re here, and landed, and together, not having to unpack a house for a couple weeks actually feels nice.
I am not sure when it will sink in that we’re here for good and not just a vacation. Maybe when I drive to a new gym in the mornings before work. Or when our belongings finally arrive and we’re settled into bedrooms. Maybe when I go a few more weeks without seeing my parents or friends. Or the first time we get a sitter and hit the town just Chris and I. Maybe when I hang my first piece of art or don’t rely so heavily on the gps to get around. Or open a paint can and roll out the first room.
Home is a feeling and although I have a lot of feelings right now, the most pronounced one is–relief. More coming about project updates and what’s next this week! I just wanted to let you know we made it and we’re so happy to be here.
Love your honesty, Julia, about the reality of how such a big change sets into your head and your “new” life. It happens in bits and peices, so as to help us be our best!
I hope for things to flow a little easier from here on out. Take care of your selves. ❤️
Welcome to the South! I moved 800 miles to western Tennessee three years ago and my sister is in Fayetteville, NC now…the South is a whole world unto itself! Every time I move, using GPS to get somewhere and then trying to navigate back by memory and old school navigation is helpful. And exploring the grocery stores! Y’all did it, now breathe and enjoy it!! Congrats!
Why did you leave Idaho? Just catching up! Idaho is my home state but I now reside in Charleston, SC – not far from you! Enjoy the east coast!
Check out this post!
I’m sorry for your loss.