The packers arrived today. God love ’em, they walked into total bedlam with their carpet protector, rolls of tape and a plethora of boxes.
By the time they knocked, unsuspectingly, on our door this morning at 8:00AM, the house was abuzz with activity. The littlest four were already running circles around the kitchen table high on Fruit Loops. Add to that a few confused dogs, one crabby adult, and… I think you get the picture.
Pandemonium will be the word of the day for the next, well, many days. Try as we might, there is no way to dismantle a home with so much stuffed inside it’s innards without at least some chaos. And I find that as I go to pack up and reminisce over the things that come spilling out of drawers and cabinets, I am really quite sad as we approach the end of our time here. We’ve lived here less than a year, but we’ve packed a whole lotta living into that year!
We’ve just learned that the owners of our new home won’t be able to close until the end of July. That’s a re-heallllly long time to be without a home. We’ve got some big plans to visit friends in the NC mountains and family in Georgia. We might even stop over in Alabama at the Lifeline reunion in July. Might visit some bloggy friends, might make some new friends. But whatever happens, it’s certainly not going to be boring.
I’m trying to think of it as a grand adventure. Only as seen through the eyes of a person who really doesn’t care so much for adventure. I’m hoping this trip will change my outlook.
And I’m planning to post about it from the road, so grab your Dramamine and sunglasses and stay tuned for the ride 🙂
you have a place to stay in your ole stomping grounds.. where it all began.. :O)) we are back in STL. back at Scott AFB. do you still have my Cell? or email? if not i will email you or Maria has it.
you could come through there nad visit places around here as well.. we have plenty of space for your crew. we would love to have you.
jill shelton
Good luck girl! Can't wait to follow your adventure through the next month! Coming through Ohio at all?
Hugs, Jill
dude.. how did you not tell me this today. Or maybe you did and I tuned you out.lol.
first off… plans confirmed for this weekend.. Friday at noon.. till Sunday Night. word.
Second- your gang plus my 7, here for two weeks sounds fun to me.
third- snap. I need a third. things sound better in threes. ummm…okay I have one. Secret plan. When you go to pull away, Tell Co you want to show her something. Take a walk down memory lane with you before you leave. Blindfold her, pop her in the car, snack her up, chat her up to distract her from all sense of time( I will call you with a made up WO emergency), and when she finally comes out of the carb coma and realizes she is 3 states away from home, break the good news to her that we are having a girls weekend and it wouldn't be the same without her. that is some good stuff right there.
aa-ight. chat with you tomorrow.
😉
Amie
we can pull out the sleeping bags and cook smores over an open flame in the eve.. we are only abt. an hour west of Asheville NC..
Why not head down under!!! come visit!!!
I pretty much have you dubbed as 'Super Woman/Mom' already…so I have no doubt that you will soar through this with flying colors! Your family will be in our prayers, Stef!! Big Hugs to you as you journey on this new adventure over the next month!! <><
~Tanya
What a good attitude. Wishing you the best until you get settled in your new home- it's beautiful!
Hey Steph,
If you come near eastern NC come on by, we'd love to have your crew here. I would also love to see Shep and how he is doing. Little T is doing great!
Hugs,
Carla
Our lake house is always open for you and your family Stef!!! Totally out of the way, but come north for a while!!! You can snuggle in the guest house until your new house is ready!!!! I need a little chaos to make the time fly!!!
Hugs & blessings along the way!
~Diana
Good luck to you and the whole gang!
Woo! Sounds like an adventure for sure…and enough blog material to last you a good long time!
Dear Stefanie,
I have been a reader for a long time and have lived in Georgia all my life. We have a daughter from China and waiting on our second. If you come anywhere near us, we would love to have your family visit. We have a guest house, pool, and live on the lake so there is plenty to do. I know it will be crazy for you all over then next weeks but know there is a place here for you all anytime!!!
Blessings,
Sharon
OH MY SISTA!
IF YOU STOP BY THE LL REUNION..WE WILL BE THERE!!!!
I hope you can make it.
We could all stay in the same hotel and take all of the kids to the pool so that security could fuss because we are too noisey!
FUN STUFF!
If you feel the need to visit the lovely (SMALL) Pope AFB located at the grande Ft. Bragg post…please give me a holler!!!!!
Hubby's leaving for Iraq in a few weeks….recovering from surgery and the house is…well a mess from remodeling, but we'd love to meet your gang!
Hugs,
Holly
You know the Ferrill Funny Farm is always open. We would love to host you while in the 'Ham!
Hey, and just from experience, Dramamine makes ya drowsy. 😉
I cannot wait to follow you on this adventure…and Stefanie you've been to China 14 times…you can do a road trip adventure EASY! It will be a walk in the park, right? 😉
Praying you all have a calm (ha ha) adventure for the next month…We just moved four states away with five kids and two animals. I feel for you!! Seriously, just try to relax and take things as they come….
I love your attitude as I keep packing boxes. I will look into movers today, as I know I can't do much more on my own. How can one person collect so much junk? I can only imagine what your trash collection is like these days. I will be along for the adventure as we are on our own.
Did I ever tell you that I think you are "da bomb"???? You go girl. Have a great time on your adventure…wherever you happen to stop 🙂
Lots of love,
Anna
Whew…no doubt you got a lot on your plate right now, but knowing you & your ability to roll with whatever comes your way, you'll pull through it all with nary a scratch!
And if the next month or so takes you up North, you can always pop in over here! 🙂
Looking forward to hearing all about your latest adventures!
Best of luck & blessings always!
Patricia
If you're heading up the Eastern Seaboard next week maybe we'll run into each other at a rest stop or something. Wouldn't that be fun? 🙂
Hey if you're including CA on your bloggy tour, just give a yell and we'll break out the air mattresses. Would love to meet you! 🙂
Good luck with the packing.
Sounds like fun. We did the homeless thing, albeit for a much shorter time frame and with far fewer kids!, back when we left central pa and moved east.
Speaking of east, if you come by the greater philly region, give me a shout out. 🙂 or drop a line and you all can hop in the pool for a cool off. We have LOTS of floor space here, waiting to be filled with little bodies if ya need it 🙂
Bless you on your journey! You are a talented writer- I love your view of all that happens in your very interesting life!
We'd love to have you in MN if by chance you are heading this way! We understand chaos- it's our way of life!
Always welcome!
Blessings,
Jean
Although the journey may be full of unwanted adventure, you can be sure that it will be filled also with love and the stuff that memories are made of!
Best of luck as you embark!! Will anxiously await updates from the road.
Hotel Tonggu will be open for y'all if you head up DC way. Just let me tell my husband first…
(And he'll totally say yes. My sister's family of six lived with us for six months. What's three days with a family of ten? Heh.)
Happy trails to ya! What a summer adventure you will have! How lucky we are to virtually tag along, too. If you're in OH, look us up, cuz we could put you up for a few days, too. Well, we don't actually have enough beds, but we could concoct some kind of camping-fun-in-the-family-room setup.
Have a safe journey!
All the best,
Nicole A. in OH
Hey,
I have been stalking you blog for awhile, I live in A-ville in NC. Would love for you to come by and talk by hubby into a China adoption for our fourth child, HEE HEE! Sounds like you are going to have a geat adventure with your family, hope it feels that way to you, LOL Kristi .
Wow! This sounds like a big adventure! Can't wait to hear from you while on the road. Good luck with all the changes and keep us all posted.
WHOA…………………….
looking forward to riding along with you!!!