Review of 88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates by Rob and Joanna Teigen

"She'll be your daughter for life. But she'll only be your little girl for awhile. Make the most of this special time with the help of 88 Great Daddy-Daughter Dates."

I was honored to be asked to review this book for Revell Books. Having a daughter, especially at such an impressionable age, and her hero dad be able to have even more ideas of ways to spend together, was the reason for wanting to review this book.

With so many different ideas, some inexpensive, some expensive, and some totally free, the authors (who are local's of where we live) give dad's a huge resource of what they can do with the the little ladies in their lives. From baking together, to going to pick apples, to playing dress-up, to having a campout in the backyard, each date it broken up into three categories: Grab, Go and Grow. Grab the things items you may need for the date, Go on the date and Grow from your time together which gives dad's questions to ask their daughters and scripture that relates to the evening.

One date that my husband and daughter did was the Bike Ride date (#42). She got a new bike for her birthday and when the weather turned nice, out they went. She couldn't wait and they had a blast with it just being the two of them.

This is a fantastic resource for dad's. I know it will be a book that gets picked up many a time over the next years as my husband takes my daughter out to spend time with her.

Available March 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. Opinions of this book are solely mine.

Review of Heart's Safe Passage by Laurie Alice Eakes

It's 1813 and all Phoebe Lee wants out of life is to practice midwifery in Loudon County, Virginia. When Belinda, her pregnant sister-in-law, presses Phoebe to accompany her onto a British privateer in order to cross the Atlantic and save her husband from an English prison, Phoebe tries to refuse, then finds herself kidnapped.
Captain Rafe Docherty is a man in search of revenge. His ship is no place for women, but he needs Belinda in order to obtain information about the man who destroyed his family and his life. Between Belinda's whining and Phoebe's hostility, Rafe can't help but wonder if he made the right choice.

This is book two in the Midwives Series by Laurie Alice Eakes. As seen from above, this book is set in the 1800 mainly aboard a ship crossing from America to England during the war. Phoebe and Rafe, the two main characters are also at war with each other. One trying to escape and the other trying to hold onto his prisoner to use in his ultimate revenge on someone from his past.

I thought the book started out a bit slow and then picked up about half way through. I also thought some parts were a bit over the edge with romance, but other readers may enjoy that type of writing style. I thought the plot as a whole was good as was the way it flowed. If your slant is more toward the romantic side of books, this is the book for you.


Revell Books sent me this complimentary book to review for them. Opinions are my own. Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Life in limbo

It has been a long while since I've posted something other than a book review on my blog.

I've been intentionally waiting to write.

Hoping that the next post would be announcing Ed's new counseling practice.

Hoping that the next day we could celebrate this new phase in life.

Days passed into weeks.

Weeks into months.

We thought the process to get his license would take mere weeks, but has actually turned into an on-going, letter writing, phone calling process with the state government.

To wrap it up in a tiny nutshell, the state denied Ed a license because they don't recognize the agency that accredited the graduate school he went to.

So the past months have been a roller-coaster. Do we move again? Do we stay? What in the world do we do? It hasn't been easy in the least. Confusion, fear, little slices of hope, tears, frustration, hopes dashed, and clinging to each other and what little faith there is right now.

We're hoping and praying for an answer this coming Friday, March 2nd. Ed is traveling to Lansing to sit in a meeting being held by the Counseling Board of Directors (which only meet every three months) and hopes to speak and defend his case. He has diligently researched the accreditation process, wrote all his findings in a letter, mailed that letter (more than once) to the Counseling Chair and Vice-Chair, the Governor, State Senator's and Representatives, and has a copy for each of the eleven Board of Directors.

Prayers would be greatly appreciated as our life and family have been in limbo the past seven months. Knowing that God wanted us back in MI makes the wonderment of why this is happening even greater.

Review of When The Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason

After a brush with death due to equipment failure, smokejumper Alexia Allen is ordered to take time off while the incident is under investigation. She makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother's home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she is confronted with murder, arson--and a handsome detective.
But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she struggles to accept and forgive her family's past, she must also decide if the secret she's been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

Chalked full of suspense from the opening page. This book has you flipping pages faster than you ever thought, to find out what in the world is going to happen next! Such a great plot, great characters and great writing. You will wonder what is going to happen until the very last sentence.

The one thing I didn't like about this book was the end! Talk about a cliff hanger! Can't wait for the next one to come out!! Great writing Lynette!

Available February 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. All opinions are my own.

Review of The Crossing by Serita Jakes

On the way home from a football game, a decade earlier, a masked gunman opened fire on a Texas school bus. Cheerleading coach B.J. Remington was killed, but her murderer was never found. Claudia, who had a close friendship with the young, spirited teacher, constantly relives the anguish of that day, caught in one moment in time. When her husband, the assistant district attorney, becomes determined to uncover the mystery of that tragedy, the secrets buried over the years threaten to tear their family apart.

Officer Casio Hightower will never forget the day his dreams were destroyed. A star quarterback with a promising future, Casio was on top of the world—until one bullet changed everything. He is eager to help Victor Campbell find B.J.’s killer, the man who shot him. Maybe solving the case will help silence the demons driving Casio to hurt the woman he loves.

As the Campbells and Casio teeter on the brink of losing everything, will they be able to discover that what begins at the crossing ends at the cross?

Such a great book. A bit twisted in parts, but so well written that you feel like you're experiencing life with these people. The heartache and glimpses of joy. The sorrow and despair along with closure and deep love. I must say though that certain parts were violent, which was unexpected.

The author did a great job creating the characters and storyline. She creatively jumped back and forth between the coach's thoughts at the time of the shooting to those involved ten years later. It was well done and flowed seamlessly.

*WaterBrook Multnomah sent this complimentary copy for me to review for them. The opinions expressed here are solely mine.

Review of Chasing Mona Lisa by Tricia Goyer and Rick Yorkey

It is August 1944 and Paris is on the cusp of liberation. As the soldiers of the Third Reich flee the Allied advance, they ravage the country, stealing countless pieces of art. Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring will stop at nothing to claim the most valuable one of all, the Mona Lisa, as a post-war bargaining chip to get him to South America. Can Swiss OSS agents Gabi Mueller and Eric Hofstadler rescue DaVinci's masterpiece before it falls into German hands?

From the opening pages, this is a super fast paced book all the way to the very last page. A fantastic historic read that transports you back to WWII and the freeing of Paris. Included in that history is how the Mona Lisa came to be and how she survived WWII. This is a fantastic read that you won't want to put down.

Chasing Mona Lisa is a continuation of Goyer and Yorkey's first book The Swiss Courier but can be read as a stand alone novel.

Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Revell sent me this free copy to review for them.

Review of The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy

If what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, why is Audrey growing weaker by the day?

When her husband Geoff, a pastor, lost his job after a scandal rocked their congregation, Audrey's never lost faith.

They decide to resurrect a failing bakery as a way to heal family wounds and restore their place in the community.

Running late to the bakery one foggy morning, Audrey strikes a vehicle. Emerging from her car into the fog, she discovers she hit a motor scooter. But there’s no rider in sight. Just blood.

The absence of the driver is a mystery, especially to Sergeant Jack Mansfield, the detective and church member responsible for firing Geoff from his pulpit. The scooter belongs to Jack’s wife, Julie, a teacher at the local high school, who has vanished…like morning fog.

Though there is no evidence to support Jack’s growing suspicion that Audrey and Geoff were involved in Julie’s disappearance, the detective is convinced of their guilt. When he takes the tiny bakery and its patron’s hostage, Audrey must unravel the secret of Julie’s disappearance and her own mysterious suffering before Jack hits his breaking point.

This was one of those "I can't put it down...just one more chapter" books. Such a good fast paced read that will keep you up into the wee hours of the morning. The author does an astounding job of keeping the reader pinned to the book to find out what happens on the next page. She weaves the characters together so effortlessly and passionately which makes the book that much more good.

There were also threads of forgiveness, redemption, honesty and looking at oneself pretty hard that in the real world, can only help.

I would highly suggest this book to anyone.

The opinions expressed in this post are straight from my own head. Book Sneeze sent me this complimentary book to review for them.

through the eyes

Have you ever experienced wonderment and curiosity through the eyes of a child? To see their eyes light up? To watch awe and amazement dash across their face?

I had the pleasure of that and so much more today.

When we lived in Seattle, I had introduced Alina to Michael's craft store. She lived and breathed crafts. After the first visit, she deemed it Craft Heaven. When it was set in stone that we were moving back to Michigan, I told her about a store three times the size of Michael's. Her eyes grew as big as saucers. To comprehend such a thing was unimaginable in her mind. She asked when we moved back, if we could go visit this place. Hobby Lobby.

It has been three months since we've been back and today was our first visit. I completely forgot there was a Hobby Lobby on this side of town until a coworker told me a few weeks ago.

Today there was no school, so we went out as a family to see a movie. I knew before going that that the movie theatre we were going to was right by Hobby Lobby, but did not mention this little fact. As we turned onto the street of the theater, I quietly told Ed, "I wonder how long it will be before Alina realizes that there is a Hobby Lobby right here."

No sooner where the words out of my mouth that this very excited, high decibel voice cries out, "HOBBY LOBBY! I see Hobby Lobby! Can we please go?"

After the movie, we ventured over to Hobby Lobby for Alina's "first" experience. She went there as a wee tike, but didn't remember. We walked in the door and she was speechless.

She opened every box she saw, touched snowmen, passed the U of M display (we trained her well), walked up and down the party aisles, perused the furniture, turned on and off all the lamps that were plugged in. Gently glided her fingers over the mosaic mirrors, tried on the Hawaiian leis, sat on every bench possible, opened umbrellas, smelled the artificial flowers, and deemed Ed the king with a wire crown.

We were there for over an hour and didn't even make it to the craft section.

Having the privilege of walking beside her and experiencing wonderment was something I will never forget. I heard over and over again, "look mom! Look at this one! Let's sit here. Ooooooo look at this!" It made me smile over and over again seeing her shine.

We didn't buy a single thing and she was so full from experiencing the store. God created her to be creative and seeing her in a place where so many creative things were was seeing raw joy.

And nothing compares to watching your child delight in who God created her to be.

A Halloween short story by Alina

Alina wrote this story (with no help from any adult) below two nights ago in her journal and then proceeded to type it all out by herself. A trick or treating story for your Halloween enjoyment.


THE GHOST
By Alina

Once upon a time, I was trick or treating when there was a haunted castle. I went in the door………..creeeeek! went the door as I opened it. In then the creepiest thing happened to me in my life. A ghost flew up to me and said…………………”BOO”!!! I was so freaked out I fainted. Finally I got up.
The ghost said “are you ok? My name is Brsty! What is yours”?
“Mine”?
“Yes yours”!
“Ok, ok my name is Alina. What do you like to do”?
“I like to fly. What do you like to do”?
“Um, um I like to do crafts I guess”. What is your favorite subject in school”?
“Um, um I don’t go to school.”
“Oh! That’s right! I forgot ghosts don’t go to school.”
“Now what is your favorite color Alina?”
“Pink! What is yours Brsty?”
“Mine is pink to!”
“Would you like to finish trick or treating with me?”
“Yes! But I don’t have a costume.”
“But you are already in a costume. You’re a ghost! Why can’t that be your costume?”
“Ok, ok I will be that.”
“Now shall we?”
“We shall.”

THE END!

Review of Hello, Hollywood by Janice Thompson

A Greek sitcom writer and a rising star comedian come together in this cute novel by Janice Thompson. Hello, Hollywood is book two in the Backstage Pass series.

Athena Pappas is a head writer for a TV sitcom whose ratings are starting to decline. Her boss hires a comedian who is up for an Academy Award in the comedy world and Athena takes it as a threat to her job. Intertwined in this heated battle is her family of Greek heritage which adds to the charm of the story. Put all of this together and you have the makings of a My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding type of book.

A pretty cute and charming story with funny characters. This is the second book by Janice Thompson that I have read and I enjoyed it much better than the previous one. Despite this being the second book in the series, one can easily pick it up as an individual novel and quickly understand what is going on. Ms. Thompson did a great job making this a stand alone book, but still including the characters from the first book in the series.

If you enjoy a fast, whitty and cute read, this is the book for you.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

*Revell Books was kind enough to send me a complimentary copy to review for them and these are my own thoughts straight from my noggin.

Review of A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman

Ten years ago, Emma Malloy fled Dublin for Boston as a battered woman, escaping the husband who scarred her beautiful face. The physical and emotional wounds have faded with time, and her life is finally full of purpose and free from the pain of her past. But when she falls for her friend Charity's handsome and charming brother, Sean O'Connor, fear and shame threaten to destroy her. Could Sean and Emma ever have a future together? Or is Emma doomed to live out the rest of her life denying the only true love she's ever known?

This is book #2 in The Winds of Change Series. Fortunately, I did have the first book to take a quick gander through as I had forgotten who all the characters were when starting the second book. So if you do decide to read this book, read the first one before or you'll be thoroughly confused.

I didn't completely agree with the synopsis of the back cover as you can clearly see while reading that Emma's emotional wounds really haven't faded and the pain of her past comes to the forefront many a time. It was an ok book, heavy on the romantic side (which was expected from the back cover synopsis), but flowed well.

Not one of my fav's and I would rate this one as average.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. This review is in no way influenced by receiving the free copy and is my own opinion.

Review of The Queen by Steven James

While investigating a double homicide in an isolated northern Wisconsin town, FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers uncovers a high-tech conspiracy that twists through long-buried Cold War secrets and targets present-day tensions in the Middle East.

In his most explosive thriller yet, bestselling author Steven James delivers a multi-layered storytelling tour de force that not only delivers pulse-pounding suspense but also deftly explores the rippling effects of the choices we make.

Yes, yes and yes! This book was one of the best I have ever read. Right from the start, this book sucked me completely in. One needs to have a some-what strong stomach as there are pretty graphic scenes throughout having to to do with blowing up, or shooting or blood.

Steven James is an expert storyteller and writer. Just the way he writes, flows so well and the story is developed at just the right speed. Even with this book being down the line in a series of books, the reader could come in not knowing anything about this main character and easily follow what is going on.

I would highly, highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fantastic read. I'll definitely be reading his other books as well.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.


Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. The opinions expressed here are mine alone and came straight from my own noggin.

Review of Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon

As a social worker, Alison Taylor has a passion for protecting children and seeing that justice is served on their behalf. But when she starts getting harassing phone calls and bizarre "gifts," it seems she may be the one in need of protection. When her tormentor's attentions take a violent turn, her brother Cole comes to her aid, along with his new partner, an ex-Navy SEAL, Detective Mitch Morgan. As her relentless stalker turns up the heat, Mitch takes a personal interest in the case.

Overall, a pretty good book. But I could've done without the large emphasis on the romance aspect. Seemed like there was even more in the this book compared to others, and right from the first couple pages.

The suspense however, was written well. The reader knew who the tormentor was throughout, but the way it was written kept you turning page after page. Some parts made the stomach squirm a bit as it was pretty graphic, but overall, the author kept the reader engaged up until the end.

Deadly Pursuit is book two in The Guardians of Justice Series.

Available September 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Revell Books sent me this complimentary copy to review for them. The thoughts and opinions are from my own brain.

one month in

Yesterday marked one month of being back in our home state of Michigan.

I'll be honest and say that it hasn't been the easiest transition for me. Yes, the first eight months in Seattle were the hardest thing I had ever experienced, but this transition has been much harder than I thought too. There are days where I have been in tears. Days of funkiness. But there have been days of laughter intermingled in there too.

I believe the biggest thing is not having a steady rhythm of life.

Coming from working 40+ hours a week for the past 2 1/2 years to working 20+ hours a week and having more than two days off has tilted my world. But I wouldn't trade it. I thoroughly enjoy my job and am enjoying getting to know those I work with. But I do miss those I worked with in Seattle too. We went through a heck of a lot of stuff, stuck together and came out stronger friends each time. I've had several dreams reliving my last day of work in Seattle. Though the scenery is different each time, the people are the same, as are the sorrowful emotions. Those mornings I wake up completely spent.

My husband is no longer in school. This week would have marked the start of another school year. The start of a new semester schedule. That is no longer the case. The days for him consist of hanging with the kids on my working days or working his cute behind off in putting together his website for his counseling practice. He's so close. All the dreaming, hard work, challenges, transformations, tears, and sacrifice have brought him to this point. He's on the edge of turning the page to a new chapter. And I may be a bit bias, but he's a fantastic therapist. It's been an amazing journey so far, and I'm so excited to continue it beside him as his biggest cheerleader. He's also able to indulge in his passion. Mountain biking. Three to four times a week he's hitting the trail either by himself, with friends or with his Sherpa and coming back so very refreshed. This I love.

Our social calendar has been filled each week. For the past three years, finding time to socialize was minimal. Many weekends were spent as a family. Of course "weekend" for our family was only Saturdays as the kids were in school Fridays and I worked Sunday morning and evenings. So the time together was sacred. And there were no instant friends like there are here. Not like instant oatmeal mind you. Keeping up friendships from 2000 miles away is hard, and being able to enjoy those friendships in person has made the homecoming sweeter than ever.

And then there's the unpacking, new neighborhood, new friends, new school and new church.

But I know we'll get there. That rhythm. School, client sessions for Ed, football practices and games for Sam, work, house chores, and friends. I've been pretty hard on myself in forcing that rhythm, which you obviously can't do. So I've been learning to allow myself that little word: grace. And it sure hasn't been easy.

Even though our rhythm of life has been a bit off beat the past month, I know we'll get synched up soon.

Not a dramatization

Seen this commercial?


These are my kids (no...not in REAL life), but especially my daughter. School supplies equals heavenly bliss. Excitement over a pencil sharpener. That is PURPLE mind you.

Colored folders. Ahhhhhh.

MSU clicky pens (which my son is stoked about). They're totally cool mom!

Meijer could've come into my living room, video taped my children and wouldn't have had to pay anyone. With the Meijer bags strewn across the floor, supplies littered everywhere and excitement that was not paid, they could've made out big. Big I tell you.

But the mom would have to be replaced with the dad, because dad was the super hero that took them shopping. I think he may have even worn a cape.

Review (and rating!) of Restless in Carolina by Tamara Leigh

She's a tree-huggin' widow who is in search of an environmental friendly developer to buy her family's historical estate.

He's an acclaimed land developer who is trying to keep a promise generations old.

Through her burying her widow weeds and him burying long ago promises, this book is about growing up, forgiving and moving forward.

1/4 into this book I had to jump back to the beginning to figure out who was who. Once again, I felt like I was jumping into the middle of a story and characters whom I knew nothing about. I'm assuming that Tamara Leigh's previous book Leaving Carolina had something to do with this.

A cute, quick novel laced with light humor and splashes of warm fuzzies, it was overall pretty good. One thing that I did like was even with the emphasis on God throughout the book, by the end it wasn't "and her relationship with God was fully restored and perfect and life was all roses." It was a work in progress, of which I like portrayed.


Waterbrook Multnomah sent me this complimentary to review for them. And hey! They (and I) would love it if you rated my review. No strings attached. I promise.

Review of The Seraph Seal by Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner

An epic tale of good and evil based on the four horsemen of the Apocalypse found in Revelation.

Using the four horsemen of the Apocalypse to symbolize the four Gospels, four transcendentals, and four forces of the universe (air, water, earth, and fire), Sweet and Wagner weave a fast-paced, end-times tale of good vs. evil and the promise of a new dawn for humanity.

Set in 2048, when planet Earth is suffering from the damaging effects of years of misuse and abuse, cultural history professor Paul Binder receives a mysterious letter that leads him to examine a lost 2nd-century Diatessaron manuscript. Ancient prophecies, cryptic letters, and strange events set him on a course to uncover the missing clues that could lead humanity into a new age. Layered with forgotten symbolism from the ancient, Jewish, and Christian traditions, the novel is a type of engaged fiction in which the main character's lost journal serves as a guide to the reader in interpreting clues and understanding the novel's conclusion.

This book took me a very long time get through. Character upon character were introduced and it got to be pretty confusing as to who was who and how they were tied to what. I must say though, It was very cleaverly written. A prophetic type story that has tied in current life events and technology and wove in the book of Revelation. In some spots, it was actually eerily too close to home.

Overall, a great book. And the reader is able to take it steps further than just being a story. There is an entire key and clues throughout the entire book plus an Alphabet of the End Times at the end to help you put the clues together to find a deeper meaning of the story.

This novel stretches your imagination to the limits and actually messes with your mind. So much to the point that I shouldn't have read it before bed as dreams resulted of the world ending. Not the best medicine to wake up rested in the morning.

Book Sneeze/Thomas Nelson sent me this complimentary copy to review for them.

Being back

One of the things I love about being back in our home town is sharing memories and re-aquainting places with our kids.

Last week we were out driving in two vehicles (in case we found "THE" couch), and were heading down a very familiar road. I was following Ed and I could see him pointing to different buildings. And I knew exactly what he was sharing with the kids.

"Over there is where mom went to college and where Uncle Rob and Aunt Laura work."

"Do you remember coming to see me when I worked over there?"

"Up there was my first apartment. I lived there before mom and I got married."

They may not have been the exact words my husband said, but those places are landmarks for us.

It has been a good reminder for me to slow down. Enjoy life. Not rush around just to get to the next thing. To remember.

Remember all the way back to childhood even.

"See that D&W Sam? That wasn't always there. There used to be an apple orchard there and when I was little we would go there to pick up bushels of apples."

"This road that we're on? It didn't used to have all these lanes or the big grassy area in the middle. It used to just be a two lane road."

I love seeing landmarks every day and remembering. And being able to share my history and Ed and I's history. And even better, being a part of adding landmarks and memories to my kids' history.

It's good to be back.

the journey

It's been almost two weeks since we drove into Michigan and I now have a few spare moments to sit and recap our cross-country adventure (even though the kitchen does need cleaned up a bit).

Our last day in Seattle seems worlds ago. Loaded in the car, said one last goodbye to neighbors and making it an hour and a half outside of Seattle before bedding down for the night.

Thursday we made it out of Washington and into Montana and the sights were amazing. Beautiful mountains all around. We didn't stop much as we had lots of time to make up.

Friday we drove into Yellowstone via the back door of Wyoming. We stopped and took pictures of a herd of elk and a buffalo, that ended up running right past us (and running with a seven year old child on your back so as not to be in the path of a running buffalo is not an easy feat....adrenaline was pumping!)

Saturday we headed out of Wyoming and ended up just inside of South Dakota. At a hotel with a water park. A watiki to be exact. All four of us played until 10 pm and then Sam was up at 6 ready to get one last watiki thrill before we left.

Sunday we started out on one end of South Dakota. We heard that morning that our house was in Iowa and that the driver was going to be in Michigan the next morning. He was an entire day ahead of us. This was not good. We knew it was going to be a long haul as we had 17+ hours to drive, not including stops.

So we locked down the hatches and started driving. And driving. And driving. South Dakota is one very wide state.

Then came Minnesota. The Iowa at sunset. Midnight loomed and we were still in Iowa. Signs of Illinois were popping up and we were determined to get that far. The kids were fast asleep, as was the cat, whom we let out and he snuggled up with the kids. 2:30 am approached and so did a rest stop. After finally settling in the parking lot that was very hot and humid, we managed to get a couple winks of sleep. 4:30 came all to soon and we were hitting the road. Kids were still fast asleep, as was the cat.

We saw the sunrise outside of Chicago, the haze of Gary, Indiana and then the beautiful sight of Michigan.

We beat the truck by 20 minutes.

All in all, a grand adventure. One I'm so thankful we journeyed. One I know the kids will remember for a very long time.

Oh...and I have to say that my husband is amazing. He drove all but 2 hours. Yeah. Amazing.

Transitioning: part six - heading out

After an emotional couple of days between the last day of work and the last neighborhood get together, the focus turned to packing.

Monday was filled with sticky tape, boxes, washing out cupboards and more packing. One last trip to the dentist to have two of the little miss' loose baby teeth pulled that I could just not get out. And a visit from my sweet friend/co-worker Katie and her amazing little guy Luca. Hugs, more hugs and happy hugs too.

It ended up being a late night of going, going, going. We both fell into bed exhausted.

Tuesday was errand upon errand. Eye exam, last picture at Kerry Park (where our first family pic was taken upon arriving in Seattle), Costco, us girls getting our nails done, etc. So many last stops.

Moving day arrived. I woke up at 5:00 a.m. thinking I heard the semi pull up (it wasn't scheduled to come for two more hours). After laying in bed for a bit, Ed said, "I think I'm going to get up to greet the day." I loved that phrase. It was full of hope, excitement and so much to look forward to.

The kids were up by 6 and by 7 we were walking to the corner to meet the truck.

In a flurry of hours of activity the car was loaded and the truck was being packed. The kids played with their friends the entire day.

When the time was coming to a close, there were kid tears all around. 10 year old best friends clinging to each other, sobbing.

Seven year old best friends walking around the outside house holding hands, being followed by a sweet three year old jabbering away.

A surprise drop-in from Nancy, fabulous friend and co-worker. More tears and clinging hugs.

I finished the final touches of cleaning and took one final walk through of our home the past two years. Tears streaming down my cheeks.

So many memories. Fun times. Birthday parties. Friends for dinner. Kids running through. Ed pouring over papers and books. Hours in the kitchen creating food for family and friends. Snuggles on the couch. Hard conversations. Hurt and then mended hearts. So many memories.

I wrapped them all up in my heart and carried them out of the house with me. To hold forever.

Final hugs and tears mingled as goodbye's were exchanged with neighbors who became friends.

And then we drove away. Extracted ourselves from our Seattle life.

Drove out of the city. Out of the state.

On to a new home.

New memories.

But carrying with us those we love and an array of memories.

Never, ever forgotten.

Thank you Jesus for three years that forever transformed me more into who You created me to be. I look back and see a glimpse of how you wove our lives in your greater story. Our family is tighter because of it. Our marriage stronger. Our lives richer. Us closer to you. Friends forever intertwined. I wouldn't have changed a single moment. And there is not a single regret. You planted us in Seattle for reasons we may never know. But what we do know is that we will never be the same because of our time here. And for that I will be forever thankful. Amen and amen.