As I was unpacking my school room after our most recent move from Florida to Maryland, I came upon the special book that I had printed of my blog a few years ago. I thought about how much the kids love looking at the pictures and reading my words. I have always felt like that was one of the best things I have ever done for the family, recording random special memories of our crazy life. My mom, who was here visiting, asked me why I had ever stopped blogging. I had to admit that for our first year in Pensacola, I really didn't feel like I had much to say. Life after a move is difficult. Many people will never understand the toll constant moving can take on a family. Constantly having to say goodbye to friends, being new most of the time, finding new friends, a new homeschooling group, a new church...it can really be tough. After leaving our home in Corpus Christi, Texas; and saying farewell to the lifelong friends we had made there, I think we all were in a bit of a tailspin. I even hesitate using the word "friends" because really I have always thought of them as family. It was so difficult on everyone to leave...And, after a bit of a rocky start to our Pensacola time, I think we all just went into survival mode, military moms know this mode well. It is the "I have to maintain normalcy at all costs". Sometimes it means curbing activities, keeping everyone at home until things get a little smoother. So, for the first year in Pensacola, I didn't find many happy things to blog about, and who wants to read a year long complaining jag? No one. Hence, no blogging for me. By the second year we had made a few friends, not many, but some. The third year is really when things took took off for us (read: our last year there). After really connecting with our great homeschooling group (BEACH), and meeting some new friends, we found ourselves so busy, that I hardly had time to write. By mid year we were already preparing ourselves for the move, making sure we completed all our "lasts". We had a bit of a hick up when we found out we were not moving to Orlando, like we had thought for months (read: disappointment, so again, no blogging).
Then came Maryland...I certainly was not happy about moving here, but was determined to make the best of it. House hunting was our first step. When we arrived late on a Saturday night, we were received by my ADPi pledge sister, who had just moved to Maryland a few months earlier. In retrospect, I think that this warm welcome by old friends really set the tone for our whole trip. Chris and I both really, really liked the area. We saw some great housing options, then we found "the" house! We found a HOME in Leonardtown, MD in a great subdivision with many amenities. It was just what we had been looking for. From the moment I walked in, it just felt like home! Even when we arrived before we had our household goods, it still felt like home. So, we have now been here three weeks and it has been great so far. We have met friends already and are getting our boxes out (slowly).
Caitlyn and Aiden have had a great time watching (and catching in Caitlyn's case) the little rabbits that frolick in the green behind our house. Our house has already been swamped with boys coming to hang out with Noah. Seems like things are going smoothly...I will be adding pictures and hopefully updating as our first year of our Maryland adventure continues. Until next time...
