Movin' On Up

Yesterday was moving day -- huzzah!!  So here's a memory Monday post to celebrate that.

But first, a meme I saved because it's true and applicable.  Comfort zones are delightful, but pushing yourself toward new things (when God leads you there) opens the door for personal growth (a less delightful process, but with such important and lovely results)!

I came to Tulsa on Friday night and met Laura for dinner at the Napoli's in Sand Springs!  We were there for 3 hours, plus another hour and a half in my car, so we got to catch up on life at our separate courthouses + family news and non-work life updates!  Then I went home and watched Grey's Anatomy and went to bed around 2am... a fitting last night alone at my house. =)

Saturday morning, Mom came to help finish packing and organizing everything.  My cousin, Al, came by to pick up my washer (now Rachael's washer) and big chair (being recovered soon).  Hilary and baby Amelia came with him, and I'm very sad I didn't think to get a picture!  But it was great to see them all and finally meet Amelia!  I'm hoping we have a big family gathering sometime this summer with Dad's side of the family... so many cousins I haven't seen in a while and new babies I'd love to meet!

Jeffrey and Kelly gave us several of their moving boxes and paper to wrap stuff in -- SO VERY HELPFUL!!  I didn't know about liquor boxes being extra sturdy, but it makes sense when you think about it.  JEM had gone to get several of them for their move, and Mom and I were happy to take them off their hands.  We tried to use them for all my books and heavier stuff!  Whilst packing this one, I started singing, "Let's set sail with Captain Morgan and never leave dry land..." then I was singing Two Pina Coladas the rest of that day!  Another day, they said something about Louisiana on the news, and I got Callin' Baton Rouge stuck in my head.  What a fantastic time for my random Garth Brooks kick! lol  #Vegasawaits #MonAmiplease #yayGarth

We stacked every non-fragile box in the garage to try and streamline things and save time when the movers arrived.

This = their truck filled with every box I own... I was stunned how much room was left...

But once they disassembled the beds and shrink wrapped all the furniture and added that, it filled right up!

It was a very strange feeling seeing my house empty!  But once again, a day where there was way too much activity all day to stop and feel very emotional about it all.  (And that's okay.)  

Mom and I were vacuuming and sweeping as they finished loading up each room, then we all headed to the storage unit in Moore!

My storage unit was/is CRAZY FULL!!  Nearly all of my belongings stacked floor to ceiling for the next several months... also a strange feeling!  What I feel very aware of is how little I need to actually live an enjoyable life day to day.  And while I'm sure I won't suddenly become a minimalist, that's a good thing to know and be aware of! =)

Fare thee well, all my stuff!  I'll see you around Christmas time. lol

On Jeff and Kelly's recommendation, we used All My Sons moving and storage company!  And based on our experience, I would also recommend them... they worked really hard and made very good time, they were careful and kind, they wrapped furniture and pictures and such, they helped unload some extra stuff in our cars, etc.  So once again, thanks to the Mosses for this recommendation!

The only thing that accidentally got broken was this picture frame, which I haven't had hanging up since around 2009, so I threw it out after snapping one last pic of it and laughing at myself for including Jim and Pam in the photo collage! lol

The four-man team of movers got to my house at 8:15am, and it took less than 3 hours to load most everything I own on one truck... we all left there by 11am, and everything was safely packed in my new storage unit by 2:45!  Mom and I were exhausted, but we got a lovely relaxing night after all that - I took a shower followed by a long nap, then Dad got us McAlisters to go for dinner - yum!  I'm so grateful that the moving part is over now!!

*Sadly, the official closing day will be further out now.  My intended buyer backed out at the last minute, so my house is now back on the market with lots of showings today and tomorrow.  Pray for God's will and good things ahead there! ❤

And my Song of the Week = Two Pina Coladas by Garth Brooks ;-)