The adventure begins!

From the beginning of this process, Kevin and I have told the girls that this will be an adventure. We've told them that they'll need to have patience, that they'll need to be flexible and they'll need to have fun.

The movers came Monday and packed up all of our worldly possessions, and, yes, we found out we are very worldly. We have so much stuff and we threw away over 20 bags of trash in the last week alone. We forgot to set out a stroller to have for the next 2 weeks, it was put on the truck before we had time to get it. I guess we'll either buy a cheap one, or make Presley walk. We also forgot to set aside coats for us to have this week. Ugh...those got packed, too. Oh well, the weather in Ks looks good so far. We'll survive. I was painfully aware of 2 things on Monday-1)I'm not as organized as I thought I was or I'd like to be and 2) I haven' t done the best job of cleaning lately.

In the midst of moving, I went to the dr. for the 5th time in the last 10 days. I took McKenna first, last week, and they said she had a mild case of the chicken pox. Then, Avery had strep throat. Avery went back a couple days later because she was still sick and got a stronger antibiotic. On Saturday, I spent 2 hrs at minor emergency with a sick Presley. She had an ear infection. At one point, there were 5 bottles of pink medicine in our fridge. This time, I was going for me. I woke up with a horrible chest cough on Sunday and the dr. said I had bronchitis. I have a Z-pak and some cough syrup with codeine that makes me feel very loopy. I feel like I've been in a different world. I hate this feeling. Hoping to feel better soon, and praying the Kevin stays healthy.

Because I was so out of it, my best sister in the world, Marla came and finished cleaning our house Monday night. I can't thank her enough.

So, we're homeless now. We closed on the house on Tuesday. Nothing special, just signing a lot of papers. I didn't realize that selling your house would cost so much money! I really wish we could have sold by owner. sigh....Anyway, it's done.

We're up in Abilene for a few days. Then back to Wichita for a few days. Then, the road trip starts!

Last Day on Harvest Court

It's early Sunday morning and I can't sleep, surprise, surprise. This is our last day in our house in Wichita. When we moved here, I said I would die in this house. I knew I was teasing, we've almost outgrown this house in the 2 1/2 years we've been here, but I thought we'd live here a lot longer than we have. I love this house. I prayed for this house. I've painted (along with Kevin and the good people at River City paints) this house. I had big plans for this house. We just remodeled our master bedroom over Christmas break last year, and we had started to remodel the basement this summer and stopped when we knew that moving to CA was a possibility. Kevin told me we'd redo the master bath when he finished his dissertation. I'm going to miss this house. We found out we we're going to have Presley at this house. We've shared many meals with friends and family here, and it's hard to believe this home won't be ours anymore.

I hope the new owners enjoy this home as much as we have.

We have so much to do today...and most of it won't get done, until we can ship the 3 girls off to Kevin's folks as soon as they get home from Tx. We just can't get much done when the girls are here. I can't imagine what it will be like when we get to CA and there are no grandparents to help us out. I don't want to think about that right now.

As you think about it, please pray for the health our family, in the midst of all the chaos. All 3 girls have been sick in the last 10 days, there are 5 bottles of amoxicillin in our fridge right now. It's a lot to deal with in an already stressful time. Thanks.

I know this move is what God is calling us to do. I also know it's the hardest thing God has called us to do. I know His plan is good, and I'm clinging to that promise today.

Next time

If there is a next time we move across the country, 2 things will be different-

1. Kevin will not finish his job on a Friday and start a new job the following Monday. He will take a week off in between, minimum.
2. A moving company will pack our house up. I'm not doing this again.

And that's all I have to say about that...

New Title, same stuff

So, I changed my blog title. Turns out I don't have as many thoughts as I thought I had. And most of my thoughts aren't worth sharing or will get me in trouble.

This blog is about our family, so I chose Osborn Abode. I hope to document our life as we transition from Wichita, Ks to Pasadena, Ca. I plan to share family moments, recipes and experiences of our precious girls, Avery, McKenna and Presley. My secret desire is that this blog will make up for years of not scrapbooking :)

So, stay with me, and enjoy the ride. It's bumpy, but I'm told it will be worth it!

This is hard

The reality of this move has hit me. I've cried so hard and so much that my tear ducts should be dry. Seriously, I can't believe I can still produce tears.

Our dog, Abby, went to a new home yesterday. A childhood friend of Kevin's had a neighbor who took her. This is a family with 4 kids and another beagle, Missy. They came up from Oklahoma last night. Abby took to the kids well and couldn't wait to go with them. I thought I had cried enough earlier in the day and thought I'd be fine, but I lost it when Abby got into their van. I couldn't even compose myself. I was so embarrassed and yet overcome with sadness. I just kept thinking, I can't believe she's leaving, I can't believe we're doing this.

Abby has been our family dog since she was 8 weeks old, back in 2001. My heart is so broken right now. I made it through last night ok. Maybe ok is an overstatement. I took Avery and McKenna to the opera at Friends, so we were out of the house. I managed to sleep until 4 am, then woke up and just couldn't stop crying. Wondering if she's ok, if she's sleeping, if she knows what's going on. I am just overwhelmed with grief and sadness. I cry. All the time. My poor girls have to put up with a mom who cries, when I should be the one drying their tears.

This week will probably go fast, and theres a lot that needs to be done. Packing, packing, packing, wrapping up things with Avery and McKenna's schools. Finishing my classes at Friends, saying our good-byes, etc...and somewhere in the mix, I'm trying to figure out how the girls and I can get H1N1 vaccines.

I'm hoping today goes better than yesterday. I'm hoping the pain in my heart and stomach subsides. I'm hoping to get through the day without totally falling apart.

Family Pix

We were finally able to get our pictures taken as a family last week. We don't have all of the proofs yet, but the photographer put a few on her personal blog. Go here to see them.

Dr. Daddy!

So, you probably know by now, Kevin successfully defended his dissertation this week and he is officially Dr. Osborn. McKenna keeps calling him "Doctor Daddy." She also asked me one day if he was going to work in the building with the other doctors (the one we go to when we're sick). I always joke with people and say, "he's not the kind of doctor that makes money, but he will be the kind of doctor that will change the world." I can't even put into words how proud I am of him. I married way up, and I know it. I'm so grateful to be his wife, the mother of his children, the love of his life. I have no idea what God has in store for us, but I know it will be good.

It's been another busy week around here, and, I assume the busyness won't stop for quite some time. We spent most of the day yesterday packing, or, rather, trying to figure out how to start packing. I remember being in 5th grade and my family was moving from Ks to Ky for my dad to go to seminary. I thought it was so strange that my mom was starting to pack weeks before the move. I also remember that everything just seemed to happen, without my doing much work (and without my consent). Now, I'm keenly aware that things WON'T get done around here unless I do it (with Kevin's help, of course). I guess it's the harsh reality of being an adult. sigh... Today, we're going to tackle the garage, and have lunch with good friends. This is Kevin's last week at Friends U. A week from today, he'll head to Ca to start at Fuller. Then, he'll come back, help me finish with the house, we'll close, celebrate Thanksgiving with family, then head west. Seems like a dream. Not a nightmare, just a dream. A dream that includes a lot of work.

Thank you for your prayers for Kevin and our family. We know God is in each step of every process and path we're on. There are a lot of unknowns for us right now, but we know a known God and are clinging to His word and truth.