We are a bit crazy!

Well, I guess I should explain some of the craziness that has been going on around here lately.

In January, my sweet husband and I went on our 2nd honeymoon to Whidbey Island, WA. We spent 10 magical days there! We went there to explore the area as a potential place in which to relocate our family. It was pretty much love at first sight! Between the beauty of the island and the loveliness of its people, we decided that Whidbey Island should be our new home!

On my 40th birthday in March, we announced to everyone that we would be moving. We don't have a move date yet as we are waiting on my work comp case to be settled. At this time it looks like by the end of summer, we should be able to move.

In the mean time, we have slowly been packing and going through stuff in storage. My husband and son have made many trips to a local thrift/charity store with donations.

Packing is a bit of a challenge as we currently share a house with my mother in law. Although she is moving with us, she will not be living in the same house as us. She will be living on the same property though. Also trying to figure out what can be packed now and what needs to be done last is a challenge when we don't have a firm move date. I have devised a system that is working for us. It is bits and pieces from other peoples move blogs that I have read. Also, we will be camping in our motor-home and large tent while we build the houses.  Yes, we are nothing short of crazy!

My husband and I talked about it a few days ago and it seems that most big events or projects in our life have been the result of biting off more than we could chew. (shakes head)  So we decided that our family motto should be "Biting off more than we can chew since 1999."

January 10, 2015 I am standing on the public beach in Langley, WA just below an amazing pizza place!

These next two are from January 7, 2015. Yes, that is green foliage you see! It is incredibly hard to explain that peace that came over both my husband and myself when we started exploring the Island. It is a slower pace of life that we both had been looking for. It will take many posts to explain all the things we love about the island. Perhaps, even a few things that we will not like will be shared as well. 

This move is exciting and terrifying all at the same time. We are looking at this as a grand adventure. A time in which we get to explore new areas, meet new people, and become the people we want to be. At the same time, we are leaving behind a network of friends and family. This is not easy to do. They are always there when help has been needed. We don't have any friends yet on the Island. We have met a few people and have an amazing realtor who has been a huge help in this crazy endeavor! We will be without that safety net. Then I remind myself, that I come from a long line of homesteaders! My family emigrated from Germany in the 1800's and ended settling and "proving up" a homestead claim in the Dakota Territory. I was born and raised on that claim. If they can do it with horse and buggy, surely with all the technology available to us, we can do it. 

I can't wait to start this new adventure!

Daughter's Graduation

Wow! It has been forever since I have posted anything. To say that this last year has been a crazy one would be the understatement of the year. I will post more about that in another blog.

Today, I am filled with lots of different emotions. Today my daughter graduates. Yesterday, we had her graduation party as well as attended 2 other parties of close friends. Today, we will attend another friend's party then off to see our daughter graduate with over 400 other kids in her school.

Anybody that has had teen girls in their life knows that you wonder if you will ever see the graduate. Mostly, because you are either going to have them committed till they are 21 or you are going to check yourself into a mental health institution until they are 21. Girls are a blessing and a curse. One minute you have a sweet daughter and the next there is a screaming entity in their room that you have never met. I love my daughter and wouldn't trade her for anything in the world. That being said, I am also extremely glad that I only have 1 daughter and 2 boys. I don't know how families with multiple girls do it.

 It seems like just yesterday when this little blond, noisy, giggly girl came into my life. She was about 2 1/2 when I first met her. Her dad and I were dating at the time. That was in 1999. Fast forward to today and she is still blond, noisy, and giggly and 18. I am so proud to call her my daughter. She has to face struggles that many other kids do not have to. She could allow this to make her angry and bitter. Instead, she goes through life doing the best she can and enjoying it all. She has worked so hard to get to this day. Her path in life will never be easy and it isn't the one we parents would have hoped for her. However, I wouldn't change her for the world. Just about anything can make her giggle and that giggle just makes me smile! Instead of wishing what might have been, we have worked together with her other set of parents to help be the best that she can be. This summer she will start attending Community Campus. This group will help her gain even more independent and job skills and work with her one on one at a job site to get those skills. She has an amazing love for animals and for science. She loves to read and science books about animals are some of her favorites. She takes such joy in the little things in life. She is a good reminder to stop and "smell the roses".

So today, May 17, 2015, we will celebrate you Miss E! You have made it through high school! There is a whole big world waiting out there for you, your smiles, and your giggles!

This is a picture from her Senior Prom. She is pictured with her Dad.