At the time of this post, my little family and I are on our way to Georgia. I've probably cried telling my parents goodbye, and at this point Jereme might be wishing we were in two separate cars because I've likely gone from laughing to crying to "I don't think you really understand how I feel" to "You are the best" to "I can't wait to get there" to "Can't we just turn around?" Poor guy. Hopefully Emma Grace is taking a nice long nap.
As a recap, Jereme moved to Georgia (to an extended stay hotel) in February to start his new job with his company. Emma Grace and I stayed in Raleigh until we sold the house, which was about a month later. Then we packed up our things and moved in with my parents in Jacksonville until we closed on and moved into our new house in Georgia (a few other things kept me in NC a couple of weeks longer, like a beach trip with my college friends and wedding stuff with my high school BFF), which was about a month after that. We decided Jereme would fly into Jacksonville for Easter and we would spend time with our families before packing up and heading South to start our new journey.
I have so many mixed emotions about all of this. On one hand I am excited to live in a new place for a while and have new experiences. On the other hand, that last sentence doesn't even make sense. New? I don't like new. I like old. Consistent. The way it's always been. I started thinking about my fears and things I'm most excited about (sometimes they're the same!) and put them into a little list. I think it will be so interesting to go back and read this in a year. I'll probably get a good laugh.
Fears:
-I won't make any friends. Emma Grace won't make any friends. We'll be lonely.
-Jereme has overestimated my ability to adapt to new things and he will be disappointed (truth be told, he's probably just as nervous about how I'm going to adapt as I am...but he hides it well!).
-In a weak moment, I might blame Jereme for moving us away from our friends and family.
-I will lose contact with my dear friends in North Carolina. Emails and phone calls will lessen over time.
-I won't find favorite restaurants, boutiques, hair salons, parks like I've grown accustomed to in Raleigh.
-No one will visit us.
-I will miss the beach. I grew up in a place where I could get to the beach in 20 minutes. Even living in Raleigh, I enjoyed going home and going to the beach. My family always went to the Outer Banks for a week every summer. While Georgia has a coast line, it won't be nearly as convenient and we won't have friends or family to go with us.
-Having a toddler and new baby and being hours away from everyone we know.
-I will miss out on the little things with our friends and family that feel like big things (birthdays, weddings, babies).
-Our family won't have anyone to celebrate the little things with us.
-Traveling home with a toddler (and eventually a newborn).
-Being ready to move back to North Carolina before Jereme feels it's right or can get a relocation.
-Finding a babysitter. Trusting someone enough to leave her with my most prized possession(s).
-Finding a church. Becoming involved beyond Sunday mornings.
Excited for/about:
-Meeting new friends.
-Being forced into a new experience. I never would have done it on my own.
-Trusting that God is going to provide what we need when we need it.
-Watching Emma Grace begin preschool. She's going to love it.
-Our second baby will be a true Georgia Peach. I NEVER would have imagined I'd have children born in different states.
-Going further south as opposed to further north.
-Being a little closer to Paula Deen. It just feels right.
-Our house. I'm in love with our
huge master closet. I always wanted a kitchen with an island. Now I have one. Ahh, the sunroom. I see lots of time spent out there. The big backyard with the playset. I can't wait to watch Emma Grace go down the slide. Charlie finally gets to run and sniff and run some more. The two car garage. The gigantic attic. The 4 bedrooms that perfectly fit our growing family and leave us a guest room that I'm excited to use as often as possible. The office/play room with french doors. The dinning room I always wanted.
-Gradually doing a little painting and updating on the house to make it our own (ok, some rooms are in desperate need of paint, but I'm excited for that!).
-Being just outside of Atlanta and getting to see and do all of the fun things that the city has to offer.
-Finding our new favorite restaurants, parks, stores, etc.
-Lots of great shopping, professional sports at every turn, awesome attractions for families, and deep into SEC territory (although we will always remain loyal to the ACC, albeit divided).
-Visiting and going on vacations to places we probably wouldn't have gone before due to proximity.
-Always having this shared experience long after we leave. When we hear of people moving or visiting the area, being able to tell them to try a certain restaurant that was our favorite or some place they just
have to see. Having our very own "Georgia stories." Starting sentences with "Remember when we lived in Georgia and...".
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11
