Now I Can Say I've Moved...

Our boxes have arrived! YES! They arrived promptly at 8am, left two hours later, and now I'm standing in a sea of boxes but I'm just sooo happy. Here is a glimpse of Holly central and what I call a train wreck. Time for me to display a smile and my big CAN DO attitude because this is only a snippet of what I have in store for me over the next few days...

BUT despite the work, boy is this a very rewarding time for both my husband and I because in my opinion a move is never final until you have all of your personal belongings in your home. I feel like I've been living in limbo-land up until today. I kept wanting this jacket, or that spoon, or a certain book or pattern and was reminded time and time again that it was on the boat. And for those of you who have moved overseas, the anticipation of the wait can be a bit stressy because you wonder if you'll ever see your things again too, am I right?! And if you do, if they'll be in good shape. We are SO happy to have our possessions back in, well, our possession. And sure, the difficult part is that our current flat is only temporary as it was our vacation apartment up until now -- but we plan to move as soon as we find a larger place, so I cannot fully set up my home office and my husband cannot set up his because we only have a one bedroom. I can only unpack about a 1/4 of everything so I need to go through 82 boxes to see what stays and what goes downstairs into our cellar. Wish me luck but I'm feeling like I can knock this ball out of the park over the next few days. My mother called me last night and wished me well with all of this, saying how she wished she could be here to help me since we both know that she's the organization queen and that she's helped me on every move I've ever made. Until now. And she cried some more. She's emotional like that. This time, I'm doing my move mom-free and I feel a bit like I'm officially on my own. It's odd, because I'm in my thirties now but a girl always needs her mom I think, especially at times in her life when a major shifting occurs. My mother and I have had our moments, and recently we had very long moments that lasted for months, but before I moved this conversation took place that I hadn't had with her in a long time and everything became normal again. And now I feel like we're close and this makes me happy because I'd missed our bond over the past few years. But when she hung up last night after we laughed and chatted like old friends for a few hours, I felt like I really, really needed her here for the first time in years. I felt like the little girl who would hold her hand in the school yard so tightly because I was scared to let go and enter the school for my first day of class. I remember those days, each year in grade school, and I felt so lonely and afraid, so unsure... but then the moment that I walked into school and the kids came over to introduce themselves and I'd open my pencil case to get started with my lessons, I felt like a big girl and that I would be fine on my own. I'd wipe away the last tear and have my last sniffle and get to work, big girl style. And the days that came after that, I no longer felt sad when I went to school each morning. But the first day of a new year was when I needed my mother. This morning when the truck arrived I felt my relocation was official and final and really happening. It was like the first day of school all over again. And I felt my mother's hand holding mine and knew she was somehow with me. Then, as the movers came and went, the postal worker arrived with a some housewarming presents from friends, and I was reminded that I have plenty of love and support from around the world, including my mom, and that I have no reason to feel first day jitters. All is well and I'll be just fine. I'm a big girl. With these thoughts in my mind, my mood is soaring -- I feel loved, excited to unpack and now I can't wait to see where this German adventure takes me. I'm listening to classic Michael Jackson (Don't stop till you get enough, baby!!!) and I'm ready to sort and unpack and live my life.

So with that, I will take the next few days off because I've earned it and I'm ready to get this place organized because there is no way I can live in a sea of boxes for more than a day or two - I'm fussy like that. I will see you soon again and hopefully when I do, I'll be much more organized. :) (images: holly becker for haus maus)