We are literally two marks away from completing “Phase 1” of our move. Seriously, I thought it might never happen, but today as the carpet cleaners said their goodbyes, and we crawled into our resting place, I breathed one small momentary breath of relief. To preface, let me say that moving 2 years into the relationship vs four months in looks A LOT different, like A LOT. For that reason, I’ve compiled our favorites both the great dos and the worst don’ts of our last month.
1. DO HAVE A PLAN
I mentioned in my last post— you know, the “woe is me” post that I had to write because I literally couldn’t even yet still felt guilty about posting because lawd knows I hate attention seeking posts…. but there I went… so yeah, about that last post. The Real Simple feature that will probably never be published but absolutely should be: Our Plan!
We live in a four story condo/townhome. When we found it, we were so positively smitten with the layout that we didn’t even consider what moving in or out would entail… that and did you read that part above that said FOUR MONTHS into our relationship?! That’s when we decided that we BOTH hate moving together. Like legit hate. My husband, he’s a saint that yells on two occasions, 1-when the Dallas Cowboys are playing, and 2-when George Mason refs are being stupid heads. His wife aka yours truly yells on every other occasion, especially if the occasion is a relocation involving furniture removal. BTW-Don’t ask me where that comes from… I think maybe I just have a loud and very passionate voice….
All that to say, we learned fast that if we ever moved out of this place (which surely wouldn’t be in two years) we’d own it and we’d own it good. So- back in December I started researching moves and all things good and glorious for a smooth transition. I bought labels, a spunky new binder, stickers, colored duct tape, and even brand new boxes so that each crease would be ours. And seriously, we owned it.
Someplace in this pretty green binder were inventories of every box; special codes for each room of the house… and someplace in there I’m pretty sure my husband knocked a few years off of his life as he patiently listened to me gently firmly remind him of the inventories and of the need to use the tape dispenser at a certain angle for the best tape efficiency. seriously. but my gosh- THE INVENTORIES!!!
2. DON’T FREAK OUT..just kidding
Seriously. Go back and read my last post. Freak out, we just learned that in doing so we needed to be ready to jump right back in.. which unfortunately meant that the tape probably wasn’t going to get used as efficiently. And it also meant that the inventories that so clearly documented and categorized every over-valued possession were most likely going to get lost in the madness of my personal need to “own” this move.
Maybe a better way to put it is: choose what to freak out about. For us- it was my cry uncle moment that beckoned my Trey to stay home and help me in areas that I had nearly given up on. Thursday might have actually been the best day for us in a long time… and that’s because we were swimming in the depths of Phase 1, but we were doing it together.
3. DO INVEST IN OTHERS
And speaking of our favorite together times: being with our student min kids. For me, I’m like, woah– these kids, I’ve watched them grow for the past nine years into these amazing people, and Trey he’s all, “there’s actually kids like that?!” Yeah, THERE ARE! If you’re not investing in the now generation- do it… if nothing else, for the strength of the young men and women. No just kidding… kind of. But seriously, these guys and gal, gift straight from H.E.A.V.E.N.
I posted this photo of Chris with just one of my normal, little, sappy collection of words on Saturday morning because he came alone on a Friday night to help Trey load the mostly inventoried boxes and large pieces into our pod. p.s. PODS are the bees knees and the cat’s pajamas.
Naturally, the next morning, when my Trey woke up feeling ill, we felt much peace knowing that our Topher was returning to help, and this time with even more of our favorite students. Funny how as soon as they walked into the mix they said, “Nicole, do we get special IG posts too?”
How about a blog post?!
But seriously. I did senior pics for this girl– and every time I think too hard about her, I get teary and lost in my prayers because of God’s gracious work in her life. She’s the best kind of sweet and sassy all in one and did I mention that she is hands-down, the most beautiful dancer.
And these other guys. Let’s just say when Katie saw them coming it was like a moment of bliss, hallelujah chorus blaring, fancy gold halos around their handsome faces, and the words, “Chris is here… and he brought two more Mitchells!!!” I have so much to say about this entire family but those are personal words that I’ll handwrite to their parents in the coming weeks. They’ll be words of thanksgiving, and gladness, and pride of the men they’ve become, and humility of the opportunity to have been a part of it. They were bringing stacks of boxes down THREE AT A TIME. And they were loading that pod and owning it so much better than I was with my stupid green moving binder and silly labels.
But I can’t forget Marshall. That sweet heart and smile of yours that is contagious: the way you make us laugh with your stories of life and happiness, you are the real deal. A rarity among your generation. All of you are really….
And there’s no way we could have done it without them. No way.
Plus- in the end, Trey and I realized that the only way we could actually love moving together is by being together, with them.
So a new post. To the Bressler movers:
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You are something fierce…I can see it on your faces. And you’re loved something fierce too. You are Christ’s hands to the least of these… even us. And we’re humbled to get to know you because we’re standing in your shadows as you go catch the world with your brilliance and strength. It’s these little acts of kindness that are going to carry you into a success that God is writing for you each and every day. Don’t stop. Go get it.
ps. thank you.
4. DON’T LET YOUR HUSBAND GET THE FLU
Who knew that the shirt my Trey wore in that picture would be an exact prophesy of the hours that followed when all his strength and health were completely #demo’d. And who knew that me, standing right there behind him, would follow soon enough in said prophesy. Let me tell you something, when your house goes on the market in t-3 days, DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT, get the flu!
Ain’t no body got time for dat!
But as if he hadn’t proved himself a saint already, he was surely about to on Sunday when my parents came over to help us pack the last of the last (of this round). And he sure proved himself all over again today when he helped me load the rest of the pod, him talking in a whisper, and me, well… I plead the fifth. I don’t feel well, okay!
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5. DO STAY TOGETHER
The oven is cleaner than when we moved in, and the shower door is actually clear as glass as it should be. And my vanity has less than 2 hair products on it because yeah, I packed that crapola, yes. I. did. So Trey is now walking around painting touch ups and sniffling the yucks while I dizzily write to all y’all from my transformed office with a fever of about 101.
And Dear Trey, the love of my life: those words of frustration that went something like, “BUT IT WON’T FIT THAT WAY” and “WHY WON’T YOU JUST TRY IT?!” and “YOUR DAD IS SO MUCH NICER TO ME WHEN I USE THE TAPE,” I know they weren’t truly ours, but just words of our exhaustion and infirmities. They were words just buried in the brutality of our grievance: selling our first home.
But let me tell you this- I’d do it all a thousand times over; to be at home, with you.
Phase 1: Out.
