The move went well. The movers lost my drawer of Pampered Chef utensils and broke some stuff but hopefully they will reimburse me.
How do you lose an entire drawer of utensils? That was frustrating....not being able to cook. My mother in law gave me a couple of spatulas but you realize how much you do use all those gadgets when they are all gone!
Just a quick update, I have so much more to post later.
PS The picture is what I am using for karsen's bday!
John was laid off in April and despite positive feedback from reputable companies like CAT, Liebherr, and other large heavy equipment companies in our area....we haven't been able to land a job.
The job market in the heavy equipment industry is super stressed right now and a lot of companies are down sizing. We have survived this now three other times before. Each time it has set our family back financially substantially. It is a hard climb back when you lose a job, and even after you land a new job, you have your pay slashed by thousands.
The last 2 weeks, John has had the opportunity to interview with 2 great companies. One is in Charleston, West Virginia where my mother in law lives. The other is in Greensboro, NC 15 miles from my hometown. Both interviews went well. Both companies are promising us that we will know something soon.
PLEASE pray one of these works out. Being without health insurance is so scary. Being without a full paycheck is scarier.
As Jesus says in Mark 11:24, "I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours." I am banking on that promise. Please keep my family in your prayers!
It sure won't be easy to move again, especially for my oldest son Jonathan, who will be a senior this year. But you have to go where the money is. And hopefully the money leads us HOME!
Our trip back home was over way too soon. It always is. But we had a great visit with our family. The highlight of the trip was spending time with my little sister. We made our first fondant cake together! We also had cupcakes that were a hit.
We made the cake for my 17 year old son (Jonathan) but as I decorated it, I knew I was really making it for the 5 year old Jonathan who loved Buzz Lightyear. How time sadly flies.
There is no place like home and tomorrow we are headed home! We haven't been back since Christmas and baby Karsen has changed so much in the last 8 weeks. I cannot wait for my mom to hold her.
My sister, Raini and I will also be making Jonathan a birthday cake for his party. When he was little, Jon-Jon LOVED Buzz Lightyear so we are making him a Buzz Lightyear cake & alien cupcakes.
That's going to be fun. Even though he is 17, he is such a kid at heart. And Raini & I like any excuse to do something creative together!
I am also looking forward to going to our thrift stores and Goodwill's. Its going to be a great weekend!
Our trip home to North Carolina was short and sweet.
Wayyy to short. Awfully sweet.
Karsen met her cousins and great Aunts, and she spent lots of time with Nanny while me & Raini shopped on Saturday. 48 hours later it was over and we were all back in Richmond.
Every time we leave its hard. We have all learned to push the tears way down deep until we are safely miles away. Then the tears fall. Quietly.
I watch my mom in the rear view mirror until I can see her no more. That's when my tears start. An ache in my throat as I leave because I want her to think I am being strong. The truth is I want to run to her and not let go. I want her to say "Don't leave, just stay here"!
I never, ever, ever thought I would live this far away from my family. We are such a close knit bunch and I make no apologies for that. Seeing my mom and Raini once or twice a month is just unfair.
Karsen not having a close relative living nearby to spoil her is heartbreaking. My boys have such a close relationship with my mom. Just like I had with Papa Bud and Moma Jo. Will Karsen ever have that too?
I also took Karsen to visit with Papa Bud. The flowers in the cemetery were all fall hue colored. The leaves were changing and the wind had a slight chill in it. Another season without him. The second fall with him there in that cemetery. It was hard, but not as hard as past visits. I am slowly healing. In some ways that makes me happy, but in other ways it makes me sad. I do not want to get used to him being there so much to the point that I don't cry when I visit. Does that make sense?
I am trying hard to adjust to this new life, new city, new home, new baby. It is overwhelming at times but I am grateful for God's assurances that life is ok and that it keeps moving. Even if its at a pace and sometimes directions that I don't like.
Karsen will be making her North Carolina debut this weekend as we travel home with her for the first time.
I am so excited to see everyone and show the baby off. I haven't been home since July so I am super ready to go!
My sister and I are planning to shop all day Saturday at all of our favorite thrift stores and antique shops.
And tomorrow, my middle son turns 15! Where has the time gone? I love you , Justin! I am so happy that we will be home for his birthday and he can celebrate with all of our family.
Before I left, my midwife prescribed me Zofran for my morning sickness and it seemed to work. The only drawback was my insurance would only approve 12 pills and my midwife wanted me to take 2 a day. So I have had to take them very carefully so they will last me the rest of the month.
Tate's EEG went REALLY well! We were so happy to hear those results! His neurologist is now going to wean him off of his seizure meds and by late April, he should be off of them completely! His chances of having seizures in the future are very low risk. Thank you God!
After his appointment, Moma Jo and me treated Tate to a doughnut at one of the original Krisy Kremes in High Point, NC. The diner is amazing. It still has the same decor as it did in the 1950's.
Moma Jo & Tateeating at Krispy Kreme
My Aunt Beverly and dear cousin Grady treated me to a delicious dinner on Friday night. We drove to Boone, NC to eat at our favorite restaurant, Casa Rustica. If you are ever in the Boone area, this restaurant is a MUST! It was a two hour drive but so worth it. The food is all hand prepared including the bread and salad dressings. My favorite salad dressing is the Peppercorn Parmesan. MMMMMMM.
My Aunt Beverly & her son Grady at Casa Rustica. Well worth the 2 hour drive!
On Saturday, my sister Raini and I hit a local flea market in Winston Salem called "Lost in Time" or as Raini calls it, Lost in the Flea Market. We were there for hours! Here are some of the beautiful finds. We saw SOOOOOOO many pretty things:
We had so much fun. I love being with Raini. As we get older, we get closer and to have that kind of relationship is just a joy. I miss her so much so when I do get to spend time with her, we make a day out of it!
We also drove over to the machine shop in Kernersville where the History channel filmed Madhouse. It comes on Sunday nights at 11pm and it is so much fun watching a reality show filmed in my hometown of Kvegas!
S&R Motors, home of Junior Miller racing Kernersville, NC
Tate enjoyed spending his time with my step dad hunting in Papa Friedle's backyard. Jonathan enjoyed time with his friends any being able to hang out with my little brother Andrew, and I enjoyed being at my moms house surrounded by family who I love and miss so much.
It was hard to leave but it is so nice to know that you can return home!
It was weird seeing Papa's grave. The ground was very wet from all of the recent snow. The trees were almost completely bare. The grass has filled in and it is not as easy to make out the outline of where they dug. I didn't stay as long as I normally do. I just told him how much I miss him and thank God this was just his temporary home.
I'm packing for our trip home to NC and although this is the 4th trip we have made since moving to Richmond in August, my mind still cannot grasp that I won't be seeing Papa when I get there.
It hits me out of the blue. Like this morning. I am packing clothes and I come across something that triggers bittersweet memories of the greatest man I have ever loved. And it hits me hard that AGAIN I will not see him this trip home.
I will make the painful journey to his grave. I will sit there alone and cry and smooth out his flowers. I will just sit and think about him.
The day Papa died, I asked my mom if I could have his hospital gown. Morbid right? But I wanted it. I wanted to have it. I don't know why. She washed it for me but I haven't had the courage to ask her for it yet. I want something of his to hold onto to. Something I can cry into. Am I crazy?
I love going home. I miss my family more than I ever thought I could but it is so painfully bittersweet to know that the one I loved most is not waiting on me by his door. He isn't going to be calling me ten times to see how far I have made it. He won't be sitting in his chair by the door with the curtains pulled back so he can see us the second we pull into his driveway. It stings to confront this reality.
The last few times home I go to Mama Jo's house and when no one is looking I bury my face into his chair cushion and I breathe in deeply. I smell him. And it is so comforting to have that scent. I dread the day I walk in and his scent is gone.
The last night before he was admitted to the hospital, I saw him last in that chair. He looked at me with his crystal blue eyes. I told him he was so handsome. We told each other goodbye. I kissed him and walked out of his home with the heaviest heart knowing the end was near but I had no idea it would be his last night at home and that in 5 days he would be gone forever. God, I miss him so much. I just miss him so much.
Dear Papa, Its been 6 months. 6 months without you. Some days it is harder than ever before. I miss my best friend. You visit me in my dreams and it is so wonderful when that happens. Help me get through this sadness. Its still so raw. I just want to hug you and make you laugh. I want to joke with you about how pathetic UNC is playing. I miss you. Everything about you. I never could have dreamed it would be this hard. Love, #1
You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it's all right. ~Maya Angelou
We are heading home to NC for several days. Tate has some neurological tests needed. He hasn't had a seizure since October of 2007 (Thank you God). I am hoping/praying that he will be able to come down off of some meds. We will find out on Friday after his EEG.
I went to the Dr this morning and heard a glorious heartbeat from the Bean. It was around 160 bpm. My midwife also prescribed me some anti nausea medication. The only issue she was worried about was that I was pretty dehydrated. I have to go back in 2 weeks to make sure I am hydrated or I may have to be admitted for IV fluids and I don't want that!
My sister and I have lots of thrift store shopping planned so the anti nauseous pills will come in handy this weekend!
Baby Bean is due around the same time that I lost Papa. August will be one year since I lost the rock of my world. Instead of dreading the month, now I am almost looking forward to it. God knew.
Please keep my family in your prayers as we travel to NC & back.
I never thought seeing this sign would make me so emotional but it did.
As we passed into NC from Virginia Wednesday evening, the WELCOME TO NORTH CAROLINA sign in Caswell county made me tear up.
I was almost home!
Seeing my Mama standing in her driveway waiting for us was the best feeling I had felt in a long time. It didn't feel real at first that we were finally home!
The weather for the fair on Thursday couldn't have been better. Sunny and 70 degrees.
The stores that my sister & I shopped at all weekend were chock full of vintage goodies. I even found a vintage Steiff Jocko Monkey for 50 cents!
Friday, my neighbor Doris welcomed me into her home with a wonderfully cold margarita. It was nice to catch up with such a dear friend.
Being home felt amazing.
Papa's grave was hard to leave and seeing my house so empty was hard to bear.
All in all a wonderful / emotional trip.
I will repost later with more stories but for now, here are some pictures of our wonderful trip home that ended all too soon.
My big boys. Jonathan, my little brother Andrew, & Justin
The Dixie Classic Fair from the Giant Ferris Wheel. Wake Forest plays in the stadium to the left.
There is no place like home and tomorrow we are headed home! We haven't been back since Christmas and baby Karsen has changed so much in the last 8 weeks. I cannot wait for my mom to hold her.
That's going to be fun. Even though he is 17, he is such a kid at heart. And Raini & I like any excuse to do something creative together!
Our trip home to North Carolina was short and sweet.
Karsen with Moma Jo
Karsen with my Dad
(Justin's bday in 2007)
Well, I am back from North Carolina!
Moma Jo & Tate eating at Krispy Kreme
My Aunt Beverly & her son Grady at Casa Rustica. Well worth the 2 hour drive! 
We had so much fun. I love being with Raini. As we get older, we get closer and to have that kind of relationship is just a joy. I miss her so much so when I do get to spend time with her, we make a day out of it!
S&R Motors, home of Junior Miller racing Kernersville, NC
My big boys. Jonathan, my little brother Andrew, & Justin
The Dixie Classic Fair from the Giant Ferris Wheel. Wake Forest plays in the stadium to the left.
Ashton
Tate on the Merry Go Round
Ashton & Me
Me & my Tater
Grady, Ashton & Tate take on a ride.
Giant Ferris Wheel @ night