We did it. We officially have moved out of our home and signed the papers. We’re nomads until (hopefully) October when our new home will be completed.
It was an incredibly emotional week or two. First, the girls had been at camp. While I’m so glad they didn’t have to be dragged through all the packing and moving, I really started to miss them so much the last few days of the 12 they spent away and picking them up from camp was a joyous reunion for all of us! There were tears, hugs, excited stories to share, bunks to show off, tired eyes, and deep coughs to bring home as souvenirs.
We spent our last night on air mattresses, then woke up to furiously pack up the final items, which of course ended up being more than we anticipated. Somehow we got it done though and made it to Charlotte to sign the official papers.
We showed up at my mom’s house in Georgia Friday night, emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted. I truly felt like David and I barely dragged ourselves over the finish line. But we did it! Now we are going to spend a few weeks with my mom so David can get his feet under him with this new job and the girls and I can begin our homeschool year (so excited!).
But before we move fully into our new chapter, a few thoughts on our Lake Norman home…
This was the house David and I built our lives in together. Moving in just shy of our one year wedding anniversary, we ate pizza and drank champagne on the dock the night we closed. We talked about what the next stage might have in store for us, moved in with no furniture beyond a giant bean bag, and immediately went to work ripping up the tile and carpet floors with our own two hands.
Over the next few years I would step back from being a health coach to live my dream of being a stay at home mom and build a community of friends here online. We brought both our baby girls home to this house. I’ll remember the giant swing David finagled hanging from the balcony to swing the girls as babies. I’ll remember the peeks over the balcony to see the Christmas tree or to try to spy on what David and I were watching after their bedtimes.
I’ll remember the years of Christmas parties we threw and welcomed friends into our home to laugh, be silly, and celebrate the season. I’ll remember family movie nights, couch snuggles, at home cooking date nights, watching storms on the screened porch, the kids jumping off the dock, the giant swing between two backyard trees, hosting my family at Christmas and all pitching crowded into the kitchen to decorate cookies and cook delicious food, backyard bonfires, July 4th lake days, backyard birthday parties, and so many more wonderful memories.
To ease our hearts, we walked around the house, talking about the memories. We thanked this house for being so good to us, for keeping us safe, and for providing the backdrop of so many happy times for our family. Once the house was completely empty and we were about to hop in the car, we gathered in the living room and I said a prayer through alligator tears. I prayed in gratitude for the years in the house and said a prayer for the new family that will move in, make it their own (they’re taking out the columns as their first project!), and make their own joyous memories.
Ultimately though, my heart doesn’t reside in a physical location; it’s where my people are. While we will miss this house, our neighborhood, and our wonderful friends, I am also really looking forward to our new chapter.
I’m proud of my family this year. It’s been more than we anticipated between the renovations, the listing prep, the showings, and the moving. In the midst of that, David was promoted and started a new job. The girls and I prepared ourselves emotionally to not return to our beloved co-op and no longer live down the street from friends we love.
In a way, it’s been over 6 months of feeling uprooted and in transition. But we’ve done it, leaning on each other along the way and now we have SO much ahead of us. We are all looking forward to moving into our new home, putting our personal touches in every nook, and finally feeling settled.
In a way it has seemed like a drawn out goodbye, and I’m ready. And really, for the things I care most about (people, always people), it’s not goodbye, it’s simply see you later. I’m grateful to live in a time when it’s easier to stay connected and visit.
Thank you, North Carolina. You’ve been such a special chapter of our lives. Onward. 💜
