The house looks like it blew up! Last night when I sat down to dinner at 9:30 on the floor of my living room, I looked around at the boxes, crumpled rugs, packing material, and general crap all over and thought, "There is no way I'm going to pull this together in 20 days". This weekend was brutal with all the boxing up, sorting through, taking Kaylen's stuff to the storage unit, a visit from Robert's brother Scott, choir concerts and some really warm weather. But you know, I think I'm getting more done than it looks like. The high priest group from our church is coming to help load tomorrow night and maybe I'll see some light at the end of the tunnel then.
I've begun to feel the emotions of this move. I haven't really allowed myself to "go there" because sometimes you feel like if you go down that road it's hard to come back. My baby boy is graduating, receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood (the first step toward his mission) and we are leaving the home where our family was raised. It's bitter-sweet but I've got to keep my focus on the adventures than lie ahead rather than the sentiment of the past.
The suburban leaves tomorrow. The container leaves a week from today, John graduates a week from Friday, our tenants move in a week from Saturday. Better keep an eye on the calendar because things are getting dicey!

The Container Arrives!

Hire a moving company to move stuff 20'

 That's really high!

Does the knot in my stomach mean I'm excited or an ulcer is forming?

It's the middle of May. Exactly 27 days until we fly to Maui. For good. As in, "move". It's an interesting balancing act - keeping my head in the game at work, sorting out the confusion at home and the ever present emotional bomb ticking in the background. Having my eye on the prize isn't a luxury I can afford right now because I'm afraid the distraction might be the tiny grain of sand that tips my precarious scale into the non-recoverable crazy zone.
So much has happened in the last  month. The house has been rented, the shop has been cleaned up - we scaled back the idea of a remodel/granny unit. Just not something we want to delve into right now for the short period of time it'll be used. So it's clean and painted - no kitchen, no rooms, NO HEAT, so that should hasten John's decision to go on a mission as the winter approaches! We are so blessed with our new tenants. They seem like very nice people and I'm hoping that the year lease will be event free. It's a small piece of mind that John has stepped up to the plate and has taken the role of property caretaker. He's shouldered the responsibility of the yard and pool with amazing maturity. I feel like Futura Way will be in good hands.
And the dogs...
So family members who shall remain nameless were having emotional issues bordering on psychosis over the possibility of NOT taking the dogs to Hawaii. Frankly, the whole dog transport thing made me feel like my head would explode. Now that I'm knee deep in it, an exploding head seems to be benign compared to the reality of the process. For some crazy reason, I thought if you went through the "Checklist for 5 Day or Less Release" with absolute diligence, you could get through the process unscathed. Not so. You see, the "Checklist for 5 Day or Less Release" is correct including the directions to FedEx the paper work 10 days in advance IF you are going through Honolulu. If you are going through Maui for airport release, then the secret FedEx the paper work 30 days in advance applies. I discovered this caveat on Friday - exactly 30 days before we fly the dogs over. Like a flash of lightning, Robert and I leaped into action! Quick - get to the vet and get clearances - WAIT- call Honolulu - Can we get a rabies shot now and it's ok?? Yes?? Okay, shoot them up. Call Honolulu again! Are you sure? Yes. Ok. Oh, wait....the signatures must be notarized. Oh, wait...they won't take a personal check, Quick, get a cashier's check - no get two, they each need their own. Now, quick, get to the FedEx office by...what time is the last pickup? 4:00????? It's 3:50 now! Whew! made it.... Seriously, no one should have to go through this. It's not because I love the dogs that much. Truth is, it's because I love my daughter. And I'm a sap.
So there's where I am. The kitchen cupboards are packed, the pantry awaits. Calgon, take me away...