Back To The Grind

Well it was a good run here in our house. My husband had just about a month off in between completing his fellowship and starting his first job. Despite having to work on some papers he's writing and doing some reading it afforded him quality time with the kids. It took some adjustment having daddy at home. Between a lot of traveling and his presence our daily routine got a little shaken up. Nap times got missed, cookies were given for breakfast and my dress got shrunk in his attempt to help me switch out the laundry one day. All in all though it was nice to see the kids have that time with him. I would watch them play and listen to their laughter worrying in the back of my mind what would happen when he went back to work. Fortunately the first two weeks were mostly orientation types of days where even if they didn't get to see him in the morning he would usually make it home for dinner. This last week however he started back operating and though I was hoping his absence wouldn't be too hard to transition back to, his presence was definitely missed. During the day at random intervals the kids would ask when he would be coming home. A knock on the door by the UPS man would elicit yells for daddy and running to the door only to be disappointed it was just a box. And then two nights ago while finishing up dinner our son tells me he doesn't think he wants to be a surgeon like daddy. I asked him why, to which he responded, "you would be so lonely if we are both gone and then you would only have my sister to eat dinner with." Though I appreciate his thoughtful and loving heart it reminds me that he is getting older now and is more perceptive about his surroundings and the day to day life and events that transpire. Thankfully though I believe they will have more time on the weekends with him as the demand on his time will not be quite like the last few years.
I do know that though he misses the kids he is glad to be back helping those that need his help. He comes in to his new position with a lot of pressure from different directions but he knows that one pressure he doesn't have to worry about is pressure from home. We are getting our routine back in order and the kids absolutely love this new area and we enjoy exploring it!

Back to three seats at the dinner table

Home

I once read a quote that said, "home is not a place, it is a feeling." I have lived in many places in my life and I feel confident in saying this could not be truer. A few weeks ago we moved to a lovely town in West Virginia. Ironically known for the actor Don Knotts, it feels very Mayberry-ish to me here. Although significantly larger than that storybook town, the people are friendly and it maintains that small town feel, where neighbors help neighbors and everyone knows everyone. In my previous post I wrote about how at first when my husband accepted the job here I was nervous with the ideas conjured up in my head of what life in West Virginia would be like. Life here has proven to be peaceful and serene.
It took us a month to get our things here. 

It took a week but we got all of our boxes unpacked!

 After a big fiasco with the moving company, that I assure you we will not use EVER again, a truck driver who to the colorful language of my uncle and father obviously did not know how to actually DRIVE his truck, except on the straight interstate. Things brought to us broken, crushed up and/or missing we survived. And to be honest I was ok here. As soon as we got here it felt like home to me. It is a hard feeling to explain to someone that doesn't understand that 'home' doesn't have to be a place but a feeling. Yes, we are both miles from our family, our comfort zone, but we don't feel unease about it. 
My mom once told me she knew I would likely never live where I grew up because I had a gypsy soul and I find that in my years, in my many moves I have always found 'home' everywhere I have been. I have been able to make a life despite the locations or distance from anyone I knew. I have been able to pack up my small amount of possessions and find adventure and life everywhere I went. I of course will always have my hometown. The place I was born and raised. The place where the foundation of my life was set. The place I know I can always return to if or when I need to but every piece of my 'home' I have found in my travels and living in different locations. It is comprised of the people I surround myself with, the beauty of the scenery around me, watching my children's happy faces as they run and explore, where my heart feels full and life is satisfying.