Across the Country

 Our travel plans were janky at best. I was flying with Mya, Sophia, and the cat while Dan was driving the Uhaul with Zoe, Milo, and the car on the back. We fliers took the long way: L.A. to Dallas to Destin. With a cat. It was an adventure and all I can really say is that we made it. The plan was to sleep at the house that night. But by the time we got to Destin, it was so late and I was so tired! Did I really want to drive out to the middle of nowhere in the dark, hoping that the utilities had all been connected so we had power and water, we definitely had no food or toilet paper at the new house. So we spent the night at a hotel by the airport. The cat was seriously done with us! 

We had to be at the school early the next morning to complete registration so with the two hour time change (we are on Central and now participate in Daylight Savings again😞) we were up very early! We made it through Friday by going to the store for essentials, buying a washer/dryer on Facebook marketplace (the guy brought his darling, precocious 8-year-old daughter who talked my ear off! Then I woke up Sophia because the two of them were like kindred spirits! They talked quail and guinea pigs and most likely we will have some quail instead of pigeons) and then we went to the Crestview High Homecoming Game. We had heard that the marching band a.k.a. The Big Red Machine was the epitome of cool. It was okay. We were used to Campo Verde so it was a high bar! But it was obvious that this is a small town with a lot of deep roots when we saw the bleachers were full of people having reunions!

While waiting for the Trucker Dan (he fancied himself a long haul trucker on the trip so he needed a CB radio name) to get to us on Saturday, we just chilled. But it wasn't super comfortable.

Meanwhile, the drivers drove more than 30 hours to get here! Driving a 26-foot truck while towing a car that has 4 bikes on the back is no joke! You really have to think about where you are going to stop whether for gas, snacks, or hotel. One of the places they stopped, Dan met a man and his wife who were trying to get home from a funeral but they had no gas and no money. Dan was able to fill up their tank. It's those little opportunities to give back. To recognize that while on this journey, we have had countless angels put in our path by God to help us. Now he could be that angel for someone else. 

One of the best places they stopped was Buccee's. For those who have never had the pleasure it's worth it to go out of your way for that experience! They got beef jerky and the yummy candy pecans plus some pretty good gas station BBQ. Zoe is now a fan for life!

Just after noon on Saturday, the truck pulled in. They stopped at the top of the hill to unhitch the trailer before driving the truck down to the house. We met all the neighbors who live at the top of the hill - they were so friendly and welcoming. It was very heartening! All of them but one live in mobile homes. Some are really nice places while others are very run down - one even has a piano out on their porch! 

We had some help unloading - one of the movers and I had a book club while we were moving stuff. He is a huge Brandon Sanderson fan but had some great recommendations for other authors. Though he is a sci-fi fan, I read The Name of the Wind (by Patrick Rothfuss) and really enjoyed it! You never know when you'll find a fellow bibliophile!

This is the sunset from our front door. Wilbur Flemming (age 81, 2 ex-wives, member of the men's prayer group at his church, and wealth of local knowledge) lives through those beautiful trees on 40 acres with 2 HUGE lakes (he's thinking of selling if you want to come be our neighbor). Through those trees are the lakes and when the sun sets over them...WOW! Almost as beautiful as the Arizona sunsets over the soccer fields. 

So now we are unloaded. We downsized 1500 sq ft and purged A LOT of stuff back in AZ (more than 10 trips to Goodwill and D.I. with my car chuck full)! But still I don't think we have room for all this. Good thing there is a Goodwill just down the street.