If I had any energy right now, I’d be cleaning some more or putting clothes in suitcases and boxes.  I’ve mentioned before that some ladies in my ward were helping me out (in addition to my wonderful sisters), and today my visiting teacher really came through for me and cleaned both bathrooms top-to-bottom.  Since I can hardly stand my own scent at the moment, the thought of getting down on the not-too-dirty floor and mopping thoroughly was unbearable.  Thank you Leigh!  And yesterday one of my Primary counselors came over with lunch and cleaned my crusty oven and stove.  Thank you Leah!  I’m telling you, these Arkansan women are awesome.

In our typical style, we’re still not sure of the route we’re taking to California.  We talked over a few options this morning and I’m fairly certain we’re starting with a stop in Dallas at my sister’s new house.  Happy day!

In the process of sorting and packing we found an old bottle of my anti-nausea drug from my last pregnancy, and I found that if I take a quarter dose I can function without being too miserable most of the time.  I’m petitioning my doctor here (via phone) to prescribe me some more for the trip, but haven’t heard back from his nurse yet this morning.  What I have handy enabled me to enjoy a long, giggly, chatty night out with both sisters on Friday night (thanks for dinner, girls, and thanks for watching the kids Colin!).  On Saturday, Phoebe took me to get my hair cut, and I really feel like a new person.  What I thought would be an awful drudgery has really been relatively painless so far.  I am so, so, so blessed to have sisters who took the time and the expense to fly out here and take care of me and my family while I’m having trouble.  They even went through my cupboards and figured out a menu of meals I could make without gagging (hopefully) with ingredients we already have.

There’s something about having my sisters around that just lets me calm down and get things done at whatever pace I can without being self-conscious.  I didn’t have to worry about them rolling their eyes at my dirty floors, since they already know how I am that way and like me anyway.  I didn’t have to worry about whether they would pack things in a way that was intelligible for me, or about whether they would understand my packing system, because we all learned to pack from our mom and have similar packing styles.  I knew they’d enjoy playing with the kids when I took a nap, and it wouldn’t annoy them.  Anything weird I do they already know about, and often do themselves.  Yay sisters!

Another thing that is helping me to be optimistic about our move this week is our wonderful church family here.  The sisters of the Relief Society in our ward have volunteered to come over the day before the move and help with dinner, babysitting, last-minute packing, and final cleaning.  I cannot believe how totally supportive they are–it’s truly inspirational.  And the Priesthood of our ward, including members of the bishopric, will be coming over on Saturday to load the truck.  I guess Bishop decided he’s over his silent-treatment phase of trying to get us to stay.   This may actually happen, and I’m so grateful for the help everyone is giving us in the process.

My mother-in-law is already helping me find a doctor in California and had diapers for Maggie and Degen ready to go when we get there.  They’ve already done so much to prepare for our arrival–even down to improving the safety of the deck for the little ones so they can play outside.  I’m excited to see the family there and settle in.  It will be so nice for the kids to get to know the family better, too.  And the glorious weather of Marin County!  No more tornadoes, anyway.

Yesterday Colin shared his testimony during Fast & Testimony meeting at church–I love hearing him share his feelings and thoughts about the gospel.  He talked about how we all need to have an “addiction” to feeling the Spirit, and to getting personal revelation, and that’s the only way we’ll be able to know how to do what will bring us happiness in the long run.  I went to my last Ward Council in this ward and everyone said very kind things to me about my time in Primary.  I gave my last Sharing Time in Primary and waved goodbye to the kids quickly as I bolted out the door to chase a couple of runaway little ones down the hallway.  I handed over my keys to the new Primary president.  The Primary staff gave me a card they’d all signed and that I haven’t read yet for fear of crying, but I’m sure I’ll love once I have the emotional fortitude to believe I’m actually leaving.

I’m still not sure why the Lord sent us to Arkansas, but I think it partly had something to do with my Primary calling here.  I discovered weaknesses I didn’t know I had and parts of my heart and mind were opened that weren’t there before.  I usually felt capable and happy in my calling, which has rarely happened to me in past callings, but when I felt inadequate I felt TOTALLY inadequate and had to rely entirely on the Lord.  My calling helped me to be happy when nothing else could.  I’m grateful to the Lord for trusting me with this calling and to the ward for sustaining me in it.  I will miss it and I will miss them.  I wonder what I’ll be called to do in my next ward…

It looks like we’re moving to California!  We’ve been working on figuring out what to do job-wise when the school year ends for a while now, and last week Colin’s parents asked him to work at their print shop in MIll Valley, CA.  They also generously offered to let us live with them for a few months while we adjust (cost of living is seriously something to adjust to there), and this week we decided to take them up on their offer.

The plan is to move the first week of June.  I’ve got a truck lined up and we’ll load it up the Friday/Saturday of Colin’s last week of work, then we’ll have them drive away.  ABF U-Pack still seems like the safest and most economical way to go, and we had a great experience with them on our trip out here, so they’re our moving company again. This is all happening really fast and I’ve hardly had a chance to catch my breath, but it’s pretty exciting!

Moving will be a challenge, especially since we’ve only got a month to prepare.  Luckily (or not), most of our stuff is still packed up in boxes, and I’ve saved most of our empty boxes from the last move in our “storage room,” so this move shouldn’t take nearly as long to pack for as our last one.  Since most of our stuff will be in storage for a long time, I’m negotiating with Colin over giving away/throwing away a lot of our stuff.  I like to de-clutter and Colin is a bit more of a pack-rat who can’t think of why we’d get rid of anything we might ever want to use again.   I only want to store anything I’ll miss six months later.  So we’ll see how it goes.  We pay the trucking company by the linear foot of space on the truck, so Colin is more open to chucking than normal.  We’re definitely sending some toys to Goodwill, so if any of my local friends are interested in some toys let me know and I’ll give you first dibs.

Speaking of local friends, we are going to miss you!  I had to email my bishopric and tell them I’m moving and they’ll have to find a new Primary president and I felt odd about that.  I can’t stand the idea of leaving my one counselor who isn’t currently in the hospital to run the Primary alone.  She’s a very capable, industrious, willing woman, but doing it all by myself would be a nightmare.  Luckily we’ve got lots of awesome adults in our Primary to help out until the presidency is reorganized–my secretary, the music director, the pianist, and all the teachers.  I’m already sad to miss all the things we’ve been planning and all the kids…Too sad, I’m not going to talk about that more right now.

I’m really grateful to have a good relationship with my in-laws.  Colin’s parents are great people and we get along well, and I’m always so happy to have to opt-out on in-law horror story conversations.  Hopefully we won’t mess that up by living together!  I guess we’ll just have to be really flexible and have good ground rules and cross our fingers.  Hey, there’s potential for us to have an even closer relationship because of this, too.  It’ll be nice for the kids to get to know their grandparents and other California relatives better.  And Marin is beautiful and green and has perfect weather…and I might “get” to feel my first earthquake (small ones only, please).  We’ll be lots closer to my family, too.  We’ll only be 10 hours away instead of our current 24+.  Yay!

To wear there and back: 

• Me: khaki skirt and red Jensen shirt (with sandals?)
• Colin: tan pants, belt, red Jensen shirt, black socks, black shoes
• Degen: red Jensen shirt, brown corduroy pants, Sunday shoes, socks
• Maggie: red Jensen onesie, khaki pants?, pink shoes?

Stroller(s) (double or single?)

Car seats 

Diaper bag for the airport/plane:

• Diapers
• Wipes 
• Books for Degen
• Paper and pen and crayons
• Teething toys for Maggie
• Sippy cup
• Bottle with formula (in case nursing is too awkward)
• Blanket
• Graham crackers and/or goldfish
• Keys
• Wallet
• Sunglasses
• Eye drops, sudafed, tylenol (infant and adult), kleenex, ambesol
• Nursing pads
• Change of outfit for both kids

Computer Case:

• Computers and cables
• iPod
• Birth certificates
• Itineraries
• Cameras
• Meds

Kid Suitcase:

• Five outfits each
• Dress for Maggie
• Sunday clothes for Degen
• Swimming clothes
• Hats
• PJs
• Diapers & wipes?
• Swimming diapers 
• Shoes (swimming shoes, Sunday shoes, sandals) and socks
• Formula and bottles
• Bath stuff
• Sweaters
• Snugli

My Suitcase:

• Suncreen & aloe
• Threeish changes of clothes
• PJs 
• Makeup
• Hair stuff
• Deodorant
• Razor 
• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Shampoo
• Sneakers and socks
• Flip flops
• Nursing pads
• Swimming suit and coverup
• Hat
• Sweater
• Small backpack
• Scriptures and journal

Colin's suitcase:

• Threeish changes of clothes
• Sandals and sneakers
• Electric razor
• Deodorant
• Hair stuff
• Contacts & solution 
• Socks
• Swimming shorts
• PJs
• Hat
• Sweater or jacket
• Laundry detergent