Saying Good-bye!

Mary-our neighbor and my kids adopted Grandma!

We've had a crazy last few months. Pretty much the whole time we have lived in PA I was worried about our house selling since we bought at the peak of the market. We decided to put the house for sale at the end of February in hopes that it would sell by summer when we needed to move to Arizona. Within two weeks of it being on the market we had two offers and they were competing with each other and we finally accepted the offer that was $20,000 MORE than we were asking! We are blessed! The only stipulation was that they wanted us OUT April 11th! We went back and forth as to whether we should rent something in PA or if I should just move to AZ and be apart from Brian for 2.5 months! It was a difficult decision. His boards became the deciding factor when he indicated it might be helpful for us to be away while he studied. He's been worrying about passing these boards for 5 years and now they were upon us. I think it was a good decision although I AM MISSING MY HUSBAND LIKE CRAZY!!!!!! We have seen each other for two different weeks throughout the time apart. He comes home for good in less than a week. The kids and I are totally counting down! It all happened so suddenly that it was even harder to say good-bye to our good friends in Harrisburg. I remember the first year I was there crying and praying for friends. When I lived in Arizona I was busy with my business and my family and my husband. After we moved to PA I didn't have my business, my family, or my husband (ALWAYS WORKING). It was also a hard time because little Brian was at a difficult age and I got pregnant within a few months of moving! I thought I'd never make friends. I remember one time going to the park and there were some girls that I thought looked like we could be friends. I was sitting on the grass getting the up the nerve to talk to them. Then I heard them talking rudely about how wild and crazy little Brian (he was 2) was and how they wanted to go to a different park. I FELT SO ALONE! I've learned that sometimes the Lord lets us struggle before he blesses us. I remember crying to my mom about PA and complaining about it ( she was such a huge support to me over the phone, I was seriously always crying to her). She reassured me that it would take time and by the time our 5 year residency was over I would cry when I had to leave. I DIDN'T BELIEVE HER! I said "I will not cry when I leave this place!" I don't remember exactly when the breaking point was ( probably around year 3 of residency) but once I decided I was going to start living my own life and stop worrying about when Brian would be home I started to be happy. I started to work as a weight watchers leader, dove myself into my callings at church, worked a little as an interior designer and I THREW LOTS AND LOTS of parties at my house!!!! I had one friend say that she had never met anyone who didn't drink that liked to party as much as me. It's true. I love parties! Every year it seemed that I had more and more friends and became more rooted and happy in PA! I made so many wonderful friendships that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I can't imagine my life without Mary, Lauren, Jen, Katie, Lisa and many more. They were such a huge support to me and I know that each and everyone of them were supposed to be part of my life! I remember one time saying my prayers and having this overwhelming feeling of peace come over me. I had the impression that GOD led us to Harrisburg and he WOULD NOT abandon me. My time in PA was much more of a learning experience for me than getting my bachelors degree or all the years I ran my business. I'm grateful that while my husband was being trained in orthopedic surgery the Lord blessed me with training. Some of the things that come to mind are patience (5yrs is a long time), frugality ( a residents salary), hospitality (parties), cooking (have to have good food for a good party), gardening (so easy and fun in PA), motherhood ( I felt like I was finally a MOTHER since I wasn't working and could work on being a better one), health and fitness (lost 35 lbs and maintained it for 3 years, started running and completed some races), involvement in education( Brianna attended 4 schools in the 5 years we were there (super stressful having to move her to different schools because they SUCKED), and one year being homeschooled (super super stressful), compassion (service in our very diverse ward), and enduring (church by myself half the time for 5 YEARS, Brian absent holidays, and other important events).