Moving Day!

Moving Day! Grateful, blessed and looking forward to the journey ahead that God is guiding me on and tucking away wonderful memories of the many moves throughout my life.

“Whatever you can fit in this suitcase is what you can take with you.” Instructed my mother on one of nearly 30 moves we made before I graduated High School. This particular day was one of a few sudden moves that we had begun to be somewhat prepared for, not staying in one place for very long. We had journeyed from California, where I lived most of my life, to Ohio, staying just under two years. Shortly after packing our suitcases in the wee hours of the morning, my brothers, mother, and I boarded a train, and off we went back to California to meet up with our Dad, who had driven there. Details I was not aware of at the time. But suffice it to say, I became very accustomed to packing and moving and fitting lots into a small space.

Growing up moving a lot had it’s advantages, as well as some disappointments, but sharing this moving story with you today is just for a brief context into what I am experiencing this week. As I am packed up, ready to move in just a few days. Nothing too unfamiliar and I am somewhat of an experienced mover. But still a lot packed into a small space, in time that is!

This time, I am moving solo, the first time in nearly 40 years that I am not moving with Ken, my children, and/or other family members. Yes, I have help, not doing this alone. Just solo in the sense that it’s just me now planning, packing, purging, preparing, and moving out of one place into another.

During this process, there have been a few moments that caught me unaware. Looking into the corner where Ken attempted to escape his hospital bed in the middle of the night and began shouting at the workers to get off the roof… all in his mind. Still, he was determined to get out of that corner before the end of the day so he could go home, as he stated. As I reminisced those difficult final days in this apartment with Ken, I also caught myself laughing out loud at some of the silly things we did in our first few months here in this apartment and community. One very special memory of Ken helping the grands build a unique structure out of boxes after we had unpacked. They giggled and told stories in their cardboard castle.

My new move started with a plan to seek out a ground-floor apartment with an attached garage in the same general area, near my family, who had just moved out of our apartment community to a home. When the apartment I was seeking became available, I began the process a few months earlier than I had planned, but so many details lined up, and I felt this was it! All the while, in rehearsal for a musical (something else new to me here), and then got hit with the flu that knocked me down for a week and packing. and then we were deluged with a snowstorm, with no one going anywhere for 2-3 days. I am packed up ready to go in a few days, then open the musical next week. I have plenty of time to unpack. But whew what a whirlwind this has been.

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This move I am packing more than I could fit in a suitcase, although have purged some stuff and have paused to look at pictures, Ken’s special box and have lingered a few moments here and there reminiscing of Ken, and thanking God for the memories and the time we had here before his ultimate move to heaven.

Regardless of where I move to or live, the memories of Ken will move on with me. As I prepare to move, I can hear in my mind, Ken saying, “It’s about time you move Sunshine😊”

So many widows experience tremendous loss along with reminders in their homes of their loved ones. When we move out or on, we are not leaving that loved one behind or the memories.
But instead, we are moving forward into what the future holds,
 all the while holding precious memories in our hearts.

Thank you for sharing in my ‘moving day’ experience. I hope and pray that whatever you are facing be it a move, change, or experience you will be encouraged to move forward and enjoy the journey.

God Bless You Friend,

Pati

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26