I do feel stronger having gone through the time without Erik but am quite thankful to have it behind us for now.  The kids have grown considerably through this also.  I think it's tied us closer as a feeling having endured it and prayed over it as a family.  In the beginning Kate (6) apparently thought we were really getting a divorce.  This of course shocked us.  We deduced that she knows quite a few kids whose parents aren't together anymore and recently one of her uncles walked out on his family.  Once Erik came home several weekends in a row, she began to feel a bit more at ease about it all.  I've noticed some very mature behavior from the older two as was so clear the day we moved.

I believe I've mentioned that we're renting a small condo.  Well, it's on the second story.  The stairs are very steep and we couldn't have the little ones running about while we unloaded the truck.  Kate (6) babysat them in the room like a pro while Lee (8) helped us unload.  She entertained them and kept them quite content (which is no small feat).  And then Lee, that boy was a trooper!  He hauled things up those stairs and never once complained.  We were all dripping sweat and so sore but his help saved us numerous trips.  I'll tell you this, when we next move, I need to be a lot lighter and a lot stronger!  That was brutal and days later my body is still recovering. 

Going from a three bedroom, two bath, two living, two dining, two car garage with an attic and a yard to a two bedroom, one bath, second floor condo was no picnic.  My beautiful home decorations sit in Texas while we eat at folding tables and sit in folding chairs in Kansas.  I mentioned that God has systematically been removing the "stuff" from my life.  It almost feels like we're "starting over", like when we were first married with just the basics.  It's kind of nice actually.  There's no pressure to make things "just so" and far less to clean.  Although small, this condo is cute.  Sitting in the master bedroom looking out the window gives one the feel of being in a big tree house.  There's a large pine and a maple tree just out the window so you can't see the across the street neighbors.  It has almost a "cabin in the woods" feel even.  The living room windows have much the same scene.  One of the things I loved about our house was that it was a "split master" (as in the master is at one end away from the other bedrooms).  Would you believe that this condo is also a "split master".  I consider that a little luxury from God in the midst of this odd, new, and sometimes scary lifestyle change.  All of the kids are in one room (two sets of bunks) but thankfully both rooms have walk-in closets.  We tried to go as simply as possible. 

Another miracle, with rent, utilities and storage we should come in just below what our mortgage payment was!  At the start of this adventure, I began the daunting task of tackling our finances.  Feel free to read more about that in the series I'm doing on Money.  Along with our finances, we have a number of other things we're working on.  These next months are to be about "getting back to the basics".  We're using this time to rest, to enjoy one another and to regain our focus on where the Lord would have us go.  We know He has an incredible purpose in this and we're excited to see where this adventure will lead.  For now, we believe this is a temporary relocation but only God knows what the future holds.

There truly is, "no place like home".  Whether that be a permanent location or a temporary one matters not.  Home is where you make it and I feel completely at home with Erik and the kids.

The End....at least for now.