Moving is Hard – People We Love Made It Easier

We’re on our way to Nashville. If you do the mileage-math, it’s about 2300 miles from our home town of Cameron Park, California.

Quite the summer road trip.

This photo is a pretty accurate rendition of what our Chevy Suburban looks like. We’re in Cheyenne, Wyoming tonight in case you spot us.

These past few weeks have been incredibly overwhelming. For those of you who haven’t moved recently, I have one tiny bit of advice:

Don’t look for a cheap moving company, find yourself a good arsonist.

Wow. When did we accumulate so much? After four dump runs, two dozen trips to Goodwill and one gargantuan garage sale, we still have enough of our life left over to stuff into cardboard boxes and load into a 28’ foot trailer.

As much as we looked forward to beginning our cross-country adventure, the day we left we still had a full ten hours of packing up the rest of our things, cleaning our house for the new renters and loading up our Suburban for our drive.

It was a tear-filled day. When friends showed up unannounced to help us pack the trailer, bring us goodies for our trip, help clean our house, and even wash our car for the drive…that walnut-sized lump in my throat grew to the size of a watermelon and became incredibly painful.

Before we left our home, my husband gathered the five of us and the man who never cries—cried that day,

“Kids, your mom and I know this is a tough day. We appreciate all you’ve done to get ready and what a big help you’ve been these past three weeks. This home has been a blessing.We’ve made so many special friends and lots of special memories here, but remember…this is a house, we were the ones who made it a home. And, I believe God will lead us to another house we will make into a home.”

As he spoke, his voice broke. We held hands in a family circle and as is our tradition, our youngest son started us off in prayer, with his older sister, Grace, next, then David, me and finally ending with Paul. We thanked God for the twelve years we’d been a family in our home, for the friends and family who continued to bless us over the years, and the future only God could see clearly. And, now for the new family moving in to use for His glory and purpose.

So, I thought since I can’t write legible thank-you cards in a moving vehicle, or  have those we love over for dinner or plan a Starbucks date with you anytime soon to thank you for helping us this past month, I thought a public hug on the the world wide web will have to do until you fly out to Nashville.

Tom & Holly – you provided us with more apple boxes than I knew existed. So many, that we are able to leave a million or two behind for someone else in need of some moving-freebies. And, Holly, your meal was delicious.  Not only did you make us a tasty casserole but blessed us with stuffed mushrooms, really!? The kids LOVED their trip to the River Cats game, too. What sweet memories you made with them. Thank you for my Southern Living Gardening book and the adorable photo frames. The scripture on driftwood is so special to us.

Beth & Mike – Thank you for taking the kids off our hands for their last couple of over nighters.  We will reciprocate when you make it out our way – I promise. And, tell the kids I will be pushing for a pool. Thank you for bringing us such a delicious lunch. And, Beth, who better to go through all my books than you?

Celia – Thank you for the cards of encouragement. They always seemed to arrive in the mail just when I needed a lift. I know our moving is hard on you. Get your Skype account ready!

Jason & Michele – Who knew that computer boxes were so incredibly wonderful? Thank you friends. I was able to pack up my large picture frames with ease because of you. And, the going away BBQ at your place was so much fun. Paul and I are SO jealous Tim Hawkins is on your radar for the next Bible Study group outing. Whatever…

Melanie – When you walked in with a hot casserole (Grace’s favorite) and a laminated recipe so my little girl could make it in Nashville, well, it was the first of my tears that week. Thank you for the adorable gift and delicious zuchini muffins. Did you see the Tennessee flag you gave Grace flying high from our flagpole when we were packing the trailer? We’ll be waiting to hear you moved to Arkansas!

Igor & Olga – Thank you for your help moving. Thank you for making my kitchen shine! We can’t wait to see you in November!

Tino & Mary – Thanks for lending us your husband, Mary! Tino, what a great help you were. We could have NEVER and I mean NEVER EVER loaded our truck the way you did. What a blessing. Thank you for the care package of goodies. We’re still snacking on them!

Rosanna & Jack – You blessed us with snacks for the road trip AND homemade English toffee. We can’t wait to dig in!

Steve & Michele – We still have boxes, you need any more? It was so nice to see you drop by to say goodbye on the very day you were unpacking your own move. What love!

Katie – You surprised us and dropped off homemade lemon bars while we were loading up for our next dump run, what a treat. And, can I just say…your homemade BBQ chicken, bacon and cheddar mashed potatoes, roasted vegggies AND homemade blueberry and chocolate chip scones were like edible gold. The family was still talking about what a great cook you are this morning. Looks like I’ve been knocked off of the food-throne at our house.

Paul & Kay Wells – There aren’t better neighbors anywhere. Thank you for lending us your appliance dolly one last time and dropping off a few dozen furniture pads. It made me laugh when my husband asked for one last hand with the floor moulding. Kay, when you brought over chocolate chip cookies just like the day we moved in I cried…and when you washed our car before we left I cried harder.

Jennifer & George – Pizza dinner and Togo’s for lunch. I had no idea meals were such a gift when packing up. I was so grateful…and so were the kids! Bringing Lydia and George over after was a tough one, little brother. I’m not sure Grace is over that yet. Thank you for taking the time to say goodbye, little brother.

Aunt Judy – Thank you for putting together a family dinner for us. It was so nice to see cousins and friends. As you can imagine, it was tough driving away from all of you. The homemade quilt you made me will be framed as soon as possible. I LOVE IT. Leaving Grandma still makes me cry. I am pretty sure that won’t change no matter how long we’re gone.

Dad & Linda – Thank you for bringing us over dinner. And, Linda, thank you for helping me pack. It was so nice to hang out with you for an afternoon.

Meghan – My adorable girl. Thank you for flying home for a difficult weekend. You had to see your childhood home dismantled and help in the process. I’m so grateful you were the one to discover just how old some of our pantry food was. 2007, right?

Pilar & Folsom Police Dispatch – Thank you for one of the best good-bye parties ever. Great food, LOTS of laughter and such thoughtful going away gifts. I’m going to miss you guys so much. I wish you knew how much I enjoyed working with each of you. I can’t wait to hang up the autographed photo and try those delicious recipes.

Chris & Inspire El Dorado Hills – What a delicious goodbye lunch! The perfect California cuisine! Not sure I’ll find the same in Nashville. I can’t wait to see all God has planned for each of you. Thank you for the adorable journal. I’ll be filling the pages with many words soon!

Lastly, for those of you who remembered our children, (Michele – the frame of the boys is in Samuel’s luggage. He wouldn’t pack it in our trailer. Christy & Mel – The surprise waterpark party with the girls meant so much to Grace. Leslie – thank you for bringing Johnny over the day we moved. Samuel is enjoying his goldfish!) your thoughtfulness meant so much to Paul and I. Watching the kids say goodbye to their friends was the hardenst of all this week.

We love you all dearly and are praying you make it out our way soon. When we know where exactly that is we’ll let you know.

Love,

The Kraft Family