So Long Hickman Street house

We just got back from a weekend in Winchester, KY and yes, I know, who goes to Winchester on vacation? Well, we do and it was soooo great.

When we moved, I promised the kids we would go back within the year to visit their friends. Originally we were planning a trip to the Huntsville NASA museum over spring break, but then I realized St. Agatha would be closed on Fri. (duh, Good Friday and Catholic school) Anyway, we scrapped the NASA trip and decided to run the children up at the last minute to spend a day with their friends at school.

I have to thank my friend Julie who let us crash her place with almost no notice Sat night and kept Oliver until Sunday. Then, on the sly, she put together a ward pot luck after church on Sun so we would have lunch without breaking the Sabbath and have time to visit with our good friends at church. Now, that's a great friend!!! I also got to hold Kristen's adorable little Ellie for most of church and you know, she loves me.

We were running around the rest of the weekend visiting people and places we had left behind. Which brings me to my point. Closure.

When we moved, it was so fast and hectic that it didn't even register for at least a couple of months. The stress of finishing our home improvements, kid's spring sports, starting a new job, showing the house and of course, freaking out during the selling process left little time for us to really say goodbye. I think I especially was really depressed for a long time, but this trip proved very therapeutic.

We drove past our old house on Hickman Street (shown above as it was when we lived there... happy huh?) and now it just looks weird. The folks who bought it took down all of my brand new 2" blinds and got rid of my topiaries among other things. They actually threw the beautiful pot rack I had in the kitchen out in a garbage pile along with our lovely fireplace tools. I KNOW!!!! I should have taken everything, but my mind was so focused on selling, I would have given given my right arm if they wanted it. Anyway, it was a little upsetting, but I now have no attachment. Plus, they put out these huge white planters on the front porch that are just hideous! It doesn't look like my house anymore, and you know, it's a good thing.

The kids were thrilled to see their friends at school and enjoyed the special treatment they got from all the lovely teachers at St Agatha. The only downer was, that last day Sophia got the stomach flu and puked about 8 times during our 4 hour drive. Poor thing! She was such a trooper though and faithfully used every plastic bag we had in the car. Plus our hotel laundry bag and the blowpop bag.

Anyway, it was wonderful seeing our old friends, and while I love and miss them, I am so happy to be home in Tennessee. We really do feel at home here now and are looking forward to getting even more settled and getting to know the new friends we've made. Heavenly Father truly blesses us everyday, and I should be more appreciative in the moment rather than suffering with my relentless nostalgia/anxiety.