Extreme West: Journey to Pueblo

These landscapes were just.... huge.

Arkansas was a bit more familiar; generally flat, very green, lots of trees and rivers. There was a dramatic thunderstorm, but nothing out of the ordinary for summer. But when we hit Oklahoma, things started to look a bit more... unfamiliar.

Oklahoma

God's country. See God's laser eyes?

Loved seeing this rainbow in Oklahoma the day after the Orlando attack.

Love wins. Or it will, eventually.

Caught a glimpse of Oklahoma City.

The wildflowers were my favorite thing about Oklahoma, but my second was this sunset. 

We slept in Elk City, Oklahoma that night, in a pet-friendly Clarion Inn. By the way, the cats would like to put in that they are really glad we're no longer traveling.

I was all curiosity for Texas, which I've never seen before (if you don't count the inside of the Houston airport, once).

It did not disappoint!

We listened to Bey's Daddy Lessons while driving through Texas, which seemed appropriate. Give it a listen if you haven't heard it (and if you haven't watched Lemonade yet, I mean... why?? Get going!!).

Just when we were getting tired of the endless plains, suddenly...

Slowly we began to climb. At one point in New Mexico, our elevation was over 7000 feet. The land began to sprout mesas and scrubby cacti. Astonishing, for an east coaster like me.

At the end of our time in New Mexico, we hit a tornado warning and a really vicious storm. There was no where, nothing, in which we could take shelter. We just prayed, and kept driving. And at the other end of the lightening and hail and wind and rain and green light, we suddenly were plunged back into sunshine.. and we saw the Rockies for the first time.  

We saw some majestic (and greener) landscapes as we descended to the mere 4,692 feet above sea level of Pueblo.

As we approached Pueblo, Miles had a moment to recognize we were almost at journey's end. 

And seemingly the moment after we entered Pueblo..

We were home.

Corey and Tim helped us empty the truck and get ourselves started, before they headed off on their own vacation. And then, it was time to make ourselves at home.

I can tell you at nearly a week in, we're off to a good start in that department. 

The Journey West: East of the Mississippi

We drove to Pueblo by way of People We Knew On The Way.

First, the trip west gave us a chance to see my brother,  Buddy, and my nephew, Aiden, in Louisville.

It was a gorgeous, if hot, day in Kentucky

Buddy has the family cradle at his house, since he had the first grandchild. Grandpa Albert, my father's father, made this when they were expecting me. He made it huge; Adele, at 4.5, can almost be contained in it. 

We had a pleasant evening! The kids played WiiU with almost no restrictions, and we had a fire in the pit after they were down. It was good to get caught up. 

Miles and Aiden get along beautifully, assisted by their mutual love of video games. 

One of too few pictures of me and Buddy:

The whole crew

After a lazy morning, we got into the car and continued into Tennessee. We had an appointment with some hot chicken in Tennessee. 

The folk singer Dom Flemons, who was at Steppin' Out last year, sings a song about hot chicken. The kids only know about the existence of Nashville, TN because of this song. So, we had a bit of a quest to find us some hot chicken while passing through.

Prince's was what Dom recommended, but it was, alas, closed until 2.

We made do with Hattie's:

Nashville afforded us some pretty views and very fun spontaneous live music in the park where we ate our hot chicken. Next, we travelled to Memphis, where we spent the night with our beloved friends, Josh and Melissa. We enjoyed catching up with August, who is four, and finally meeting, for the first time, baby Madeleine! What good fortune that our move gave us a visit with the Hatchers. 

We finally had to leave the familiar half of the country behind.

Crossing the Mississippi into Arkansas, I felt like Samwise Gamgee:

We watched with big eyes (ok, sometimes mine were closed) the two long days of travel in unfamiliar landscapes. Next up: west of the Mississippi. 

10,000 Goodbyes

I'm writing this from our brand new (craigslist) desk in the family room in our Pueblo House!

The week of June 2 to June 10 2016 was the Week of Goodbyes. It was both surreal and wrenching, punctuated by periods of single-minded soldiering as we packed up the Pirate House.

June 2 was my last day of work. My dear office-mate, Liann, and I got lunch at Gillie's.

Liann has been my sunshine at work, and my prayerful companion in this whole long emotional journey of Jon's job search. I miss her already.

For my birthday, the kids and Jon made me breakfast and then presented me with the gift of the cities I have loved:

Blacksburg, Rochester, Annapolis, and a print made by my sister in law, Corey, of my favorite sign in Rochester. 

I don't know why I love that sign so much. It just makes me smile.

These gifts were just what I didn't know I needed. There were tears. 

Then came June 4th and our Goodbye Party. It was a day long picnic in the park with people coming and going all day. There were hugs, and laughs, and only a few tears. A perfect send-off.

Some of the kids' friends from daycare came: Marcus, Shaniah, Aliyah and Damian are old and dear friends by now.

Miles' first best friend

With Liann and family

Leslie is one of my favorite NRV twitter friends!!

Elizabeth, Miles' first girlfriend. Also from day care.

Darling Ann!! My karaoke, pagan fire and twitter buddy. 

Sunday the goodbyes were directed at church. 

The tears were thick when we sang Praise to the Lord, the Almighty. 

Hast thou not seen
How thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Lines like these were impossible to sing full-voiced. We have been so blessed in this town, and we're so grateful. 

But oh, goodbye can ache!

I took a couple of reflective pauses while packing. 

One, to say goodbye to the pack of neighborhood kids and our abundant back yard at the Pirate House.

Another, to get a moment of peace to enjoy the sky and breathe:

Before we knew it, Trucky McTruckface was parked outside and we were loading. The loading party was Wednesday. Thursday was further packing. Michaela and Addison came all the way from Lynchburg to help, and then Tim and Corey came to help with the last effort, cleaning, and to begin to drive the truck! They drove Trucky all the way to Pueblo!!

At the last minute, of course, Adele came down with a urinary tract infection. While getting her prescription, I had a moment in the parking garage, looking down on my town. 

I will always remember these years in Blacksburg as some of the happiest of my life. 

One more family portrait at the Pirate House on June 10...

Miles carried the Pirate Flag (sobbing) through each room of the house as we said goodbye. We paused for prayer...

Drove through town one more time to breathe it in...

Goodbye to the parking lot where Adele was born...

...And exhaled as we drove away. There were a lot of tears. 

(Except from Adele, who kept saying, why is everyone crying??)

Just to cheer us up, after about 60 miles, Grendel the Determined broke free from his kitty tent and joined Miles. He caused no further mayhem; just sat in laps and alternately panted and purred. 

I think he knew we needed him.

Next up: pictures and words from our 2,000 some miles of driving! 

Cut! That's a Wrap!

We are tying up the 2015-2016, as well as our six years in Blacksburg, with festive ribbon these days. Our hearts are heavy because they are full. 

Adele finished preschool Friday. 

Pictures from the dance party her class had during the last week. Miss Pam & Miss Pame are in her heart forever! She's gained so much self-esteem and so many skills and abilities from her year at Blacksburg United Methodist Preschool.

Miles finished first grade, his second year at Gilbert Linkous Elementary. This is a seriously special school. He's struggling with leaving it behind!

GLE is part of his identity

He'll be a Belmont Rattler next year. Still a reptile! We point out

The kids also finished out their dance year with sparkling performances at their recital. 

From the dress rehearsal.

They've come a long way in the two years they've been in dance. Adele does actual ballet around the house now, not just free movement. Both have increased confidence and body awareness. 

Adele especially has gotten much better at performing. She smiles, keeps up (for the most part) with her classmates-- all of whom, by the way, are older and bigger than she is-- and has greater control as she does her steps.

She still has trouble stopping out of a chasse, though!

Miles is still a dreamy dancer, but he's he's more present and with the other dancer than he was. These videos are from the dress rehearsal, so bear with the director's shouts, and take my word for it that he smiled a lot more and was a lot more with the choreography in the actual recital. 

Anyway, we were proud, and glad we had them participate. Even if the recital still seemed overdone and ridiculous in places (it's an expensive costume show, in a lot of cases, rather than a demonstration of skill). Even if the theme was painfully stretched in places (Monaco= Princess Sofia song? Get Better Boogie= Canada? Hot Hot Hot= Mexico?). We playfully ribbed on the studio a bit, but it's been a great experience for these two. 

Can't wait to see what they pursue in Pueblo!

We had to have a classic Pirate House Fire, of course. 

with s'mores

We'll miss this. 

But we're off! 10 days and counting until we shove off. The packing is underway. I am in my last handful of days at work before I am a full-time packer and mover. As long as we close on time (fingers crossed!) we got this. 

And they are so ready. (read his sticker!)