Our Last Goodbyes and Send Off

Well, I let far too much time pass since my last post. Guys, heads up: this is a long, long post since so much has transpired that I need to catch up on, but truthfully, I've been putting it off because my heart is a little sad still, and we're still in the unsteady period where we are attempting to get our bearings and create a new normal and routine out here.

First let me start with these people:

My mother-in-law, father-in-law and brother-in-law came over the Saturday before we left. They came bearing all sorts of thoughtful gifts that made the goodbye sweeter.

First, each of us received a Target gift card (WHOOP, WHOOP!) to use when we got to Colorado. Keegan no longer really cared about when we were leaving, he just wanted to know what day he got to go buy a toy when we got here :)

My mother-in-law even gave us a prayer shawl that was prayed over so we could have a tangible reminder that we're always wrapped in prayer no matter where we are. My heart.

We also got two loaves of Nana's Pumpkin Bread!!!! Our favorite! Mmm! And we can't forget the Bananas from Nana!

Luckily, Tina, John and Mike came bearing the news that they are already planning a visit West! We can't wait to have visitors in May. It definitely made this goodbye easier since it turned into a "see you soon!"

The next day, my sister, brother-in-law, nephew and niece came over to clear our pantry of everything we were having to get rid of, celebrate my sister's birthday and say our goodbyes.

This day was hard.

These five have spent all their years together- best friends for sure. It breaks my heart more than words can describe to know the role we're playing in their lives is going to diminish by distance alone. It's making me cry just talking about it. FaceTime is good, but for these best friend, wrestling kids its second rate. I'm confident that the time we do get, however, will be sweeter. How could it not?! Look at those faces together! 

We had chocolate coconut cake like our granny used to make, laughed and talked a lot, and then cried a lot in the end. 

My sister is my very best friend. She and I get each other, know our roots, know our pains and our joys. It hurts that we will see each other less, but am so thankful we had that Sunday to be together- just our families. I read a quote somewhere that said something similar to: "The best gift you can give a girl is a sister," and I have to say, it's true.

We had a busy few days preparing for the movers to come on Wednesday. I will say, my type A self struggled to have someone else do all the packing, moving and lifting- especially since it's all done just the day before moving day. It was nice to sit back, but a very strange sensation. They literally pack EVERYTHING, so, so quickly. Guys, Frank packed my WIPES. My baby wipes. I had to go out and buy more wipes... But I guess at least I'll have a fresh pack when we get into the new house?! Ha!

Keegan went to school for his last day on Wednesday while the packers came. My mom came a little early so we could take off to Saint Martha's together, because....

Ta-Da! Grammy was Keegan's MYSTERY Reader at school! So fun. Grammy had given the boys "Wherever You Go My Love Will Find You" for Christmas, so she brought that to read to the class. I love little Benny sitting right up in front with Keegan's class. We sure will miss Saint Martha's and our friends we made there.Wahhh...

We came back for a quick Arby's lunch amongst the packers, then we walked through the house with the boys one last time so they could say their goodbyes. The big boys went to Grammy and Papi's for the night so they didn't have to be in the chaos of the movers any longer than necessary.

While the boys were at Grammy and Papi's, Grammy took them on a scavenger hunt to the beach, to the playground to play, played outside in the sand at the side of their house and they even made Colorado Cupcakes. Once we finally packed up the house for the last time on Thursday, Kris, Smith and I headed up north to stay for the night and take the big boys the next morning for our road trip.

Sidenote: I bawled like a baby leaving this house. I always thought I'd have all daughters, but when we were house searching, we found this house and were told that given our approved financing, we were not eligible to buy this house given rules at the time. I had the most VIVID dream of my little blonde haired, blue-eyed boy standing on this front porch wearing a backpack on his first day of school. I actually went and cried on this front porch because I saw that little boy and wanted this home. A few weeks later we got a call that the restrictions had changed and we were now able to buy this house. Only after Keegan was born did I realize that little boy in my dream was my Keegan Michael. So, so weird. I love this home and miss is already. Summer's were the best on that front porch! We are so looking forward to getting into our new home.

ANYWAY...

We had a great night with Grammy and Papi. The next morning they even woke up bright and early to give us a great big breakfast before we hit the road at 6:30 in the morning! What a send off. Nothing like my mom's sausage gravy and biscuits! 

We made our way west to Omaha that night... In my Traverse with three little boys and two dogs for ten hours... Again: Wahhh....

Anyway, we are here and adjusting. The sun has shone since Sunday, but we may be getting our first Colorado snow storm tonight... But don't worry, it should be sunny and warm all next week! 

I'll update tomorrow about our road trip and how we're settling in! 

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers as we have journeyed West! Can't wait to update you all more soon. 

Another Goodbye

One thing we've learned about Keegan lately is that he has his momma's anxiety. We can't tell him about ANYTHING ahead of time, even if it's fun, or he works himself sick. Bless his soul. I tell him things when he asks, but we've learned that we can't hype him up about ANYTHING if we want him (or us, for that matter) to enjoy ourselves.

So, Keegan found out on Saturday evening that the next night we were going to Grandma Barb and Papa Bill's house to say goodbye... We left it at that. :)

But, that was definitely not all it was. The whole side of the family came. Great Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins. We felt loved. And we got another cake.... #whootwhoot!!! And guyyys, Meijer did it... They made my palate hurt with their sweet, delicious frosting. So, so good.

 

Too funny, huh?! I can't tell you the number of weed comments we've received in the past few months, so this cake was super, super appropriate!

 

Well, we had goodbyes. Lots of them. And the boys got to play, hard. And we had tears, that's for sure. Just like the going away party a couple weeks ago, we can celebrate, though, that we have so many people that we can miss and love all around the country. That's a good feeling.

 



There's that beauty of a cake, and that stud of a man cutting the cake. Mmm! Kris' step mom made a huge meal for everyone, and they got the cake. His grandma brought a cherry pie that Bennett proceeded to eat the crust off the side of it. He's a dessert boy, that's for sure!

 

Guys, Benny is going to miss his cousin Kaylee SO much. She is a total little momma, and loves on Bennett hard. They have clicked since the day Benny was born, and Kaylee loves to push him around in the doll stroller, and carry him around the house. Bennett HATES to be a baby, except when Kaylee babies him and shows him all that love and attention. He feels like a king and it is adorable!

 

 

And even though there were tears, it's so nice knowing that we will be back for a couple of weeks this summer... and that EVERYONE KNOWS that our guest room is open, and ready for visitors... in the end of June once we move in :)

 

So Karolkiewicz side of the family- thank you for loving us (all!) hard, and making sure we never doubt it. We love you, and are thankful that we WILL see you SOON!!!  

 

 

Goodbye Numero: Uno

Back at the beginning of January when we sold our house, my dad hopped right to scheduling a Going-Away Party with his side of the family, which was a total gift to us. The Anderson side of the family LOVES. TO. EAT.. and we LOVE a good party (complete with games, of course!), so this was the perfect excuse to eat delicious food and to say our "goodbyes." Though, Lord willing, at least Kris and I will be back for my cousin's wedding in July, so this was the perfect time for "see you soon's" :)

Call me crazy, but despite how much I know we love a good party, I guess I didn't anticipate the lengths to which everyone would go to show their love! It was so planned out, I couldn't really wrap my mind around it. Literally, EVERYONE in the family was there... That almost NEVER happens, so it was such a gift alone to hug every family member on that side of the family, and hear from their lips and not their Facebook page about their lives.

First of all, my step-mom KILLED it with the Maurice Salads (chopped romaine, diced turkey, ham, sliced swiss, sliced pickles and even homemade dressing! GUYS, it's the BEST), rolls and tons of pizza. So, so good. My Aunt Nancy even ordered a cake with MOUNTAINS on it! It was a delish Costco cake- you know, the ones where the buttercream frosting on the outside of the cake is so sweet it almost makes the palette in your mouth hurt?! LOVE IT, and again... we LOVE. TO. EAT.

We started out the party by my Aunt Diane (who is our party planner!) passed out small Colorado and Michigan flags, which everyone taped to their shirt, signifying that no matter where we are, we're still family. We all gathered for a group photo:

 

Guys, is it just me, or is totally crazy that with that many people, the only person not looking at the camera is my 8 month old?! Is that not really, really impressive?!

 

Then, they gave us a Happy Meal box filled with dollar bills that everyone contributed to our Happy Meal fund for the road trip out west. Super, super useful, and believe me, that will be the first place we stop, I'm sure.

 

Then, they ALL (I mean, everyone. We are ALL SET for this trip) gifted us with their favorite road trip snacks. I'll tell you what, my family really DOES know how to eat, because half of those snacks may or may not already be GONE... Ha! I literally have some set aside on a shelf that I yelled at Kris for almost eating because those are the ones that I have to SAVEEE now!

 

My Aunts gifted the boys with a "This Little Light of Mine" book, so the whole family sang the song- motions at all. Just a reminded that no matter WHERE our lights are, they need to shine brightly for Jesus!

 

Lastly, My Aunt Diane and cousin Libby shared that when they moved when Libby was little, it was really, really hard for her. But my other Aunt Nancy and cousin Melissa had made little bags of gifts that she got to open when she visited the new house, to help make it sweeter for her. Well in light of that memory, they wrapped all sorts of gifts for my boys to open both on the way to Colorado and once we arrive. I don't think Keegan could be any more excited to hit the road now :)

 

 

Here we are with our Rocky Mountain Cake before we cut it up. Oh, and there's Cohen, my nephew/fourth son, who has been telling his mom since this party that he's really, really going to miss his room when he moves to Colorado!!! Ha! YES, PLEASE!!!!!

 

When we were first married it was really pretty hard to juggle the four sets of families, and figure it out. Over time we learned to manage as best we could, and we were shown grace by every single side of our families as we tried to navigate the waters.... However, now, after 7 years of marriage, one of the sweetest things is being able to love on all of these family members who love us and our children so, so well.

 

It hurts to say goodbye, but it is so, so precious to us to HAVE people and family to actually say goodbye to. We have people to long for and miss in this world, and- wow, what a gift that is.

 

So for our first "family" goodbye- Thank you, Anderson family. We will see you soon- and we treasured Sunday more than you know!

 

It's the FINALLL COUNTDOWN...

Now that we're back home for the last few weeks, we've started our final 20 day countdown until our packers come. The perks of relocating for a job are immeasurable, especially when it comes to packing. Our house sold RIGHT AWAY, which would have left me with so much time to get everything ready and packed up- so it's the strangest sensation to literally not have to lift a finger until the last minute. I'm a prepper, so this is a bit hard for me. My procrastinator of a husband is lovin' it though!

Our packers have decided they will be able to pack up our house in one full day. The next day they will load the truck and head to storage. Since we are building our new house, we will be spending three months in a furnished corporate apartment, which I'm a bit nervous for. The relocation company keeps trying to push us into a TWO BEDROOM apartment to cut costs, but we are ADEMATE- that is NOT happening. With five people and two dogs, for three months, we need a MINIMUM of three bedrooms. So there's that...

We're having to pack the essentials like large storage totes of clothing (season change, people), and baby and dog gear, and toys, obviously. There are things I never thought about that interstate moving companies will not transport and store, like cleaning supplies, laundry detergent and nail polish. So I have to bring a bunch of random stuff with us. We'll probably rid ourselves of the cleaning supplies or use up most of them before we go, but if you have ever been in my basement, you know that Kris' 90 year old Grandma's love language is laundry detergent and fabric softener... I have never, ever bought laundry detergent in the 7 years we've been married and we always have at least 25 of each on hand (that is so ridiculous to type!).... So we'll probably transport some of that since that's expensive! There's no way we'll have room for that, so as we see family and friends to say goodbye I keep giving away a laundry detergent here and there to remember us by... HA!

We're working on completing medical releases from our current doctors and dentists so they can transfer files to new doctors and dentists when we get those established. I've been making LISTS for months about what we have to remember to bring with us to corporate housing, and things we have to do before hand, but I know I must be forgetting SOMETHING.... So, friends... I know a lot of people who have done out of state/cross countries moves... Was there anything that you absolutely wish you would have done or done differently? What should I make sure to remember?!?!

Here we come, Castle Rock... We're comin' for ya! ;)

ARUBA: A Little Trip [way] South Before Heading West

Back in October, Kris was awarded with a trip to Aruba from his company for this February. I never, ever, ever would have thought we'd be traveling right before a cross-country move, but I can say that this was a gift from above that was terribly, terribly needed before all of the chaos that is currently beginning to ensue (good chaos- but chaos no less).

Okay guys, I've never been to Aruba, and truthfully, didn't Google anything about Aruba that wasn't related to the Natalie Holloway case, and only learned a bit about it from the travel magazine on our way down. First of all, it's only 20 miles from Venezuela... Who knew?!

Next, SUPER clean water. So delish and some of the cleanest drinking water in the world. For this girl and her dislike of Mexico for that very reason (and drug lords- I don't like them more than I don't like diarrhea while on vacation... or ever, for that matter), so that was a HUGE check in the plus column.

ANYWAY...

We were exhausted when we landed. We had MAYBE three hours of sleep the night before thanks to a crying baby and an early flight. The kids stayed up north at Grammy and Papi's and we adventured alone, and it was GLORIOUS. I love my kids. Big time. And [obviously] they love us too. However, this was precious time, and was so needed. I had no issue with my phone not working internationally, and it was freeing to leave everything in the room except the room key and just be PRESENT. It was great.

Here's the view from our balcony (we forgot our selfie stick this trip... oops)... He really is one of the most handsome men I know. It's kind of crazy to think that it's been almost seven years since we got married. Part of it seems like we just met, but part of me feels like we've just always been. I like it that way :)

 

Right on the beach the first evening. Right after this picture, we stood in line for coconut drinks and a portrait. So fun, right?!?! I really do love his company- they treat us well, and it's super fun to be spoiled in ways that I would NEVER, EVER pay for.

 

This was the view from one of the restaurants that we had breakfast at the Hyatt Regency (where we stayed). And serious, that monster iguana almost fell on me the last day. I was ready to come home after that.

 

#FACIALTIME! Whoop. My husband is a sport. Originally he just committed to do the spa things with me both days so we could spend time together (and lets me real, I'm not really up for riding horses with a group of my husband's co-workers on the beach), but he ended up #lovingit and by the last day, he was eager and willing for that darn mani/pedi. #getitson

 

Okay, this is the view from the chairs that the beach valet put right in front of the water FOR US. I mean it, this was a fancy trip! Anyway, this was also the site where we both received some of the most tragic sunburns of our lives. I used sunscreen, but the sun was SO, SO strong and the breeze was SO refreshing, that you just couldn't feel how fried you were getting. I literally have scars on my chest from where you can see my finger prints separated and I missed a couple spaces. My husband is part Greek so he doesn't think he NEEDS sunscreen ever... Well his stomach and his legs were laughed at by the Colombian woman doing our nails... #lessonlearned

That night they bussed all of us to our restaurant of choice. I had a fantastic Thai Shrimp Noodle Dish, and Kris had the Lobster... and of course we each got dessert because #wheninrome #whenthecompanypaysforit. Afterward they dropped us all off at the piano bar around the corner of the hotel to enjoy and mingle. We tuckered out after a long day of sun, drinks and fresh air, and we ducked out early.

 

The last night the company set up an entire reception that was nicer than any wedding I've ever been to. They literally hired an Aruban Carnaval Marching Band with dancers and a drum line just for this. They even did an after party with a photo booth, dance floor, live band, open bar and face painting. Super fun. We were leaving the next morning, so we (again) had to leave before things got too cray :)  

 

The company had put a ton of credit on each hotel room for gift shop, restaurant and room service. They provided pretty much all the food, so on the last day we found a way to spend our credit (along with every other of Kris' co-workers that were there!)... #raybans!!! I would never, ever, ever spend my own money on fancy sunglasses... but again: #wheninrome #andthecompanyispaying :)

As we were leaving for the airport I had Kris snap one last quick pick from the lobby. The colors were EVERYTHING. I love the line of bright pink flowers that contrast the bright blue ocean. It was a great week that came at a great time....

The last morning I was sipping my coffee and just watching a palm tree blow, and Kris asked what I was thinking... and truthfully, I was just trying NOT to think, and was soaking in my last hours of being able to relax and literally think of NOTHING until we settle into our new home and get into a new normal.

So thankful for the time I had with one of the hardest working, kindest men I know. Super proud of my husband, and so thankful for my parents watching the boys so we could have this much needed break! And now we're back to the grind... Moving day is only 21 days away, folks! It's starting to get real! :)

And so we go...

For years I documented our home and life on my old blog, Mandy's Mark. It was a great way to update everyone on our babies and home, but since time is fleeting, I ended up resorting to simply updating my Instagram rather than updating the blog.

However, with the new changes taking us out of state in March, I thought it may help to create a new blog for a new era... Hopefully it'll help everyone feel up to date on the happenings and help us all to feel a bit more connected despite the distance... Fingers crossed!

Now onto the important things such as addressing some of the circumstances surrounding this move to Colorado...

My heart somewhat hurts, but I'm thrilled to see God's continued faithfulness on this journey. We've seen His hand so evidently that we can't help but be confident that His spirit is leading us West. And truthfully, for the first time in my life, I feel content to say that I just want to be under the umbrella of God's will despite how uncomfortable it may be to arrive or stay there.

Honestly, Colorado was a place that we vowed we would never move. We joked about it since we are SO NOT OUTDOORSY, and if we were going to move out of state, we always remained adamant that we would go somewhere warm year 'round. For the past year we have known that most likely, if an opportunity for promotion presented itself, it would take us out of state. We pictured ourselves moving south, and absolutely never West. However, one fateful night in September changed that...

Kris and I were standing in the kitchen while I was preparing dinner when he got a call that the hiring manager was inquiring about whether or not Kris would be interested in the Northwest/Rocky Mountain region for his company. He started repeating "Colorado? Uh, let me talk to Mandy." Meanwhile, I began mouthing "NO. No. NO." I may or may not have thrown up after that initial call because I have anxiety that that was a super unexpected location, and much further from "home" than we would prefer... somewhere that we always stated we WOULDN'T go... He got off the phone and we popped open a bottle of wine and chatted all evening. All night and the next day we prayed and prayed and prayed over it. Somehow, despite my initial apprehension, I felt an unexplained peace.

We agreed that Kris would go through the process, and told our family there was a good chance that we'd be moving. After a few months of interviewing, we received the call just a couple days before Thanksgiving that the company offered the position to a different, more executive level candidate with prior experience in that type of management. I was devastated. Not because I was desperate to get out to Colorado, but because for the past few months we truly believed that we were following God's calling for our family. We've felt for years that this "stop" in Okemos was temporary, and we were going to be moving onto something more permanent. Yet, here we were being told to stay in the waiting room indefinitely, and that was a blow. I felt angry at God mainly because I suddenly started doubting our ability to differentiate between His voice and our own thoughts.

After Thanksgiving, though, we decided to settle. We decided that THIS was were God wanted us, and who are we to doubt Him as the Painter of our Picture to tell Him that He was doing it wrong? For one of the first times I could remember, I felt restful and content.

Two weeks later Kris came upstairs from working with tears in his eyes. He let me know that although He wasn't the first choice candidate, the one who was offered the position originally declined the job after being offered equity sake in his current company. They called Kris and offered him the job. We chewed on it for a few days and really had to consider if we would do this... We decided two things...
#1) The circumstances hadn't changed. We felt God leading our family this way, and perhaps He was allowing OUR faithfulness to be tested.

#2) He wanted us to remain humble through this process. We had just finished telling everyone we knew that Kris HADN'T gotten the job and we were staying... Everyone knew Kris wasn't "first choice" and so we received built in humility in the circumstance. :)

If it wasn't hard enough calling people to tell them about the opportunity in Colorado, it was ten times harder to call people who were so relieved that we weren't moving and tell them that actually, yes we were going...! It was so, so, so hard. People were shocked and saddened, but also happy for us.

I've never felt more bittersweet at any other time in life. Guys, this is harder than graduating high school or college.  I have never lived more than two hours from family, so this is going to be a challenge. But I am confident that we serve a faithful God... Far more faithful than we are. He will sustain, and we are confident that His plan far exceeds Kris and his new position at work. We KNOW He has a purpose for our family in Colorado, and we are prayerfully seeking exactly what that may be. In the meantime, we sold our house and we're starting to say our goodbyes. And so we go, and so we trust that His grace is sufficient.