go time!

wow, we will be leaving california to start our new adventure in washington in 6 short days!  it's amazing to me that we have been talking about this for the last 8-9 months and now our dream is becoming a reality.  the decision to move has been the hardest thing i have had to do.  southern california is and will always be my home, and more importantly my family is here!  we both have good jobs and an amazing group of friends.  it seems crazy to be 7.5 months pregnant and move out of state!  i keep telling myself "people do this all the time" but it is not an easy process and through this journey there have been jems of wisdom from family and friends that i try to channel to ease my stress.  here are some of them that i want to share with you...

~a good family friend moved from southern california to las vegas for the chance to retire and buy their dream home.  they had 2 sons that stayed at "home" in so cal and i remember him telling me "if you build it they will come."  and sure enough all these years later, we all come and visit them in vegas!  they do a lot of traveling and are able to see their sons and friends.  they love their lifestyle and i don't think they would change a thing.

~my best friend recently went through some health issues and she is learning how to manage her new lifestyle.  i admire her strength and positive attitude and she defines it as her "new normal."  i know that we will find our new normal being away from my family.  i know it will come with separation anxiety and growing pains, but with time we will get into a routine and thank god for technology!

~my dear friend sent me a text this week that was very uplifting and encouraging, it read "the secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting  the old, but on building the new."  once we get up there and get settled i will focus the house hunt and the arrival of baby berk!  these are the things that fill me with excitement as we make this new town our home.

~jarad's cousin was telling me that she is a worrier just like i am.  she said her husband tells her "worrying is like a rocking chair.  it gives you something to do, but doesn't get you anywhere."  one of my goals this year is to have less worry and anxiety.  worrying takes up too much time and energy and i want to put that energy towards a more positive goal.  i've found during the move that i know it is impossible for me not to worry, but i can be more proactive about it and i have done that through writing things down and lists and more lists!  it feels good to see what i have accomplished and plan out my days instead of being flustered (which i still am, i partially blame the pregnancy). 

~most importantly my family has been so supportive and understanding of our choices.  this won't be easy on any of us, but i know (and they know) it is for the betterment of our family.  we all keep referring to it as a journey and adventure, and those words bring excitement.  i don't know what lies ahead, but i know it will be awesome!  "change is good" is my motto for 2016!