So here we are… still in the beginning of our family adventure. It’s been two and a half months since our big move to the mountains, and we are now a solid month into our homeschooling journey. I thought it was about time for an update.
I’d be lying if I said the ‘simple life’ has been completely dreamy. There have been unexpected hiccups along the way. For one thing, I think I had forgotten the pain that comes with moving… both physical and emotional. My dad recently reminded me that moving is probably a lot like childbirth. You tend to forget the misery involved {I definitely found that to be true}. A move is generally a big adjustment for any family. For us, it seemed even more difficult going from a busy city life… to the quietness and simplicity of the mountains.
A week into our new home, Mr. Amazing fell and broke both bones in his dominant arm. That put a serious damper on our summer since it eliminated all water activities for nearly two months. Not to mention, it was heartbreaking having our two year old so badly injured and in pain. We worked to get our home settled as quickly as we could before homeschooling was scheduled to start. We got acquainted with our assigned teacher and the online schooling program we had chosen. Unfortunately, a few days in… I knew the program wasn’t for us. I had to trust my instinct and pick an entirely different program for our kids… one that was more traditional. We left that program… found a charter homeschool instead, and went through the whole arduous process again.
Frankly speaking, I went through a period of complete self-doubt in my decision to teach our children… and in our choice to move our family to a completely different environment… away from friends and family. There were many days filled with hesitation, anger, guilt, and tears. To top it off, husby had been working more than usual, sometimes for cylces of 96 hour shifts… so I was feeling very alone, tired, and regretful in our new {not yet comfortable} home. Thankfully, my patient husby and close friends talked me through it. They encouraged me along the way, and frequently reminded me of why we made this move {see here & here}. I am so grateful for their perseverance and faith in me.
I read a quote on one of my favorite blogs that was taken from the movie, Hope Floats.
“Beginnings are usually scary, endings are usually sad, but it’s what’s in the middle that counts. So when you find yourself at the beginning, just give hope a chance to float up and it will.”
I have held tightly to this thought… giving hope a chance. Time, visits from close friends, a more regular routine, and a shift in perspective have proven to be positive for me. Most of my recent days have been filled with joy, gratitude, hope, excitement, and ultimately… moments of pure presence. Although we’ve only been homeschooling for just over a month, I’ve found that we are all so much more relaxed and ready to learn {I will do a post on this soon… as I have so much to tell you!}. There are ‘teachable moments’ that fill our days, keeping Husby and I more actively engaged in our children’s interests and learning. We have played more board games in the past two months, than I’ve played in my entire life. We spend hours hiking in nature, observing the wildlife just outside our windows, collecting acorns & pinecones, baking treats, cooking meals at home, swaying on our porch swing, cuddling while reading classic books, and simply breathing in the fresh, crisp mountain air. The kids are spending hours a day together… playing, imagining, and purely creating. It’s been beautiful to observe.
Overall, our family is happy. Everyone seems closer and more at peace. Although things are never going to be perfect… we will continue to have good days and bad, moments of bliss and self-doubt… I am confident that we have made the best decision for our family at this time. I am so thankful that we have had our faith to lean on, close family and friends that have believed in us, and ultimately… the yearning to take a risk. A risk that has forced us to step out of our comfort zone and truly live… amongst all of His splendor and this profound beauty.
So… here is to giving hope a chance, truly living, breathing it all in, taking time to be present, and living in a way that you believe is best for your family!
