Okay, so let's just start out with something that has nothing to do with anything. Fun right?

I keep forgetting to tell you something about The Beloved that must be shared.

He is secretly obsessed with Flow from the Progressive commercials. 

To the point of memorization.

He'll rewind the commercials over and over again.

 His favorite lines being, "Happens to me all the time" and "hello".

What a weird, dorky man that I love. He's perfect for me. 

No offense honey.

Now that, that's off my chest we can continue forward.

Onto - The Move.

First things first. Or I guess second things second. Since this is the second thing...

Wow, keep it together woman.

This is one of the parts I hate, hate, hate about moving:

Finding mysterious, foreign, how long has that been there(?) objects.

This time that experience was found behind the videos.

Honestly, what the H is that?

I don't even know.

That is just grotesque, throw up in my mouth, nasty.

(Sorry about the H Mom.

I must admit, sometimes it just springs out there unintentionally when I find science projects flourishing behind our belongings.)

Well....

can't really find an appropriate segue for the next bit so we'll just jump right in.

(FYI- to all of you smarty pants people who know that segway isn't spelled segway but segue, you can continue to feel smart. But, for everybody else (like me), did you have any idea that segway was spelled segue? Interesting.)

So, we're a little heart broken.

If you would have told me a year ago that we would only live in IL for a year and then we'd be moving back,

I would have jumped for joy.

Who could have thought of a better plan?

It's amazing to think we have only lived here a year when it feels like a life time. In a good way.

I believe we have experienced something rare.

The feeling of immediate belonging, instantaneous love, support, where everything simply falls into place.

Wow, right?

Now, life is life and always throws its curves,

it's just been surprising to realize I wouldn't mind receiving my curves here. (we're not talking about lbs my friends)

I keep typing, deleting, and re-typing - I am not sure what to say or which order to say it.

Third thing third :) -

I love my family. I am thrilled to live by them. To see their faces whenever I love and to squeeze their wonderful little beings.

But, it is also hard to leave behind good friends that have grown into awesome family.

My neighbor Kim - I can't even talk about because I am currently tearing up just thinking about her. I love her to pieces. She is irreplaceable and has taken such great care of our family. Thank you.

The Beloved's employees:

They were sending us baby gifts even before we officially moved here. Upon our arrival they would ask The Beloved how I was doing and then they'd send home little "things to do in IL" fliers. When I miscarried they made sure I knew they were sad and sorry for our loss. One time The Beloved convinced one of his very patient, talented employees to teach me how to quilt.  They invited us swimming, to parties, and one wonderful gal even helped me pack and showed up on my doorstep today with California rolls. 

Our Ward:

Is a dream.

I want to take all of them with me because I love them.

I have never been in a ward like this before.

They're my family.

(I should say "our" because it's true. But right now I am being selfish and only focusing on me and MY EMOTIONS. :))

Just to give you an idea -

When people found out we were moving our phone was ringing off the hook. How can we help? What do you need?

The Bishops wife watched my little boys all day, took them swimming, read them stories when it was time to take a nap, and treated them like her own.

But, just a few hours before I dropped them off at her house she had just returned from staying the night at a nursing home. One of the elderly ladies from our ward wasn't doing so well and her family called and asked if someone might be able to stay the night with her.

So, she did. She got about two hours of sleep and then watched my children ALL DAY LONG. I am sure she was not only physically exhausted but emotionally as well.

She is probably hating that I am writing about her. And I'm sorry. Really. But one of the things that amazes me is the people here don't serve just to be good. They serve because service is their life. I honestly don't think she thought it was a big deal to watch our children because this is what she does. Serve.

M-W three different women have watched my children during the day.

Two others will watch them Th and F.

And more volunteered.

All of these women are busy mothers, with demanding lives and a boat load of responsibilities.

My kitchen was all packed up on Mon by my friends, a wonderful mother and daughter who are divine.

Another sister, my old workout buddy, volunteered to be in charge of box pickup and drop off. She's like the fairy box giver, stopping by randomly throughout the week.

My prego friend has been here packing diligently and another happily cleaned my seven year olds bathroom. The Bathroom Cleaner then took a huge load of our junk to the Goodwill. (I am sorry I labeled you the Bathroom Cleaner. You are so much more :) I just don't like using real names. )

And more fantastic people will be becoming throughout the week to help clean and load the truck.

Also, get this - one lovely lady agreed to sell some of our belongings in a garage sale and then mail the money to us because we don't have time to do it.

Close to last by not least:

The daughter  who helped pack up our kitchen is a masseuse and offered to give me a massage on Friday while the men are packing up.

Wouldn't you want to live here too?

We feel completely LOVED.

This is our family.

So, now really last but not least -

My little Beehives.

You are so dear.

Stay good.

Tonight you planned a surprise party for me an hour before the activity was to start and it was the perfect goodbye gift. I loved the cake, the cupcakes, the chips and goldfish. You even bought your wicked leader a Pepsi.

The games were hilarious and I tried really hard not to laugh at the accidental toot someone let slip. You know who you are :).

Thanks for the pictures and your sweet, tender messages you wrote in the little booklet for me.

I love your testimonies and your kindness.

You're beautiful.

I love you girls.

Really. I do.

Order your Guinness Book of World Records soon because I am pretty sure I just wrote the longest post alive and my name will be mentioned. Sweet.

A friend in my last post wrote a comment that is so true.

This experience is bittersweet. For obvious reasons.

The Lord is so good.

We are thankful for this job promotion, especially during hard economic times. I am incredibly giddy about living near my parents and being able to see my sisters more. Family is #1.

I am grateful for our memories made here.

It's been one magnificent year.

By the way... for all of you Flow lovers. On this very night as I was writing this post a new Progressive commercial came out.

The Beloved is overwhelmed with joy.