Visiting My Friend (& Her Family)

Hello, hello, I'm still here. It's been a lot of working, sleeping, and moving-related stuff.

But two weekends ago I did something fun! I visited my best friend from college, her husband, and their three kids. I saw them a year and a half ago when my friend invited me on their family vacation. I was a little hesitant because it had been so long since we'd seen each other. But I went and it was fun! And now we live in the same state so we hope to see each other at least once a year. 

It's a different life though. A very different life. Her daughters are in elementary and middle school, and our time was spent dropping them off and picking them up from their various activities. My friend has a very serious and important job too, but I was there for a long weekend when she didn't have to go into the office. It really was incredible. She made dinner every night too.

I reminded myself that she's lived in her house for 9 years. She's raised kids for 14 years. She has her rhythms and routines that have evolved over the years. She's in the thick of things and it's like a juggling act that won't stop for 20 more years.

I wasn't sad to be immersed in her life. I love my friend, and (thank god) her kids are awesome. I like her husband too. I've known him almost as long as I've known my friend. I love where they live and going to visit them is like going on a little retreat. It's a vacation. With kids. Lol. We go do things, and I like to go to bakeries and get coffee and buy cookies for me and the girls.

But I was ready for home. I like my life. I loved my vacation, I loved seeing my friend, and I loved coming home. 

Then I got home and felt thrown off all week because I had spent the whole weekend out of town. I hadn't done my laundry or gone to the grocery store or had any downtime really. It's always one thing or another. We can't have everything.

Then I spent this weekend revising my research article. I put a lot of time into it and it was worth it. My draft is better than it's ever been. I am almost ready to resubmit it. That's my goal by the end of the month. I'm surprised it's still on my plate, but my new job and moving (twice) this past year interrupted a lot of my projects.

Next weekend I will chill! Unless something else comes up lol. But relaxing is what is planned.

Here are three pictures for you. The first two pictures are homegrown tomatoes and chickens at my friend's home. The third picture is a book I bought on vacation: Fairy Gardening 101. It's my new interest. I want to have plants and a vegetable garden, which is possible in my new backyard, but I'm going to start small by maintaining the landscaping that is already there...
And creating little fairy gardens here and there.

Moving Is A Long Process

I've been low-level cranky for the past several weeks. I've realized moving is traumatic and trauma is cumulative. Therefore, each move actually gets harder even when it's a positive thing. It does not get easier with time. It's just more disruption.

I am so incredibly thankful to have moved into a new home. I also don't think I am going to feel well for awhile. I accept this fact. It's part of the process. I mean, I haven't even eaten a homecooked meal at a dining room/kitchen table in over ten months. We gave our old table away to the thrift store before moving out of state.

Lately, my life has been only moving, working, and sleeping. That is not okay. I'm happy I moved, it's great to have a job, and I'm thankful I can sleep. But those three things do not make up a meaningful, enjoyable life by themselves. I need more. I want more. I deserve more.

Time to sew, time with friends, time to exercise.

I still think a little bit about what my life would be like if I was raising kids but not very often. I've created a completely new life for myself (a couple of times over!), so it's impossible to know what my life would be like as a mother. There's no value in even speculating. 

I'm living the life I have, and that's what is important. My life is valid and worthwhile.

And, on that note, I am going to cook! I haven't made any meals in the new place yet, and it's time to get that good energy goin' and flowin'. It's up to me to do what I can to feel better.

The graphic above was found on this post about cooking as a self-care ritual.