Summertime has brought an abundance of change to the Smith family.
For a multitude of reasons we left our home in Nevada. We said goodbye to a place where we had grown together as a family. We hugged friends and family close and spoke of staying in touch and promising visits. We left a church home where we felt God with every visit, picnic, prayer vocalized, song sung, and sermon taught. Driving away from the beauty of the Sierras and surrounding mountains, we headed east.
West Chicago greeted us with open arms and welcome smiles. Our family housed us for weeks while we sought a new place to live. My new colleagues answered my endless questions with patience and guidance. And we started to adjust to a new way of life.
To leave the familiar and embrace the unknown has been the biggest challenge our little family has faced on this adventure. It's an exciting fear tinged with anticipation and hope. I think it has forced us to connect with one another and lean on each other in a way we haven't had to before. There are still unpacked boxes tucked away in corners of our new home, but it does indeed feel like home. The adjustment will continue, especially as moments come up that we miss. Friends' birthdays and milestones, Tahoe snow, events at the river and more are happening and we miss being an active part of that community. To observe it from afar is not enough and not the same as being a part of those experiences. Lucky for us people still use the phone to talk and posted pictures do indeed carry their timeless energy across 2,000 miles of open road and land. Each interaction from everyone softens the shock of not being there.
That said, being here is where we are meant to be. There is no doubt or regret or hesitation at building our life here. New relationships are forming. We have found a church that I think will be home and we can see where we can fill a need and serve. New opportunities to volunteer in this small town of Elmhurst are making themselves known and soon we hope to be contributing and giving back. Volunteering is always one of those items on the list of "Things we want to do..." ! Our apt complex is in a word, charming. It's across the street from the park, museum, library, trails, and down the street from the train, downtown, and more. I literally walk to work every day and walk home. Sometimes I come home for lunch!
Matt has renewed focus on his dissertation and writes daily. He is applying to jobs; this location has one of the highest concentrations of higher education institutions in the world so we're pretty confident that when the right job comes along he'll know. But more importantly he is at home with Cassidy. While not easy the first couple weeks, he has found his rhythm and the bond between him and Cass is palpable in a way that it was not before. He has learned how hard it is to be primary caregiver! But more importantly he has accepted this time with her as the blessing it is.
Cassidy had started to go to potty last November. By April she was going all of the time and had consistent dry diapers. That all stopped when we packed the first box. Throught out this move she has been the most well behaved toddler! The reassurance and love we showered upon her really put her at ease. Her happy joyful disposition did not waver. But somewhere in her little mind and heart she knew big changes were coming and that feeling manifested itself when she stopped going potty. She stopped telling us. She didn't even want to sit on it or play near it. We stayed with my aunt and her family for 3 weeks- no potty. We moved to our apt- no potty. We unpacked her room- ding ding ding! Potty is happening! While far from being trained, we are back to where we were in April. This was her way of telling us she felt at home. She felt safe. She felt stable.
We blinked and July is at an end. We are thankful for so much. And ready for what comes next...
For a multitude of reasons we left our home in Nevada. We said goodbye to a place where we had grown together as a family. We hugged friends and family close and spoke of staying in touch and promising visits. We left a church home where we felt God with every visit, picnic, prayer vocalized, song sung, and sermon taught. Driving away from the beauty of the Sierras and surrounding mountains, we headed east.
West Chicago greeted us with open arms and welcome smiles. Our family housed us for weeks while we sought a new place to live. My new colleagues answered my endless questions with patience and guidance. And we started to adjust to a new way of life.
To leave the familiar and embrace the unknown has been the biggest challenge our little family has faced on this adventure. It's an exciting fear tinged with anticipation and hope. I think it has forced us to connect with one another and lean on each other in a way we haven't had to before. There are still unpacked boxes tucked away in corners of our new home, but it does indeed feel like home. The adjustment will continue, especially as moments come up that we miss. Friends' birthdays and milestones, Tahoe snow, events at the river and more are happening and we miss being an active part of that community. To observe it from afar is not enough and not the same as being a part of those experiences. Lucky for us people still use the phone to talk and posted pictures do indeed carry their timeless energy across 2,000 miles of open road and land. Each interaction from everyone softens the shock of not being there.
That said, being here is where we are meant to be. There is no doubt or regret or hesitation at building our life here. New relationships are forming. We have found a church that I think will be home and we can see where we can fill a need and serve. New opportunities to volunteer in this small town of Elmhurst are making themselves known and soon we hope to be contributing and giving back. Volunteering is always one of those items on the list of "Things we want to do..." ! Our apt complex is in a word, charming. It's across the street from the park, museum, library, trails, and down the street from the train, downtown, and more. I literally walk to work every day and walk home. Sometimes I come home for lunch!
Matt has renewed focus on his dissertation and writes daily. He is applying to jobs; this location has one of the highest concentrations of higher education institutions in the world so we're pretty confident that when the right job comes along he'll know. But more importantly he is at home with Cassidy. While not easy the first couple weeks, he has found his rhythm and the bond between him and Cass is palpable in a way that it was not before. He has learned how hard it is to be primary caregiver! But more importantly he has accepted this time with her as the blessing it is.
Cassidy had started to go to potty last November. By April she was going all of the time and had consistent dry diapers. That all stopped when we packed the first box. Throught out this move she has been the most well behaved toddler! The reassurance and love we showered upon her really put her at ease. Her happy joyful disposition did not waver. But somewhere in her little mind and heart she knew big changes were coming and that feeling manifested itself when she stopped going potty. She stopped telling us. She didn't even want to sit on it or play near it. We stayed with my aunt and her family for 3 weeks- no potty. We moved to our apt- no potty. We unpacked her room- ding ding ding! Potty is happening! While far from being trained, we are back to where we were in April. This was her way of telling us she felt at home. She felt safe. She felt stable.
We blinked and July is at an end. We are thankful for so much. And ready for what comes next...
So glad you guys are settling in. You write about this transition so eloquently. As one who has moved 7 times, most of them as a child, I can confirm that you will adapt and one day, you will wake up and wonder how you ever lived anywhere else (just like happened with Reno!)
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