You Are Now Leaving . . .

The Harveys are one week from boarding our plane first to LAX and then straight on to Auckland.  Right now I'm sitting in an almost-empty house (basically our beds and this chair are all that are left) trying to finish the last of a bottle of New Mexican wine bought yesterday in a moment of premature nostalgia out of the only wine glass we haven't packed, sold, or tossed.

Two weeks ago we loaded everything into a 6' x 12' trailer and hauled it 1500 miles to Ohio where it will remain with Pat's parents for the next two years (thank you Ron and Nancy).

It's been quite an experience to distill our lives down to the few things that really matter (6' x 12' isn't that much room for a family of four).  And I think it's been good for us.  Or at least me.  In the midst of throwing away years of unfinished knitting projects, journals that once contained my deepest fears and wants, the shirt I was wearing the day I met my husband (nondescript, green, polo, probably dirty), I have several times had to take a step back and remind myself, "I am not bound to the world by these things."  And I listen to the giggles of my daughter and smell my baby's hair and take comfort in knowing that there is still SO MUCH left to see and all the things with which we surround ourselves pale next to the reality of moving forward.  And being loved.

Somewhere in Texas

As far as our drive (during which, I might add, everyone did fantastically), we finally got into Zanesville after two days and got to spend the next five days with Pat's parents and siblings (including Lauren/James/Finn/BabyBoySpada who drove down from Cleveland and Uncle Jonny who flew from Santa Barbara).  Family festivities included a 1st birthday party for Little Q, a homemade New Years Eve snowman piñata, and fresh eggs from the chickens.  Pat and I even snuck in a 7-mile run while the grands watched the babies.

Of course, Grandma Nancy made this egg basket

First Ice Cream

Making a cake

Flew back to New Mexico on January 5th and have basically been working our last US ED shifts and putting finishing touches on our travel plans.  I must say, it's very strange and a little stressful to sever ties here in the States.  This past week we've been busy putting loan payments on auto-pilot; cancelling Netflix, cells phones, and utilities; getting everyone to their last doctors/dentists appointments; and finding how to arrange health care, get malpractice insurance, and find a car in a foreign country.

We've also been saying farewell to all the those who made our time here in NM special and I'd like to recognize, especially, our nanny, Taylor, who's been my co-mother and friend throughout this crazy two-under-two phase.  You're the best and good luck in Dallas!