Reflections of a Cali Girl in a Northeastern wilderness...

Lindsey asked me last night while we were driving home from trying a new dance class at a new studio in this new world we are living in, "When will it be a year since we have been here, Mom?"  My mind ticks back... Well, we moved here the first weekend in October - Conference weekend.  So, I answer my middle child with, "Next October, honey, it will have been a year that we have been out here."  

Then my mind naturally reflects upon the events and the days of the past few months and 

I contemplate how much  our little family has changed.

Life is full of changes and sometimes those changes catapult us into chaos.

We arrived in Pennsylvania on a plane, each family member carrying about 5 days worth of belongings in their own suitcases.  We stayed in a hotel for a 10 days, all the while arguing with Mee's Allied Movers as to when they were going to deliver our belongings and our vehicles.  The truck finally arrived at our home  on Monday October 15th and our vehicles just two days after that.  Boxes, boxes and more boxes and furniture everywhere!  The kids started in school on Monday as well.  Kitchen and bedding was the first priority and I was able to give my family a home cooked meal on Wednesday night!  I did my best to unpack more, but had to wait until Saturday of that first week in the house for Jared's help - a Home Depot trip and all morning Sunday spent installing or repairing every closet in the house!  The kids rooms did not have any working closets - the owners kids had previously ripped all of the closet shelving out!!!  GRrrrr! Frustrating!  Okay! So week two of being in the house, some more organizing, trying to get the basement rigged for an entertainment area, but then the weekend comes (we attend church for the first time - but it's Stake Conference!) and now we are preparing for a hurricane to hit us!  WHAT THE...!?!? 

We prep the generator, stock up on bottled water, organize the garage so we can get to our camping gear and Jared's tools and we are set with food storage... And then all is quiet Sunday night, but the schools are closed Monday.  YAY!  The kids are THRILLED!  Me, not so much... now I've got to entertain, instead of organize.  Monday night comes, the wind is wailing, the kids are getting worried.  We all sleep together in Mom and Dad's room.  Julie and Tanner finally crash at about 10pm and then... the tree falls on the roof.  Assessment and minor clean up ensue and as the 4 of us settle down into bed, the power goes out - for a week.  The kids do okay the next day - the younger three have about an hour of cooperative play as Emily (the pre-teen) naps for 4 hours - in between bouts of arguments and punching matches.  Night falls and the kids play with matches and candles - as I pray that I can find all of the drops of candle wax that has dripped throughout the house. -_-  

Jared had fired up the generator before he left for work so that we could keep the refridgerator cold and the kids watched a movie or two.  A fort was made and we had heat via the propane-fueled fireplace in the living room.  I decided to plug the skillet in and make breakfast for dinner - eggs, bacon and pancakes!  I know, I rock, right?  Meanwhile we hear that there is no school again on Wednesday.  When Daddy gets home from work, we all act out our frustrations (much yelling and crying takes place) and once expressed, tears ensue and the words, "I just want to go home!" are uttered by our oldest child.  We are all thinking the same thing.  As we hug and draw comfort and support from one another and remind ourselves that home is where ever we are as a family and that we can find peace in staying close to our Savior, we take deep breaths and all settle down to sleep again together in the master bedroom.  

Happy Halloween  :-(

No class parties, no costume parade, no trick or treating.  But, the Nelson Family (who lives about 30 min. away from us - right outside of Scranton) comes to the rescue!  They invite us to come to their house for Halloween festivities and we spend the night that night at their house.  My area and ward family is still assessing damage and trying to survive the effects of the storm - most of them are without power and have sustained some sort of damage.  Again, we receive word that there is no school on Thursday and at this point I don't care if there is school on Friday - I'm OUT!  I pack the kids in the car and we head East at about noon to visit my sister Christina Harrison in Concord, MA!  VACATION!  

We had a great time visiting with The Harrisons!

I drive back Sunday afternoon, anxious to reunite the family with Jared.  I kept thinking that we must have power by now, but as I stop by the house to check at 8pm at night, my home is still dark.  I see the utility trucks on the streets of my housing development, and as I am contemplating whether to stay and hope that the power gets restored sometime in the night (because my kids school is open on Monday...) I see a transformer blow (that telltale flash that looks like lightning but no thunder accompanies it) and I am sure that I won't have power tonight.  I get back in the car and drive 30 min. more west to Clarks Summit and join Jared in the hotel as snow flurries begin to fly.  Monday morning, I take the kids to see Wreck It Ralph instead of taking them to school, and I get Tanner his wrestling shoes and headgear, because wrestling practice starts the next night.  I get a call from the development that my power has been restored!  I check out of the hotel (where there are still so many linemen from all over the country staying - not to mention many from NJ and NY who are also still without power) and we get settled back home Monday afternoon (November 5th, 2012) after a week of darkness.  Now, I have to start over again, and restock my fridge and freezer!

So, we've been here in PA for a little over a month, but only in our house for about 2 weeks - with about 17 days worth of temporary housing/chaos thrown into the mix.  

It is a miracle that I haven't lost my grip... 

I have a lot to be thankful for.  My heart breaks for those who are only about 1 1/2 hours away from me and have lost everything, either by fire, or flood and continue to hold the chaos of life changed by mother nature's perfect storm at bay.  I am grateful to be able to have a secure, safe home and all of my loved ones and our belongings still here.  I am grateful for the loving prayers and reassuring words of those who love me!  I love you too.  Thanks for being my family.