Bluebird's Nest

There’s been quite a few lasts lately. We’re getting down to the wire (I can count how many days are left on one hand now). When you’re getting ready for a huge trip there’s a few things that you aren’t going to do again for a while. 6 months feels like a long time!

Some things that I’m happy are my lasts for a bit:

• last load of cloth diapers to wash
• last time to clean the fridge, range, oven, floor, bathroom, car, etc…
• last load of laundry in my washing machine
• last time I cut the grass
• last time I have to deal with tenant issues

Some things that I’m sad are my lasts:

• last time I’m going to drive my Kia
• last BBQ/dinner with friends and family
• last time I’m going to sleep in my bed
• last time I can hug my parents/best friend
• last time I eat a gorgeous steak
• last time my baby plays in her exersaucer
• last time I can sit at my island and write my blog
• last time I can have a shower in my bathroom
• last glass of water from my tap (I’m a little picky about the taste of water)
• last trip downtown
• last time I say goodbye to my house and yard
• last time I get to watch my TV
• last time I eat a Reese Peanut Butter Cup
• last time I can use my electric toothbrush

Don’t get me wrong. This is not forever folks. I’m not about to join a convent. But 6 months feels like an eternity and I’m sure it will go by in a heartbeat.

I would like to take the time to thank my husband for the last 7 years of our life together. I think I know a little bit better why he is always talking about his country and why he misses the things that he loves so much about what makes his country so unique to him. 7 years is a long time to wait to be able to have the things you are missing. So even though I might have a bigger list of things I will miss while I’m gone than things I won’t miss, I will always remember that you have been doing this for the last 7 years… for me and our family.

I’m so happy to be able to be doing this with you. You must be so over the moon excited

I find that I only blog about our multi-country preparations when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Is that a good thing? Therapy much?

I think I turn to my blog to help me sort my thoughts. Get everything in order and then move forward. Onward and upward.

As the time looms closer (a little over a month now), I’m finding so many mixed emotions.

Overwhelmed by all the things we need to get done before we leave.

Nervous about the exchange of the keys for the people we have moving in temporarily.

Excited by the trip of a life time.

Afraid of the unknown. Not knowing how my wee babe is going to grow and what stages she is going to go through when while we’re away.

Protective of my tweenager to make sure all her needs and emotions are met.

Happy and lucky to be able to give our children such an amazing experience.

Anxious about the well being of our tenants.

Freeing once we’re on the road. I can’t wait to feel this feeling to it’s fullest. Granted it will probably take me a couple of days to feel this in it’s entirety – to let go of my lists and responsibilities and know that I’ve taken care of it all – but won’t that feel amazing…

Over and above everything, this is really challenging my “controlling” nature. Not being able to get a grip on everything I’m feeling, is leaving me to feel a bit distorted. Actually, a lot distorted.

I’m finding that I just want to keep doing fun things around here while the weather is getting better and better. Let’s go to Sidney Spit for the day. How about camping next weekend with my best friend and her family? And who can say no to BBQ’s a plenty.

But after yesterday, I think I’m going to have to bid these events adieu until 2012. My hubby and I went through our house yesterday, making yet another list to decide on what we need to pack up. We need to do this because of the people we have moving into the house. And after we did that (it’s a loooooong list), we itemized it to figure out what can be done now, and what needs to wait until the weekend before and what waits until the day before. We have a lot of things that need to wait until the weekend before. A LOT.

And that’s just packing up the house! Then there’s packing of our suitcases. 4 people (one infant) and three seasons. Figuring out the logistics of who’s going to water the garden, how do we do the exchanging of the keys, fixing a few things around the house, packing the camping gear, packing the car, cleaning the house from top to bottom, making sure I have enough clothes for the wee babe for the size she will be in the season it will be…

Phewf! Head is spinning again. Take it one day at a time. You can do this.

Start making a dent in what needs to get done and you’ll feel like you’re getting somewhere. Give your tweenager hugs and reassurances that everything is going to be ok. Include her in the preparations so it feels like we’re moving forward. Make lists, check things off. Check lots of things off so it feels like you’re on top of it all.

It’s all going to get done before we leave. It will. There’s no doubt about that.

Onward and upward.