First two weeks.

In our first couple of weeks, our main activities consisted of unpacking and helping the kids settle into a new school year.

With our trip back to Columbia with Judah, we were so thankful to have Steve and Linda here to help out, even though it was utter chaos. It helped us to watch them go with the flow and find fun things to do, like sipping their morning coffee on the front porch.

And because Steve loves a project, he got right to work helping start living room bookshelves.

During this move we realized we have more books than any family needs and that we’d designed our Columbia house around our reading obsession/homeschool life, meaning every renovation including bookshelves. So when we moved, here’s what we decided: 1. Book storage has to be top priority, and 2. We have to stop buying books for awhile.

Wait. I realized I bought one since we moved. But just one! This was to send down to school for Judah.

Anyway. We love our ceiling-height bookshelves. They make this new house feel like us. Thanks, David and Steve!

And now for a plant update. I didn’t think I’d be able to relocate all of my house plants, but both our moms and my friend Leigh generously plant-sat while we packed up in Columbia, and about three van-loads of plants later, they made it! Of 50+ houseplants, I think only one died.

Books and plants are my secret to a cozy home.

We’re getting used to an open-floor plan house.

I won’t lie: it’s not my preferred style. But it’s what was available to us and I’m growing to appreciate it. I really miss my old kitchen, but what I do enjoy is us all being in the same space together. I hate the clutter that always seems to accumulate on our huge kitchen island, but I love being able to wash dishes and while the boys play Fortnite and laugh with friends back home.

Gabe told me he loves “having carpet upstairs, having my own bedroom, and Mom and Dad’s room is big enough to play soccer in.”

Here’s what else we like about a new build: everything works.

There are no renovations to budget for. Just the fun parts of personalizing a home, like painting walls and hanging art.

Additionally: there are actual closets with space to store things. I have a laundry room! There are three full bathrooms. Lots of natural light. Each of the kids gets their own bedroom, and Judah’s room can double as a guest room when he’s not here. We have a two-car garage!

David has assured us we will never park a vehicle in this garage, but I can’t complain while it’s getting lots of use for projects and work-outs. Also: back in Columbia we had the row-erg machine in our master bedroom for probably 3 years. I love that it now has a home in the garage.

Settling into a new home takes a lot of work.

People ask me how I can unpack so fast, and a huge reason is that if one more person in the family asks me, “Hey, Mom, where’s ____?” I will lose my mind. I’ve looked through all the remaining boxes more times than I can count, and have taken to writing very specific lists of the items on the outside.

Actually, Ami and I laughed out loud while I was writing this blog post, because she’s been looking for her French notebook for over a week, and when I pulled up this picture, we found it!! It’s that green flowered 3-ring binder above. We have zero idea where it is in this house at the moment, but now we know it’s here somewhere.

Along with the following: our Roku stick, the Tin Can phone some friends gifted Noah, my journal, the food processor blade, base to our electric tea kettle, and the base of our butter dish. Ha!

Reading over that list, I realize it’s sort of miraculous we’ve found all the things we have in less than three weeks — especially the kids’ homeschool materials.

The start of school has been hard, I won’t lie.

We desperately miss our co-ops, PE class, and friends back in Columbia. We miss fall SOAR soccer and the English Country dance and early-morning walking buddies. Basically, all our normal rhythms of August/September.

The three kids are all at a co-op here in town that I learned about by word of mouth. It’s large, with good quality classes and teaching, but a little hard for them to meet people. We’re taking it a day at a time.

It’s the beginning of 12th, 9th, and 8th grade for us. I’m endlessly proud of my brave, brave kids, who are starting over a brand new life they did not choose, knowing no-one. I pray that, over time, this season builds their confidence and resilience as they daily face things they never thought they’d have to face.

When we moved to India, David and I were challenged to get outside of our apartment every single day and force ourselves to try something new. Hard as that was, it helped us find a home there rather than hiding out behind tv shows and Facebook. Of course we’re not experiencing culture shock here like in a foreign country, but the principle still applies. It’s easy to hide away in our home, texting or talking with people in Columbia we already know, not wanting to muster the energy to meet new people.

So we’re finding little ways to get out and explore.

We’re going to church and to youth group, to homeschool co-op, and the park. On Saturday, the kids and I went out and got a library card and checked out some books. I’ve found our Target and Whole Foods, Publix and Ace Hardware.