Hope Beyond the Battle: We've Moved!!

D-Day.

The infamous move finally took place and although the dust has yet to settle, I think we're on the downhill side of things.
The move couldn't have gone any better considering all the components that were involved.
I had some amazing friends help me with babysitting and packing while I finished getting Bryn's and my stuff as packed as possible. I could NOT have done it without them!
John arrived home from Yuma, late on the 2nd of Sept. We had to have the UHaul trailer of our CO stuff ready to go (packed) by noon-ish the next day, poor man.
Again, we had some friends help us with delivering the trailer, babysitting, and packing it which made the whole process virtually painless.
On Labor Day our neighbor across the street took off with the trailer headed for CO. He's also military and his home base has always been Ft. Carson, CO. He's been TCS'd in NC because of his job in SF and it amazingly worked out that he was going back to Carson the same week we were needing our stuff physically moved. So we worked it out where he would drive our stuff for us which was 60% of the moving battle completely resolved. Amazing how the blessings flow!

Ugh, my poor babies!

The next day my high school partner in crime, Katie H., flew to FAY along with her husband, John's elementary school partner in crime, Scott who surprised John with his arrival. Katie helped me pack up the stuff to go on the plane while Scott helped John with other "man" stuff including some house work The owner of our rental house decided he wanted to come by and meet us while in the middle of packing...sigh...but thanks to our CO friends as well as my live in "brother husband," Jacob Albaeck, we managed to not look completely insane when he arrived.

I think they are going to be just fine!

Next morning Katie, Bryn, Jax, Bella & I were escorted to the FAY airport by our men and were off to CO.
Yes, we flew the cats.
You'll be happy to know that they not only survived being transported as cargo, but have transitioned really well to their new home. :)
Katie's primary "job" was to help me fly with a babe, TONS of luggage, and two cats and I 100% couldn't have done it without her.

BUTTONS!!!

Bryn totally surprised all of us, especially me, and was an absolute gem to fly with. She was fascinated with the volume and channel buttons on the armrests and also playing peek-a-boo with the passengers behind us. It honestly couldn't have gone any better. At one point, when landing in Denver, the people in front of us stood up to leave the plane and commented they didn't even know there was a baby behind them.

Hurley pup, such a trooper!

TOTAL proud mama moment, cause she def was awake and being totally ornery the whole ATL-DEN plane ride.
The guys, back in FAY, drove to Raleigh to pick up John's oldest brother, Danny, whom we flew out to NC to help Scott and John with house packing/cleaning and also with the drive to CO in my car, along with Hurley our pup.

Can you see how entertaining this is??
In all, everyone arrived in one piece, our plan working as best it could to get all here, accounted for, and for John to have as much time as possible to enjoy his leave how he saw fit.

Special shout out to all our friends back in NC. We already miss you all greatly and you all know who you are. We/I could not have done anything to make this move possible if it weren't for your willing spirits and hearts there to support not only Brynlee and me, but our little family as we moved away from you. It was hard for me to use your help in knowing that your help meant it was one step closer to us leaving you all. Please know that you are loved, appreciated, and we just can't thank you enough for all of your support through all this.
This deployment will be so different compared to the others since I can't be surrounded by my band of sisters I have always leant on when times get me down in the dumps.
You girls also know you who are, and I cannot express enough how much I value each and everyone of you in our friendships! All of us bring something so unique to our quirky little table of oddballs and I wouldn't have it any other way!!
I don't think I can ever eat at Chic Fil A or Panera without thinking of some random memory of all of us while eating/hanging out there....and as weird as it sounds, even being here away from you all, that makes me happy. I LOVE remembering all those crazy times and this time next year when I'm most likely headed back to NC, we better make up all the lunch dates I missed, assuming you all are still there too!

Love to all of you, and CO....I missed you like woah. This is going to be an absolute BLAST.