The Move

This post has been in my drafts since September of 2017!  I suppose I totally forgot about it as we transitioned on with new explorations.  Now a year later I'll try to piece together the story I intended to tell when this was originally drafted...

The terrain here differs from the Midwest.  While I will always love the Flint Hills, the wheat and corn fields, and even the grazing cattle lining many roads...there's something exciting about the mountains, cactus, palm trees, bright blue cloudless skies and cotton-candy sunsets.

I visited Phoenix twice before moving here, once in March on a quick visit with Matt and Cam and once in April on a trip we'd already had planned to attend the NCAA Final Four.  (We explored Surprise a little but ultimately Matt bought our house on his own and I saw it for the first time when we moved in. #trust) 

The Final Four was held at Cardinal Stadium in Glendale. 

Matt's parents toured the campus with us.

Selling coaches and athletes on promises, air and dirt at this point.  And a pretty great view, I think!

Matt accepted the job as the first ever head coach of the men's basketball team.  What an exciting opportunity to get to start a program...and start a university!  No doubt in my mind that Matt is just the guy for the job!  He spent a lot of the spring in Arizona while we put the house on the market.  As I look back now, it was a hectic time with working to finish up the school year, 3 kids, and keeping the house clean 24/7 for possible showings.

In all honesty, the 2016-17 school year was a tough one.  I started the year on maternity leave, had a hernia surgery limiting what I could do and lift, and then returned to school after a terrible string of several subs who had quit.  With Cade in kindergarten I had to leave work right at 3:30 which is often difficult to do.  Especially on lab days.  I had to criss-cross town getting kids picked up from 3 different places on a route that took 45 minutes to an hour.  Every day.  It was just a time of transition where it was difficult to feel like I was winning at work or winning at home.  #momfail 

When I received this for Mother's day from Cade...I knew something had to change.  I know these things are meant to be funny and I shouldn't read too much into it...but my son pointing out that I love to go to work and that I often forget to pray for him was a kick in the gut.  I did enjoy working.  My classroom has always felt like my happy place.  Teaching is something I love and something I always thought of as family-friendly.  Until the 2016-17 school year.  

Which was all part of God's plan.  Without that tough year I'm not sure I would have been open to not working.  With the move came the opportunity to stay home with Cam, to help my family get settled in a new place, to be able to support Matt in his new role without having my own work schedule to contend with.  I knew it was time to step back from teaching for awhile and I'm so thankful it has worked out for me to be home as we make Arizona our new home.

We loaded the truck on June 12 where our belongings then went BY TRAIN (!) to Arizona.

After celebrating Matt's sister's wedding and spending some time in Great Bend, we drove our cars out (about 15 hours from Great Bend) with Cam and Matt's dad.  It was a really pretty drive!  (That I want to drive ONE TIME in my life.  #2hourflight)

The truck was unloaded on July 1st.  And it was over 120 degrees.  Welcome to the desert.

We had some painting done and tried to get as much unpacked and set up as we could before my parents brought Cade and Reese out in mid-July. 

Transforming from browns to grays is tricky...there are WAY MORE than 50 shades of gray to choose from it seems.

It was hot.  For many, many more months than we were used to.  But we have loved the neighborhood, the pools, meeting new people, our church, and just getting to explore a new place!  This is such a growing area that it seems like everyone was new here at some point recently.  Everyone is so friendly and welcoming.

It was an adjustment for me to be a stay at home mom and not have my classroom to manage.  I struggled with what my days should look like, how I could contribute to our family, and when I should jump back into working.  I prayed a lot about if I should work this next school year...and God answered pretty loud and clear that He thinks I need a couple more years at home for our family.  Even though it's taken months for me to wrap my mind around that...I am thankful.  It's in the midst of change that God can really work.  And again, I am thankful. 

One Year in Phoenix!

  Well, it's been a year since we left Kansas for the desert.  Seems like a long time and also like the blink of an eye.  The days pass quickly because we truly love it here, we know this is where God wants us to be, and because we still get to see our family so often! We look back and are filled with thanksgiving for the many ways God has provided for us here.  Friends, our church, our neighborhood--so many blessings!  

I've pretty much given up on blogging, but as we get ready for another life-change (ie our Surprise baby) I find myself looking back at the blog and enjoying that it's here.  It helps me remember those little details that I want to remember...that I think I'll remember...but I don't remember without a quick pic and caption to jog my memory.

I could go on and fully process through the adjustments, changes, surprises--all the ways we have all been stretched this year.  But I think I'll just say it's been a good first year.  One we want to remember and this post will be plenty long enough with my favorite pics to help me one day jog my memory.  
      

The kids jumped right into school in early August a few weeks after they got here.  They did awesome becoming Marley Park Mavericks!

Construction began on the OUAZ campus--an exciting time!

Some of our first guests: Gentry and Owen and my parents

So fun to get to show the Ingrams the OUAZ campus plans when they were in Phoenix!

A special treat that Audrey's crew made a stop in Surprise on their summer vacation to California!

Special friends help you feel like you're not forgotten...by putting you on a stick and taking you places.

We hosted Matt's team for Sunday night meals.

First bday to celebrate in the desert...transporting an ice cream cake here is NOT easy.

Labor Day visit from Grandma and Grandpa Keeley

We became Diamondback fans! (But still Royals fans!)

Tried to rid ourselves of this hideous rock wall as soon as possible.

And took the kitchen from browns to grays.

Swimming in October was a regular thing

Got festive with fall decorations mostly because it did not feel like fall at all.

Took in the AZ state fair with my parents

Explored the Wildlife Zoo

Went to a random desert pumpkin patch that was actually set up on a lot in the middle of a town...

Celebrated Halloween with NO coats

We jumped right in to Rec Center activities with Cade playing flag football

and Reese playing soccer.

Accompanied Reese's class on a field trip to a "farm" which looked a lot like the desert.

Hiked the "waterfall" trail at the White Tank Mountains with the Hepkers (spoiler alert, there is no waterfall)

Had Thanksgiving here with just our little fam...and I ate most of this food myself (over the course of several days).  But it seems wrong NOT to cook Thanksgiving dinner.

Decorated the house for Christmas...because again...it didn't feel like Christmas

Celebrated the town Christmas Tree lighting

Enjoyed a visit from my Grandmama and Papa

Papa helped motivate us to keep working on that fireplace wall transformation.

We visited the White Tank Mountains.

We let Papa chauffeur us in the golf cart even though we had the coldest temps all winter during their visit!

Cam met Santa...

Reese had a dance recital...this pic is outdoors in December...and that's normal!

The Raschs came for a visit!

We made it to GB for Christmas with the Keeley crew!

And the Sauder side, too!

I went to Vegas for the ultimate concert experience with my besties! 

Britney VIP section...for real

Rung in the New Year celebrating this beautiful bride in good old Manhattan, Kansas!

Some play place shenanigans resulted in Cam's front teeth being knocked out.  RIP Cam's teeth.

We loved cheering on the OUAZ Spirit as Matt's first season as a head coach and first season in program history ended with a WINNING record!

Gmom and Papa discovered that coming to visit us is very fun...especially when it's winter in Kansas.  We are so glad they made the trip so often!

Swimming in February

Groundbreaking for the new Odell Athletic facility on OUAZ campus!

Field trip with Cade's class to the White Tanks and Nature Center

Kicking off Spring Training season with a visit from the Schulz's!

Amazing guests! (Please come every year...seriously.  Maybe twice this year?!)

The kids played Rec basketball.

We LOVED going to Spring Training games...and I started to get concerned over the gut I was developing (and 2 periods I'd missed...you see where this is going?!)

We enjoyed a quick and scenic drive to Vegas with the Hepkers!

More Spring Training games and a visit from Grandma & Grandpa Keeley and Grandpa Schartz

Took in the Phoenix Zoo

Celebrated Sweet Reese with a tea party!

McCormick Train Park with the Grimm's!

Cade and I paid a pretty penny to attend the Royals last Spring Training game before they headed back to KC.

Neighborhood Easter Egg hunt with the Grimm's!

Started getting used to the idea that this was happening...our post-vasectomy baby!

Shared our news with all of our family while we were at Disney World!

Shared our news with the world when we returned from Disney!

Enjoyed a visit from Mom and MaKenzie before the Rasch's headed to Asia for the summer!

We celebrated Cade turning 8 with a night at the Diamondbacks game!

The kids finished up the school year...they were such champs!

These desert baby girls are due within days of each other!

We love getting to see the Garretson's!!

 

Reese's spring recital

107 degrees in June...20 weeks

Working on our Summer Bucketlist with the Grimm's!

C & R are teammates in their summer basketball league

This guy turned 2!!

Many changes we couldn't have predicted over the past year or so, but they all bring blessings and excitement for sure!  I think I only forgot pics of the Harwood's and Utz's who visited and our parents came so much I couldn't keep count.  We love sharing our part of Phoenix with visitors from the Midwest so keep those trips coming!