the last night

Today, three men packed most of our household goods and chattels into about 100 boxes. They did in three and a half hours what would have taken us weeks.

Soon we will go to bed for the last time in the house that has sheltered us for more than 22 years. We saw our daughter grow, start high school, leave school and get married from here. This was where we took shelter after both of our fathers died. Both our grandsons have played in the house and yard, and have swum in the pool, just as their mother did before them. There have been family dinners and barbecues, lots of Christmas and Easter celebrations. We have had many laughs and shed quite a few tears. There has been love and conflict, stress and peace.

What was once a home has become a house, now it’s a shell with boxes inside. (our bedroom, the main bathroom, the garage, the kitchen, the library and the sewing room)

The quilting frame and the piano have been sold; the cat has gone, the baby furniture has gone to a charity that works with people escaping domestic violence. Car loads of things have been given away to the local cancer support “op shop” (thrift store). About 30%-40% of our things, no longer our possessions.

My heart aches, for more reasons than I can share on this blog.

But there is also that glimmer of excitement at the prospect of a new home, a new phase of our lives. It’s time to move on, to put our faith in the One who guides our steps and know that He has great plans for our lives. The best, my friends, is yet to come.