After an often tumultuous time for our family in Denver, we made the difficult decision about a month ago to move back New York City. And while we did enjoy some great experiences and friends in Colorado, we feel called to move our family back East. I can now say we will look fondly back on our time in Denver, although there were many dark days for our family there that we endured. We also learned a lot about our family, about our reliance on the Lord, about serving others, about trust, and about letting go. And who knows we may return one day far in the future, but for now we regard it as a season of sanctification through trials.
We are not through this storm, yet, however. Our departure from Denver was fraught with peril as we packed and loaded amid pretty fierce weather conditions. Frigid temperatures and unrelenting snowfall kept Andy up all night (literally) loading up the truck. The boys and I slept downstairs with our neighbor and when I emerged at 7:20am I found Andy was still loading and never went to bed. Oy. Our original plan was to leave at 4am that morning; it was then after 7am and we ere still hours from being ready to leave.
The weather persisted. Andy took a two hour nap while I re-evaluated our plan and reached out to friends for help. After a brief re-charge, Andy and some incredibly gracious friends finished loading. We were all feeling fatigues and our cross country journey had not even begun.
By 2pm, we were finally ready. We left a bitterly, cold, snowy Denver and headed East. I was sad to be leaving our home of the last 18 months under such undesirable conditions, but I guess in retrospect this made it easier to leave, versus leaving the characteristically sunny skies of Colorado. I also reflected on our last few weeks in Denver and how much quality time we got in with friends, as well as good family time visiting our favorite places one last time.
Here is the short version of the rest of our move to NYC:
-We took 9 hours to drive a 6 hour drive to the middle of Kansas, where some generous and caring friends had booked us a hotel room. It was a long day, but the roads were clear and it was evident that had we left in the morning as originally planned the roads would have still been icy. God's provision, thank you.
- The next day we made it to St. Louis where friends were waiting with hot soup and welcoming arms for our weary souls. This was a brief but really enjoyable rest for the night.
- Day 3 = 16 hour drive from St. Louis to Harrisburg, PA with 2 times getting lost and really cranky kiddos (who wouldn't be?!). Misery. Enough said. (but again thankful that we were "behind" because we missed terrible icy conditions through the midwest, passing numerous cars in ditches)
- We arrived at my sister's house late Monday night, completely worn out. I believe it was close to midnight, but I can't really remember. So thankful for my sis and bro-in-law.
- We spent two days recovering from the drive in PA, but our final move into the city was not any easier than the start of our trip: the blazer died, the moving truck got stuck in the middle of the road and had to be dug out, Andy had to make a solo trip to NY to drop our stuff in storage and return, all of which led to the need of my bro-in-law driving with us back to NYC to drop our dead car in a wal-mart parking lot, help finish unloading into storage, and return the moving truck and dolly.
Finally, late Wednesday night, we arrived at our temporary place in NYC. Exhale. For Now.
The Goodwins are finished "rocking" Colorado, so please join us back on our New York City blog! (www.goodwinsrock.blogspot.com).
The Goodwins are finished "rocking" Colorado, so please join us back on our New York City blog! (www.goodwinsrock.blogspot.com).
