Well the time has come and the preparation work for our move to New Orleans has begun. The place we have called home for 6 1/2 years is about to be emptied. As I was taking pictures off of the walls and filling in nail holes, I couldn't help but think about the day when Steve and I first moved here. This home has been the back drop to raising two beautiful children, sweet pets, crazy life experiences, so many "firsts" that I can't name them all, many different paint colors, HURRICANES, and friends and family who came to visit to enjoy the beautiful beaches that only Pensacola can offer. It is here for the past 5 years that I have had the greatest experience of teaching piano. The little children that I have taught to play new songs and taught how to read music has put me on a path that I would have never imagined. It is with bittersweet emotions that I pack up these items and memories.
As they say when one chapter ends another one begins. (It is through this blog I plan to write the new chapter.) I am sure that some things will be funny, or maybe I might have an A-HA moment, or I could very well just ramble, but for today I would like to end the Pensacola Chapter.
It is here in Pensacola that I truly became a wife and mother. To have had the special honor to have not one but two children is more than I can ever be thankful for. If you know me, you will know that my mother is a very special person in my life. To say that I talk to her a couple of times a day is an understatement but now being a mom, I "get" her. If you aren't careful you can get so caught up in the business of being a mom that you forget just how awesome the job really is. Mitchell is almost 6 and he cracks me up. He is so smart and just so funny. Mitchell is also very, very sweet. The one thing that he tells me every night is how much he loves my heart. If only I could preserve his innocence. Abigail is my joy. Seeing her smile is all I need to melt any stress or worry I have away. She is the sweetest thing and it is really funny to see how she has her Daddy wrapped around her little finger. I just love it.
Being a wife has been the most challenging. Steve is a wonderful man, unfortunately he is gone A LOT. He left here right after Abby was born. He has been stationed in Norfolk and Atlanta. We have been apart now for 11 months and that hasn't been easy. I have learned to wear a lot of different hats. I don't like being a one man show, but I have learned that I can do it if I have too. Having a long distance relationship isn't without it's hardships, but it has made me appreciate all the little things about him that I took for granted. Have I mentioned what an incredible cook Steve is????? I miss him tremendously, as do Mitch and Abby and we can't wait to be a family together again. Just 4 more days and counting.
I have made so many friends here. On Friday, my closest friends are going to take me to dinner. I am not sure how I am going to be able to say goodbye. All of them have helped me at one point or another with being there when I had a baby, or being there when I had cancer, or being there when Steve left, or just plain being there. No man is an island and no woman is either. We cannot possibly go through this life without the help of someone. Be it a friend, family member, or simply the help of a stranger. We all need to have someone. My friends or as they are known here as the "Breakfast Hotties" have become a staple in my life. How do you let go of a staple? There will never be replacement for those Thursday morning breakfast gatherings that turned into pedicures or shopping trips. Thursdays were the happiest day of the week for me.
The Big Easy has some very big shoes to fill. I can only hope that not moving very far away, I will be able to tempt people to come and visit. :)
With that I look forward to our new life, a new home to decorate, new children to teach, new friends to meet, and one day (not now and not expecting) adding a new addition to our wonderful family.
BIG EASY..........................MEET THE JONES FAMILY!!!!
As they say when one chapter ends another one begins. (It is through this blog I plan to write the new chapter.) I am sure that some things will be funny, or maybe I might have an A-HA moment, or I could very well just ramble, but for today I would like to end the Pensacola Chapter.
It is here in Pensacola that I truly became a wife and mother. To have had the special honor to have not one but two children is more than I can ever be thankful for. If you know me, you will know that my mother is a very special person in my life. To say that I talk to her a couple of times a day is an understatement but now being a mom, I "get" her. If you aren't careful you can get so caught up in the business of being a mom that you forget just how awesome the job really is. Mitchell is almost 6 and he cracks me up. He is so smart and just so funny. Mitchell is also very, very sweet. The one thing that he tells me every night is how much he loves my heart. If only I could preserve his innocence. Abigail is my joy. Seeing her smile is all I need to melt any stress or worry I have away. She is the sweetest thing and it is really funny to see how she has her Daddy wrapped around her little finger. I just love it.
Being a wife has been the most challenging. Steve is a wonderful man, unfortunately he is gone A LOT. He left here right after Abby was born. He has been stationed in Norfolk and Atlanta. We have been apart now for 11 months and that hasn't been easy. I have learned to wear a lot of different hats. I don't like being a one man show, but I have learned that I can do it if I have too. Having a long distance relationship isn't without it's hardships, but it has made me appreciate all the little things about him that I took for granted. Have I mentioned what an incredible cook Steve is????? I miss him tremendously, as do Mitch and Abby and we can't wait to be a family together again. Just 4 more days and counting.
I have made so many friends here. On Friday, my closest friends are going to take me to dinner. I am not sure how I am going to be able to say goodbye. All of them have helped me at one point or another with being there when I had a baby, or being there when I had cancer, or being there when Steve left, or just plain being there. No man is an island and no woman is either. We cannot possibly go through this life without the help of someone. Be it a friend, family member, or simply the help of a stranger. We all need to have someone. My friends or as they are known here as the "Breakfast Hotties" have become a staple in my life. How do you let go of a staple? There will never be replacement for those Thursday morning breakfast gatherings that turned into pedicures or shopping trips. Thursdays were the happiest day of the week for me.
The Big Easy has some very big shoes to fill. I can only hope that not moving very far away, I will be able to tempt people to come and visit. :)
With that I look forward to our new life, a new home to decorate, new children to teach, new friends to meet, and one day (not now and not expecting) adding a new addition to our wonderful family.
BIG EASY..........................MEET THE JONES FAMILY!!!!
3 comments:
You and Ashlan need to start your own breakfast hotties group. Thank you for your sweet comments about our "group". We feel the same about you! Love, Julie
So happy to see that you're a blogger now, too! Fun isn't it? And isn't great when people leave comments?!?!? Good luck in NOLA. Let me know when you're settled. :)
Ashleigh! A lot has happened in the year and few months I've been away! Congrats on the big move, and good luck! I will miss you in Pensacola when we get back, especially your amazing Sunday School lessons and "So You Think You Can Dance" parties! I can't wait to keep up with you and your family in this blog! Good luck!
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