Bye-Polar

Stephan keeps repeating that we are blessed to love two places as much as we do. It's very hard to leave, but it's wonderful to look forward to moving back to Chicago. Packing each box brings us closer to family, but further from the friends who have become closer than family in Montana. Needless to say, there's been a lot of crying. We have only a few more weeks here, and every moment is precious to us.

Happy/Sad
Excited/Depressed


I remember how emotional I was when we moved here... things didn't go according to anyone's plan. For fun I tried to find a good blog post from 3 years ago as a reference, and I came up with this one that again sent me into tears. But they are happy tears for the moment. I hope Melanie doesn't mind me reposting it:

Only in Montana…

…can major home repair be put on hold because of a cow giving birth.

…can tourists watch 12 foot tall fake bulls peeing.

…can a town multiply in size because of a fair.

…tight blue jeans, denim shirt, cowboy boots and hat are the top fashion.

…can you get two alcoholic drinks for under $5.

…there are more cows then people…3 to 1.

…can you buy a house.

…you need heaters for you car so it doesn’t get too cold at night.

…can you learn everyone’s name in your town.

…is liquor still regulated by the state.

…you can find 3 bars, but 12 churches.

…may your car actually be more expensive then your house.

…are the sweaters that your mother gave to Salvation Army 10 years ago are still in fashion.

…can you buy a house that comes with a chicken coop.

…can you call up Illinois Department of Big Jerks and get hung-up on and then call up Montana and talk to someone nice and then realize Montana, with all it quarks and laid back nature, might be exactly were you need to be at this point in your life. That people might be way different then where you came from, but they are very welcoming. You realize that this is going to be your home for a while so might as well start acting like it is home. You come to the conclusion that your life has been thrown up side down and that, even though you don’t have all your underwear or the shampoo and conditioner you would usually use, you are truly a survivor. Although there have been tears, you’ve wiped them away and have carried on. Suddenly a feeling comes over you. No longer a feeling of sadness or self-pity, but strength that you did it. And then the Dora the Explorer song runs through your head as you gently close your eyes and go to sleep.