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Now that I have a SANE moment—not packing, being a solo parent, selling a house, and going on one adventure after the other—I can cohesively put together some thoughts.
So here comes THE sappy post
“Best friends are like stars, you may not always see them but you know they are there.”
4 years ago you couldn’t convince me that I’d fall in love with Alabama. I’ve lived in so many different places throughout my life and I always acclimate really well. Alabama was a different story. It was definitely an adjustment. And quite honestly I couldn’t wait to get word that we would be moving again.
Alabamians warned me “it grows on you; watch, one day you won’t want to leave”. Fast forward 5 years....an unexpected, completely out of the blue decision to move has left me broken hearted. It’s truly a testament to me of the love we have as parents for our children—we would do anything for them.
I did fall in love with Alabama. It’s the only home my kids have known as “home”. And it’s a place where my heart has created lasting bonds with some incredible souls. Saying goodbye is never easy! Seeing the kids in tears, saying goodbye to their very best friends, ripped my heart out.
We’ve had so many good talks, so many fights, so many parties, and so many belly laughs. I will cherish these moments for a lifetime.
I’m so grateful the boys got to grow up here in the South. I’m grateful they could experience the culture of the south—the southern hospitality (the ‘y’all’s, the Misses and yes Ma’am’s). I’m grateful Beckahm lived in a neighborhood where he was the only white person getting on and off his bus stop. I’m grateful that he sees everyone as equal and that he’s grown up learning about the struggles of this part of our countries history and he’s learned to view it as something completely foreign to him. I’m grateful for the amazing friends he’s made and I’m grateful he’s been such a good friend to so many.
I’m grateful to all of those at the YMCA who have had a hand in rearing my boys. The boys have been going there since Amari was 3 weeks old! They have loved on our two boys and have taken such good care of them 2 hours of my day. We will miss this gym and all we have met and grown to love!
I’ve been in tears multiple times while working out this past week, knowing this will be my last time seeing all of these faces I’ve grown to love seeing, and giving last goodbye hugs. One of our friends bestowed the kindest gesture I’ve ever received from
a human being. He came up to me at the gym to say one last goodbye and he asked me if he could pray for me. He put his hand on my shoulder, not a care in the world that anyone else was around, and proceeded to pray out loud on my families behalf, asking us to be safe and to be blessed with Gods love, peace, all of his wonderful blessings. I felt the spirit. With tears streaming down my face, I thanked him for his loving kindness. This 2 minute prayer was one of the most sincere prayers I’ve been privileged to hear—such a witness to me of not only the power of prayer but of GENUINE prayer. It’s a moment I’ll cherish forever. THESE are SOUTHERN moments.
a human being. He came up to me at the gym to say one last goodbye and he asked me if he could pray for me. He put his hand on my shoulder, not a care in the world that anyone else was around, and proceeded to pray out loud on my families behalf, asking us to be safe and to be blessed with Gods love, peace, all of his wonderful blessings. I felt the spirit. With tears streaming down my face, I thanked him for his loving kindness. This 2 minute prayer was one of the most sincere prayers I’ve been privileged to hear—such a witness to me of not only the power of prayer but of GENUINE prayer. It’s a moment I’ll cherish forever. THESE are SOUTHERN moments.
I learned more about who I am as a person living here the past 5 years than I have the past 33 years. I’ve grown incredibly because of people and experiences that have pushed me, stretched me and made me grow both mentally and physically. I am beyond grateful for these individuals and experiences. They have made me a person I am proud be.
So to wrap up this sappy post, I may have never chosen a “side” when it comes to an Alabama football team, but I can say I have grown to love you and your people, my forever and always Sweet Home Alabama!
Post from Catherine my good friend
Saying see you later to best friends is always so hard! Our hearts are so broken to see you leave but so blessed to have had you as long as we did! “Good friends are like stars, you don’t always see them but you know they are there” We love you so much!
I didn’t even get a picture of Amanda Moncur and I together!!!
The “Last Supper”
Saying goodbye to his best buddy. “You’ll make new friends,” I told him as he was in tears. “I don’t want any other friends, just Jo” he said. I just about died when my girlfriend sent this last picture to me. Josiah carries around Amaris Splash Adventure card and just stares at his picture on the back
The two blondies in the club
So I’m just sitting here posting pictures, bawling my eyes out
Some of our YMCA staff that have become our friends. We will miss them dearly!
And here we go again.... #moncurfab4s10thmove
If anyone in the area is looking for a great realtor or simply someone willing to show you 100 homes that you never chose with two crazy kids in tow, Mike Foiles is your man
As if I wasn’t already a train wreck after saying goodbye to my tribe, my thoughtful husband surprised me with this thoughtful gift—a thank you mixed with a reminder of our goal as a family to keep traveling this great big planet of ours! #wearedreamers #wearedoers #traveltheworld#lifeexperiences #watch #fashion #accessory #pinksmyfavoritecolor
We left kisses on the blue door, and our signatures on the attic beams and said goodbye through our rear view mirror to a place we’ve called home for 5 years.
We rolled down the windows and sang our love lyrics to Nashville—thanks for gettin me through it Lynyrd
Texts on the road to Catherine :)
Who says road trip snacks can’t be healthy?
Texts
Texts
Love getting these kind of texts :)
Day 2:
Morning jumps on the bed. Healthy juices to re-energize our bodies, audible books to re-energize our spirits. Rode a dinosaur
Midnight sky, Lumineers playing, windows down, hand rolls, searching for shooting stars.....
Midnight sky, Lumineers playing, windows down, hand rolls, searching for shooting stars.....
2nd day in the books
About those bugs on my windshield.....about that sunset
Hoping this expedition has cured them from watching shows for a lifetime
About those bugs on my windshield.....about that sunset
Day 3: I’m done, the cats are done, the boys are a tad stir crazy, someone invent a teleport machine. 7 hours to go #wecandoit.
Two words: WINDY WYOMING
Fortunes for a new chapter in our lives
Becks: the respect of influential people will soon be yours
Amari: you will soon be the center of attention
Amanda: you will soon bring someone close to you joy
Mike: you will soon get something special because of your charm
They are pumped to be in Utah...just wait till their nuts are frozen
They were so excited so see Auntie!
Journal Post:
After getting over the sadness of saying goodbye to their friends the boys were so pumped about moving to UT. All they could talk snout the last week in AL was seeing their cousins and playing in the snow. “Are we moving yet, are we moving yet?” They’d ask. I think they were also really pumped to sleep in their new bunk bed haha.
Amari hasn’t been very positive about the thought of going to school. He just wants to stay at home and be with his brother. We’ve been talking to him about it each day, trying to remind him about all the positive things about school. Up until a week ago he met every comment with negativity, even telling me he didn’t want to make any other friends other than his brother and Josiah 😂. Finally after reading getting ready for kindergarten books and telling him all the fun things he’s be doing there he said while going potty at the park “I don’t need mom and dad, I can go potty on my own at school and wash my own hands. Haha made my heart proud.
I pray every day that they both have s good experience at Franklin this year. I’ve been so nervous about it and I just hope it’s a positive experience. It seems like an incredible school! They have been so nice and accommodating with our move! Both their teachers are female and they both seem so nice. I get a weekly newsletter from Amaris teacher telling me all the things they did/learned. It sounds awesome! I’m excited to go in a volunteer and be apart of his learning process. I’m excited Becks gets multiple teachers (it’s similar to middle school—different teachers for different subjects and then one main home room teacher).
These past few weeks have been a bit insane! Mike left for his end of summer work trip for a week and I packed up most of the house during that time while still doing my other mommy duties. Some times I wonder how we can do so much. I thank the good graces of God! It’s been so stressful—moving is always stressful. Mike got back and we left the next day to St. Augustine, Legoland Crayola and surprised the kids by taking them to Disneyworld. I needed that trip! Especially the 3 days at the beach.
We got home and literally had one week before we had to move. It was a ton of packing, a ton of late nights, a lot of tears—saying goodbye to friends, and a lot of cleaning. We got all our stuff loaded in a 26 footer and off we drove, me in the Tahoe with the boys and the two cats, mike I’m the Penske. I’m thankful the boys are such good road trippers, they just watched shows, stretched their limbs at potty breaks, are a ton of snacks, did some school, sang some songs, looked at the American countryside, stayed at 2 hotels (30 hrs—we split it into 3 10 hour days) and took turns riding in the truck with their dad.
The past month has been crazy like I said and my sisters only added to the crazy. There’s already been so much texting back and forth about making plans. Before i knew it my whole year was planned out! “We just want to get in every moment we can with you!” 😬😬I can appreciate the love but it’s all a bit too much! Sunday dinners, weekly lunch dates, holidays, weekends, craft days. I’m just trying to figure out my schedule there and focus on the boys starting school and Amari getting his treatments, everything else is a bonus. There’s also been drama already of me declining events “but I thought that was the point, to go as sisters!” Ugh! And there has been drama about who I’m staying with when I get there, who I spend the most time with etc. Michelle told me she’s already jealous that I’m living close to Deirdre and Deirdre got upset that I chose to stay at school Michelle’s when we get in so she can watch the boys while I unpack. It’s just craziness and I’m not ready for it. I’ve loved being away from family. I was raised to be independent and to be on my own. I have my own life with my own family now. It’s going to be hard to be close to family again. But I’m determined to own my No’s, to stay sane, to have my own life, and to not get caught up in the Drama. I can’t control anyone else’s reactions or feelings and if others choose to get upset by my choices that’s on them. The only reason I’m moving to Utah is for Amari. We would have never entertained the thought of it was t for him. Mike and I never wanted to live in Utah again. I still don’t. I don’t like the cold, I don’t like the culture, I don’t like being surrounded by all the old memories and the chance of running into my past...it’s taken a lot in me to find the positives in this new chapter of our lives and most of those positive thoughts stem from the kids and the experiences they will have there. You never know what will happen at the end of a year but I’m going into this move headstrong that this is just a year long adventure and then our adventures will continue elsewhere (it’s the only thought that keeps me sane about moving back to a place I never want to live).
Amari hasn’t been very positive about the thought of going to school. He just wants to stay at home and be with his brother. We’ve been talking to him about it each day, trying to remind him about all the positive things about school. Up until a week ago he met every comment with negativity, even telling me he didn’t want to make any other friends other than his brother and Josiah 😂. Finally after reading getting ready for kindergarten books and telling him all the fun things he’s be doing there he said while going potty at the park “I don’t need mom and dad, I can go potty on my own at school and wash my own hands. Haha made my heart proud.
I pray every day that they both have s good experience at Franklin this year. I’ve been so nervous about it and I just hope it’s a positive experience. It seems like an incredible school! They have been so nice and accommodating with our move! Both their teachers are female and they both seem so nice. I get a weekly newsletter from Amaris teacher telling me all the things they did/learned. It sounds awesome! I’m excited to go in a volunteer and be apart of his learning process. I’m excited Becks gets multiple teachers (it’s similar to middle school—different teachers for different subjects and then one main home room teacher).
These past few weeks have been a bit insane! Mike left for his end of summer work trip for a week and I packed up most of the house during that time while still doing my other mommy duties. Some times I wonder how we can do so much. I thank the good graces of God! It’s been so stressful—moving is always stressful. Mike got back and we left the next day to St. Augustine, Legoland Crayola and surprised the kids by taking them to Disneyworld. I needed that trip! Especially the 3 days at the beach.
We got home and literally had one week before we had to move. It was a ton of packing, a ton of late nights, a lot of tears—saying goodbye to friends, and a lot of cleaning. We got all our stuff loaded in a 26 footer and off we drove, me in the Tahoe with the boys and the two cats, mike I’m the Penske. I’m thankful the boys are such good road trippers, they just watched shows, stretched their limbs at potty breaks, are a ton of snacks, did some school, sang some songs, looked at the American countryside, stayed at 2 hotels (30 hrs—we split it into 3 10 hour days) and took turns riding in the truck with their dad.
The past month has been crazy like I said and my sisters only added to the crazy. There’s already been so much texting back and forth about making plans. Before i knew it my whole year was planned out! “We just want to get in every moment we can with you!” 😬😬I can appreciate the love but it’s all a bit too much! Sunday dinners, weekly lunch dates, holidays, weekends, craft days. I’m just trying to figure out my schedule there and focus on the boys starting school and Amari getting his treatments, everything else is a bonus. There’s also been drama already of me declining events “but I thought that was the point, to go as sisters!” Ugh! And there has been drama about who I’m staying with when I get there, who I spend the most time with etc. Michelle told me she’s already jealous that I’m living close to Deirdre and Deirdre got upset that I chose to stay at school Michelle’s when we get in so she can watch the boys while I unpack. It’s just craziness and I’m not ready for it. I’ve loved being away from family. I was raised to be independent and to be on my own. I have my own life with my own family now. It’s going to be hard to be close to family again. But I’m determined to own my No’s, to stay sane, to have my own life, and to not get caught up in the Drama. I can’t control anyone else’s reactions or feelings and if others choose to get upset by my choices that’s on them. The only reason I’m moving to Utah is for Amari. We would have never entertained the thought of it was t for him. Mike and I never wanted to live in Utah again. I still don’t. I don’t like the cold, I don’t like the culture, I don’t like being surrounded by all the old memories and the chance of running into my past...it’s taken a lot in me to find the positives in this new chapter of our lives and most of those positive thoughts stem from the kids and the experiences they will have there. You never know what will happen at the end of a year but I’m going into this move headstrong that this is just a year long adventure and then our adventures will continue elsewhere (it’s the only thought that keeps me sane about moving back to a place I never want to live).
My sister taking such good care of the boys and our kitties while we unloaded and got the boys room ready for them. My other sister was so kind to help us unload the truck, allow us to store our stuff at her house, and bring everyone muffins and water
Making our way back to some of our favorites
Welcome to America where everything “small” is supersized
VINEYARD:
Okay so note to self, don’t rent a place until you have actually seen it! The reality BEFORE this video is we drove in with our 26ft moving truck and started to unload our stuff in a house different than the one we thought we signed up for
I may have been half what sarcastic in my over excited tour I gave them of their new home, but it worked! They were overjoyed! They were more excited about their jail cell size bedroom than they were when we pulled into Disney World (go figure—must have been the bunk bed that we won’t be able to get out when we leave this place
I’m grateful for this year long adventure we will have—for the kids to explore a new state, for the incredible school they’ll be attending, and for the growth they will both experience! Here’s to the The power of positivity, the power of being doers not complainers and of gettin it done, and the power of living with less! #onwardandupward #makethebestofit #homesweethome
Our tiny abode is coming together! We e had to massively downsize but we’ve almost made it work! The kids are loving this place (go figure)! They have a whole floor to themselves, they love going outside at night with their popsicles, and playing on the playground, finding friends to play with....there are so many kids here! We’ve been swimming twice already. They love going to get the mail and riding their bikes around our place. They are watching way less shows which makes me happy! They are on a really good schedule! Basically we take them to school at 8:30, we pick Amari up at 1230, and then Becks gets home at 4 because he wants to stay for clubs! Then they play alone and together, I let them watch a show and then we eat, they go play outside, play with LEGO’s in their room and then do our bedtime ritual! I know things are going to get crazy next week when I have to start driving to park city every day! So I’m soaking it all in now!
Every day I find something I don’t like about this place but the kids love it and that makes the biggest difference! We can do anything for a year!
I do love the location of the townhome! Everything is max 10 min away. Right up the road is a cinema, we live right by the gas station and freeway, the kids school is 5 minutes, we are right by toms of restaurants and grocery stores. We just got a membership at the Orem Rec and that’s only 10 min. And my boxing should only be about 10min 🙌🏻🙌🏻.
Every day I find something I don’t like about this place but the kids love it and that makes the biggest difference! We can do anything for a year!
I do love the location of the townhome! Everything is max 10 min away. Right up the road is a cinema, we live right by the gas station and freeway, the kids school is 5 minutes, we are right by toms of restaurants and grocery stores. We just got a membership at the Orem Rec and that’s only 10 min. And my boxing should only be about 10min 🙌🏻🙌🏻.
Gifts from Aunt Deirdre
Such an awesome park right by our place! We had so much fun taking a break from our unpacking and exploring and playing! And we loved feeling the Utah tick luscious grass, we grew up, on under our feet!
Sister was so nice to feed us dinner and let us swim
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