final countdown

Of course if you are an Arrest Development fan, you will most likely be singing "the final countdown" by Europe in your head now. I know I am rocking some 80's hairband music in my head.

We've been busy settling into our new everything. Davis actually started work today. So soon. I did really fun things like scrub the downstairs bathroom.  We have two bathrooms. It's pretty awesome but it's two more than I'd like to clean. But before I get into the new SLC life, I need to document our final 24 hours in Fort Collins. It's mostly for my sake of processing. Which, apparently I am terrible at processing. My mom emailed me pictures of our dog from my childhood last night and it made me cry. I got through many goodbyes and driving away and all that jazz without having major waterworks. But then my mom sent me pictures of Coco and I was on the verge of crying about everything sad or hard since I was born. Anyone else ever have those moments?

Thursday. Busy full day.

Breakfast date with my dear Kristin.

It started with caramel latte (large this time) and a delicious baked good from one of my favorite places in all of Fort Collins, Little Bird Bakery. I love breakfast dates, just not too early. This girl has long been a Colorado friend. We started bonding at the hardest first job ever. I worked evenings while she worked nights and now we are friends for life.

The weather was windy and chilly with some spurts of rain as we went to pick up our moving truck. Davis drove the beast home to load it. Thankfully the rain was no more and the truck loading started. First was our couch going to Davis' former co-worker's apartment, up 7 flights of stairs (!!!!). I almost fell down our 4 steps just trying to get the couch out of the house into the truck. I did not participate in the 7 flights of stairs portion. After that incident, I hoped some help would appear. Morgan came to our rescue and in about an hour we had all we didn't need in the truck. So fast!

Just started packing, next to Old George, the giant tree with an orange ribbon.

We then spent the rest of the afternoon chatting with friends who stopped by and scarfing down food because we were starving from working. This Thursday happened to be our monthly potluck and prayer night with our small group and church. It was a special but hard night. Davis shared our great appreciation and love for the provision of sweet community for our time in Fort Collins. I couldn't speak because words came out in jumbled tears. If I could have spoken clearly then, I would have like to say something like this (abbreviated and without sobbing):

I love you all so dearly. I have seen and experienced the goodness and love of God so much more deeply through your friendships. The community and sense of family has been so deep, challenging and strong. I felt so safe and cared for yet challenged and made accountable to be increasingly bold and loving in all areas of my life. Thank you for preaching the gospel to me through your lives and words. Thankfully, there are no final goodbyes for those of us in Christ. Such sweet joy exists even in our sadness because of our eternal home. Come visit us!

We were showered in prayer. It was such a peaceful goodbye despite the tears. Afterwards we met with a few close friends at Ace Gilett's, another favorite spot, for the last hurrah. 

At about the last hour of the day, I decided to pack all the final things going in my car. Ingrid was a little distraught that nearly everything comfortable was gone. She made herself a bed out of a pile of clothes on the floor. 

Not very thrilled with all the changes.

Our last night at was spent on an air mattress. Davis and I shared our excitement, plans, fears, and joys for the past and future. Despite being uneasy and anxious, I slept quite well. The morning came quickly. Davis left to pick up our moving and travel friend, Eric. While he was out, I threw our last items into the vehicles and made sure everything was clean. Our sweet downstairs neighbors cooked us breakfast and we had an 818 family meal for the last time.

Oh Charlie.

We said "see you later" because we are planning on going to Dinosaur National Monument with them in May. Plus, it is easier to say than "goodbye".

So many wonderful memories.

Super pumped to get going. We didn't shower until AFTER unpacking in UT.

Next stop, UTAH! Never did we ever imagine we'd be living in Utah. It wasn't quit the next stop, it seems these moving trucks guzzle that gas up. We stopped twice in Wyoming.

Wacky Wyoming weather

Except for a brief but crazy snow storm around Laramie, it wasn't too bad of a trip. We pulled into our new place around 4pm. But more on all that later...






ps. this is  Coco