I've had all of these posts in my head about Ohio since we moved back but have been too intimidated to sit down and put it on paper or too busy or too tired. And since all of these thoughts are starting to leave my mind and become forgotten under the business of life, I thought I should jot them down so I don't forget our time in Ohio - good and bad :)
If not for Ohio....
- I wouldn't appreciate all that Ryan does for our family to provide for us and how hard he works.
- I wouldn't appreciate friendships like I do now. They are worth the effort! It is a hard place to be when your used to knowing multiple people in any daily situation you are in to not knowing one.single.person in your new life!
- I wouldn't appreciate a date night with my husband like I do now.
- I wouldn't appreciate willing and able friends and family to watch our kids for us to go to activities and dates.
- I wouldn't be able to say I drove myself to the ER at midnight with kidney stones and contractions! haha
- I wouldn't see how important an open door to my home is. I hands down have a different heart for people and families" new to the area " - especially those with small children. There was a time we longed for someone...anyone... to reach out and bring us in to befriend us and give us the hints and things to know of Columbus. After some time, and after we had searched out small groups and mom groups to join, those doors slowly began to open. It was a humbling experience being on the "other side" of the door. Ryan and I have spoken at length of how we want to use our home once we are settled down back here in Raleigh. I'm thankful to the Lord for opening my eyes and showing me this opportunity to show His love towards others.
- I wouldn't have had SO much down time ( sooo sick we didn't go anywhere for weeks, didn't know anyone to go hang out with, bedrest, the Ohio winter, SNOW etc....) to get close to the Lord again after being "so busy" with the twins when they were infants.
- I wouldn't have experienced Giant Eagle chocolate ice cream. Oh mercy. Slaps this wonder-ice cream "blue bell" out of the room. awesome!
- I wouldn't have been able to go almost a year without paying over $3/gallon for gas! Loooooved me some Giant Eagle (our grocery store that gave you so much money off gas just for buying groceries - very few strings attached). Nothing down here comes close, that I know of anyway.
- I wouldn't have grown in my obsession with the sun and my disdain for the cold/snow.
- I wouldn't appreciate Bojangles the way I do now. :)
- I wouldn't have met such a wonderful group of Godly women in my MOPS group who supported me so much when Easton was born. I have wonderful friends to visit with when they come down to NC...b/c lets face it, I'm not going back to Ohio. haha!
Facts of Life:
Well, if you take the good and take the bad, take them both and there you have the Facts of Life...
High Point - Easton's birth
Lowest Point - Driving myself to the ER during my kidney issues while pregnant with Easton because we didn't know anyone to watch the twins for us! With a very close second being the drive back to Ohio after our first visit home in June. BRUTAL. And a very close third being the decision to give Snuggle to another family. Moving on...
Biggest Surprise - how cold/windy the spring was and how early / often is snowed without being a big deal. Southern Culture shock here.
Will Miss: Giant Eagle, no humidity - ever, friends we made, my slideout cabinets in the kitchen, my Honda Pilot :), the Columbus Zoo, sitting by the fire and drinking hot chocolate while it is snowing outside, hearing the twins say "Biiig Snooow" everytime they walk by a window, the Mexican dish we discovered at the local Mexican Restaurant - ya'll.
Will Not Miss: feeling lonely, the cold wind, snow every week for 3 months, BeechStreet insurance, not having an ocean nearby!, getting lost so often while driving, bundling the kids with so much winter-wear, being in Ohio during an election year- unbelievable.
I know I have forgotten some things, but this sums up a year, which felt like 2 or 3, in one little sitting. :) Thankful for Ohio, but even more so for North Carolina, aka Home.
