Home

Last week we all got into the car and told the kids we were going home. Our son asked, "which home?" We have lived in four homes in two months. Our belongings were scattered between houses and we all felt disoriented. One day I brought a couple of toys and some pajamas from our island home to the place we were staying. You would have thought Santa just presented our son with his own motorcycle for all his gleeful whoops and hollers and dancing around. After bath we brought out his Hulk pajamas.

"Are these from the park house?" 

"Yes."

"Waaahoo!!"

It was clear he missed his home.

So many things changed very quickly about our circumstances. In a span of two weeks, we moved our two carloads of belongings to a home closer to the Gulf Coast, put the kids in a second new school, returned to our jobs on the island, and packed up our old home. Meanwhile, I accepted a new job in the hill country, so we never really settled back into our old lives. We saw some old friends, which seemed to be more confusing than comforting to our son, tied up loose ends as best we could in such a hurry, and then moved again. 

A new job in a new city, another move, another daycare/preschool, another home. But finally, a HOME. What is it now... 56 days after we evacuated and we have a HOME. A place to STAY. 

On the way to school the other day, our son said he was going to a REAL school with REAL teachers. How wonderful to hear that he is settling in too. He is still confused at times but seems to understand that we are staying put. Tonight at the park he asked if our house was next to the park. Our island home was immediately across the street from a park, and I could see him trying to put all the pieces together, how our new life is situated within our old life.

The whole process hasn't upset our 1-year-old. I would have thought she would have a hard time switching from school to school, but she seems to enjoy the new kids and new toys and just rolls with all the changes. For her, I think the most difficult times are when her family is acting crazy and stressed, so as long as we're together and being nice, she's ok. 

It is difficult now to capture the agony and desperation we all felt, even just a few days ago. How quickly we become comfortable again when the dust settles. Regardless, we feel absolutely grateful to have found a place where we know the answers. The uncertainty is unbearable. Where will we live? Will we have a job? What will we do next? So many of our friends are still wondering these things with no promise of answers soon to come.