Learning to embrace change

We'll be moving in a week's time.

And I completely underestimated how stressful it is to move.

With TWO kids. 

It's not just the physical packing up of boxes. Or the kids running amok while you're trying to create some sort of order in the chaos. Or the finding of new owners of belongings that you've held dear for the past 8 years.

It's actually saying goodbye in my heart to little things that I didn't even know that I had an attachment to.

To share an example. I'm having a hard time saying bye to the baby swing in the playground near our house.

It's the baby swing where Sammy figured out how to sit upright while I pushed him. Where he finally progressed to the regular swing so that I could put Gabriel in the baby swing.

The swing where Gabriel would break out into a wide grin when he sees me walking toward it. Where he would laugh out loud and giggle with such gee when I push him higher and higher.

It's the slide where Sammy figured out how to climb up the ladder so that he can slide down with ease.

It's the playground where memories were made, friendships were forged and many long afternoons (and mornings) were spent.

I knew that I would regret not using our garden more often. We have a garden just outside our house. But it belongs to our landlady's parents and they made it very clear that we could see the garden but not use it.

Until Sammy started walking and running that is. That boy loves balls and he would kick a ball all by himself at any opportunity.

We haven't used the garden very often because we felt that we were trespassing on private property. But during the rare occasions when we did allow Sammy to kick a ball or two, it was superb!

We won't be having a garden with our new apartment where we'll be moving to. That was another series of misfortunate events too. To cut the long story short, we had no idea that it was possible to buy an apartment with a garden - which it obviously was.

It's not too bad cos there's a huge playground just next to our block. But there is no baby swing there and I haven't seen any baby swing within walking distance from our place.

But that's also why I'm getting all sentimental about the baby swing at our place!

I'm just not the pack-up-and-leave kinna gal. I'm the say-bye-to-everything-and-leave type of person but once I've packed my bags and left, I'm much better. And I dare say that I adapt quite fast too. I did afterall leave Singapore 8 years ago and 23 years of memories to make new memories in a country halfway across the world with people who speak a different language.

I'm REALLY looking forward to:

- Having a place to call our own... finally!

- Having supermarkets within walking distance and on level ground! No more walking uphill with a ton of groceries in the stroller or having to bribe a toddler during a meltdown cos he refuses to walk uphill anymore.

-  Having more space! We're gonna have 3 bedrooms instead of 2! Yay! 

- Having the subway within just 3 minutes walking distance from our door compared to 20 minutes in our current place.

- Having the hubby home earlier.... hopefully! His travelling time to work should reduce by a-third, so we're hoping to be able to do dinners earlier.

- Having a new open kitchen, new sofa and a new dining table and chairs. (Our current ones were second-hand).

Having a proper television. Yup, we've lived without a TV for the past 8 years in Germany and I've gone without one since my university days.

- Oh oh oh! The best for last. We're gonna have floor heating and much MUCH better insulation. Adios to cold feet and floors and an apartment that doesn't get warm enough no matter how much we heat it!

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19 

"Help me Lord to embrace change well. Teach me to trust you more. Help me not to look backwards but forwards. Thank you for Korntal, the place where we've called home for the past 8 years and also my first home in Germany. We pray you'll expand our hearts to embrace new friendships and neighbours. I pray that we will grow new roots in our new home and neighbourhood quickly and help me to remember that no matter where we are geographically, as long as we remain rooted in you, we will continue to bear fruit. We love you Lord with all our hearts. Amen"

Role-playing a businessman making an important phone call in a box

And YEAH! Deal closed! Nice working with you!