Moving and The Storm

I am 26 years old, and I have moved 11 times in my life. In fact, I've moved 10 times in just 10 years.

Count them with me:

2001: from Wainwright Dr. to Spinning Rd. in my native Ohio.
2004: from Spinning Rd. to Kettering apartment.
2004: from Kettering apartment back to Spinning Rd.
2004: from Spinning Rd. to El Bosque, Santiago, Chile.
2005: from El Bosque to Puente Alto, Santiago, Chile.
2006: from Santiago, Chile to 5th St. Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
2006: from 5th St. to Gateway St. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
2006: from Gateway St. to Brandon Ave, in Hiawatha, Iowa.
2007: from Hiawatha back to Aossey Ln. SW Cedar Rapids.
2009: from Aossey Ln SW to current address, Ashton Pl. NE in Cedar Rapids.

Summer 2011: We're about to move again. Where to? No idea. It will be the 12th move in my life, and the 11th in 10 years. I feel like a military brat. But alas; I'm just a brat. One that moves a lot.

Every time I've moved has been because of some huge life change that I've made, either on my own or with my family. This time is no different-- Ricardo's parents are coming from Chile to live with us! I can NOT wait.

When I moved from Ohio to Chile in 2004, it was a huge step for me, and one based purely on faith and stupid blind puppy (I thought) love. It ended up being a really good thing that I did, since it led to a temple marriage to my true love and 2 beautiful sweet little girls.

Ricardo's parents spent months preparing their house for my arrival. Why? Not sure. They didn't know me from Adam Eve, they didn't know how long I'd stay. All they knew was that their son liked me. They painted, they fixed up the kitchen, they prepared a bedroom just for me.

When I got there, they had bottled water and gatorade in the fridge for me, because they weren't sure how the tap water would settle with my "delicate American stomach."

When I got there I was served a delicious homemade meal (though at the time I had no idea how to eat it and they ended up thinking I didn't like it-- but actually it's now one of my favorite Chilean dishes called cazuela), let me call my mom to let her know I was there, and then they showed me my room. They asked if I wanted to shower (I REALLY should have said yes, after a 27 hour trip) but I was too excited, so Eduardo, Ricardo and I went out for my first shopping trip. I held Ricardo's arm, which he liked.

They took me to the store to pick out sheets for my bed. When we got back they helped me unpack, touching all of my clothes, smelling my perfumes, lotions, makeup, and gum (all of which I took about a 2 year supply!); and generally soaking in the new American girl.

I can not WAIT to welcome my in-laws in the same way. They have supported me, paid for our wedding, taught me important life lessons, changed me forever.

I will prepare a beautiful bedroom, with fresh new bed linens and fragrant flowers on the night table. I can't wait for their arrival, it's making me so giddy with anticipation!!!!

But the actuality is, I have no idea how soon they'll be here. Nor do I know where we'll be living. All I know is that it won't be here.

So with so many uncertainties eating at my sanity, all I can do is pack. So I've been whirling through the house, stopping at each trouble area. I've sorted, tossed, and stored. Tonight I plowed through 3 junk drawers (don't judge, all you normal people who only have one of those), 2 cabinets, and a hall closet. And I ain't done yet. I plan on doing one area each night, until I'm so organized and prepared that this 12th move is a breeze.

Ellie is super excited for the arrival of her abuelos. She's only met them once-- when she was 16 months old. Eva has never met them.

The other day Ellie asked why we had to move. I told her it was because we needed an extra room for her abuelos to sleep in.

She thought, then helpfully suggested "Well, there's room in the middle of you and Papi's bed, why don't they sleep there?"

****

On a completely unrelated note, today was a really awesome day at church. During sacrament meeting Ricardo nudged me and showed me the alert he'd received on his phone: Tornado Watch.

I nodded but didn't think much of it; this is Iowa, and I'm from Ohio. It happens every spring in both placed. I'm still alive.

During 2nd hour I was in the middle of teaching my 8 year old primary class when I heard something. "Hang on guys, I'll be right back," I told them. I put down my chalk and left them. Poking my head out the nearest
door, my suspicions were confirmed: tornado sirens.

I hurried to find the Primary president and asked her what to do-- Junior primary (including Ellie's class) had already evacuated, and I was directed to take my class to the cultural hall. I rushed back to my class and Eva, who was playing happily on the floor under their watch, and informed them of the situation. We packed everything up and met the rest of the ward in the hall.

Now here's where it gets awesome, and one of the million reasons why I love the church. Had this ever happened to me before at church? No. And I'd be willing to bet it was a new experience for 99% of the members. However, the situation was handled with such grace, reverence and expertise, that in an odd way it reaffirmed my testimony.

Upon meeting everyone else in the hall, I passed my the adult Sunday school class. The instructor was standing outside the classroom, scriptures open, and he was still teaching! The people in his class were scripture searching, and answering questions in the midst of the mayhem. It brought a smile to my face.

When I had my kids seated against the wall, I left them to the watchful eyes of Lorena and Claudia, my 2 veteran latina mamas, and went to make sure I knew where Ellie's class was. I was almost moved to tears when I saw all the little members of junior primary, seated in the hallway being led in song by the music director-- they were unafraid, completely unaware of the potential storm that was threatening to brew outside. Their sweet melody carried me back down the hall where I waited with my class.

Soon everyone moved into the cultural hall, except Junior Primary, who the Bishop and Stake President decided was best to leave outside in the hallway with their leaders, singing and learning.

Everyone gathered around in the gym and fell silent as President Johnson addressed the group of about 150 adults and older kids.

He began by joking that our building (which is fairly new) was so strong that the head builder had told him that if he's ever at work and a tornado siren went off, he should leave his workplace and sneak into the church building to take shelter!

Everyone laughed and felt at ease as we listened carefully to the instruction of our leader. We were briefed on the situation of the storm, and then he informed us of his and the Bishop's wise decision to dismiss church for the day. We ended with a prayer, and everyone calmly rounded up their families and went home.

This may not sound like a super special or spiritual experience to anyone else, but it had a huge impact on me and strengthened my testimony.

Why?

1. The way that everyone carried out the evacuation, and all members were accounted for showed a great strength in the leaders of the ward.
2. The way that the Sunday school class and Primary Sharing Time continued amidst the craziness of the situation was a real parable to me, of how we should be pressing forward in faith in our daily lives, though the world may go to pieces around us.
3. The way that the Junior Primary was left out in the hall while the gravity of the impending storm was discussed showed a true love for our little ones-- and that our wise, strong leaders of the church, are also experienced and caring Daddies.
4. As the Bishop and Stake President addressed us and we all listened for instruction in the face of possible peril, it paralleled how we listen for instruction from our Prophet, and we obey his words so that we stay safe in the perilous times we live in.

So was there much teaching of classes that went on today? No. But for me it was honestly one of the most faith promoting days of church that I have ever had.

The church is true-- I know it with all my heart, and I will never, ever stray from it-- though the world may beat against me like the strong winds of a tornado. I love the gospel, the Prophet, my Savior, and Heavenly Father, and will keep my head up and seek instruction from them, for myself and my family, until the Savior comes again and this journey is over.