Moving to Mayfield

So much change, so little time. I sit here today and I can’t believe that just six weeks ago I woke Michael from his sleep to tell him that I was in labor and needed to get to the hospital. Since that night we have had a baby, interviewed for jobs, got a teaching job at Gunnison Middle School, put our house up for sale, house hunted in Gunnison, rented out our Hyrum house, found a rental house in Mayfield, packed up, moved, and unpacked in a completely new town and home with a completely new career, and what feels like a completely new family with the addition of Caitlin.
Since that night I have learned and experienced so much. I’ve learned that each baby brings a special and unique kind of joy to your life. Caitlin is such a special gift. Cuddling a sleeping baby is Gilead’s balm. Everyone in the family loves her, but the bond between Caitlin and Joshua has been especially strong which is fitting since the baby looks just like her big brother.
I’ve learned that my body is an incredible piece of equipment. I labored and gave birth in a little over three hours with no pain medications. I’ve been able to nurse a healthy strong baby. My recovery was quick. Emotionally I have been fairly stable, and when I’m not I understand that I shouldn’t fight the hormones. I’ve been able to do all the work that has been demanded of me. I’m grateful for my healthy strong body.
I’ve learned that our family is capable of stretching our abilities to meet the demands placed on us. Watching us all take these life changes in stride has amazed me. The baby cries, someone takes care of it. Something breaks, someone takes care of it. A job needs doing, someone does it. Everyone’s hungry, someone starts dinner. Someone gets emotionally overtaxed, everyone else supports and lifts. We have proved that family is a strong force and support system.
I’ve learned that there is beauty everywhere. I’ve never particularly cared for Sanpete county. I always found it fairly barren and devoid of interest. But I believe god has given me a gift. Everywhere I look I see sites that take my breath away. Whether it is the sunsets, the acres of alfalfa, the rocky ridgeline, the Victorian houses, the quaint towns, the scenic canyons, beauty surrounds me. I’m falling in love with the land in Sanpete.
I’ve learned that good people can be found anywhere. I guess I already knew this one, but a few points have driven the concept home. The elders chorum moved us out in Hyrum, and the Elders chorum moved us in Mayfield. The relief society bid me farewell in Hyrum, and the Relief society president brought us dinner our first night in Mayfield. I was so glad to be in touch with the RS, that I threw my arms around her neck when she told me who she was! Our next door neighbors are our age and have children our children’s age – they already have best friends. Everyone has been friendly and kind. We feel welcome here.
I’ve learned to lean on extended family. I don’t know what we would have done these last six weeks without Barlows and Jaussis. Carrie and Jon, Dad and Jan, Grandma Jaussi, Ma, Mom and Dad B, Daniel, Becky, all of them have been giving, working, babysitting, feeding, advising, driving, animal tending, and listening. We have asked more from our extended family this month than ever before and I am proud that I have such a strong support system. I’ve not always been able to say that and it’s nice to know that when it is needed they are there.
I’ve learned that 100 year old houses can be creepy and charming at the same time. Our new home is a beautiful old Victorian house that has been updated rather nicely. It has central air and a gas furnace, new appliances, new wiring and plumbing, storm windows, etc. But there are still things that are just plain old and gross. I need to go through room by room with a toothbrush and pine-sol. I keep finding spiders in all the dark spaces. We’ve nicknamed the place “The Rabbit Hole” in honor of Alice in Wonderland. Everywhere you turn there’s something…odd. Doors that are sealed up, doors that lead nowhere, a hole in the kitchen ceiling that leads into the upstairs boys room, light switches in odd places, no plugs in the bathrooms, stairs so steep you have to go down sideways, an exterior door on the second story with no railing, pea green bathroom fixtures, bats swarming the yard at dusk, and so on. Everywhere you turn the house gives you a surprise. That being said, with every box that is unpacked there is more and more of a spirit of home here. It is quickly becoming our home -eccentricities and all- because we love each other here and have brought our history and sense of self here.
I have learned a new level of organization and list making. I’ve always been a list maker, but this month I’ve had to be so organized to make sure nothing important falls through the cracks. In our marriage I am primarily in charge of finances so the lot fell to me to arrange all of the banking, switch over all the utilities, set up all the new accounts, enrolling Joshua in school, etc. I’ve been impressed at how well I’ve been able to manage the “business” end of things; especially with a renter in our house. It gives me a sense of pride to know that I am capable of handling financial and legal matters efficiently.
I have learned to be happy with who I am. One of my fears in the whole move was that I would lose my sense of self. People can be judgmental in small towns, and I love to please people. But just understanding that about myself helps me stand up to the temptation to change for anyone besides me. So what if you get sideways glances when I pop a Diet Coke. So what if people think I am strange because I like home theater but not four wheeling. So what if my son wants long shaggy hair instead of the missionary cut. I will be who I am and try to love others for who they are despite what they think of me.
Babies, career changes, and moves. So much change, so little time.