We are slowly finding our sea legs again after a whirlwind week leading up to the wedding (note: it may not have been the smartest idea to combine 6 kids, a fiance unable to take a day off, 3 houseguests AND the last-minute wedding to-do list into one 5-day stretch), the wedding weekend itself in all it’s chaos and family and emotion and happy tears and “Has anyone seen my shoes?”, and the blissful aftermath of the honeymoon. That last part was my favorite, as I’m sure it goes without saying 
The sea legs must be found quickly because we now have exactly 12 hours to pack up 2 houses and move. Our first stop after surviving customs Sunday night was to visit *our* house, complete with a sweep-up-the-bride, carry-her-giggling-over-the-threshold, moment of giddiness. It waits for us, the rooms empty and ready to be filled with furniture, photographs, sticky handprints and memories. I dug around in the overgrown garden and emerged with several ripe tomatoes, the happy realization that we will have pumpkins this fall, sprigs of herbs that I recognize (and several that I don’t), and ant bites that were so. totally. worth it.
Tuesday night was our first night together as a family, and we spent it together, as a family. We loaded up sleeping bags and bathing suits, ordered pizza, raided the stash of leftover wedding wine, and camped out in our very own home. The kids swam, danced in the rain, then swam some more. The big girls scampered to the pond that is behind us, then scampered back with news of the five ducklings that have been added to the family of two (that we witnessed mating in the pool at one of our showings…good, educational times, that).
We headed out for a twilight walk to the playground, and stumbled upon lightning bugs along our path. Our oldest three ran into the woods after them, trying (in vain) to catch them with their bare hands.
We are smitten with this house, this neighborhood, this life we are embarking on. I joke that it’s like a Norman Rockwell painting, or Funny Farm. Someone cued the ducks and the fireflies, but we were sold way back in February when we first drove by and subsequently fell in love with our two story yellow house.
I will be so happy once this weekend is finished. Away from the stress of the week leading up to the wedding and even the quiet solitude of our honeymoon waits a life of laundry and homework, crock pot dinners and late night swimming. It will be humdrum and mundane in comparison to these past few weeks, and I’ll happily, gladly, *willingly* take it.
I’m so looking forward to our finding a rhythm, establishing new routines, and no longer feeling like we’re just trying to break the surface in between major life events.
For a number pf years, I’ve followed your blog, and “hers.” today, I come to yours to apologize. For the last year I’ve read her blog and believed you were the devil, and she the nice woman in pain. This last post made it all change for me. I saw it for what it was,pure meanness, & bullying. I read the comments and the way encourages it, and I realized, maybe you’ve endured more than I realized. When I saw the comments about who gets more comments, I realized that’s what it is for her, she needs blind followers, people to support her every word, who will back her unconditionally. Today, I walk away from that….and I start saying this. Great things often come from a mistake or misstep. Dont let your past dictate your future. Congrats to you on finding and giving love and respect. May the mundane continue to be filled with such love.
Ellie – I think that the comment from you is amazing. For those that are friends with Jen and Rich, there isn’t a “team” over here. There are no “sides” and no one is keeping count about how many friends or blog stats each person has. There truly is just love and respect with this couple.
I truly believe that people find happiness and self assurance with themselves or they need to find them through other people. In my opinion, the need to put so many personal details on a blog and other types of social media in the manner that has been done is to get personal validation through others. Be happy with yourself.
I will say that everyone makes mistakes. Lord knows that I make them every.single.day. I’ve done things I’m not proud of…some times I am able to fix them and sometimes the damage is done. I am so incredibly thankful that the mistakes and missteps I make are not detailed on a blog by someone that hates me. Someone that has no real idea what is going on in my life. I can’t imagine many people would.
Your house is lovely; may it be witness to countless happy memories in the years to come. Congratulations!
Praying for many years of continued bliss for your family. So extremely happy for your family!!
So I think I have stayed quiet long enough…
Elli, your comment was beautiful. I can understand how people can be led to believe certain things when they are written so eloquently, but it sometimes amazes me that they can believe it for so long. I’m glad you saw through it finally and can appreciate that Jen and my brother have found what some are never lucky enough to experience.
We all take missteps and if we are smart we learn from them. Simply stated, if we can learn from them then our lives are happier.
Dedra, you are so right…no sides, no team, just love and respect… it reminds me of their vows
but at least I’m not crying this time.
I am sad to hear from some followers that people find nothing better to talk about then the wrongs of others or even me (since when was supporting your brother a crime?) I hope that everyone can find happiness in their lives and appreciate life for what it brings our way. Everything happens for a reason.
I work in a prison and there are so many people and situations that can keep a person “below the line” blaming everyone for every mistreatment and misfortune, I for one think it’s healthier to live above it…and that’s where I will stay.
Now…as far as this house…this awesome first night in it…FABULOUS! I knew that only joy would come from this great little community when I first laid eyes on it. I can’t wait to come back and spend a night in the funny farm with you and rich and the littles! Sending love from ri