Mixed emotions

I feel a bit on the emotional side today and decided to share.

We moved from Iowa to Ohio two years ago. We are closer to my family, but away from Lucas' family. And of course I lived in Iowa for 13 years so I left a church family and a lot of friends. When we moved, I gained my parents, my bother...I mean brother and his sweet wife, cousins, aunts, uncles, and a whole new church family.

My conclusions become

I really love living in Ohio.

I really miss people in Iowa.

My best friend is married to Lucas' best friend and they are going to have a baby any day now. I would give so much to be there making meals for them and helping decorate a nursery. We talk on the phone often and we're going to go see them and the baby at Christmas, but it's not the same.

On the other hand, last night I attended my great Aunt's 80th birthday party. I got to see cousins and cousins and COUSINS! And my kids had a ball playing with cousins. It was so fabulous to catch up and hug and visit (and eat)! I have missed nearly 20 years of famiy get-togethers and I love being able to go to these events.

There's no solution here except to shove the states of Indiana and Illinois out of the way and I don't think that's within my power. ;)