It’s been a little over a week and I’ve been through an emotional journey.

First off, moving is hell. Pure hell. And we were lucky enough to have had movers pack us. To be honest that is both a blessing and a curse…….but more on that another time.

I found myself folding in on myself while driving from Los Angeles to Austin. Two kids, a dog, a cat and Brian and myself. Turns out a mini van fills up REALLY fast with dog food, cat food, pet beds, pet supplies, four suitcases, a cooler filled with candles and items that didn’t make it into the pack —- like checkbooks —- cleaning supplies, computers, ipads, and oh so much more.

We spread the days of travel out to four but could have done it in three. At the time it just seemed like a more reasonable pace. And once we landed in Austin, we’d be holed up in a residence inn, so why rush?

We arrived on a Friday and drove by our new, not ready yet, house on Saturday. I felt happiness and excitement but also a sadness. When Brian left to go back to San Francisco on Monday I could feel all the energy leave my system. WE WERE HERE. NOW WHAT?

Perfect me was supposed to land here with energy to spare. I was supposed to have utilized my gym membership to the bitter end and eaten super healthy and arrived like a warrior. Um……do you know me? Just about everything came before me going to the gym. Boy Scout camp that was a 45 minute drive away, packing, packing and more packing, helping the kids prep by saying good-bye to friends, etc. And to be clear —-once the stress levels start to rise, so does my calorie consumption. To levels that I can’t even talk about because it’s so shameful.

The reality was I arrived a post-travel fatty. I think we hit McDonalds 2x and not a vegetable passed my lips. Full sugar soda was my way of keeping my eyes open throughout the trip. The little gym at our temporary digs is pretty lame although I made myself use it a few times —— yeah me! So status quo on the non-warrior thing.

I think my kids have watched more YouTube and television than ever before, but I haven’t been lording over them on this because we all have our coping mechanisms. I wanted to call friends but I have nothing really exciting to talk about…..it’s more about knowing they’re out there and feeling their presence over the phone.

But it hasn’t been all loneliness and pining for California.

We visited some friends who just moved to Dripping Springs —— an area we considered. The beauty of rolling hills, country roads and amazing places like in the pictures delivered on what the future will hold.

I took the kids to see a charter school and the traditional public school and they were excited. We signed up for classes, visited our house several times, picked out paint colors, did back to school shopping and enjoyed time exploring the area.

The quite moments have been quite —— like pin drop quite —— but I think that’s part of the process —— coming to terms with the changes and visualizing our new life here.

So much more is happening in the next week —— thank goodness! This girl is ready to show the warrior! :)