New beginnings and a fresh view...

To get to my new job, I take a slightly longer route each morning so I can drive past

the filtration ponds (known locally as the "poo ponds") and see the sun rise.

Then when I turn left I can see the mountains in the distance.

I missed the mountains the most when we left Rolleston a year ago

(how was that only a year ago?)

The strangest thing though, is that you cannot see any of the city.

Just the road I am on and the mountains far away.

It's a refreshing perspective, and a reminder I value as I start every day.

This last month I have been striving to live life like that. 

Keeping my eye on the prize and trying not to focus on all the things in between.

We were mostly successful really. 

We managed to pack up our whole house,

store some of the children's precious things in the attic

and my books in the attic at work.

After all the sorting, we still did end up with a truck load of stuff, 

but we discovered that if you give all your precious possessions a ride in a truck

and pile them outside at the required destination;

that it is far far easier to get rid of them.

To say we decluttered is an understatement.

And now Annie and I have mixed our treasures together,

we have Marie Kondo'd our clothes to the enth degree

and we have played jenga with the possessions we decided to keep.

In the kitchen, Chrissy and I merged our resources together,

keeping the best of both kitchens. Making a space where we can work together

and find everything we want close to hand.

Jacob carried out a mighty mission in the garage.

The camping gear that we absolutely could not part with is now stacked up neatly.

We were not ready to part with all that yet.

We hope to have some more camping adventures in the next few years.

And now here we all are, blending our lives together.

It's so lovely to be able to work together

and the household is running so smoothly so far.

Even all our pets are getting on at this point, long may it continue.

I think as long as we keep our eyes on the big picture

and don't focus on the little things that may annoy us in time,

we will all be able to live happily together until life

moves us on to another stage.

But first, rest and recovery and some catching up of study!