Bye Bye 1525

Well, we finally closed on the house.  1525 SE Bell Drive is no longer ours :(

I was so much more emotional about leaving it than I ever thought I would be.  Next to my childhood home, I lived it that house the longest, 6 years.  It's really a part of me, especially because it is the home that I brought both of my kids home too and the only place that my kids have ever called home.  We really planted some roots in Waukee, in the neighborhood, community, etc.  We were fortunate to have met so many great people along the way, with whom we will be life long friends.

Making the decision to leave a great life behind, to move across the world, was not an easy one.  Nate's philosophy is all about "moving forward," (well, we sure moved alright :0).  A move to Singapore definitely gives us new experiences, opportunities and really changes the 'history' of our family.  I think you also have to take great opportunities when they knock, because you just never know if you will ever get another chance.

So while it was tough leaving our comfort zone and family and friends behind, we truly believe this is where we need to be right now.  The amazing work experience for Nate, a top-notch education for the kids, along with the cultural experiences and travel opportunities, kind of made the decision a "no brainer" but even so, it is was definitely not the easy decision.

I am thankful that Nate works for a company that allows us these unique opportunities and really consider it a "once in a lifetime" type of thing!  I can only hope that we look back on this experience a few years from now and feel the same way we did about having lived in Germany, that for all of the ups and downs, the wild ride was SO worth it!

So, home for us is no longer a big house, with a big yard, on a quiet street in Iowa-- it's a condo in the tropics, on a busy street, in the middle of one of the most densely populated cities on the planet :)  It may not look or feel like the home we've always known, but as I tell the kids, "home is wherever WE are!"