Our McDouble!!: Goodbye V-town and friends...hello Merced?

Is Christmas really over already?! I blinked and it went from Thanksgiving to the new year. Our move from visalia to Merced went really well (all things considered...like, we moved new years eve). Without the help of our awesome families, and amazing friends, there's literally NO way we could've pulled it off. Between my Mom coming down to help and Kirk's Mom, Step-Dad and Grandma Shirley...we were basically packed. Kirk's family had originally been coming into town to celebrate Christmas with us, but finding out just a few weeks before Christmas that we were going to be moving greatly changed the tone and pace of their trip. They were a whirlwind of packing, cooking, baking and hanging out. It was crazy, but we lots of fun too!
We felt so extremely blessed to have all the help we did. Even though there's all the unpacking left to do, at least we are here and not in between here and there. Our goal is, "a box a week." We are behind...
The truth, this month has been both wonderful and not so wonderful. Kirk's job, for example, is WAY more intense than we thought it was going to be...max security federal prison anyone? In February he will have to go to Georgia for 3 weeks to do correctional officer training...yikes!! He will have to do everything from pat downs to cell searches, but hopefully not on a regular basis. I guess the mentality there is that everyone should be trained as a C.O., that way everyone is on board if things get out of hand.
Am I super excited for this new job of my husbands? No. Not at all. But, I do feel grateful that this job is a great opportunity for Kirk to really put his skills as a therapist to good use. In his last job, the opportunity for real clinical work was rare as so much of his time was spent doing paperwork.
Hopefully he will be working as the supervisor in the substance abuse program, which apparently is a very cool program. The guys who have been chosen to take part in this program are motivated and are there because of good behavior...thank you, Jesus!
Do I like living in a new city where I don't know anyone while having young babies? No. Not at all. But, I found myself feeling guilty for not enjoying every moment of this new house, new job, new neighborhood, new people, etc. Then I read this awesome article written by a mom and it made me realize it's okay that I'm not enjoying all these new changes all the time. Here's the article if you get a chance to check it out:

http://momastery.com/blog/2012/01/04/2011-lesson-2-dont-carpe-diem/

I am grateful though...more grateful for these precious babies and how much joy they bring to our lives. Grateful that they are so happy and healthy. I'm also grateful that we now live much closer to our families up north and we are only a short drive away from our Visalia friends.
Hope you all had a wonderfully blessed Christmas and new year!