I am right midst of packing.  We are about to embark on another leg of our adventure. This one taking us a little closer to my darling husband’s family, but a bit further from my own.

Each move we have made has been different than the last. Our first move from our enormous home in CT had us giving things we obviously did not need. This wasn’t easy, but not at all emotional. Then, when we decided to move to OZ I had to really consider what was important to me. For my darling husband, a couple bags of clothes, his golf clubs and digital copies of every picture from his life would be all he needed. For myself and Lana, leaving things behind was a bit more difficult.

Having to really narrow down what we could fit into 14 suitcases was a challenge. For Lana it meant leaving boxes of her most precious things behind. For me it meant taking up my entire old bedroom and more with furniture, framed pictures, wedding gifts, winter clothes, etc.

Since arriving in OZ we have come to live very comfortably with less. Yet, there are some things we chose to carry with us here, and we will bring with us to NZ. The first is the picture above. I will not send it with the packers, but rather will carry it in my suitcase so as soon as we arrive in our new house I can place in special spot. I miss the people pictured so much and having that picture makes them feel not so far away.

This picture of my dad is one of my favorites of him. It was taken in Portugal when he joined me and my friends at the World Expo. It was a great day & he just looks so great.

I have another frame that I already packed that includes the picture of my mother holding Alison, the last granbaby she met, in her arms. I think it’s the last picture taken of my mother.

The kids also have precious things that they would never consider getting rid of. Two of them are a frog Andrea made for Nuno, and a flower pot Auntie Diane made for Lana.

There is a jewlery box, filled with baubles, special trucks, (one that weighs as much as the real thing Maria!) stuffed animals that have been with us for 8 years, and a few other special items already packed away.

I know my husband has a hard time understanding the connection Lana and I have to these things. But you see it is not the item, but the expression of love that they remind us of. Little reminders of BIG LOVE.