Indeed.

Yes. We are here./!

So here I go. We're here, and I'm finally emotionally composed enough to write about it. I ended that first sentence with a ./! because I felt like a period would look too indifferent and an exclamation point would look to excited, when actually, I am neither.

I am a Provo, Utah native, born and raised. I never thought in a million years that I'd ever leave that place. I love it with all my heart. It is where my mom, 3 sisters, 1 brother, Grandparents Nielsen, countless childhood friends, several new friends, first, second, and third homes, Glen's and my first and second apartments, etc., etc., etc., still reside. It is also where my dad is buried.

So, it was hard to leave. I cried for weeks before, and cried a lot of the way there, and still cry, almost every night. Notice that almost. I made it large and bold and blue to draw attention to the fact that I'm improving.

The drive was long. It took approx. 24 hours to get there. We drove about 16 hours the first day, and stopped in a terribly scary town called Clovis, New Mexico. Needless to say, I woke up about every 15 minutes to look out the window to check if our truck was still there. I won't even mention the continental breakfast in the morning. We arrived in Austin the next day. When we pulled up to our apartment complex, Glen told me to go inside while he unhitched the trailer that was towing our car. Walking into our little apartment for the first time filled me with mixed emotions. I was excited but also very, very sad. It just didn't feel like home, and I was still getting used to the idea living somewhere else. I walked into the bedroom and looked behind the door. There on the ground was a huge, dead, black insect of some kind. I totally broke down! Glen came and took the carcass away.

Speaking of Glen. He's been so amazingly patient with me and my hate of change. I will probably owe him for the rest of my life just for the patience he endured the whole trip down and the first couple hours after we arrived. From Provo to Austin we had several conversations that were similar to this:

Me: "I hate this place."
Glen: "I know."
Me: "I hate Texas."
Glen: "I know."
Me: "I hate you."
Glen: "I know."
Me: "I can't believe you are actually making me live here."
Glen: "I know."
Me: "I can't believe you are making me leave my family."
Glen: "I know."
Glen would usually become silent.
Me: "I miss my mom."
Tears are starting to well at this point.
"I miss my sisters."
"I miss my brother."
"I miss my grandpa."
"I miss my dad."
"I want to go home! Turn around! Turn around!"

Then I start to sob for a few minutes.

And then...

It all started to get better. Just like everyone said it would. Slowly, but surely. It helped that my in-laws were/are super great, and that Glen's brothers, their wives, his sister and her boyfriend (click here to see just how dang cute they are) were all there and we were able to spend the first week just hanging out with them.

But seriously, I'm doing better! Yesterday I was able to talk to my mother for the first time without trying to choke back tears. I still cry when I text my brother, but one thing at a time.

Anyway, I will probably post some pictures of our first few days here in my next post or so. We have had a lot of fun. Everyone keeps saying that this will be an adventure, that this will be so great for our marriage, that I will become okay with everything, that I will grow up a lot here.

Well do you wanna know what I think?

I think they are probably right.