How did we get here? Part 2

Well, as any good carpenter's wife knows, as soon as the house is finished it's time to sell! Our move back east (from California to Maine) after nearly a dozen years "out west" came as a bit of a shock to everyone involved, including us. Basically, we missed our families. In addition, Melissa was beginning to pursue a teaching career and the opportunities in our area were limited. Most importantly, we were discussing adoption for real and decided when it happened we wanted our families involved and close by. 

The house and land sold quickly, we downsized (an enormous task) and packed all of our belongings (including THREE dogs, two cats, all of Eric's tools and ladders and a 17 ft. Old Town canoe) in a Subaru wagon and a pick-up hauling a cargo trailer. We communicated via two-way radios and cell phones, stayed with friends and in hotels, and arrived back home in Maine (we are both "natives") on Thanksgiving Day 2002. While we occasionally wonder "what if" we had stayed in California, and considering we still really miss our friends from CA and Nevada, not a day goes by that we regret our decision. We feel at home here and can't wait to raise our kids where we grew up, taking them to our old familiar haunts and spending a lot of time with aunties, uncles, cousins, grandparents and wonderful friends old and new. 

These past five years have absolutely flown by! Literally, a blur - it went something like this: House hunting, living with relatives, buying a house, making the house livable,  finding jobs, going back to school (Melissa), getting better jobs, buying a boat, fixing up the house, surgery (Eric-knee), taking classes every semester, playing on the boat, playing with family, fixing up the house, more surgery (Melissa-hysterectomy), more house fixing and finally, we are ready to pursue the ADOPTION!