Moving Day

I've been living in the new house that I'm renting since Monday but didn't have the moving truck reserved until yesterday.  I had to be creative with using whatever light and easy things I could reach in our storage unit.  I used camping cookware, found a few forks, borrowed one bowl and plate, used a folding table, and had a camping chair.  Luckily, my mom let me borrow their air mattress so that I didn't have to just use a camping pad to sleep on.  Needless to say,  I was really ready for the full moving day and having a real bed and everything else set up in the house.  The move went really smoothly and much quicker than I anticipated.  I am very blessed to have so many friends and family members willing to help out.  There wasn't a lot that I could carry myself, so I did a lot of directing of where to take boxes. 
Now, a day later, this place is very livable and looks great!  There are boxes of clothes that I still need to unpack and walls to decorate, but I'm feeling much more settled.  It's amazing the space here after moving from a one bedroom apartment.  I could get used to this!

I should have gotten a loading picture but my camera came out after we had been unloading for a while.

 Two of my lovely helpers, Michaela and Jessalyn, both of whom brought their husbands along to help move the really heavy stuff.  That's my brother-in-law Joel behind them moving the couch into the house.

 We found some very surprising things while unpacking our "fragile" boxes :)

 It was a group effort with my brother Jonathan, sister-in-law Brenda, along with Brett.  Yes, we were also surprised to have a streaker in our midst!  Jonathan and Brenda also put together two bookshelves and the bed, for which I am very grateful!

 The first dinner in the new place with the table set up.

 Mikaela and Julie arrived to help me organize more boxes in the basement, organize the kitchen, and hang big things on the walls.

 A welcome sign on the front door.  This hand-painted sign was a gift from our friend Brooke and goes perfectly on this door.

 A day later, the living room looks great, with only a few things left to unpack and organize.

The view from the side porch looking into the dining room and kitchen.