My Last Post From Maryland
We are still here!
Holy smoke, 86 subscribers–I’d better get a post up!!! As you can imagine we are in mega-high gear to bring closure to our 16 years in Maryland, and I have not had much time to blog, but my perfectionism drives me to get a post done before our literal launch, which is JUST HOURS AWAY! Please let me know if I have any typos or grammatical errors–I am functioning on 4 hours of sleep 🙂
Milestones
Boy, I feel like I’ve been a slacker all my life. I am in awe of all that our family got into 10 days. Starting on Sunday May 28 with a final FEUDAL foam sword battle, and continuing that evening with a goodbye party with over 130 guests (do I even know that many people??), a 13th birthday celebration for Sarah on Monday, getting Bethany into contact lenses on Tuesday, a 10th birthday celebration for our nephew on Thursday, a double high school graduation for Daniel and Lilly on Saturday, Daniel’s baptism on Sunday, a drivers test for Daniel on Monday (he passed!), the sale of John’s Avalanche (don’t even know when that happened–just came home and it was gone!) and…well…saying goodbye to our lives as we have known them on Wednesday. Whew! I think we may just sleep for the first couple weeks!
Storing Our Stuff
Some of you know that I have been a habitual clutterer and this transition to live in an RV was truly nothing short of a miracle. Many of you have cheered me on as I have endeavored to sell, give, and toss enough of our belongings to fit into one 7×10 storage unit. Well, I reached for the stars but I so happy to say I caught the moon! I have fit EVERYTHING* into just two units totaling 1200 cubic feet at Extra Space Storage on Woodfield Road (Leo, the manager, is getting a Christmas card this year!). Check out how I maxed out my storage unit in my first video!
Bittersweet Goodbyes
Oh my goodness, the sweetness of the well wishes, the hugs, and even the tears which are evidence of hearts having been joined in friendship by the kindness of God! Thank you to each one of you who attended our party, gave us a card or gift, sent us an email or an encouragement on facebook, took me out to lunch for a little one-on-one, and especially to those of you who have prayed and continued to pray for us. So many memories we take with us, as well as plans for our future visits and e-visits in the days to come! Stay tuned for the coming of our “friends photo gallery”!
3-2-1….LAUNCH TIME!
OK, so today is the day! As my dear friend from high school would say, “EEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!” First stop? Masontown, WV!!! I am so excited to see my friend Regan, the “little girl next door” all grown up–and a proud grandma of a couple sweet little munchkins that I intend to hear about thoroughly during our visit 🙂 Regan had a Light Bright toy when we were kids that I loved to look at. I wanted one but didn’t have one. Never did get one. Its been 30 years. Not over it 😉
Your memories??
One of the big reasons we are taking this trip is to have more time for PEOPLE. I am venturing to guess that the 86 subscribers are people who have known us personally, so I’d like to take this opportunity to ask you to comment with a memory that you have shared with our family. We want to cherish YOU as we leave, even as we are putting miles between us. Or feel free to comment on anything else or ask a question. I will get to responding as soon as I can 🙂
*OK, so maybe not everything fit into the storage units. There might be a closet at my mom’s with my name on it 😉
Anne Fletcher says
Bon Voyage! Be safe and have a wonderful time!
Christina says
Thank you, Anne! I am so glad that you made it out to see us and our new home!
Anne says
Me too! Love to all!❤️
Debbie Partlow says
We were in CGL Caregroup together long ago and far away! I’ve appreciated your Facebook posts over the past years and am thrilled for your year ahead.
Vicki S. says
Bon Voyage, Vaya con Dios and all the warm sentiments to the wonderful McSweeney clan as you embark. <3
Christina says
Thank you, Vicki. “Warmth” is exactly what I have always felt from you. Your encouragement over the years has helped me to be OK with where I’m at with my weaknesses, but full of hope for growth! I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts on some future blog topics 🙂
Becky says
So excited for your family to embark on this simplified life. May God bless you in complex, and perplexing ways! Be careful, but not overly cautious. BE wherever you are. Build your collection and fill your storehouse with friendships from unusual places, and memories to last a lifetime of retelling. Hogs and quiches!
Lynda Knapp says
What a whirlwind you have had the past two weeks! And you stayed amazingly sane and were able to even offer me timely encouragement!
I can’t remember the exact time we met, but I do know we have been in the same circle for many years. As you travel, I will be praying for safety for your family and MANY enjoyable memories! When we took our 3 week vacation, we hit about day 15 and the family had a meltdown, so don’t be surprised if that happens.
We look forward to enjoying your adventures along the way!
Take Care,
Lynda
Susan J Nicholson says
Happy trails ! We hope you can stop by beautiful Grapevine Texas in your travels. Our prayers go with you.
Susan Perdue says
So many memories, Chris!
– Holiday craft fair
– Chats over homeschooling
– Dinner and good tunes
– Help with the horses while Phil was deployed
– Daniel, Lilly, and Bethany in the shows
– All four kids serving in THG and worship in DL
– Definitely missing many more!
So grateful for you and your sweet family!
Love,
Susan
Debs says
I don’t know your family very well but I have gotten to know you in the past couple of “scraps”. You and the rest of the Hagerstown ladies have always open the door and arms to this stranger from VA. For that I thank you.
May your journey be fun and uneventful! I can’t wait to see these posts.
Debs
Kelly McMillen says
How we McMillens love you McSweeneys! I am grateful for the many clothes, books and crafts which have been loved by your family and are now being loved by ours. Material things, but things which we look at and see as an expression of God’s kindness toward us in your friendship and care. I love how you would specifically seek to bless us with things we would love, such as dress ups and crafts for the girls, a little shirt & bow tie when Henry was a baby boy, and of course your lovingly curated collection of books for which I can’t thank you enough. You were thinking of us personally when deciding where these items should live, and that is something we cherish. I am grateful for the example of homeschooling you’ve been for me (please post about school on the road so that I can continue to be inspired!) And we have the utmost respect for John and your amazing kids…the fruits of your labors are so evident. You are indeed special and we will miss you all SO much.
Christina says
Aw, Kelly. You have a gift of encouragement. Indeed, your family is close to our hearts. Your enthusiasm for receiving our hand-me-downs has made it so much easier and rewarding for my girls to “let go”. We get such a kick out of seeing them have new life with your kids!
Janet Harrington says
We are praying that this adventure will be all that you expect it to be and all that God intends it to be! Hope to see you in Houston if at all possible.
Mary says
I’m continuing to pray for you all as you embark on your journey! 🙂 I love all six of you very much and already miss you tons!
Andrea says
Wow! I’m very impressed with your storage unit. Need to share this with my parents-I hope to help my dad downside his two storage units(maybe this summer). Also, very impressed you are embarking on this a with a family of six plus a dog! Good luck Chrissy! (Childhood memory-too many to count but I was especially thankful when you defended me in 6th grade when someone threw my winter coat in the boys toilet. I’ll always remember you doing that for me.)
Donna Kerns says
Chris- I was so hoping there would be a Blog!! Very excited to be able to follow the McSweeney’s on their grand tour of our beautiful country. Also SO impressed by how much you and John and the kids accomplished to get ready for this day! It was a mind-boggling idea, effort and execution of your very well thought out plans! I so enjoyed knowing you and John better through the Board these last four years and during your launch prep. I am SO HAPPY for all of you! Hope the next year is an incredible adventure. I will include your safety in my prayers. Bless You All, with love, Donna
derderetdeedee says
Hmmm…memory…how about when you got me through the birth of my only child?? You were the hero that day, Sister! I am not sure what would have happened if you weren’t there. Thanks for braving the cold…oh, I guess it’s still cold wherever I am!
The three of us had a little wailing/bawling/crying session last night after we left you all. Luke especially. This will be an adjustment for sure! But we are so, so happy for you and can’t wait to live vicariously through you. Bring on the sightseeing!
Lorraine Fourney says
We are so excited for you as you start this adventure together. We can’t wait to see where you’ll go! And thank you so much for being willing to allow us to experience it with you through the blog. We will miss seeing you but have so many great memories of your family.
Chris, I will always remember the summer we discovered our common love of monarch butterflies. I haven’t seen any caterpillars in the past two years, but I search my butterfly flowers all season long anyway and think of you when I do. Lilly, Daniel and Bethany — you are among the best students I ever taught. Keep that love of learning intact as you travel around the country. I hope you’ll join your mom in posting pictures and comments about all you’re seeing and learning! And John, my favorite memories of you are hearing you share at the mike in church, remembering how you bailed out the CSB dads by helping them help their boys make awesome cars for the Pinewood Derby and (FOREVER grateful for this one . . . ) how you volunteered to drive with me to Winchester, VA so we could bring back Dave’s car when he got stuck in the hospital during Camp Hemlock! What great people you are 🙂 I just know you’ll be a blessing wherever you go!
Praying for a safe journey, much grace, and a million amazing memories — Lorraine Fourney & family
Julie says
You guys are awesome to take on this adventure. My son Noah and myself so look forward to reading your posts and seeing pics of all your stops. May God bless each of you and protect you while traveling!!
Carla says
For the record, I always wanted a Lite Brite like a couple of friends have. One of my kids did get one, but the wow factor was not quite the same at 40ish as it was at 8. Speaking of age, since I met you when you were my student in a college class! But still the sweeter ones were of you in Salisbury expecting the arrival of your new driver and high school graduate. Yikes! Time flies. I’m impressed with all you’ve accomplished and a smidge jealous of your adventure! God Bless you all!
Michelle says
Chris, I am so excited that you are a blogger now! I love reading your “voice” in your posts. You have such a way with words and can always make me laugh 🙂
So many memories – we were barely acquainted in high school but then over the last fifteen years found so much in common. Starting with our third pregnancies – visits to the midwives and eating lots of ice cream that summer! I’ll never forget that Bethany and Jed were due the same weekend but Bethany arrived two looong weeks earlier than Jed (life is not fair). We shared the joys and challenges of pregnancy and babies and sick toddlers and then the homeschooling years. Adventure Academy was so fun for us and our kids – who could forget Mrs. McFrizzle? Kids might have called you Mrs. Orndorff but they never called me Mrs. McFrizzle 😮
You’ve been a faithful friend to join me in the scrapbooking obsession.I’ll miss going to the fall scrapbook retreat together. Hopefully next year.
My favorite family memory is when you and John opened your home to the six of us when we had our house fire. Without hesitation you invited us to stay for a few nights so we didn’t have to take everyone to a hotel. And was it the next year that we lost power for a few days and you took some of our freezer food? The way you and John serve and make people a priority is such an example to me. You have impacted me and my family and so many others here in MD. I miss you already!
~Your twin (aka “Dos Manos”)