Sunsets, Boxes, and the Beginning of Home
A cross-country move and allowing life to come together
#37
More flights, more travel — and the move is official.
I’m officially in Texas, just outside of Dallas, and it’s been a very full, very eventful week. So many emotions packed into a short amount of time. I realized I haven’t done a big out-of-state move in over 25 years — not since I landed in Portland all those years ago. Somehow, I didn’t quite grasp how big this transition would feel, even knowing I’ll still be in Oregon during the summers. But yes… this was a big deal. At moments, it was genuinely overwhelming.
After my two days at the lake, I spent two nights with my parents outside of Portland, which was deeply soul-filling. Even with extra appointments in town and added drive time, it felt so good to spend more time with them. As it turned out, my brother and sister-in-law were also visiting, and we overlapped for a night. A shared meal, laughter, and a quick catch-up — priceless time.
The last night in town, since I had an early airport departure and they needed the bedroom, I stayed with another dear friend of mine (who also happens to be my incredible hairstylist!) on the other side of town. Between the travel from Frankfurt back to the States and all the transitions, I slept in five different beds in seven nights. Ouch. It was nonstop movement — but productive. Seeing things I had packed away 15 months ago finally being wrapped up and shipped to my new apartment felt grounding. Nesting, even in motion.
Then came another set of flights — this time with six bags total. Four large ones were checked, two stayed with me, and miraculously, everything arrived safely. (Thank you to anyone who sent good energy my way!) Lugging them in and out of rental cars, however, completely wiped me out. By the time I reached the new apartment complex, my nerves were frayed.
And then… it was time to finally see the apartment — which, as I’d mentioned before, was rented sight unseen. The complex is huge, with hundreds of units, and I was getting lost even during the tour. After the keys were handed over, I was left to my own devices to get all those bags into my new place.
It was overwhelming.
I had serious second thoughts about why I was doing this at all. I felt frustrated not having help — even though it was my choice to come off the road early to get settled. The weight of such a big transition came crashing down. And even though it was all of my own choosing, I was having a moment.
After unloading the car and making multiple trips from the mailroom to retrieve all the packages I’d ordered, it was late evening and I was completely spent. Since the furniture was arriving the next day, I’d booked a nearby motel for the night — making this bed number six in eight days. I didn’t even move this much while traveling internationally! I had no energy for dinner, so I ate snacks from my backpack, talked with Tim (which helped immensely), and hoped for a decent night’s sleep. Jet lag was still lingering, and rest had been elusive.
And then — what a difference a few hours can make.
Even without a long stretch of sleep, I woke up feeling grounded and clear. Excited, even. Furniture delivery day. The beginning of things coming together. One step at a time. Breathe. Ask Spirit for help — which always brings me back into my body and steadies me — and then breathe some more.
After two solid days of unpacking, organizing, multiple store runs for essentials, more Amazon orders, and at least a dozen trips to the dumpster to recycle boxes, today — day three — I finally rested. One of my superpowers is being highly organized and efficient, and it absolutely paid off here.
And look at the colorful Turkish rug! I’m still deciding where it will ultimately live, but for now it looks beautiful by the deck door — right where I can watch the sunsets and the turning of the day.
Tim is enjoying his time in Thailand, even though we both feel our time is best spent together. He’s following what his soul needs right now: warmth, the beach, a few good inexpensive meals, foot massages, people-watching, and a good book. I’m genuinely happy he has the time, health, and means to finally experience Asia.
And another big milestone — I start a new job tomorrow. I wanted to wait to share until everything was fully finalized. Over the course of our travels, I completed three interviews, onboarding, and all the paperwork. I’ll be working remotely from home in a role similar to what I’ve done before as an enrollment specialist. While I enjoy working independently, what excites me most in this season is the steadiness — income, structure, and benefits.
Two major life events in one week.
Without the grace and strength I receive from Spirit, this wouldn’t have been possible. I know I am held and supported. When I trust and allow, things flow. The last few days were intense — even crushing at moments — but in the end, everything came together beautifully. I gave myself permission to be human, to have a moment or two, and then to return to my natural orientation: optimism and forward motion.
This is all of my own choosing. Not always easy. But I can adjust, pivot, rest when needed, and move again when ready. And that nap today on my brand-new sofa? Heavenly.
And one more fun thing before I close — next week I’ll be sharing some behind-the-scenes stats from the Europe trip, including a few numbers many of you always ask about, like average cost per day and how it all shook out. It feels good to reflect on the journey not just emotionally, but practically too.
I love the Zac Brown Band, and today in the car I heard a song I hadn’t heard before called “Love and Sunsets.” The closing lyrics stopped me in my tracks:
Thank God for faith and family
Thank God what they mean to me
Thank God, love and sunsets are free
There are reminders everywhere when we’re willing to notice how supported we truly are. Watching the sunset from my new balcony this evening felt like a quiet miracle — proof that co-creating with life can bring peace in the smallest moments.
May you move through this week with that same sense of peace and grace.
To your highest and best,
Dianna
P.S. I shared a short video over on my travel channel that shows the real movement of this transition — following the bags from the lake all the way to the new apartment, and the finished space with the Turkish rug and wooden honu. If you want to see how it all came together, head over there and take a look.
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