Strength comes when we need it the most. When we think we can no longer move forward. When we feel as if we want to give up and give in. Such was the case today as I continued with the packing at the old apartment.

The holiday morning started with a request from my older daughter for pancakes with rainbow sprinkles. Saffron was awake before 8,00h this morning which is completely out of character for her. She jumped out of the makeshift bed on the floor and ran to the closet to dress in her Fourth of July outfit which consisted of red, white, and blue jean shorts and a red t-shirt. With a smile on her face, she was ready to go.

She insisted on getting me to drive her to HEB to get sprinkles as that is not an ingredient found anywhere in my kitchen. Though I had no desire to drive to any store today, I gave in and bought the only container left of the rainbow sprinkles.

As soon as we got home, I started on the buttermilk pancakes. Though Cinnamon and Sage wanted to help, my desire was to get breakfast on the table as soon as possible. I started to really resent this move as it interfered with everything resembling any kind of normalcy. But we do what we can in such circumstances and continue to move forward.

Sage helped me move the coffee table outside on the balcony. The same table that next door neighbour helped me carry up the three flights of stairs earlier in the week. I sometimes forget how strong and useful the children can be and how helpful and patient they have been with the move this summer. I am very grateful for everything they have done though my own patience has waned.

We sat down to breakfast by 11,00h and enjoyed our pancakes outside in the fresh air. One of the several positive aspects of the move is the ability for us to spend time on our balcony and watch people walk by on the path below us. With the largest kitchen and balcony, the apartment is missing a third bedroom in order for it to be close to perfect. More sun would be nice too.

Despite this morning’s outing to get the main ingredient for rainbow sprinkle pancakes, there was only one pancake which contained them. The others were either plain, with poppy seeds, with chocolate chips, or a combination of chocolate chips with poppy seeds. Saffron wanted only one pancake with sprinkles but the smile on her face made it all worth it. Besides, the kids had other uses in mind for the rainbow sprinkles. Cookies, for one, and putting a tiny plastic baby in the tub as another use.

After breakfast, I washed up some dishes and then went to old apartment. With one more day before the movers would arrive, I still had much more to do in order to minimise their time moving. Sage accompanied me to take care of the London puzzle which sat unfinished on a tall table in the living room. He kept as many pieces intact as possible whilst putting the loose ones in a plastic bag. After the puzzle was put away, he worked on his room. He removed his posters and calendar from the wall, picked up the loose papers from the floor, and sorted the Lego table.

The one thing I knew I had to finish today was to take apart my bed. This was a task I dreaded the most as the queen-sized mattress was massive and seemed to weigh a ton. With my strength disappearing, I was not sure I could do it. I did not think that my son could help with this but it turns out he was able to do so. The bed frame is such that it holds the mattress in to the point where it cannot be slid off to the floor. One has to pick up the mattress which is not simple with it being at least 12 inches thick with a pillow top and feels as if it has bricks inside. Somehow we managed to move it off the frame and into a plastic cover which we sealed with moving tape. The boxspring was next but easier as it was much lighter. The frame would have to wait until later that day.

After we packed up the Persian rug on which the bed was sitting, we left for the second garage and then back to the new apartment for a shower, a rest, and ice cream.

Saffron had in mind a game she wanted to play called ‘Who Knows Me Best’. She had created a list of 20 questions on Kahoot and had a prize in mind for the winner. But the prize required her to go to buy one so she begged me to take her to Target. I gave in again, though going to the store was not what I had in mind. My shower would wait until we returned. I gave her a time limit of ten minutes and browsed the aisles whilst I waited. To my surprise, she was waiting for me up front. She let me know that she was done in 7 minutes.

Once home, I showered and then we played the game. Cinnamon won, with me being second and Sage third. The first prize was an inflatable beach ball, Haribo gummy bears, and a face mask. She spent less than $5 for everything and thought of something that any one of us would want if we won.

Later I returned to the apartment to take apart the frame. The girls went to the pool with the new pool ball whilst Sage stayed home. I carried the bottom part of the frame and the metal slats and side pieces. The headboard would not fit in the minivan so I returned it to the bedroom.

We had macaroni and cheese with leftover refried beans and watched two more episodes of ‘Bob’s Burgers’. This time Saffron decided I should start watching the show from the very beginning. So we watched the first two episodes of the first season.

Then it was bedtime. I slept on the mattress by the window in Sage’s room/my office and watched the beautiful full moon.