As we packed up the last of our things and loaded our bags into the car, the weight of what we were about to do finally hit me. This was it. No turning back. No more planning, just doing. The house was empty, our belongings whittled down to two backpacks and four pieces of hand luggage, and we were on our way to Birmingham Airport—our gateway to the unknown.
The drive was strangely quiet at first. Maybe it was exhaustion from the weeks of packing, selling, and saying goodbye, or maybe it was the realization that our “normal life” was officially behind us. But then, in the backseat, Poppy and Dottie were buzzing with excitement, chattering away about the flight, the adventure ahead, and how much fun they were going to have. Their energy was contagious, and Craig and I exchanged a glance—this is why we were doing this.
Goodbyes That Hurt the Most
Leaving was emotional, but saying goodbye to my gran and my sister was the hardest part. They both stood there, teary-eyed, as we hugged one last time, whispering words of encouragement and love. I could feel my gran squeezing my hand just that little bit tighter, and it took everything in me not to completely break down.
As we pulled away, I turned to wave until they disappeared from sight, my heart feeling both full and shattered at the same time. Excitement, guilt, sadness, relief—it was all swirling inside me in one overwhelming mix of emotions.
One Last Sleep (Or Not!)
We checked into an airport hotel for the night since we had an early flight, hoping for a good night’s sleep before the long journey ahead. But sleep? That didn’t happen.
The girls were way too excited to even think about sleeping, jumping on the beds, asking a million questions, and giggling long past bedtime. Craig and I, on the other hand, lay awake in the dark, minds racing with everything that had led up to this moment.
• Are we really doing this?
• Were we making the right choice?
• Would the girls be okay with this huge change?
• What if something went wrong?
It was that strange mix of exhaustion and adrenaline, where your body is desperate for rest, but your mind refuses to switch off.
At some point, I must have dozed off because before I knew it, the alarm was going off. Time to go. Time to step into the life we had been dreaming about for so long.
Bleary-eyed but filled with anticipation, we gathered our things, took one last deep breath, and headed for the airport.
This was it. It’s really here …. I can’t quite believe it - The adventure was officially beginning.