moving + may update!

A personal note.

Today is May 17th, 2026—exactly 40 days until we fly one-way to Saskatoon!

So much has happened since returning from spring break in March. We listed our house mid-April, and it went sale pending in FOUR days! Immediately afterwards, my husband had laparoscopic hip surgery and has been slowly rehabilitating. Being on crutches (non-weight bearing) and no driving for 4 weeks felt like a dump on my psyche. It was necessary, but definitely came at an inconvenient time. Do NOT recommend having a medical procedure before moving!

Now that we’re through those two major moments, we’re doing our best to enjoy the time we have left in our home and community, and I feel like I have MEP space (mental, emotional, physical) to breathe and reflect on where I’m at and what's helping me get through.

mentally

Pending tasks are like open tabs in a browser. They don’t go away until you complete or consciously close them. Prepping our house to sell not only opened up new tabs, but an internal pressure to do each one exceptionally. We needed our house to sell and we believed it would. But as a professional designer and organizer, whose home was about to be marketed to potential buyers, and seen by photographers and realtors I respected and admired, my bar went up.

Two things saved me from myself: trust and accepting help. Our realtor had full confidence that our home would sell well. She was patient, assuring, and open with us about everything, which made us comfortable following her lead from the start. Partnering with a real estate agent who gets you will make the selling (or buying) process seamless and way less stressful.

Secondly, when you share that you’re moving, people will be offering to help left and right. TAKE IT! It’s an opportunity to delegate stuff off of your list, and more importantly, off of your mind.

Even if you don’t feel comfortable giving someone outside your home or circle a task directly related to your move (totally, a me thing), there’s other ways they can help. Carpooling to or from school. Watching your kids for a few hours. Simply sharing your thoughts and feelings about where you’re at IS a load off. One that makes mental space for carrying out the things you need to do. 

emotionally

I am going to miss our home and town immensely, and it will be so hard to leave the people we’ve come to know and care for in our 9 years here. Yet as the process of selling our home unfolded and the logistics of moving now ramp up, I can feel a quiet part of me longing for that RELIEF once we’re finally on our way.

The anticipation of an international move is a lot. Back in 2012 when I moved from Canada to the United States, the only emotion I remember experiencing was excitement. My husband and I had endured two years apart to pursue our respective careers, so I was beyond thrilled at being reunited. This time around, it’s like an emotional rollercoaster. Anxiety, stress, sadness, hope, fear, and that perpetually bittersweet feeling of letting go. You’re also kind of living two lives: sourcing and scheduling the many logistics for the new city, while maintaining the present family-work-school-home life. It’s tough and draining, and the emotions are only going to get higher in the next few weeks.

The Anderson's are our closest neighbours—friends who became our family.

Right now, I feel as neutral as I could be because I let myself lean into the grief. Our girls are starting to experience moments of sadness and frustration, and we’re sticking to the same message we've given them since they could talk: how you feel is okay and normal, and we will be with you through it all the way.

physically

Like grieving, I’ve leaned into physical activity to lift me up (slash keep me sane!).

Dancing twice a week has been so fun and with the sunshine finally showing, outdoor walks are calling my name. Another activity I’m enjoying is sleep! For several years, I’ve struggled to sleep through the night, and it got worse in the fall when we began the serious discussion and negotiations to move. The week our home went live on the market, I started having restful sleeps. Like, out when my head hit the pillow, and able to return to sleep if I briefly woke during the night. My guess is the preparation and extra expectation I put on myself tired me out (in a really good way!), so better sleep has been a huge plus these past few weeks.

My physical space, on the other hand, hasn’t played the same role. Usually, my home is a my go-to way to destress. Unwind. Reclaim control when things feel out of sorts. It was strange for all of us to work so hard to get it “show-ready”, and then have to leave and let others appreciate it. Where we live is still our home, but we can all feel it slipping. Living in an uber-tidy house also confirmed some things to me about what feels at home and what has been worth the energy and time to get there. I’ll be sharing more on that in an upcoming post—stay tuned!

where's your "MEP" state at today?

You don't need to undertake an out-of-country move to make time to check-in with yourself. Growing up, I kept all my feelings inside because I was continuously told "you're too sensitive". We're changing that narrative for our kids, but I have friends and clients who received the same message. It's not easy to open up, but when you do, it's transformative. If you're nervous to share, write down where you're at, mentally, emotionally, and physically, so you have something to reflect on and come back to later. If you're open, comment below or subscribe to email me directly. Starting a conversation doesn't cost anything, and what you get in return is invaluable. I hope you make time to tune into you.

Always,