Moving In, Moving On

 As I look over my last blog post, it’s been less than a month, but so many changes have taken place since then. Some really strange happenings, hours of labor, and now already feeling nostalgic as I see pictures of the dear family and friends I left behind. But, moving forward, the deed has now been done and Annie and I are finally settled in our new home.

The week before I was to move, we had a big storm come through. Thunder woke me up that morning and I got up to open the curtains so I could watch the storm. Silly me! No sooner did I get back in my bed, than lightning struck so big right in front of my window, I could not believe it. I was sure my house had been hit and was concerned that it might catch fire. Fortunately it did not, however, I discovered that my air conditioner, my security system, and my Internet were all affected by the strike. So I had to quickly take care of all those things so they would be repaired before the closing. A lot of dollars after, and a lot of stress, but I continued to pack to be ready to move. Everybody told me I was a little bit nuts for doing all that packing (because I had paid for the movers to do that), so far I had 100 boxes packed, but it paid off in the long run. 

The movers were supposed to show up on 8 September, and on that day they called to let me know they wouldn’t be able to have a truck there until September 11, which was after the closing! After a few rounds with those clowns, I called my realtor in a panic, to see what could be done about changing the closing date. I think I already knew the answer: it could not be changed. However, my realtor being the wonderful person that she is, helped me locate a new mover who said they could be there the next day to load up and take all my stuff to my new home. Although that  was a big relief, at the back my mind was the large amount of money I had paid to the original movers. But, moving on, we went ahead to close and left for Oklahoma. On Friday morning, the movers arrived and we were shocked to see the men who had been sent were two scrawny looking fellows no bigger than me. My dear friends Alice and Fred, our daughter Sara, my brother Phil and his wife Susan all pitched in with me to help unload the truck. Susan brought me enough food to last a week and gorgeous mums to hang at the front porch. Phil grilled steaks and chicken for all of us! At the end of the day, the movers who unloaded everything said they have never had any customers do what we had done. (Needless to say it’s been quite an adventure, but happy to report I was able to get my money back from the original movers.)

Whew! I will never be able to thank enough all the people who helped get me here, encouraged, and took care of me through one of the most stressful times. I am so thankful I listened to God‘s wisdom and didn’t try to make a move while Jay was alive. It would’ve been a huge mistake and wrong thing to do to disrupt his peace in what were to be his last few years. I’m so thankful we were able to enjoy our life together to the end without all that would have been involved.

Now I’m starting over, but thanks to my family here, I am settling in. Some friends from back in Texas will be here tomorrow for a women’s conference and I will meet them for dinner. Yesterday, I met with the ukulele band to practice the songs they will be singing for the nursing home residents. Annie and I have taken two and three walks a day around the neighborhood, which is so pretty. I really like it here. 

I have seen so many Canadian geese fly over and many of them are stopping in the field behind me for a snack. They’re  beautiful. I am looking forward to seeing fall colors here. The plan to play pickle ball has been thwarted for now in light of the fact that my back is out of whack from all the lifting and moving I’ve done for the past few months. On top of that, I fell so now I am experiencing a lot of pain and having to take it easy for a while. Hopefully, a visit to the chiropractor tomorrow will resolve the problem. 

My new house. Alice relaxing with Annie after a hard days' work.

The geese feeding. It was raining or I would have tried to get closer for a better pic.

Misty morning behind the house.

Everybody worked so hard to get my house fixed up!

Before I left, I had several get-togethers with friends and family to say good-bye. This one though by a few of the people from my messianic congregation is funny because I had to photoshop myself in. Just as we were getting ready for the brunch, I received a call from the Geek Squad and I had to leave to meet with him. So I missed my little party. I was sad, but they did have a good time.

Come September Hodgepodge

1. The Hodgepodge lands on the second day of a brand new month. Tell us one thing you're looking forward to in September.

Getting this move over with. Next week will find me in another city, a different state, and a new (to me) home. I have been pack, pack, packing away the past couple of weeks, and decluttering my house for more than a year. I’m starting over, folks! My house sold the first day and I found “my house” four days later! I am so thankful for the many ways I have been blessed in this process. 

2. Do you enjoy browsing second-hand shops? Yes. Last thing you bought or 'inherited' second hand? My sister-in-law Susan has been anxious for me to play pickleball with her and friends after I settle in my new home. So my friend Connie came over just yesterday to give a last hug and say good-bye. She brought to me as a parting gift her pickle ball paddle and ball in a nice bag. So sweet of her to pass this on to me.

3. Something you had second thoughts about after committing to, purchasing, or posting/commenting  online? When I have second thoughts about posts, I usually go back and delete. And I always have second thoughts about political posts. 

4. What's a product or service you use that you'd rate as second to none? My Norwex window cleaner cloths.  And also see my random thought.

5. Something you do so often or that comes so naturally to you it's second nature ? The drive from church comes so naturally, that even when I tell myself I’m going to take a different way, I find myself on auto pilot and shaking my head that I made it home safely. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I have to give credit here to my dear friends Alice and Fred, especially Fred who has stood by me in his labors and helping me with everything that had to be done around this house to get things ready for me to move. (Alice lends much needed emotional support!) Fred is a handyman and a jack of all trades. I guess I would have to write him as second to none in answer to number four, even though he’s not a product or service, but his services have been done without ever complaining and always with good ideas. When there needed to be a deck renovation at the cost of about $18,000, he looked at it and said just take the stairs down and fill up the gap on the deck. He did it, we painted it, it opened up things and made the view here even better. When the storm winds blew my storm door off kilter and crushed a hole in the wall of the house, he fixed the door and the wall. Countless jobs have been done, strong arms lifting and cleaning and removing just about everything you can think of. He painted my motorcycle trailer, helped me sell it, helped me sell the motorcycle, helped me clean out and get rid of two sheds, clean out three garages and three attics, get a generator out of the garage to sell, move a giant tv, and on and on and on. He refused to take a cent. Oh yeah! Did I happen to mention he is 78? And both Alice and Fred will be going with me to my new destination to help! So grateful for their friendship.

I couldn’t have made this move without all my friends who have loved and supported me throughout. 

Last evening was farewell to some of the BSF Leadership group. I will miss this group of mentors so much! They will always have a special place in my heart.

There is no way to post photos of  all the friends I have here in Texas. Each and every one is so precious to me. The above are only a few. Thank You, God for the heart friends You've bless me with.