One Year Later

One Year Later...

We are settled. For the past ten months we are adapting to a different home, different town, and different lifestyle. 

Looking back (as in hindsight) the stress of moving after so many years in one house was real. OCD was not apparent as I thought. The slowness of days in anticipation of the final closing is all a distant memory.

So, what would I have done differently? What would have made a move more enjoyable if there is such a thing? 

I would have found a mover! We delayed making that decision because we hoped that the house would be completed when we had to move out of our home. I envision that type of move to be much better suited to my stress level. Pack. Movers place all the belongings in a vehicle and drive the ten miles to our new house. Unload. Sounds so very simple.

But, that wasn't how our move transpired. Finding out at the last week that there was no way we would be able to move in, we didn't find a place to move us and store our furniture. So, as you see in the picture above, the PODS arrived. Mr. Spouse really enjoyed that! 

Two pods didn't hold our 40 years of STUFF. Next came a UHaul and those belongings were stored in the company headquarters. Hide your eyes!

The boxes I packed were clearly labeled. That was a good step in organization. However, between the two PODS and the UHaul the many boxes became a disorganized mess. Originally I had placed the boxes we would need on the living level together. The non-necessary items were to be taken to the basement to be sorted and unpacked whenever...

Oh, my, there were boxes everywhere! It was 90 degrees on move in day. We did get some help in unpacking the PODS. The problem came in which area things should be taken--garage or basement. To say that I gained lots of exercise going up and down the stairs is definitely an understatement.

I would NOT have attempted to climb a ladder to make some needed corrections to our house before closing. Breaking a finger, nearly cutting my finger off, and damaging said finger's tendons created difficulty in packing, moving, and unpacking. I have the scars for a finger that will never be the same. 

But...

we love our house! 

We have amazing sunsets. The mountain views were a major draw of building on this particular location. Daily we enjoy the views of the sunrises and sunsets. The weather we can gaze as it approaches over the mountain ranges is worth every negative in moving drama.

One level living is the best! The house plan that I picked turned out just as I had hoped. The furnishings and decor seemed to be great choices. To daily hear Mr. Spouse say he loves our home is music to my ears.

Yes, after the rain sometimes a rainbow means we were right where we were supposed to be.

Spring's New Life

Winter is not my favorite season. To know that spring has arrived is enough to bring contentment. Last spring was focused on watching the construction of our house which caused a dim memory of spring's new life.

We bought our lot from the neighboring house and landscaping has become part of our yard now. Creeping phlox, flowering bushes, and crepe myrtle trees were the only beauty of the construction site.

The landscapers worked to renew and refresh! What a joy to see the life that still existed. Autumn tends to be a great time to acquire shrubs at a discount. I added some burning bushes and a hydrangea I brought from the previous home. To my joy they lived and are now sprouting new growth.

I appreciate green grass. September inTennessee means a short time frame to sowing grass and getting a sparse coverage before the frosts arrive. Two hurricanes provided tremendous and forceful rains that washed away portions of the loose soil. To hours spent resowing, watering, and lots of hope we did get a ground cover before the growing season ended. One major benefit was that our grass was the greenest in the neighborhood since it was new grass!

One beautiful snow created memories of our new neighborhood. (Guess we were lucky not to have to clean the inclined driveway more than the one time).

God works in mysterious ways. To deciding to build near our son and daughter-in-law, moving in, and the blessing of a granddaughter--this is where we were meant to be.

We are blessed to see our precious one and the ease of keeping her while mom works is beyond our imagination from a short year ago. Yes, this is where we are supposed to live.

Yes, spring has arrived and with it a bright and sunny feeling surrounds us.

Light streams in from all the windows!

Daily, we say "it's nice to be living here".