My Checks Are Ordered!

After perusing through hundreds upon hundreds of colorful check options, I chose the one that POPPED out at me.

Adding my new address, selecting a font, I am thrilled to say my checks are ordered and on their way!

This morning I close on my house.

Time to start purging!

Dad. Papa. Great Papa

He is a Dad, a Papa, and a Great Papa. 

In the photo: my Dad, my not-so-little, little brother and I, our kids, and our sweet little next generation, Sofia. 

Happy Father's Day, Dad. We love you!

Organized Simplicity

There are more benefits to downsizing than I had anticipated. Logically, I knew I would have a project on my hands making decisions of what to keep and what to release that simply is not needed or really even wanted anymore. It becomes stuff that junks up closets, storage rooms, a garage and a shed. I feel as if I will cast far and wide more than I anticipated and it feels amazing!

My dad asked me, "What are you keeping in your shed?" I have no idea what is in my shed? If I don't really know, believe me, it isn't important. There is only one item. My little wooden rocking chair when I was a little girl. I want it painted and freshened up for Sofia. That's it. 

I am only keeping what I really like, spring cleaning and unloading the rest to free myself of the weight of "stuff" that takes up space.

Light. Airy. Simple.

• One of the beauties of downsizing is saving money on frivolous living. Stop wasting money on "stuff" used to fill space, bringing only what you need and really want into your living space.
• Less maintenance and upkeep, freeing up your time for leisure activities, spending time with family and friends and getting more rest and relaxation.
• From clutter to cozy.
• It frees up your lifestyle for travel. A home requires a lot of work when you leave town and eliminates the clean-up when you return.
• It opens a new chapter in life. Mine will be more community being poolside (my poolside family/friends full intentions list is growing by the numbers!), a clubhouse for gatherings with one special friend or a group of friends with drinks by the fireplace, relaxed & laughing in the movie theater or playing pool, a fitness center, and monthly community events for residents. It will be a destination to come to with a variety of activities. Warmly welcomed.
• Splurge on a few key pieces playing up a smaller living space in beautiful home decor.
• Get rid of the clutter and organize only what is essential.
• Financial freedom. Debt is a heavy burden to wear daily and year after year. For most it is a normal way of life. Take off that heavy cloak, erase all debt and live free.
• It's a new beginning. 

Chapter 1

Life offers so many seasons.

These can be remembered in short seasons (years) or they can be large seasons. I am thinking bigger picture: Childhood, the 23 years raising my daughters, and now a new beginning for me.

Established. Still young and healthy. Active. Being there for my family, but looking more self inward with a focus on the many things I like to do and I've wanted to do for me that has been on the back burner.

Summer is here where I will be poolside, hello sunshine!

A variety of vacation destinations on my radar with my first vacation happily accepted.

This transition feels so freeing. Every season has its beauty that becomes a beautiful journey. This season however is like being 20'something again, yet established with life lessons learned and financial freedom and believe me, I am going to stretch my wings and fly!

My new life, chapter 1.

SOLD

When I wasn't sure if it was going to happen or if I even wanted it to happen anymore, things went from so slow moving to my getting a text all things approved and my closing date is in 10 days! 

I'm looking at everything in my home and came to the peace of mind, if the item/decor does not give me pleasure, it's not going in my new open and airy, big windows, and vaulted ceiling apartment. 

New season, new look. Only take what I love most.

After months of looking I found my new set of dishes. My first new set of dishes in 15 years and I knew it the moment I saw it! Why wait? I did a complement of two different sets of dishes, selecting my favorite pieces from each to use as one set of dishes. Both beautiful to bring change and a whole new look to my table. 

Washed and in my cupboards, my old set wrapped and boxed up for when Brooke moves out. 

I stopped by the new community that I am moving to and admired the pool that was put in, finished, and appreciate their lounge chairs and gas grills they have enclosed in stone poolside. I saw the glow of the state of the art fitness center and look forward to its convenience and unlimited access to everything any time of the day or night.

Grabbing a complimentary free, 24/7 Starbucks coffee and grilling my dinner poolside while chatting with neighbors. Monthly community events and unlimited use of the clubhouse, where Brooke's graduation party will take place, I look across my home and am grateful for it being exactly what it is, the home we transformed into us and I raised my daughters in. It was perfect for that season in life and I all the time thank God for it. 

If I had to stay, I would have focused on all those good things, too.

Seasons change. Life changes. And this new season is far different from the last 23 years. This season is not raising babies through teenagers to young adults. That wonderful season in life is right there, directly behind me. I've done that, loved it, and it took everything I had and was to do it alone. 

It's time and I am so ready to look inward at me now. Not a selfish focus; rather, a life built around everything I love, with financial freedom, life experience, passions, interests, and openness and desire to experience knew things. 

Looking in my cupboards at my new dishes makes me very happy! I am ready to purge and the next few weeks are going to be welcomely hectic blur.

A Letter to Herself Arrived in the Mail

A letter arrived in the mail addressed to Brooke. We were in the living room when she walked in opening it and I asked who it was from? Her hand went over her mouth and she began to cry.

It was from her 5th grade teacher that mailed her a letter Brooke wrote to herself in 5th grade for when she graduates! What a wonderful and thought-filled gesture!

Brooke cried and said, "Look how sweet I was then, it must have been before. And I knew myself so well then, will you go out and celebrate or stay home?" Before her dad's suicide.

That was a teacher following through seven years later and I wanted her to know how much it touched our hearts.

I emailed her through the school website and shared with her how much the letter meant to Brooke and me. That graduation was a life milestone reached when many years my daughter didn't choose life. Her thinking-ahead with this project is appreciated and so worth it. I wanted her to know in case she was tired one evening writing out graduation cards, envelopes and stamping them. Wondering if it mattered.

It matters.

Less than 15 minutes later, the teacher replied and said she cried when she received my email. She shared her own son attempted suicide last November and she wants to make a difference. She gave me her cell phone number and asked if Brooke would please call her. She would love to take Brooke out for lunch, a movie, and spend time with her.

Understanding how fresh all her mom-trauma is, I replied back with my cell phone number and told her to call me anytime she needs mom support or a sounding board for her.

This card and letter is in Brooke's keepsake box.

Dark-haired, Brown-eyed Beauty

In the midst of her cousins, the Martin clan (with a few cousins missing), sits my granddaughter, a dark-haired, brown-eyed beauty, the first in seven generations of blue eyes and blond hair.

Sofia's daddy, blond hair, blue eyes. Mariah's dad, blond hair, blue eyes.

Grandmomma & her momma, dark hair, brown eyes.

She adores her cousins and is ready to laugh when a child is near. I love seeing her so happy and think this is the sweetest photo!