Life and Love

This photo is the wallpaper on my iPhone and when I look at this I cannot help but think life and love.

It was only yesterday, I was the young mom and Mariah was a baby. So many times I thought, "I'm sorry, I'm learning, and we will learn life together" because I knew we were both young growing up together and we did. 

Now, my Mariah is a momma. Motherhood is a God-given gift and it is instilled in her. She and Sofia are growing up together, too.

A young mom, figuring out life with the awesome responsibility of raising her baby. It's a beautiful blend of love, sacrifice, butting heads, doing things well, wondering if she is getting things right, baby steps, so many firsts, milestones, laughter, tears, hugs & kisses, hopes, dreams, faith, love and forgiveness. 

Sofia is happy. She is so well-loved. She is blessed to have a momma who is dedicated to protect her, teach her, and guide her as Mariah raises her own very best friend and clearly her little mini version of herself; yet, different in many ways. 

I see this photo as a momma and grandmomma and my heart bursts with love. I am so proud of my beautiful daughter, she is fully dedicated in the role she has been blessed in, and look at my granddaughter, I am so in love with her.

Time is like a vapor. 

Beauty

A Modern Day Ruth did a devotional, beauty emerges from dark places:

Butterflies from cocoons

Gold from the earth

Diamonds from coal mines

Pearls from oysters in deep oceans

Flowers from seeds hidden in the dirt

Sunrises from midnight skies

You may feel like you are hidden and in a dark place, but God ... 

I don't feel like I am in a dark place, but life has certainly provided much transition and I have chosen to slow down, not date, and enjoy being home. 

I've also reached a milestone 1 year sabbatical. 

My New Years goals are not only accomplished, I have propelled much farther ahead than the goal I had given myself. 

Balanced. Focused. Ready. I know life is about to catapult in a new direction and I am refreshed, re-energized and well-prepared to enter this new season beautifully positioned.  

A Letter to the New Home Owners

I met the new home owners by chance. It was sunny and warm as I raced home from work, changed quickly and hopped on my bike to go riding while a tour of my home was about to take place.

Maggie pulled in as I got on my bike and I stopped to introduced myself. She asked if there was good biking around here and I was more than happy to tell her about my 8-mile ride I take around the lake. She seemed excited, so I highlighted the close local conveniences as well as the neighborhood.

They are in their early 40's, newly married within the last couple of years and this would be the first home they've ever bought.

Riding back home from my ride, their real estate agent said she'd be in touch, they are making an offer on the house. When they wanted to take a 2nd serious tour of my home and I wrote them this letter ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Maggie & Kurtis,

Welcome!  I’m thrilled you like this home. It is truly a home that love resides.

It makes me nostalgic thinking of our life here for the last 15 years and I am so grateful. My girls were 7 & 3 years old when I bought this. I needed a home in a community I felt safe with being a single mom and I wanted a home of stability and a yard.

When I walked through the doors in 2003, I walked back out and said, “No way!” It was a disaster! Lol Dark paneling, shag carpet, the lower level was creepy, a bzillion apples on wallpaper, and there were 6 doors in the little hallway between the living room, dining room and bedrooms. My dad said then, it’s cosmetic.

It was a leap of faith on a very limited income and six weeks after I got the keys, I managed to knock down walls, level floors, gut the kitchen, and peeled wallpaper for 2 of those 6 weeks before I could move in. Outside was a jungle monstrosity. I wish now I had photos.

Over the years, I tore down the dilapidated deck and put in a stamped concrete patio, built a shed, started over with the landscaping, and put in all new appliances. Inside several years ago my Dad & I finally tackled the creepy lower level. We knocked everything down to the concrete floor, the walls to the brick and the ceilings to the floor boards. With an electrician and a plumber, the lower level became a new master suite and private oasis.

Last year the upstairs bathroom was redone. My office/prayer room is now my granddaughter, Sofia’s room, and I find it to be a very peaceful place. This home and property has been covered in prayer.

Everything has been maintained well, works perfectly and my utilities are low.

In 2003, I used to mow the yard in high heeled sandals. Lol Today is quite a different story and I am a grandmother. My youngest has graduated and is moving out and this home that love built is ready for a new family. The neighbors have been here as long as I have and you will find this a very quiet street where people are friendly and wave.

I wish you the best and hope you find this home to be exactly what you want.

Warm regards,

Dawn

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.