Rottenness

I look around me with awe on how fabulous my new luxury apartment is, many details I am still finding, and I cannot help but feel as if I am on vacation at a resort.

Everything is brand new and I would say 98% of everything is put away and decor on the walls with a fabulous new piece, an early birthday gift from my mom & dad. It's perfect!

All my kids and mom & dad were here yesterday, there is space and fun places to sit, walk to and enjoy.

Sofia and I played a game called, rottenness. She knew! The moment I called her rottenness, her knowing smile reached her eyes and they sparkled in excitement. "You are rottenness, rottenness, rottenness!" and we would press our foreheads together looking into each others eyes. She laughed!

Day 1, we all enjoyed the pool! The water was walk-in comfy, I'm sure due to the 90 degree weather we've been having. We met neighbors and they shared the low-down on monthly community parties all inclusive with provided food, drinks, DJ, nice giveaway prizes and mixers. There are always pool parties and everyone shares what they bring.

Today, I will fill the freezer for cookouts by the pool. They have two big grills (propane provided) on the patio by the pool. It smelled so good by the pool when a small group of people were grilling their dinner and listening to music. Patios with tables to eat, there is much to do to try everything.

Getting ready to head down to the pool ...

Sofia, you better smile! I love your bikini, sissy! Chubbilicious Snugglicious did get attention at the pool. She loves the water.

Day 2: Much is accomplished. I knew I would would this place, but I myself am surprised how beautiful it has all come together.

Thankful. Grateful. Blessed.

Independence Day & Day 1

It was amazing waking up in my comfy bed seeing the sunrise through my giant bedroom windows. I am such a morning person! I laid there and watched the sunrise and felt the cool morning breeze through the open windows.

My home on Walbrook faced south and because of large trees, I could not see the sunrise or the sunset from my home for 15 years. There were many requirements to selecting my very specific apartment and it is BEAUTIFUL!

Here I sit in the sunshine on my patio blogging as the sun is coming up and it's going to be smokin' hot today. It's perfect, I have a pool!

The move was smooth yesterday. The moving company came with 3 guys and my helpers were my dad, my brother, my mom, Mariah & Jeremy, and Brooke and Alex. My heartfelt thanks, love, and appreciation for such a team of family members who gave it their all!

By 4:30 p.m. I was smoked! The heat, the steps, awake every hour the night before the move, I hit a wall and there was one final load back at the house. I told the kids I don't have any more, that I can do it tomorrow. Jeremy said, "We will get the rest, you stay, take a nap and get some rest." I unpacked boxes while Mariah & Jeremy went back to the house, loaded the rest up and hauled it up.

Two flights of stairs kicked everyone's butt and I am so grateful the rain held off until our move was complete.

Everyone is enjoying the 24/7 FREE Starbucks and my son-in-law, Jeremy, a coffee connoisseur, seems highly impressed with the coffee selections. Brooke is in love with the hot chocolate. Everyone has already gone over a couple times and enjoying the freedom of 24 hour access to the clubhouse and all the amenities.

I feel like I am on vacation and this is a luxury resort, complete with the convenience of all my belongings. I knew I would love it, but it's far better than I imagined and this is the bells & whistles I want my family to be able to enjoy.

My former home once small and cozy, to my now open floor plan, vaulted-ceiling apartment with plenty of room for everyone.

An unexpected life blessing. What a fun and generous God!

Happy Independence Day!

Last Day on Walbrook

It's my last day on Walbrook and as my home is being boxed up, I want my last morning to be my normal.

Coffee made and in my favorite mug, the windows open, the Today Show on mute (I like to look up and see what topics they are discussing, not necessarily hear it), my home quiet with the wind chime playing a tune in the breeze, the birds chirping, and my laptop on my lap.

Everything is about to be boxed and it still feels surreal.

Time is a vapor and the nostalgia of memories from my girls being little (3 & 7 yrs old) to now, fill my thoughts. This home served is purpose well and I am grateful.

To think the next time I blog, will be in my new place and between now and then a lot of moving is going to happen. I'm ready!

Thank you, God, for my home on Walbrook.

Not For the Faint of Heart

In the midst of selling my home, a move in less than one week, I lost my job.

Blessings come in disguises and sometimes they say a door needs to shut before another opens. In my case, I have been looking, but because of the move, I haven't been aggressively looking. My plan was to keep this job until I moved.

I loved my job, the girls I worked with and my schedule. The doctor has a horrible reputation in the community, people snicker at the mention of his name, and he leads his practice in the same way. High staff turnover every 6 months to 1 year, oftentimes entire teams walking out on him the same day.

To have the American dream, yet he acts as if he is a bear with his foot in a trap. A miserable, nasty, snarling, little man.

I refuse to grapple with him. He loves to attack and have staff be combative, he walks away smirking, and the fools who grapple with him wear a badge of honor as if they can keep up. No, you are lowering your standards and falling into his trap, conforming to his dysfunction and trying to make it work by playing his game.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

or you yourself will be just like him.

- Proverbs 26:4

A fool remains a fool whether he is answered or not. Those who try to answer them will simply stoop to their level. 

I do not like him, he didn't like me.

Timing perfect.

Now I have the gift of time.

Time to move my household, bask in summer, to enjoy being poolside at my residence for the first time in my life, and time to take the trips I have been wanting to take and do the activities I've wanted to do, but didn't have time for.

Blessings come in disguises and God can use whomever He wants, good or hateful, to accomplish blessings in another's life. He's just that awesome!

My journey in life would cripple the faint of heart. It certainly makes some nervous, but I always end up in a better place.

My life is open.

I am not bound by the chains of stuck, fear, pigeon-holed into one specific field of employment, or the limited mentality of this is how it has to be. Life is limitless.

My life journey has been everything I never anticipated or expected it to be. The twists and turns when I was younger left me dizzy. Now that I am older, I can see God through my whole journey and I open my heart, my eyes, and my life to what He has planned that comes next. He already knows. I simply need to have faith, dance and twirl in the sunshine gift of summertime, refresh and be ready for what comes next.

WARNING: Not for the faint of heart.

Throw Away Often

One of the many beauties of throwing things away often is that beautiful moment of trash day before I move in less than one week.  

Going through cupboards, the refrigerator, closets, under sinks, drawers and junk drawers, the laundry room, cabinets, the garage and every hidden place that "stuff" collects, everything has already been discarded.

My job made easy. 

Casting Far and Wide

I believe I am getting a natural high as I am casting things I am not taking with me far and wide.

The pile of what is not going is getting bigger and bigger. Looking around at empty walls, I wonder if I will be taking much with me. 

Pick up an item, "Do I love this? Does it make me really happy?" No. Gone. 

Making room for only the things I love. 

Softball Sundays at the Ballpark

Every Sunday afternoon Mariah & Jerermy play double-header softball games and I am on Chubbilcious Snugglicious Grandmomma duty.

A soft fluffy blanket, new snacks for my sweet grand daughter to try and her adoring friends came to entertain her. *Note to self: Bring chocolate chip cookies next Sunday for the girls. 

We clapped, we tickled, we played "Boo!" I learned first and middle names, we talked about curly hair and cousins and new babies and loose teeth. 

Little girls are sugar and spice and everything nice. Sofia smiled and was ready to laugh in a moments notice soaking up all the adoration of five sweet, little girls.