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Mar 27, 2017

Pull Up Your Pants, And Pull Down Your Helmet...

...It's gonna be a wild ride!  (This sentiment from my precious Grace, whose timely wit and ornery sarcasm keeps me on my toes!)




That about sums up the next 5 or 6 weeks, Folks.  As of this moment, we believe our settlement date will be April 21, however, we cannot write that in ink just yet...the buyer's bank is taking its good ole' time getting things together.




Our bank's appraisal on the property we are purchasing is coming up in a few days, too.  We don't anticipate any problems, but please keep that in your prayers.




Undoubtedly, there will be situations and such that we did not anticipate over the course of the next month, but I do have a sense of peace knowing that God is with us....and, in fact, has gone before us to prepare the way.




That said, I am sure it will be an emotional month for this woman.  Many changes to come.




People and places to which I will say good-bye...the happy reunion with dear friends and family whom I've missed terribly on many occasions these last four and half years.


Leaving one son behind in New York to start his new career and a life apart from his parents and siblings (I'm relieved that we've connected with a great church family for him!) ....reuniting with the other son, who moved back to south-eastern PA on his own nearly 2 years ago...

...And, now there is a sweet young woman in his life whom I am very excited to get to know. Since Don has been living with Nate these last 4 months, he has gotten to reconnect with him AND spend some time with her, and I am a bit envious!

At any rate, I'm so very proud of the good-hearted, hard-working, honest men they have become!



I am really going to miss several families and young couples whom we've gotten to know up here. And,  Rosie's English tutor, who has become invaluable to us for her knowledge, her conversation, and her friendship, will be greatly missed by both Rosie and me, however, we are working on a way for her to tutor Rosie via Skype or something for the rest of this school year.

Which reminds me...I need to re-acquaint myself with home school law in PA, because it is quite different from NY! We'll take off  from school for about a week during the move, but the beauty of homeschooling is that we will barely miss a beat...so long as we don't misplace our materials in the shuffle!

Only 2 more weeks of working at the salon in Ithaca.  On the one hand, I am thrilled about this because I have begun to loath the 27-mile drive I have to make to and from the salon, four or five days per week.  On the other hand, I've grown fond of the young ladies with whom I work, and I will miss seeing them.  Regis Corp. owns a few salons near our new home, so we're working on a transfer.  The salon at which I will most likely work is only 7.5 miles from our new home...and, they are fine with me only working 3 days per week - Yay!  Now, we're just waiting on PA's board of cosmetology to approve my license application.

He's 10 months old this weekend!

As we enter the month of April later this week, the snow is finally disappearing, and clearer skies are just around the corner.

This weekend, William is moving into his new home, a little cottage near Skaneateles, just a few miles from his workplace.  But, I'm counting on him joining us for dinner several days a week until we move.


I'm relieved to report that a few days ago, he purchased a newer, much more reliable car that will allow him to make the three and half hour journey to see us regularly.

 I'm quite sure we'll come up here to see him several times this summer and fall as well!

And, we bring home our new pup, Penny, this Sunday!  A very welcome distraction from our moving preparations.  I'll share many pictures in my post next week, for sure!

If you are curious about what we're up to, check for blog posts more regularly this month.  I will try to update you more often as this "wild ride" unfolds!  
(And, now, back to packing...I think I'm gonna need more boxes...)

Tig turns 3 years old this Friday!

Mar 13, 2017

As moving day approaches...



We still don't have a definitive moving date other than "mid- to late-April"...

..This is a little detail that unnerves me.


Still, we are not 100% sure where or how the move will happen, either.

Not even 90% sure...









When I become anxious about this, however, I've learned to catch myself, and hand the details over to God...

Alright!...Usually after I've grilled Don with about a million and one questions that even he can't answer.

I'm working on it, Folks!  I'm just a "work in progress", like the rest of you!



This weekend, however, we had the blessed opportunity to attend our dear friends' daughter's wedding in my favorite place...Lancaster County, PA!




It was absolutely lovely!




Krystal is such a special young friend, with whom I've enjoyed many conversations over the last 7 or 8 years.

It has been such a pleasure watching her grow up, and David, her new husband, is a wonderful young man.  I'm looking forward to living closer and staying in touch as they become a little family of their own.





We also took a look at another property...it wasn't "the one".  I've always had this very strong intuitive sense about things like this.  And, although we call Don "the visionary", I'm the one who has to be able to "envision" our family living in a particular...space...place.


When Don showed me this property for the first time, it just....felt like home.  I know.  It sounds vague and cliche, but its true.  The same thing has happened with a couple of other homes in our past, and those are the places in my fondest memories now.





So, we went back to that 7.2 acre property I shared with you a few posts ago...




...And, I got that "home-y" feel.  I could envision that run-down, beat up rancher, as the cape cod-style home we plan to build.



I could picture us gathering with friends around a big ole campfire in the large open space between the house and barn.


I stood outside the barn and saw our three horses grazing peacefully in the lower pasture, and when I turned around I could see Tig and Penny romping in the hay field.


I'm pretty sure that the property pictured here is the one, but we must work through the details...like the financing...and where we will store our things ...and what we will live in while the house is being refurbished. When, how and who is going to put fencing up for our horses before we can move them to their new home...

So far, God shines His light on our path just enough for us to take the next step.  ONE STEP at a time.  So, if we can just keep trusting....just keep our gaze focused on Him....




And, finally, I got another round of puppy therapy today!


Tig got to visit his sister and mama, and my girls and I had another great visit with my friend, Brianne, whose injury is healing slowly, but steadily.

I am thrilled to share that even though we are moving, she will continue to be our equine dentist!








Much to my delight, it turns out that she visits family and friends in the Reading, PA area on a regular basis, so she'll be able to swing by our new home on occasion.



And, I have a feeling that somehow she will be further woven into the fabric of our lives through Isaac, aka. Classified Tech.  Watch my blog for more on that front come summertime.




At this point, I am packing and organizing and cleaning between homeschooling and my work hours at the salon.  I am gleefully anticipating Penny's homecoming in a few more weeks.

The move is anticipated to happen sometime between April 14th and 28th.  Watch for a blog update at the end of March!.

Thanks for all of your prayers and positive thoughts, Friends!  I pray you all stay safe and warm during this coming nor'easter.  So much for an early spring...but, no worries.  It is right around the corner!