Our Very Merry

It was our first Christmas in the new house.

Finding Your Right Path

It's been an exhausting couple of months, but in a good way.

 We finally found the home, here in Orlando...

And are all moved in.

All the furniture we left behind in Georgia is moved in, along with the entire contents of a huge rented storage unit we've had packed to the gills for over two years, and even the contents of our tiny (not so) temp rental house.

It was no small feat.

With help from friends we basically moved everything in the matter of two days. The  (two car) carport was filled with our things and boxes and  so was the two car garage beyond that.

The detached garage in the side yard is full of left over furniture, book shelves, and future projects to eventually make their way into the actual house.

Behind this garage/workshop is a utility shed big enough for my Johnny Dear, all my yard tools, and two of Johnny's buddies if any happened to drop by for a visit!

Every yard, front, back, both sides and anywhere you look, even from a window  is a tiny slice of paradise.

Massey has a nice screened in  side porch off her bedroom...

with this view.

This is the corner view of our lot, from our side yard.

Really?!

 A tree hut (ladders nailed to the trunk) with a perfect view of sunset over the lake, across the street.

Every yard boasts a different garden or place to explore.

Stone pathways line the way from front to back.

Can hardly wait for it to get warm enough to make this screened in porch, complete with Tiki bar, mini fridge and two ceiling fans, Muh She Shed!

Even the view from the street is almost stunning.

From the front yard, is a most inviting view, and exactly what I've always wanted.

The vines in the massive Live Oaks look like ones Tarzan could swing from.

Cold snap?

No worries, we have an awesome fire pit!

We could never shut our blinds, and still be unseen in our house, from neighbors, or the street!

 Only because of the fact that it's almost 2019,  I unfortunately feel compelled to close them every night after dark to deter any Crazies (which mean people crazier than me) who may happen upon us, especially with Tim working out of town sporadically. 

We always have one pup out and one pup in, for constant  all round protection.

Ham has the most seniority so he mostly gets the inside gig...

and has found his fourteen year old Forte'.

No worries... Ziggy is happy as a pig in slop, in his new (literal) digs.

And for me?

I'm the happiest pig in slop round these parts.

If I never have to pack a cardboard box again, it will be too soon.

This is us now.

It was an almost ten year journey I wasn't real crazy (small pun) about making, but ended up being a most valuable lesson for all of us.

Life is what it is.

Roll with what you got, and hope it gets you what you need.

There will hopefully be more peaks than valleys from here on out, but you simply never know.

This house was an enormous leap of faith for us, and as Tim pointed out more than once, if God didn't want us to have it, He wouldn't have brought us this far.

You can be in a place in your life one day, minute, or second, that feels like you are at Disney World at the front of the line for your favorite ride, then just as suddenly that same world shifts...or tilts, everything changes, and you're at the very end of the line.

My advice?

Be a good person, no matter what.

Not because something could happen, but becuse it's the right thing to do

 After almost sixty years on this earth, have found that more times than not, good things happen to good people...

And good people who are dealt bad hands, will always have an army of loyal friends at their back to help and cover the losses best they can.

My goal in life?

Wishing each and every one of you a wonderful Holiday Season.

Til next time...

COTTON