WE ARE LISTING OUR HOME – another BIG event in our life!
And yes – at least once a day – ” Please call my phone” ! LOL
It always gets laid down somewhere only not to be found!
Going to miss this – a view out the back door – to the East sunrise.
We decided that maybe it was time – we have gone through one down turn
and after almost 13 years – our market here has recovered
to the point we just may break even on the sale of the house!
Being 71 years old – we just do not have the time left to rebound
if the market once again turns down.
With the pandemic – and our area is still strong in sales
we decided to cut our ties here – and wait and rent –
We love it here – will we be sorry and regret it?
NOTE: Hair is much longer now – going back to my HIPPIE DAYS!
Or will we treat it as a new adventure – a new start –
where ever we want to go!
This could become our new norm!
For the time being – we will stay with the kids –
either in Leesburg or Winchester
and after Christmas – head South for the winter.
Storage will contain whatever we do not sell
and we have sold a lot already!
We have made five trips to Salvation Army –
We have given the kids different items
What they can use or want – we have gone through STUFF
and donated it or thrown away!
Being retired has made it all the easier to do this.
Once you make up your mind –
throwing things away becomes less stressful
and looking ahead to a new beginning
a new start somewhere – we have ideas
but for the time being – we will just relax
( I do not how we had time to work – before retirement)
I will miss my yard – my flowers – everything I created
but I have done this before – leaving my mark on the land
Someday we will return and ride around
just to see the changes and how it looks.
My neighbors have said they will miss us –
They wonder if the next ones will keep it as nice as we have.
Only time will tell –
I told the lady selling our house –
everything you see – comes back each Spring
There are four trees I did not plant – every other tree and bush
I planted – most times on my knees by hand
for you see Northern Va. is full of rocks! LOL
Blooming in the SpringGrowing our own produce The Tower Garden Everything is for sale We will take at least one with us http://www.sfjuiceplus.com Its a big house almost 3100 sf. a 500 sf patio strawberry patch I am going to miss this the most mowing – trimming green grass – shade trees flowers – Gods beautySitting on our front porch I like this better than the patio I get to see people walking saying hello waving from across the streetSaying good bye to the path we walked the sidewalks – the lakes the forests The playgrounds and the buildings to come Sheltering has been good for us as we have places to walk going to miss this after 14 years
By the time you have read this – we will have listed the house
Today I post a story – a story written not by me – but by a friend.
A special friend and a special story for all.
Wishing you a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year
The story takes place years ago –
in the memory of a little girl
Her mother – and siblings
” A CHRISTMAS STORY”
Tiffany Ford
One of my favorite Childhood Memories of Christmas was the year we couldn’t afford a tree. I don’t recall who had the idea, but it was decided that we would put nails in the wall in the shape of a tree & string lights on them and that would be our tree that year.
We lived in an apartment at the time, and our neighbors were very confused about all the banging! To my childhood self, that tree was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
I grew up very poor. After my dad moved to another state with his new family, it was just me, Mom & my brothers.
Mom worked hard, often at multiple jobs, and we cleaned offices as a family in the evenings to make ends meet. In spite of this we still sometimes needed housing assistance & church pantry meals to get through.
We lived on generic everything, Dry Milk, Ramen & loads of pasta & potatoes. I am honestly so grateful for all of it. I never look back on my childhood Christmases & think “I wish we had more”.
Because even in the years when there was enough money for gifts, I couldn’t tell you what I received. What I do remember is the look on my mom & my brother’s faces putting up nails for the tree on the wall and the faith that our family would have Christmas no matter what.
We were the freakin’ Who’s down in Whoville. If all we did was play board-games & color & eat spaghetti it would still be Christmas, and it would probably be more memorable.
Maybe that’s why I’m not super traditional about Christmas, making do with what you can find forces a person to be flexible.
🎄I remember the blue stuffed dog I got from Toys 4 Tots he was my favorite for a really long time 🎄I remember the 4 of us lying on our bellies coloring in the living room waiting up to see if Santa would come. 🎄I remember the years we were each allowed to pick out our favorite cereal, even if it had Sugar in the first 5 ingredients 🎄I remember the mornings that we found a box on the porch with a turkey breast & a bag of potatoes so we could have a real dinner. 🎄I remember my brother and I removing the labels from the tuna cans & rolling them across the floor to each other 🎄I remember Mom was not amused the year the “Santa box” had both tuna & cat food cans 🤣
The year we had the wall tree, some friends from our church showed up a few days before Christmas with a real tree & a stand for us. They helped us set it up & decorate & we cried happy grateful tears.
If you ask me though, the real tree was never as beautiful as the lights on our “tree” on that wall.
I guess what I’m trying to say is if you’re struggling financially this year, know that your kids will be ok. Real magic never comes from things. The real magic in life comes from the unlikeliest of places.
The places where we struggle, stumble, fall on our faces, learn which friends will help us to rise, and discover the person we have become as we climb back to our feet.Â
Happy Holidays my friends, whatever holidays you choose to celebrate may this season fill your heart with real magic
I 