Sunday, May 19, 2019

The Long Exhale


Thank you for being present for me while I navigated one of the more challenging transitions I have had since blogging. Thank you for the words of encouragement and the well wishes. They have been a balm to my frazzled mind and worry burdened heart. Guys. I think we are almost to the other side. 


Our move to Orlando is happening in a mere fortnight. The girls are registered at their new school. I am officially fingerprinted and hired at my new school, which happens to be the same school! We will all be together at the local public Montessori school and I will be teaching a 9-12 year old class. 

Obtaining our next home had Adam and I at our wits end and ready to pull the plug. Our first home we built through a community builder so the typical home buying process was foreign to us. Buying a home in a hot market is stressful. Three-way bidding wars, realtors who enjoy radio silence and appraisals that fall about $17,000 below the offer price. We think we finally muddled through it though, after a few amendments to the contracts, and hoping to move in on June 3rd.


So here I sit, typing with light hands, a clear head and a quiet soul. Thankful.

I am softly allowing myself to daydream once again. I am plotting vegetable gardens, native plant lawns, hammocks between oaks, rockery gardens, kindling my first ever fire in a fireplace, painting rooms and decorating our new space.

I am also looking forward to blogging this summer and showing you guys my new digs. 

Thank you, again. 

You guys are the best.

13 comments:

  1. I am so happy that it's all coming together! Congratulations on your new job, too! That is so cool that you will be at the same school as your girls. My friend who is a Montessori teacher in Memphis teaches at her kids' school, too. She's actually a co-founder of the school.

    The real estate process is crazy. I had never bought a house before - to be honest, I didn't even know what "escrow" meant when we sold my mom's house in CA until I asked my friend to explain it! It's all so cryptic and there are so many moving parts and people involved. I"m so sorry that it's been so stressful, but so relieved that you have a moving date now - long exhale indeed. It's going to be so exciting to get into your new home and community and explore! There are so many things to do in Orlando. I'm glad you'll have a little time before the new school year starts, too! <3

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    1. Me too! I am finally letting the excitement burble up and overflow!! Thank you! How cool that your friend founded a Montessori school. I love that. I think a revival of those Montessori/Piget/Waldorf philosophies wouldn't be so bad in this industrial revolution mass education system we currently have. Time to turn things on their head.

      You are not even kidding. It has been chaotic at best. You definitely went the right route in building. No haggling and hassling with realtors or sellers or buyers, just working with the contractor and builder and bank is enough. Our building experience was pretty smooth... some times slow... but smooth. I am very much looking forward to exploring Orlando and that whole area of the state. So many springs are already on my radar. Unpacking and exploring. The goals of this summer. <3

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  2. Congratulations! Real estate in Orlando is definitely a moving target these days.

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    1. What a great analogy. It fits. This is how crazy it got... homes were selling so fast that our realtor finally told us to just put in an offer so it would stick around long enough for us to even drive out there to LOOK at it! So the next home that popped up, we put in an offer blind. Thankfully, I had a pretty good idea that we would want it.

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  3. I am so excited for you all and relieved to hear that everything worked out and is coming together. I'm sorry for all the stress you had to endure but now hoping that once you are all settled that your new house and job will bless you tremendously and give you many great memories. God has a way of just making everything work out in the end. :)
    Bonus, You are even closer now to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Many more exciting day trips with your family to look forward to as well.

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    1. Thank you, Jessica. Definitely a season of growing and stretching is about to commence. You are exactly correct. God does have everything in His hands.

      We are excited! Our move was the whole reason we picked up the passes. It was a sweet way to help make the girls' transition easier and give us something to look forward to doing as a family. <3

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  4. I can sense your relief in this post. :) Congrats on buying the house and your new job!

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    1. Thank you, Nina!! I appreciate your kind words <3 I think Orlando will offer some fun new places to eat and hang out. How are you doing?

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    2. I've only ever been once to Orlando but I imagine there are lots of fun places to discover! Life's been pretty busy and tiring at times, but also exciting. I've taken up hiking and it's quite fulfilling. :)

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  5. Yup, me again. I'm so happy for you, Julie! Ugh, there is truly nothing worse than moving. I didn't want to harp on this point too much while you were thick in the midst of it all, but moving is perhaps my least favourite thing on earth, followed up by negotiating for a house, followed up by selling your own house. I've only done it once myself as an adult and I hated it, for all the reasons you articulated. A friend of mine commented after she and her husband bought their first house that she didn't care for the process either, that it felt almost indecent and ugly, like a silly little game with massive stakes at hand. So I'm BEYOND HAPPY that you're hopefully through that - onwards and upwards, my friend!

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    1. Thank you, Sandra!!! You are precisely correct about that. It is a heinous chain of events that without a doubt gifted me several new gray hairs. An indecent, ugly, silly game with massive stakes is the most accurate description of the process that I have ever read. I do wish there was a way to make it more streamlined. THANK YOU!!! I am very happy too. I have been googling boho kitchens and such. Gets me excited. I hope your own home headaches are clearing up as the re-nos get done.

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