What has been the highlight of your summer so far? (It’s still summer people!)
Wow! Summer 2018 is one for the books for sure. Besides being in the process of selling/buying/moving across the state which took part of Spring and the whole summer and continues, our dear Pop died at the beginning of summer. He was 95 and ready to see his Savior, Jesus. It was good to be all together in Southern California with family and friends to bury him and remember him and comfort each other in July. Our dear Pop was known for saying, I love you, I love you, I love you, 3 times when it was time to depart after a visit. Our family has embraced that and you’ll hear us repeating his saying to each other now.
Several quick visits with this little one who is showing you her “I’m so strong” pose. We’ve traveled many successive weekends to Colville with a packed trailer and truck on Saturday morning and back across the mountains on Sunday morning with an empty trailer and truck. We managed to get all our household items in 3 shipping containers for our move from Western Washington to Eastern Washington by July 31st which was when possession transferred to the new owners. We had the month of August to empty out Dear’s shop and we purchased a utility trailer to haul behind our truck to get all those awkward shop items to our son’s property. We didn’t find a house to purchase until August 18th! We made an offer on August 19th and our offer was accepted on August 20th. Hallelujah!
2. What do you wish you’d done more of this summer? Less of?
Because it took longer then we expected to sell our home and longer then expected to find a new home there was very little relaxing in our own space this summer. Well…no relaxing in our own space. We have been homeless since July 31st but don’t feel too sorry for us because we have a beautiful space to live in during the interim at our oldest son’s house.
3. Something you’re looking forward to on your September calendar?
We close on our new home on September 11th! Our stuff gets delivered sometime between September 17th and 21st. We should have the containers emptied by September 24th. Hopefully we will have some kind of internet before the 24th. The house we chose does not have cable options only satellite options and we are still checking on line of sight options for the internet, too. Oye. Looking forward to being unpacked and mostly settled by the end of September!
In September we’ll be living only 8 miles from our little grandgirlie and her parents.
4. Best/favorite book you’ve read this summer?
The book of Ephesians in the New Testament. Thinking a lot about the Armor of God.
Favorites we listened to on CD while traveling back and forth across the Cascade Mountain range moving stuff was The Seagull by Anne Cleaves and a repeat of Louise Penny’s Still Life.
5. Share something positive, encouraging, or uplifting here.
Dear and I have been a bit awestruck that we’ve been able to push through our crazy travel schedule, our loading the trailer and truck week in and week out, our 6 hour drives each Saturday and Sunday, sleep and repeat. Only by so many answered prayers with God’s presence and help in our lives could we do it and still choose joy. Thank you to all of you who have prayed for us. “…forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead…”
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Hoping it’s all a gentle slide into the next phase from here…
Linking up with Joyce from This Side of the Pond for Wednesday Hodgepodge . Not only is the end in sight for our move but this is the end of Hodgepodge Wednesday. Joyce has faithfully managed this weekly event for 9 years and times are changing and she’s moving on.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
…a gentle slide is always welcomed.
Hello, Adorable photos of Addy. It will be nice to sit back and relax some after your sell, buy and move. Enjoy your day!
Addy is so adorable. Good post dear. ā¤
That is a sweet, sweet baby girl. You are blessed.
You’ve had quite a summer!! Addy is adorable.
Oh goodness you’ve had a busy time of it. I hope everything goes smoothly with your house purchase and that you are soon settled in and able to relax. Great that you will be so close to your cute granddaughter.
What precious photos of Addy! Thanks for sharing bits of your summer.š
I am so happy that ya’ll will be close to family…..that little girly girl is sooo cute.
Good luck on getting all moved into your new home…it’s lots of work but also fun.
xoxo
I especially love your No. 5. We went through something similar. At the beginning of the summer (May 27), we relocated from Beijing into a tiny apartment in Da Nang, Vietnam. The tiny apartment was a 3-month lease to give us time to figure out where we really wanted to settle, and see what we could find. August 15th we moved to a 3 bedroom house in a neighboring city. I know that it’s God’s grace that allowed us to live peaceably in close quarters while seeking the next option.
Oh my, what a summer! Your experience brings back visions of our daughter and her family’s buying of the house next to us and their month of “homelessness” till they closed on it. It was quite an adventure, but worth it in the end as I’m sure all your upheaval will be. I pray your move brings you nothing but blessings and joy!
What a summer you’ve had, Ellen!! (I have peeked in from time to time when my old laptop would cooperate, but rarely was able to see all of your photos. Today, my new laptop was delivered. I’m back in business!)
God has been so gracious! It is never easy to say good-bye to someone we love, but I know that you are finding great comfort in knowing that your Pop was ready to move to His eternal home and that he is living gloriously in his new body!
How good it is to know that you have found a new earthly home. So exciting to see how God has provided! I pray that you will make many beautiful memories there!
How wonderful to be so near your grand girl! Wishing you well as you settle into your new home and life there!
Every second spent with that cutie will be worth all the hassle of the move. Lucky you!
I’m with y’all…rather awestruck at what you’ve accomplished and how quickly! Love the photo of grandgirlie on Daddy’s shoulders…marvelous!
Your summer has been crazy busy and that will probably continue through fall as you get settled into your new home. It will be worth it all, though, just to be eight miles away from Addy and her mommy and daddy. I have been reading along and commenting whenever I find myself on the PC. Have enjoyed the Tuesday with Moisi posts. Oh, and I hope that somehow the Hodge Podges will continue even if less often.
Your summer has definitely been a busy and productive one, Ellen having to say good by to your Pops, was difficult too,
I think you just might agree that the best thing is moving so close to Miss Addy, Yay! sleepovers at your home for her will be so special and often. ~smile~
Blessings,
Sue
Eight miles from that sweet Addy! Good for you! You are blessed.
Oh what a summer this has been for you all! You are going to get such a blessing of being closer to Addy, to watch her grow and change, to experience the sweet love of a dear grandchild – it’s amazing as you already know. I hope the move goes well and that you can start to settle in before Fall! Hugs ….
First, my sincerest condolences on the loss of your Pop. It is always difficult to say “Until We Meet Again” to a loved one who graduates to glory. I thought I had a busy summer. Whew! I got tired just imagining what your summer has been like. I glad to read that you see a light at the end of the tunnel. All the best as you make the transition to eastern Washington.
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You have been so busy and then losing your dad on top of all that had to be hard. ((Hugs)) I love her pose and how wonderful that you will only be 8 miles from your granddaughter. Praying that your move work out perfectly and you can settle in and enjoy life!
What a summer! I too hope it is a smooth transition for you to this next phase of life. So enjoyed hearing about your dad’s tradition of saying “I love you” three times when saying goodbye. What a blessing! I know you must miss him, but to be ready to go and to know where one is going is everything.