Just opened my laptop to work a bit on a few things and decided to hop over here for a quick update. HA! I realized I never posted after the alpacas!
Well, guess what? We made it back to Tennessee safe and sound. It was a busy travel week after the alpaca farm. So now that we're here, what's happening? I should say, what DID happen?
SOO MUCH!
We lived in a sweet RV park for a few weeks figuring out what's next. We went to the Dominican Republic with my sister and her husband to celebrate her 60th and our 35th anniversary. That was awesome for sure. We moved in with my sister for a short bit, then back on our property in our 5th wheel for another short bit and then into our home with Boo and Grady for a short bit. They found a home they love so now it's just T and I. T's sports car got totaled. The drivers here are scary. And then there was traveling to WA to pick up our new car and getting covid while there. That was fun.😏 After we drove it home, it was Christmas and then the new year! 2025 was a welcome number. Last year had lots more life, and lots more emotion than these few words care to share.
So moving forward... Hello 2025!
We are settling into our new Murfreesboro community. We have a while to go before it feels permanent but were moving that way. Having so many of our children, grands and extended family sure helps. We miss the ones not here, but God has them where they are, for now.
So what does this year 2025 have to say for itself?
Let's see, we found a church that we are exploring. Waiting a bit longer before we commit to making it our home church, but the teaching is solid, the Spirit of Lord is present in and through the pastor and the people of the church, and folk are saying hello - actually stopping to get to know us. Welcome to the south! Three biggies for me.
We have a plan for our home which is very good news. After searching tirelessly for another house, not finding anything that checked all our boxes, we truly felt settled in our hearts with our home here as our Tennessee forever home. We love the neighborhood and the yard. Especially the yard! We love the location. And by golly, we are so done moving. Now to make the actual home something we love instead of something Gramma from the 1980's loved! The bones are good! We are changing things like where the laundry room will be, which wall should come down, all the flooring throughout, etc. So far we have completed things that don't make me feel the warm fuzzies but have been all too necessary. We have a new roof, heater/ac unit, all the hardscape from the driveway to the patio, trees came down, that kind of stuff. The projects that had to happen and before the rest of the remodel. This probably gives you a clear understanding of what we've been doing since we landed in Tennessee last September. I forget how busy we've been, all this planning until I type it on paper. The big decision was building a garage so we can use the current garage as living space. That began in December. We have a great contractor. He happens to be a friend with our son so that's been fun too. Gabe is involved with the build when he can be, and it's been so wonderful to watch him in his element. Our son has always been good with his hands and now all these years later to see him use his gifting on our home, wow! We're hopeful all of this will be done by summer if not before. Stay tuned for pictures and progress!
2025 also holds more travel in our camper, hopefully mountain biking for T, and the very best of all- a new grandson! I'll be heading to Washington sometime in April to be with Bec, Brock and Valerie for a short while. Can't wait to snuggle with the newest babe!
For me, well, I am excited to say I will be starting a garden for reals this year and raising chickens. I have so much to learn. I'm scouring the internet, calling people, reading books and have a gardener resource here locally which is my green-thumb brother-in-law Dave. I do hope I can make this happen.
We are searching for all of the normal things still- favorite restaurants, places to have coffee, doctors, shopping. I am happy to say I don't have to use Maps all the time anymore. HUGE accomplishment for this directionally challenged individual. This part of moving, finding all your favorite haunts, is the part that makes a community become MY community. And this part takes time. A long time really. We became members of a winery here that gorgeous! That's a start. I secretly dream of opening a coffee house and am always on the lookout for a location. Now to find investors!
We are still on a health journey. I am not naive to think I can throw caution to the wind and stay cancer free. So, this month, January 2025, T and I are on a reset. Way too much goodness last fall and my clothes are showing it. Back to the discipline of choosing wisely what to put into our bodies each day. I have continued to purge all the crazy chemical laden products in our home. We bought a whole house water filter that will be installed with the remodel, and I threw away all my Tupperware storage containers. Let me say, it is not cheap going to glass! That's taking a minute.
And a bit closer to home, T has been a good sport with losing cycling like he had in Colorado. We are prayerful that God will show us how to include this again in his rhythm of life. And for me, walking the trails was more connected to my heart than I ever realized. The trail system was literally right out our back door. So that's been a huge heart hurt for both of us. And not seeing our friends and community group left a gap that has yet to be filled. I know and believe God fills in the gaps and holes, it just takes time.
So that's all for now. I'll keep writing and filling all y'all in all of our happenings. (How's that for my southern talk) It's not been peaches and creme moving this time around. We're older, we had built our forever home in Colorado and did I mention, we're older. Oy, that has made a big difference this time. We do see God in each step. We do see His goodness and plan unfolding. We do trust Him for his provision, even with friends. He is a good, good Father and said he will never leave us or forsake us. Amen to this. It's so true.
That's my Reality Check,
Thanks for listening, Tina aka Tuna Jones💖
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