I have so much to do as I am preparing for my second annual sale at my house.
But lately as the school year is coming to an end, and Mother’s day was yesterday I have been pondering about my past, present and future.
Thinking about my past yesterday and trying to comprehend how fast the years go by.
My daughter is a freshman this year in high school, and I have shared this before, she is just starting to drive!
I remember moving in to our home here, nine years ago.
(It’s hard to believe that this November we will be here for nine years!)
My husband taught her how to ride a bike, and here we are teaching her how to drive a car.
That’s mind blowing!
I don’t feel old, I don’t think I look old, but I must be getting older to have a teen daughter.
(Photo taken last summer)
Keeping it real here, we have had our ups and downs.
Especially in the teen years.
I guess that’s a hard time for her.
Still a little girl, but turning into a women.
But no matter what, we love each other.
(Photo taken a few years ago)
She still values my opinion.
And that speaks volumes when you consider that she’s a teenage girl.
Not many teenage girls ask their Mom’s advice on clothes.
She cares about how she looks and how others perceive her.
She is thoughtful, kind and funny.
But she’s not perfect, and has her moments, as I do.
We get on others nerves, and we argue.
I am going through menopause, and we often clash.
But in the end, love conquers all.
She is the greatest gift I have ever and will ever receive.
And now I am starting to think about our future.
As these next years approach I know lots of changes will happen.
I don’t know what the future holds.
(Last summer Disney World)
I have some ideas of what I would like to see happen.
If you know me then you know I am not a winter person at all!
For a short time in my childhood, I lived in Orange County California.
We moved back to Illinois when I was 14.
It was really hard for me, I left all of my friends to move back to Illinois.
I hated it here, I hated the weather, I just really hated it.
And I swore that when I turned 18 I was going to move back to sunny California.
But that never happened because I fell in love and eventually married my best friend.
Moving back to California just wasn’t meant to happen.
But in 1990 my husband and I vacationed in Florida.
It was my second time visiting Florida.
My first visit was on our honeymoon to Sanibel Island.
But something happened to me on that trip.
I fell in love with Florida, and Disney World.
I had been to Disneyland, but never Disney World.
Looking back that trip was a blur because it was such a short trip.
We have visited our family in Florida many times over the years.
Every time we visit, I feel like it’s home.
I have longed to live there for many years.
Yes, I am one of those people who actually loves the humidity.
This was our view from our room at the Grand Floridan last summer.
I sat out on our balcony every morning, looking out at the view.
Beautiful palm trees, and the wonderful humidity soaking in my skin.
I love the feel and smell of it all.
Memories of walking to get my coffee in the morning, the sounds, the smells taking it all in.
And each morning as I sat here looking and taking this all in I day dreamed about what it would be like to actually live here.
Somewhere close to Disney World.
Deep inside I knew that this is where I belong.
I know you’re probably thinking, it’s just Disney.
You were caught up in the moment on vacation.
Well, that feeling of needing to live there has never left since the first time we visited over 25 years ago.
Going back home after this trip was hard.
Knowing that it would be awhile before we would be coming back was a heart breaker.
My future plans include making a big move.
Taking a leap of faith.
I have been hinting to my husband about my dreams, hoping he feels the same way.
The hardest part will be my daughter.
What if she doesn’t want to move to Florida.
She has different dreams.
Her dreams include living in a big city.
Although I have discussed the cost of living in a city.
She still has those dreams, and who am I to discourage them.
But I am at the point in my life that I want to be happy with where we live.
I don’t care about what I have, but more about where we are at.
So I guess time will tell, but in my heart I know it’s going to happen.
Have you ever taking a leap of faith and made a big move?
I can’t believe you like the humidity especially Florida humidity. I have always lived in it and hate it. It has gotten way too hot and sticky too early here in the last few days and I hope it goes away for a bit. I do understand having a dream and I hope it comes true for you.
LOL I love it Kim! I am so envious, I wish it was like that here.Thank you, I do too!
Hi Anne!
We did take that leap of faith two years ago. We moved from San Diego to the middle of Alabama in a bitty town with little savings (to get us through the first year), no job, no family, nothing. And it was the BEST decision we have ever made in our lives. We have a teen daughter and although at first she wasn’t thrilled with the idea or the move, she got involved in sports at school and now loves it. She graduates next year and said she definitely will not move back to CA to got to college. She wants to stay in AL. For a teenage girl to say that, it says something! 🙂 My husbands business has flourished wonderfully (he’s a general contractor), I started a home business that has taken off like wildfire and our children are growing up in a wonderful environment. We love the South (humidity included) and wish we would have moved sooner BUT, His plan put us here when we needed it. He will put you where you need to be too.
Wow that is awesome Amber!See it was meant to be! I am going to give it to God. I know things will work out. They always do.
We just took that big leap of faith and moved here this year. We can see Everest on the way to the grocery store down the street. You should try renting a vacation villa the next time you visit to get a real feel for living outside of WDW. I’ve had a house here for 15 years and lived here on and off so if you have any questions about the area, just ask! jonni
How wonderful Jonni! Yes I plan on doing just that. Hoping to visit WDW next summer. And I would like to plan a day or two and visit a few areas close to Orlando. That’s a great idea to actually stay in a town too…hmmm.
I think everyone needs to love where they live, so if your husband will agree and you both feel God is in it go for it. We only live once and it needs to matter. Have a great day and i will keep you in my thoughts.
Thank you Marlene, I will be praying too 🙂
I took that leap over 30 years and moved to a little town in Wyoming with my two daughters. I have never regretted it. I’m one of those who cannot tolerate humidity, and we don’t have much of that here. I like to visit other places, but I also like to beat it home as soon as I can, where people are real, honest, and reliable and don’t put on airs. I know that can be true in other places, but seems to me to be more so here. I’ll take the wilderness any day over the ocean, but I understand we can’t all like or want the same thing, so I hope that you get your dream. Do it sooner rather than later. Life is short. Your daughter will adjust, and, if she doesn’t, college is not too far off.
Thank you Cheryl, sounds like you are living the dream.I am a water,beach palm tree gal. I have always felt at home near the water.
Greetings from England..I made a big move last Oct,from a huge detached house with a 35 foot long garage full of clutter& toys . (I used to be a child minder).Now living in a small rented terraced house. It was very therapeutic getting rid & the charity shops did well out of us. I was so unhappy in that house- my marriage had broken down. So settled here. Home is where the heart is . And WDW is the happiest place on earth! We have been going there since 1981. Moving away from good neighbours & friends is stressful but you only go this way once!.
Hi Shirley! Yes it sure is, our favorite place to visit.Looking forward to planing our future in the next coming years 🙂
We moved to The Great State of Florida in 1978 from Indiana. We have never looked back and cannot imagine living anywhere else. It might be difficult to move your daughter until she graduates high school. Once she goes to college, you can live anywhere!
That’s awesome Candie! Yes we are planning on waiting until our daughter graduates from high school in three years. I would never dream of moving her to another city, town or state. It’s so hard trying to fit in when you are a teen.And she has all of her friends here.In the next years to come I will be researching a lot!
Anne, I love humidity too, we’re freaks, I know, I hate the dry, your skin goes weird & your hair stands on end.
We moved from Sydney to the north coast of NSW 22 years ago. Best thing we ever did.I was 41 & my husband was 36.
I go back to Sydney & Melbourne several times a year for my fix of city life, but hot foot it back here quickly.
Sometimes you have to just go for it.
Good luck.
That’s wonderful Philippa! With humidity you either love it or hate it, I love it 🙂
Hi Anne! My husband & I have been married 53 yrs in August. We have 5 children and 10 grandchildren.
We took a leap of faith in 1977 when we gathered our children and our dog and moved from Massachusetts to California.. We left our large family and many friends behind…….We’ve never regretted it!! We love it here and the great weather has changed my life. That was 38 yrs ago. All my children live here also! I’m blessed!!
That’s wonderful Marcia!I have fond memories of California. We lived in Orange County. It was fun as a child living so close to Disneyland!