We're Not in Kansas Anymore

 To say 2022 was an eventful year is a drastic understatement. As I reflect over the past twelve months, I hardly recognize our life before Toto.  What began as a fun 4-day vacation in September 2021 turned into a dramatic lifestyle change by May 2022. We left Kansas in August -- heading to our new Florida home -- only to be waylaid in Nashville for several months due to an unexpected health crisis. The year was full of delightful highs and a few overwhelming lows. But through it all, blessings abound. We would not change a single thing. For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him...  Romans 8:28 So for my own benefit, I'd like to document the events of the past year as an expression of gratitude. October 2021 : We found Toto after weeks of non-stop research. Delivery time was a bit delayed due to seller remorse, but we drove Toto home on October 6th. While waiting for Toto, we rented an RV at Hillsdale State Park and took the dogs for a te...

  I am a ball of emotions. Exhausted from packing and moving all our stuff in two short weeks. Weary of sciatica discomfort that prevents me from sleeping well at night. Excited to embark on this new chapter in life. Sad to leave our home of 27 years. At some point, I will write about these events in more detail. But today I will attempt to share my feelings in a different way. I am no poet (as you will soon see) ... but this idea grabbed me so I ran with it. Goodbye, House  (written in the style of Goodnight, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown) In the cozy little Nook There was a desk, a couch, and a shelf full of books There were journals and pens And scrapbooking bins. And many wonderful memories spent within. But the Paris room was also a favorite sight. With its year-round Christmas tree and twinkling lights. The Beach room reminded us of past vacations, And the possibility of new retirement locations. The Master Bedroom was no designer showcase But provided us a tranquil sleep...

This might be our last Christmas in this home. And then again, it might not 😊 Two years ago we thought we might take advantage of the seller's market. We weeded through excess stuff and donated several trunkloads to local charities. We planned to downsize to a smaller place by the spring. So we documented Christmas 2019 in great detail. As we gathered around Geoff's grandmother's antique table for what we thought would be the "last" Christmas Eve Vigil, we all photographed the feast for posterity. RVing was not a blip on our radar. But then again, neither was a global pandemic. A lot has changed in these past 24 months. Some good and some not-so good. However, all these combined experiences brought us to this point in time. We released our plans to travel around Europe in exchange for an American RV adventure. And we declare God is Good . Totoro Holiday Traditions Our family is steeped in holiday traditions.  We begin Labor Day Weekend when I proclaim Christmas ...

Through a Facebook post this weekend, we learned of the passing of a very dear friend 😢 Kenneth F. Mott was our beloved Political Science professor. And somehow (fortunately), we became dear friends. Ken was my faculty advisor and encouraged me to seek departmental honors. He walked me through the LSATs. And he understood my decision not to apply to law school. Ken adored Geoff. The two of them would often debate politics for hours on end. At the time, they rooted for opposite parties, but that was a time when you could agree to disagree and still remain friends. Our fondest memory of Ken and his wife, Lovette, was going to the stream. The stream provided a great escape from the Gettysburg College campus. We were free to be ourselves without all the bravado of impressing fellow co-eds.  One infamous weekend we volunteered to bring dinner. We remembered the steak, the potatoes, the aluminum foil. We even brought matches to start a fire and silverware. However, we failed to bring th...

Whew!! Geoff and I are the poster couple for "opposites attract" I am an Enneagram 6 wing 5, which means I am reserved, private, and prefer to spend time alone in my nook pursuing academic interests. I crave security and fear anything that might jeopardize that security. Consequently, I forever mull "what if..." scenarios. I believe if I can plan for the worst, then I will be okay.  I take this one step further and plan my planning sessions 😏 I am a rule follower because I fear the possible consequences. My obsession with organization helps keep my constant anxiety at bay. I avoid conflict at all costs. Can't we all get along? Geoff is an Enneagram 7 wing 8. Life is a party and we shouldn't take it too seriously. He seeks pleasure in the present rather than worrying about the future. Rules are mere guidelines, and too many rules (especially with regards to home organization) can be a real buzzkill. He is an extrovert who craves social relationships. While h...

Engagement Photo - Spring 1982 To most of the outside world, our decision to purchase an RV seemed spontaneous and rash. After all, our maiden voyage was only six weeks ago 😳 But the truth is... we have prepared for this adventure most of our adult lives. Let me explain. Childhood Dreams I have always loved to travel. In second grade I dreamed of spending my junior year abroad. In college, I contemplated a career as an international flight attendant. As a teacher, I took four groups of students to England, France, and Italy via EF Tours .  European travel wasn't my only dream. When I was in middle school my good friend invited me on a family camping trip. While tent camping was a bit too close to nature for me, I did enjoy the pop-up camper experience. Unfortunately, it rained the entire time and the trip was cut short. In the back of my mind, however, I  always wanted to recreate that experience. While Geoff was never part of the scouting program, he always liked the idea of...