Saying Goodbye

Dear Journal,

Today may be a little sad for me. I finally sold a house I lived in for more than twenty years. When my late husband became ill, the house was not user friendly for him and we purchased another one. In 2006 we put it on the market without any success of selling it. I had to sell it for less than it was worth. I had to offer it at a give away price in order to sell it.  The closing on the house is today. 

The good thing about it is, I can now pay off all of his medical bills and breath a little better financially. It is like being able to say goodbye to all of the negative and hello, to new beginnings in life. Keeping insurance, utilities. taxes and upkeep on a vacant house for over six years was not easy either, while maintaining the home I live in too. But, now... it is over, thankfully.

We finally received a little snow last night. Just a light dusting of it was left on the ground, to sparkle in the morning sunshine. Beautiful! 

My four grandchildren have been sick all week with the flu and all of the adults are trying to keep from getting it while taking care of them. It has not been easy for any of us. 

I thought, my days of raising children was over, when mine left the nest and began building their own. Life made an unusual turn and placed me within a full nest once again. "Smile"  When my husband died, I was left with a large, empty home and no desire to live. My daughter, her husband and their four children moved in with me, thinking we could form a family unit of support and help for one another. At first, I was not pleased with the idea. My home was neat, clean, tidy, quiet and my daughter has never been much of a house keeper, all though, she is a wonderful mother and a great cook. 

One month after they moved in, they had a baby, a little girl, born on my birthday, which they let me choose her name. We have had a wonderful family life and all of us work together to form a happy and loving atmosphere. It has worked out like a unseen blessing for all of us and I am grateful. My home may not be as it was, but it is happier and filled with laughter, friendship and true harmony with purpose. 

My daughter and I have always been close, but now.. we are best friends! We share so much more now. Our conversations are different now, because we share our lives by living together and caring for our family needs. What are some of the things we share? Hmm, we have a flower and vegetable garden we have fun working in it each year. We cook and clean the kitchen together as we laugh and have interesting, but fun conversation. We have mother and daughter days out where we shop, have lunch and just goof the day away. We sew, draw and do other crafty things when the children are in school or sleeping. We share our dreams and what is in our hearts and when life isn't so easy... we are there for each other. 

I am blessed. I am thankful. I am amazed with what the power of love, friendship and respect brings into a person's life.