It's been quite a month around here. I will give you the short version of the story.
The opportunity presented itself so George and I decided to do something we've been hoping to do for years: move to Ohio to be near family. So, in May we put our house on the market, expecting it would take months to sell in light of the current housing slump. I cleaned, organized, donated and sold. The man at the Goodwill knows me well now. I'll tell you, the house was never so clean! It almost made me want to stay.
Well, much to our surprise, our home sold in just 48 hours! We were, of course, thrilled and shocked at the same time. It was definitely meant to be. Then reality set in.....we have to pack everything in this house into boxes, and fast! So, that's what I've been doing in my "spare" time. I have a long way to go, but it's coming along.
It's funny, I spent my younger years planning how to get out of Ohio and see other places, other cultures, meet new kinds of people. And I did some of that. And I loved every minute of it, and wouldn't trade those years for anything. But now, all I want to do is pack up our little lives and go back to Ohio. Life is funny, isn't it? We are so excited to start this new chapter of our lives, and we feel incredibly fortunate and grateful beyond words that it has fallen into place.
We move in only a few short weeks, and I'll be wrapped in packing tape, surrounded by cardboard boxes until then. Not sure when I'll be all set up and blogging again, but I'll try and pop in soon to say hello. Enjoy the beautiful summer, my friends!
Good luck your move. I'm miss your blog posts while you're packing, but I know I'll be rewarded with beautiful pictures from your new home and new craft room!
Posted by: Lissa Cramer | June 09, 2011 at 12:29 PM
Best Wishes Andrea....hope everyone does well with the move!
Posted by: jill | June 09, 2011 at 04:37 PM
Congrats to you and your family. This is very exciting. I am just giddy with delight for you :)
Posted by: sonia audelo | June 09, 2011 at 06:46 PM
ahhh ohio, sweet state that i love and dearly miss.
after moving to the panhandle of florida a bit over 2 years ago, every season i fight a melancholy that wants to grow.
of course, i will always follow where my husbands jobs take him, and after 27 years in the Air Force, we had finally settled down in Navarre OH (Gateway to Amish Country) (south of Massillon OH) with a doublewide that sits on 2 1/2 acres and a great big HUGE barn (half of which was made into my work room/office) and the other half housed chickens and goats!!
MAN woman & CHILD! I MISS FRESH EGGS!!
but do you know what i miss the most--2nd to my family of course--hmmm??
FRESH TOMATOES!!!
OH MY WORD i did NOT know how HARD it is to grow ANYTHING in floridas HEAT!!!!
no more beefsteaks.
no more dark rich soil.
no more green grass/brown leaves compost pile.
just sand.
weeds.
and fire ants.
but i DO have lemon trees~ yellow and pink!!!
& the GULF & i must say that is a treat!!!
course--nothing like a freshly cut beefsteak tomato with mayo on bread.
my summertime staple.
--did i mention that my loving father calls me every year WHILE he's eating his first tomato sandwich of the summer to TELL me that he's eating his first tomato sandwich of the summer???
uh huh. yeah.
oh anyways!! the 3rd thing i miss about ohio is the amount of antique/junk stores in my repertoire!!! (panama city really has NOTHING like ohio!!)
if youre ever in the Canton area ~Blissful used to be there
:-(
~you just let me know and i'll give the names of allllll KINDS of great places to go andrea!! i know so many different places around there it aint right!!! lol
oh how exciting for you with the house selling so quickly--knowing you are exactly in His will!!
thats a great place to be, i know, cuz i'm in florida!
and only HE could have put me here!! haha!
and good for you that it did sell, we STILL own our house--we have the best renters, never late with a payment, but they havent bought the house like they said they would.
so im glad thats settled for you.
course we all KNOW WHYYY it sold, they saw all your goodies in there and couldnt say know for petes sake!!
that poor woman probably hyperventilated as soon as she got out of your house and RAN to the bank!!! LOL
awww sweetie!! have fun!!! you deserve to have a treat like this. i bet your mom is thrilled!?!!?
Posted by: Michele Colaner | June 10, 2011 at 05:00 PM
Congratulations and good luck on your move! I am also going home next month to Pennsylvania. I have been in Florida for nine years and loved it but now I feel like I can't get home fast enough so I can be near my family. I'm happy for you and I'm happy for me!
Posted by: Susan | June 11, 2011 at 08:12 PM
How exciting for you! I hope everything goes smoothly for you and your family. We will be neighbors now!
Posted by: jen@thecottagenest | June 11, 2011 at 10:12 PM
How exciting that your dreams and your plans have come together! Best of luck in your new adventure -- and remember that Virginia is not that far away. :)
Posted by: pamelajane | June 21, 2011 at 07:56 PM
when things are meant to be, they are meant to be!! I am so happy for you george and the family. I know you have been wanting this for awhile!! Love to you and good luck with the move!! Give the kids hugs from me!!
xoxox, Tiffany
Posted by: Tiffany ~ The Fancy Farmgirl | June 23, 2011 at 01:38 AM
I am so excited for your family! Your little ones will be so lucky to be close to family!
And you will be closer to Hartville ; )
I am in Cleveland, so maybe I will run into you there!!
Good luck with the move!
Posted by: Paisley Peacock | June 28, 2011 at 09:37 AM
I always thought that I wanted to leave Ohio, but love it here and will always be here. Hilliard is a great place to live. Good luck on your move back to the Buckeye State.
Posted by: dara | July 04, 2011 at 11:23 AM
I have lived in NE Ohio, Trumbull County since 1989, but I'm originally from CT. It's so nice to know another creative person is moving here!! Whereabouts in Ohio are you settling at? I hope this move brings you all the joy you deserve!
Posted by: Michelle | August 08, 2011 at 09:03 AM
There is nothing quite like home :-)...... Hope everything goes superbly for you and your family :-)
David
LaFrock.com
Posted by: David Smith Segarra | August 16, 2011 at 09:07 AM
Absolutely nothing is more important than parents and family! I say "hands down" Amen to that! Congratulations Andrea!
Posted by: Affordable Medical Insurance | September 15, 2011 at 11:08 AM
I'm so glad things have all worked out for you. There's no place like home. Take care and pack creatively, using every nook and cranny!
Posted by: Affordable Medical Insurance | October 05, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Are you ever coming back? Miss your posts.
Posted by: Carol M | November 01, 2011 at 03:50 PM
Congratulations! Moving to a new home can be so time-consuming. Packing and preparing can get hectic, and the new environment can be a daunting experience. Nevertheless, here's to hoping that you guys are enjoying your new abode!
Posted by: Randolph Coleson | December 21, 2011 at 01:41 PM
So cute! I already like you on FB and also get your posts on Google Reader. :)
Posted by: Belstaff Coat | December 23, 2011 at 12:11 AM
There's nothing like the feeling of being able to sell one's home quickly. It comes with a sudden rush of emotion, followed by the preparations to move out. It's exciting, it's hectic, but most of all, it's another milestone in life. Congrats, and have fun in your new home.
Posted by: Calvin Mordarski | December 29, 2011 at 01:23 PM
Hi- I'm from ohio- lived here in sc for 4 years and really want to move back! one son is in Charleston, one in kentucky. husband retired, so really have no reason to be here other than the weather, which really is not that great, no seasons and hot as ---- from may on to end of sept. i am determined to get there!
Posted by: Anne | February 13, 2012 at 01:59 PM
Don't know what is wrong what is rite but i know that every one has there own point of view and same goes to this one
Posted by: Links of London Sale | March 22, 2012 at 12:37 PM