D34 - Truly Closing A Door

Quotemaster.org

Well it's just after midnight and I should be sleeping but my mind is racing and sleep is elusive.   In less than 9 hours from now we will pull away from the home we've shared and raised our children for the last 22 1/2 years.   This last week has been a flurry of activity.   It has been full of emotional highs and lows.    The highs have been great - spending quality time with my children,  signing sales documents, getting a handle on estate issues, seeing our granddog, meeting our new grandcat, and spending time with some good friends.   But, the lows have been so very hard that they've been almost crippling.   Saying "see you soon" (I hate the word goodbye unless you never intend to see someone again) to my beautiful children was  heartbreaking to say the least.   They are all so supportive but yet sad at the same time.  My final church service with people who have helped me navigate some difficult times felt like my faith safety net was pulled away but I know I'm being obedient.  Final lunches with true friends and missing out on a few because time just doesn't allow for it.  Hugs with neighbors eho are more like family - we have an amazing street of neighbors!  And lastly having to say goodbye and see you on the other side of the rainbow bridge to my 10 year old Bassett Hoover.  Her had been living his best spoiled life .  Love our furry family members.

My mind tonight is replaying memories that are wonderful and I'm realizing that those live in my heart not a house.   New memories are waiting to be made and oppotunities for everyone to grow.  Here in Colorado and other parts of the US.  While we are closing the door literally and figuratively we are stepping out into a new faith and adventure. 

********

DISCLOSURE:  Sleep stopped eluding me as I was writing this and praying so this entry is being finished at 4:45 a.m.  It's going to be a long day.   More adventures from the road. 

D33 - Moving Truck Day ~ Empty House

Plans are just that and they're meant to change. With everything set for movers to come on Thursday morning, we were requested to have them instead on Wednesday. This meant we had to expedite the remaining packing.  It also meant that the movers were coming on the same day we were taking the Audi to the shop and signing closing documents on the house.  This of course had followed a Tuesday that was emotionally difficult, as it was saying once again goodbye to Mitch & Michelle when we delivered the washer and dryer, spending time with Courtney and ultimately having to say goodbye, and finally returning home in time for the appointment at the veterinarian where I had to put Hoover to sleep. 

There we lots of moments I didn't think we were going to be able to get everything done.  Things started to go downhill first off when we ran into a problem with the Audi and had to drive it in reverse all the way back to the house. We were blessed to have Joe Schrum come to the rescue told that you his garage where he'll have the opportunity to take a look at it.  We were able to reach out to the title company and go in early to sign the paperwork which was fortuitous because the movers arrived at 9:30 versus 10:30. The number of papers we had to sign at the title company was significantly smaller than I expected and that whole process only took about 10 minutes tops. Fingers crossed now that everything continues to go well and closing happens on the 9th as expected. 

Back home and after what felt like 10000 pieces of paper that had to be signed and learning that you can't ship anything inside of cabinets like hope chest or dressers, our wonderful group of Movers had all of our household belongings loaded on the truck. They were absolutely wonderful and I'll have a separate review blog dedicated to their service in case anybody needs to hire a moving company .  Of course the cubic footage was far larger than we expected but it is what it is.

 

 At this point we were in a holding pattern on the transport truck for the Shelby. We were so busy with everything else that we missed emails that the original transport truck had been involved in a accident at a truck stop and was out of commission. By the time they got ahold of us they had figured out a new plan that required the Shelby to be picked up on Wednesday in the afternoon.  That was fine until we got a call from that driver to tell us that she had broke a leaf spring while driving on I-70 in Denver and had to take the truck to a repair shop but anticipated he might still be able to make it that day. As the day went on it became apparent that they weren't going to be done with his repairs so we came up with a contingency plan where we would drive the Shelby to him in Denver rather than waiting until he could pick it up in Fort Morgan. 

An empty house and cleaning for the new occupants fill the remainder of our evening knowing that we would be able to get on the road no later than midmorning on Thursday.  Our last night in our home was bittersweet. 

D21 - REVIEW ~ The Art Spot, LLC (Fort Morgan, CO)

 MAKING MEMORIES . . . AND ART TOO!

The Art Spot, LLC is a quaint Art Studio located in Fort Morgan, Colorado.  Launched by the great owner Darlene Segelke Ruyle and assisted by local artist Maria Cisnowski, they have launched a unique and well-loved business that provides so much more then just an art project.  Their mission statement on their web page says it all.  

The Art Spot is a happy creative place where you can have fun with art and connect with friends, family, co-workers, or team members. We'll share our passion for all things creative and in the end you'll go home with a finished piece of artwork and a warm heart.  

I personally have had the opportunity of attending multiple classes with them in a community event setting but my personal favorite has been the last couple where I've had the opportunity to do them with family.  There is so much more to that experience then just painting on a canvas or other medium, it's the camaraderie, the silliness, the nervousness, and ultimately that support amongst classmates who are mostly all there as people who believe they have no artistic ability yet manage to create a personal masterpiece. For me it's a time to just relax and enjoy a slower pace of life doing something that's just fun. How many of us don't take time and our busy lives every once in awhile to "just have fun".  The opportunity I just had with my kids Mitch, Michelle, Courtney, and Brad creating "Patriotic Outdoor Signs" turned into a chance for each person to put their own spin on what they wanted their sign to look like.  And that's truly the beauty of this class and this studio is that there is no right or wrong way to create art. They merely give you the supplies, the basic ideas, and then a big nudge to just create.

The Art Spot offers such a broad range of classes multiple times a month at very convenient times for those people who work.  They have a wide selection of projects such as a series on gnomes, a series with an old truck, seasonal tree paintings, fun yet silly characters, and so much more. They have started branching out into painting on items such as fabric bags and wine glasses.  Don't want to go to a class with strangers? Problem solved, they can do a private class for individual groups with enough people and allow you to select the project that you want to work on together.  All of this at prices you just can't beat.

I personally want to say a huge thank you Darlene and Maria for helping create some memories for me and my family before my husband and I make our big move away.  As I make trips back to the area after our move this will definitely be one of the things on the to-do list with my kids.  This is what quality time is really all about. (Insert tears here 😭)

  

https://www.theartspot9.com

D18 - REVIEW ~ Topgolf (Colorado Locations)

 Topgolf Is Top Notch

(https://topgolf.com/)

MY REVIEW 

TOPGOLF is a MUST do activity for people of all ages. This venue provides a day of entertainment that includes good food, good drinks, good ambience, and a great bonding experience for everyone. This is definitely not just for people who consider themselves to be golfers but rather for anybody who enjoys having a good time.  We frequented two of the three locations in Colorado and have been please with both experiences.   It was a great family outing for us and our adult children. Imagine driving golf balls from a three-story building at targets in an enclosed area. Better yet don't imagine it go check it out.  Fair warning, Topgolf is extremely popular and you will want to make reservations with plenty of time in advance.  Theoretically you can just walk-in but my understanding is the wait can be very long.  With locations in 29 States this is an activity that you can do almost anywhere. It is definitely worth the drive to the nearest location.  See below for links to locations and some other information from their website.

What is Topgolf? 
It's a sports entertainment complex that features an inclusive, high-tech golf game that everyone can enjoy. Paired with an outstanding food and beverage menu, climate-controlled hitting bays and music, every Topgolf has an energetic hum that you can feel right when you walk through the door.

How does it work?  
Topgolf offers a wide selection of games that utilize micro-chipped golf balls and Toptracer technology (select venues) to keep track of every shot. Player's shots will be relayed back to their bay screen showing the accuracy and distance of each ball. Our giant targets make it fun for everyone – Guests of all ages and skill levels can score!

Plan an Event!
No matter the occasion, make it more eventful at Topgolf.

Locations in AL, AT, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, MN, NB, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA

Find one near you at:  https://topgolf.com/us/locations/

FACEBOOK - https://m.facebook.com/topgolf

D17 - INTENTIONAL Time

(https://portland.momcollective.com/)

I'm a firm believer, especially these days, of the importance of intentional time. There's no area in your life that's more important than family.  We all go through the motions of sending text messages, commenting on social media, or maybe even taking the time to make a phone call.  However, none of those methods holds a candle to truly spending quality or intentional time with those that matter to you.  Life gets busy and we all have so many things vying for our time but I highly encourage taking this time.  The nssxt step is when you are in the middle of those moments to truly make sure you're present.  I never really thought much about what it meant to be "present" but I've found my greatest joy in the last 6 months when I take the time to sit back and watch what's going on.  My mama heart is finding the unimaginable happiness in watching my children interact with each other, laughing and picking at each other in fun ways, and watching as they interact with parents. Those moments are priceless and now stored away in my heart forever.  I may be a little partial but I think I have a pretty amazing family.

In the last week or so, I've had the great pleasure of spending time with most of our children all-together. Spending time in a semi competitive arena at Top Golf with my husband and five of the seven of our kids was so much fun. While each of them is competitive in their own right, I was really touched by how they supported each other and truly just enjoyed each other's company. It's a rare time when we can get that many of them in the same place and the only thing that kept it from being perfect was that the other two children and our granddaughter we're unable to be there.  Fast forward a day and having the chance to spend several hours together at a painting class with four of the seven was a completely different environment. Gone was the competitive nature of sports but the proximity of being at a table painting while using the complete opposite side of the brain from the day before showed a completely different side of each of them.  

As the days countdown to when we leave Colorado for Florida, while my heart is heavy I truly do believe that those trips home or when the kids come to see us will be filled with intentional memories, not just those that are fit in amongst all of the busyness of daily lives. I've had a front row seat to see just how great our kids are and how they are all on such amazing Journeys in their own personal lives.  We couldn't be more proud where each and every one of them is at and how their individual personalities have shaped them and made them into the amazing adults they've become.

I am committed to making sure that we find creative and interesting ways to stay in touch across the miles in between in person visits.  I am definitely grateful to live in an age where technology is going to help us with this.  

LISA'S WORDS OF WISDOM!  Embrace the time you have with loved ones and do not take any moments for granted.  MAKE INTENTIONAL TIME for your little kids, adult kids, spouses, significant others and parents .