Welcome to My New Home - A Tribute

There were many people who helped me with my move to Texas. My transition wouldn't have gone as smoothly as it has without all of your help. I say a BIG THANK YOU to you all.

There are two people that I want to honor in this post today. You have read about them in my previous 4 posts entitled "Welcome to My New Home - Parts 1, 2, 3, & 4. They are Paul and Susan Brown.

When I decided to move to Texas, I asked Susan if she would be my interior decorator. Interior decorating is not a gift that I have, but Susan is very gifted in this area and has much experience. I shared with Susan my heart's desire for having my new home decorated in a manner that reflected the "new me."

In the past few years, I allowed the Lord to do such a work in me that the scripture in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new) became real to me. All things have become new and I am no longer the person that I used to be. I know without a doubt that one of the reasons the Lord brought to me Texas was to forever close the door on my former life, and have me walk in the newness of who I am and that God created me to be.

Both Paul and Susan spent countless hours shopping, receiving deliveries, and arranging everything in my home. They even unpacked all of my belongings that I shipped from NY and put them away. When I arrived in Texas a month ago, my new home was ready to receive me.

2 Corinthians 8 describes a call to generous giving. Paul and Susan freely gave of their time and did much more than I hoped for. Their generous giving expressed God's love to me in a very real tangible way that I had never experienced.

To Paul and Susan: Thank you for your self-sacrifice. I pray God richly blesses you in all that you do. Love, Laura.

Welcome to MY New Home - Part 4

These are the last pictures of my new home. Are you ready to take a tour of my office, a place where I spend most of days working?

The view as you walk into my office. Take notice of the window to the right, which is a sliding glass door that leads out to my patio.
The helm of the office.
I just bought this slider rocker this past weekend. My TV (which is also my monitor) is in the office. I can now sit and watch my favorite show - NY Giant's football games.
Sue was so gracious to decorate my office with things that would remind me of my love for the outdoors and NNY. Above is a paddle that I may bring back for my friend Nancy for kayaking. Nancy - I promise that is lighter than your lunker. Below is a fishing lamp - I love it!!

Sue had prints made of some pictures that I took on my kayaking adventure in the Adirondacks a few weeks before moving. I cried when I first saw them - such beauty of God's creation that I was able to take in for a day.
The picture that WIM gave me during our last women's meeting at CFC. When I look at it, I have fond memories of my days spent in NY. Thank you.

Welcome to My New Home - Part 3

As promised, here are pictures of my living room, dining room, and kitchen. My next post will have pictures of my office.

I have many birds located throughout the living room. Reminds me of NNY.

My nice couch that I bought from special friends in Texas.
I love these tables and the way the light shines off them at night.
Notice the many decorative touches that were created by my own personal interior decorator. I can't imagine what the place would looked like if I had done the decorating. I'm ever so thankful to Sue.
My personal decorator is a seamstress too - she made the curtains.
Notice the clock to the left. Paul and Sue searched long and hard to find it. Sue purchased it last Saturday about 5 hours before they brought me to the apartment. I might add that the clock was on sale and it was a great price.

Sue and I discussing who is going to do the cooking.
More decorative touches. The pineapple teapot is one that my grandmother made.

A different view of the kitchen.
Dining room area.

Welcome to My New Home - Part 2

I will now give you a tour of my new bedroom and bathrooms.

My bed. It is very comfortable since I sprang for a foam bed. The bed is actually made from the same foam that is used in beds on the space shuttles. It is sooo..comfortable. I also bought a nice extra soft comforter.
Dresser in my bedroom. I really like the black.
Standing at my office door and looking down the hall. My bedroom is on the left at the end and a bathroom on the right. In the middle, the living room is to the left and kitchen to the right. I'll post pictures of these the next time I post.
Bathroom across the hall from my bedroom.
I'm using this bathroom as the guest bathroom since my office is located in the master bedroom where the larger closet and bathroom are located.
My cowboy bathroom. Nice large garden tub, which I'm enjoying.
Like the boot.
These are the bath rates and rules when you come to visit.

Welcome to My New Home - Part 1

I am settling in my new home. In addition to working from my home office, I'm still in the process of arranging my office. It is coming together nicely, but is taking time. I'm enjoying the local fitness center and swimming pool at the apartment complex. Nice amenities.

I decided to post pictures in segments since I have so many to share. Keep checking back over the next few days. I will post them room by room.

The first set of pictures are of me first arriving at my apartment and the surprise welcome/birthday party that Paul and Sue planned for me.

Me driving the Prius in my garage for the first time. Welcome sign above my apartment door entrance from the garage.
Me seeing the the plaque on the wall (see picture below) as I walk into my apartment for the first time.One of Sue's many decorative touches. I've ponder on this statement many times since Sue wrote about it on her blog; see here.

Vickie enjoying the party that I knew nothing about. She is sitting in my living room.
Ginger and me enjoying snacks on my new couch.
Tony (Vickie's husband) is telling us a good story.

My New Name

On Friday, July 25, I posted a blog where I invited you all to help me solve a riddle that Sue gave me. Sue shared with me that I had a new name and that I would know it when I walked in my apartment.

It didn't take me long to figure it out once I arrived at my apartment on Saturday night. I observed the following plaque on my wall and spoon rest on my counter (I don't know if it actually a spoon rest, but I use it as one).

I have other pictures of the apartment to post, but I've been having Internet challenges all day. I actually spent my first day of teleworking setting up my computer, printer, and Internet. I still don't have the system running smoothly. Posting these two pictures was quite a challenge. I promise that I'll post the pictures as soon as I can get all the technology bugs worked out. I'm hoping that this will be tomorrow. I will say that Paul and Sue did a beautiful job and I was speechless at times as we walked through each room of the apartment. I'll share more when I post the pictures.

I've already hosted my first get together at my apartment. Paul and Sue brought me to the apartment Saturday night. They planned a surprised welcoming/birthday party for me with a few of the people that I know here. I was truly surprised and blessed by them all. We spent time praying for me, Arising to Excellence Ministries, and my new apartment.

I need to be diligent about getting to bed since I work 5:30 AM to 1:30 PM CST everyday. So, off I go.

I've Arrived

Sue and I pulled into Grapevine, TX during the wee hours of the morning today. We both were exhausted and declared that it was time for bed. It was a good thing since it was 3:30 AM CST.

Sue was up bright and early. We briefly saw each other this morning before she left to put the finishing decorating touches on my apartment. I will get to see my new apartment for the first time tonight. I am excited!! Can't wait to see my new dwelling that I'll call home. I will post pictures.

I have spent the majority of the day shopping for some things for the apartment. Sue gave me a list before she left; did I mention that Sue likes lists? I officially give her the name "List Queen".

One thing on the list was containers. Sue suggested that I go to the Container Store. I did and now it is one of my favorites. I think that I'll visit it often.

As you can imagine, shopping in Grapevine, TX is much different than shopping in NNY. It seems nice to only drive 5 minutes and have so many choice stores to choose from. I'll get to check out the grocery stores later today or tomorrow since I need to stock my cupboards and refrigerator.

That is all for now. Will post later.

Wrestling with Ms. Weasel

On our trip we wrestled not with flesh and blood, but we literally wrestled with Ms. Weasel at every turn of the road. Who is Ms. Weasel?

My friend Nancy always suggested that I needed to name my GPS unit. Up to a few days ago, I hadn't spent enough time with my GPS to give it a name. No longer my problem!

We have been locked in the car with a 'GPS with PMS' for 800 grueling miles. We have traveled roads not known by Map Quest, twisting through farm tractor trails with the corn fields brushing the sides of the car, only to arrive back on the main road having gained nothing and lost time.

Ms. Weasel, my newly named GPS, must be a kin to Peter Rabbit because Peter Rabbit couldn't wait to get over the fence to run into the garden. Ms. Weasel can't wait to get off the main highway to weasel her way cross country. For example on Monday, our destination was the PA Grand Canyon. Sue was in agreement with Ms. Weasel's directions until we hit the first fork in the road. Two choices were before us: Sue's: stay on the main road or Ms. Weasel's: Take the fork to the right onto a dirt road consisting of two tractor tire tracts separated by a ridge of raised rock. Laura, being the balanced, logical one, felt compelled to make a decision. Knowing

Sue's limited experience compared to the wealth of knowledge compacted in the concise brain of Ms. Weasel, took the obvious course of action: follow Ms. Weasel's direction.

In an instant of positive direction, Laura veered the car to the right. The maze through the cornfields commenced. The tractor trails seemed to snake endlessly ahead with no turning back possibilities. After probably close to twenty minutes, we crossed a smaller tractor trail. Ms. Weasel pointed confidently straight ahead. Straight up another steep strand of the tractor trail. And it was posted! Sue, by now had entered into intercession moaning. Laura was in agreement and turned the car around. Ms. Weasel was unhappy and shouted "Recalculating, recalculating!"

Retracing your steps through a corn maze is not easy, but Laura reprogrammed Ms. Weasel and we were on our new route. Because of Ms. Weasel's determined nature, the scenery was looking familiar again. Sure enough, we ended right back at the same steep strand of posted tractor trail that we didn't want to go up the first time. This time Laura's adventurous spirit took over and followed Ms. Weasel's directions. Sue's intercession increased and Laura forged on up the steep slope, carefully positioning the wheels of the car so as not to rip off the oil pan. (We were helpless since there was no cell phone signal and out in the middle of now where with Ms. Weasel's attitude problem).

As we continued, Ms. Weasel blurted out "turn right on Route 660 in .25 miles" Sue was relieved since she recognized Route 660 as the paved road that she wanted us to stay on in the first place. On the corner of Route 660 and the tractor trail was a familiar landmark, a red brick church.

This was only the first round of the wrestling match we have endured with Ms. Weasel. She continued to guide us off the main roads, weaseling over the country and through the woods. However, as of tonight, we have laid hands on her and prayed for Ms. Weasel. In faith, we look forward to a better day of traveling tomorrow.

Weary from wrestling.

Laura & Sue

Tag team post from Johnson City, TN.

Travel Update

Sue and I have traveled through NY, PA, WVA, and we are now in VA. We arrived at my friend's house, the Story's, about an hour ago. It is great to see them and be here enjoying their company.

We will be here until about 12 PM tomorrow and then head to Johnson City, TN, which is about a 3 hour drive. We will be spending time with Sue's friends until Thursday morning and then make our way to Texas. We anticipate arriving in TX sometime on Friday.

Sue says that I will have to spend one night at her house since she needs time to complete some last minute decorating details at my apartment. I'll be spending my first night in my new home on Saturday. I can't wait, and yes, I'll post pictures.

Our trip has had many adventures. We are finding out that my new GPS can have an attitude when we don't stay on course. We also now know that the GPS will get us to the destination that we program it to by the shortest route, even if it means we drive through dirt roads in the middle of corn fields in PA. Amazingly, the dirt roads, which some were tractor paths, had names assigned to them. It was truly an adventure getting to the PA Grand Canyon, but we made it and enjoyed the views of the canyon.

It is almost 1 AM and my eyes are slowly closing. Will post more in a few days when I have access to the Internet.