Happy New Year!!

I'm not sure if I can adequately express my jubilation at seeing 2009 wave bye-bye!  This year, full of its ups and downs, was done!  Just wrung out and overwrought!  I'm happy happy to welcome the warm embrace of a new year.  Fresh, clean...full of promise, just as every new year is.  I'm pleased as punch every year to see the next one marching in.  Obviously this year is no exception!

I don't make resolutions, it seems like its just something to look back at with regret if it doesn't happen.  I have things I'd like to do and accomplish, goals if you will.  None of these things will have to be done and completed before the next new year begins.  2010 will continue my march toward health and peace.  This year we plan to sell our home in Houston and buy a home here in our new city.  Put down roots, roots that run deep and strong. I'm going to find a place to take ti-chi lessons.  I'm not sure if that's how its spelled, but I need gentle exercise that works, and from what I understand that's a great place to start.

We got the keys to our new rent house, and it's a house that I can see us buying.  It's big enough, but not too big.  With a soon to be empty nest, it's enough room with out being too much room.  It needs my attention.  Every single metal color you can think of is there, styles all mish-moshed and dingy white walls waiting for me to change!  The two houses we've lived in here are both homes that we knew we would not want to live in long term and for me, not having roots is disorienting!  I feel almost like I have mental vertigo.  I feel unbalanced, off kilter, my stomach isn't settled and I just plain feel sick!  It sounds silly, but I just need MY space.  MY families space...our home.  I know that our home is where we are and when i'm with my husband and children, I'm home, but I like having a place to call home, a place our compass always points too, that draws the kids back and waits to comfort us after a long hard day.  So, having this goal in sight is like taking the yolk from my shoulders and taking a water break!

Pictures of our diamond in the rough so my parents can see it!  (Hi Mom and Dad)

Welcome!  Come on in!

This is the little niche right inside the front door

the formal dining room is directly to the left of the front door

Looking from the other side of the living room into the kitchen and toward the door

Breakfast area...maybe

I'm so happy to have a window in my laundry area!

All the chairs I brought over so people helping me clean can have a place to rest!  a sneek peak into the only color in the house!

The closed in back porch

guest room/my craft room

And the colorful room to be repainted next week!

the master

master bath

Well that's enough of that...I'll show the backyard and the workout/jacuzzi room tomorrow!