A new entry is here...A new entry is here. FINALLY!

Oh wow, so much time has flown by. I promised that I would give you the story on buying the home and getting settled...here it goes.
We kept waiting and waiting for the final approval, each day came and went and it was down right terrible. Many tears were shed. Each day, when I knew that the Rural Development Offices were closing my heart would sink. Then, one morning, we received the notification. Essentially, we got the approval and were waiting on one paper to be signed off on by the current owners. We met up at three to do the closing and it took MUCH longer than we expected because we had to wait for the owners to get to a business center and print/sign/fax back the paperwork. OY! Meanwhile, we had a moving truck waiting for the rest of our possessions to be loaded and time was flying past. We FINALLY got all the documents signed and with BIG hugs and many more tears...we were off! Off to get done loading and were hoping to be able to spend our first night at the house. It wasn't the relaxing, exciting, pizza ordering and chilling on the front porch first night that we had hoped...it was more like the stressful, shove everything in the truck (leave a few things behind to pick up in the van later), pull into the driveway, exhausted and sweaty night...trying to find a place to deliver (there are none...none that we've found yet...and that is actually a really good thing). But the moment we stepped out of the truck, onto our land, on our still warm-from-the-day driveway and looked up at the beautiful stars...we knew we were home. The kids couldn't wait to explore their new spaces and neither could we. After devouring our food, that Kait so wonderfully picked up, while sitting in our camp chairs in the living room, we put together our makeshift beds and collapsed. All together, in our bedroom...and it was amazing. We spent the next couple of days in a fog of unloading and unpacking and carrying and exhaustion.
We are finally coming out of the fog though. We are enjoying our space. We are getting settled. We celebrated our home with our family. We had 39 people come and break bread with us...several staying for a camp fire and roasting marshmallows. It was...it still is...amazing. We continue making plans for adding our gardens and livestock. We are trying to figure out which trees need to be taken down (due to age, condition, or ash borer) to make room for our trees (most have made the move very well...some have their own challenges). We keep adjusting the plan and are trying to make sure that we do what is right for our family, animals, land and environment.
On a totally separate note, I'm also proud to say that in the 6 1/2 weeks that we've lived here, without any real effort, I've been able to lose 10 pounds. That may not sound like a lot to most, but it means the world to me. I have PCOS and weight has always been a challenge for me. To give you an idea, I've gained 50 pounds in the three years since we have moved back to Dayton. UGH. That really messes with your self-esteem. In our apartment, the idea of making healthy meals wasn't there - our kitchen was tiny, no space to prepare the food...it was awful. Add to that the area wasn't really a place that nurtured working out. However, if I can lose 10 pounds here, with only making changes like, not ordering pizza and moving more often while I put away boxes etc. think of the strides I can make when I make the effort. We have transformed a portion of our garage into a "home gym". We have a cardiofit and a cycling machine in there now and will soon be adding a treadmill (purchasing from Mark's aunt) and a total home gym (being given to us by some dear friends). I have started a food log and am tracking every bite that goes into my mouth. Maybe this is extreme to some - but it is what I need to do to be successful. Just as we threw ourselves into the idea and now reality of buying a house...I need to throw myself into my weight loss.
All these little pieces are part of the whole though. We have concord grapes and peaches (teeny tiny peaches), black caps, blackberries and walnuts growing here. That is just the start. But we were able to enjoy these foods - without interference, without nasty sprays, just as mother nature intended for us to enjoy them and that feels good. We are looking forward to next growing season when we can go crazy with growing our own food. When we will prepare our meals based on what is ripe on the land, rather than what was trucked in to Krogers. We'll need to supplement I'm sure...but we're hoping that the supplements will be from local resources. Again, our meals will fluctuate with the seasons and we will can to help us get through the winter/early spring. Eating better, digging our fingers into the dirt, exercising for a healthier self and family. We are excited to see these continued changes in our family. Hoping you stay along for the ride.

P.S. Pictures soon...promise!