February 2nd. Groundhog Day, Gary Snyder’s birthday (May he Rest In Peace), Jonathan’s new birthday.  And the beginning of my new adventure and this blog. 

I began my new journey nine years ago today.  After 38 years of marriage and 23 years living and raising my boys near Atlanta, I left behind my life as I knew it.  I took a deep breath and moved into a rented apartment in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  Before I started writing this post, I went back and read every single post in this blog. Looking back, I knew I was in for a big change.  I guess I didn’t realize just how many changes there would be!  And they are still coming!

In my last post, I talked about not having a sense of belonging.      Anywhere. I decided to get coached on ‘belonging’ in an online group I am in called Moms Go On.  It’s a group for widowed moms, and we are learning ways to move forward in our lives after losing our person.  Our fearless leader, Krista, always challenges us to figure out what our thoughts are and if our thoughts serve us.  And the best part is, I can ask her any questions or bring up any issue and she doesn’t think they are crazy or stupid!😆  She actually gives us tools to figure out what we want to do to make our lives exactly how we want and the best they can be!  

Well, I’ve decided to go on another adventure beginning February 10th.   I am coming full circle and renting an apartment in Murfreesboro again.  The plan is to live there part time and at the lake part time.  I am committing to a year of this bimonthly living.  I love people in both places—friends that have become my Tennessee family.   Which brings us to my sweet, cute, cuddly, LOUD pup, McKennzie.  If she hears someone walking around in my house at the lake, she barks.  And I want her to bark, because no one but I should be making any noise in my house!   If she hears someone walking around in my Murfreesboro ‘house’ (like upstairs or neighboring apartments), I don’t want her to bark.  I’m trying to figure out a way to discuss this issue with her.  I’m sure she will have a lot of questions about the feasibility of my request.  I’m also sure a future post will be in order for ‘apartment life training’!  For both of us.

February 6th will be my 6th wedding anniversary.  And my 3rd one spending it alone.  I find it sobering to realize that on August 24th, Kenn will be gone for the same amount of time that we were married.  I still think about him often every single day.  Every morning, when I wake up, I tell God, “Good morning! You must still have a purpose for me because I woke up!” And, I still thank Him for Kenn.  

I’m still working on my present moments and my future.  I’ve asked God to show me the way.  He’s never failed, and He won’t start now!  (That last sentence was shamelessly stolen from a song I sing!)

I have a strong feeling that my near future will be filled with a lot of Cavadoodle questions!