After 2 1/4 years of living in VA trying to find a place to buy, seeing dozens of houses, making a few offers, and getting outbid repeatedly, we have a place to live that isn’t my parent’s guest room.

We finally found a rental house with enough space, a pool, and a garage, and did I mention the POOL?

We moved most of the stuff we had with us in VA, but the stuff we have in storage doesn’t arrive until later this week, and then we will have movers unload it all. I am planning to pay my nieces (7 & 9) to unpack for me because I don’t like hard work, LOL. I think it will be funny to hear their reactions to how much stuff we have and their thoughts on our things.

I can already tell renting is going to test my patience, which I have very little of in the first place. There are so many things I want to change in this house, and I have to keep reminding myself it’s not mine.

We are so pumped to have a pool. It’s too cold to use it right now, but we enjoy hanging out by the pool and listening to the water swirl around. Plus, it’s screened, so we can enjoy being outside without mosquito attacks.

I’m excited for the memories we’ll make here. I just wish Lucy was here with us.