Timeline 2015 …
January 1.
We
rang in the New Year in Kissimmee, Florida with family (Dad and sister Deb at
home – Mom in a nearby Rehab facility due to a fall before Christmas where she
broke her leg).
February.
Our home of 16 years in Rumney, New
Hampshire had a 4Sale sign in the window since July. We were contacted by some
interested purchases late in this month.
March.
An offer on the house was made and accepted.
Our prayerful plan was if the house sold we would move to Florida to be with my
sister who was caregiver for the folks.
April.
The hand of God was directing all aspects of
this transition. The job I began at Walmart in May (for the very purpose of a
future transfer south) released me to the store closest to my sister’s home.
The house agreement
began to work out with the financing all falling into place. The Fellowship of
Christ-Followers I was leading as Pastor received my resignation after 7 years
of ministry there and my last Sunday on April 12th
led to a loading up of our truck and leaving NH the next day. We arrived in
Florida on Wednesday the 15th and I began working at my new job on
the 18th.
May.
It was clear my parents (both in their 80s) were
failing – Dad physically and Mom with her dementia. Dad injured his back weed-whacking
which led to a hospital stay then the Rehab facility (the same place Mom was at). Dad
came home Memorial weekend on Saturday for a meal and visit which was great.
But by Memorial Day Monday morning he was taken back to the hospital as he was
agonizing at the facility most of the night
on Sunday. Dad’s body was shutting down. His visit at home was his last real
communications with us.
June. When it was clear Dad was about to leave us,
Deb and I decided to bring him home. We were by his side when he took his last
breath on June 3rd. Although my time with my best bud was short (6
weeks), it was full and
fun. We could again see God’s hand leading and guiding all the way. We retired
my 4-wheel drive Dodge Dakota with NO working A/C for a 2012 Dodge Journey. A
really comfortable crossover with great mileage
and “COLD” A/C!
July-September. Florida Summer Heat! My transfer to
the Poinciana Walmart in Kissimmee put me out in the Auto Care Shop as a
service tech. There’s no A/C out there. So I jumped into the Heat and Humidity
with both feet.
In the recent past I would no longer sweat in such heat in New England (and our
visits in Florida) but sweating returned on this job day in and day out. Plus
many said to us this was record heat in Florida,
too! In early August I slipped on an oily lift while getting out of a car and
felt discomfort in my knee. Workers Comp has me in rehab twice weekly and I
just had an MRI done on the knee. We are
waiting the results.
October. Vacation!!! The new vehicle took its first
long trip (1500 miles one way) to New Hampshire. We finalized things with our
bank. We met with the new house owner and stayed with friends in Bristol and Reading,
Massachusetts. We later flew from Boston to Denver for a visit with our sons
and grandson. What a great trip. Denver and Colorado are amazing. The Rockies
are beautiful and Tim and Pete knew just
where to take us. We were there for just a few days before flying back resting
up some in the Boston area then driving back south. We spent the final few days
of vacation in Hilton Head Island in SC just over
the border of historic Savannah, Georgia.
November-December. Some Florida Fall weather has come
for a visit. You can tell the dew-point has lessened but the hot sun is
persistent. Normal temps are usually low 70s. We’ve had some record breakers.
It did get
to 48 degrees one morning a few weeks ago, but here it is – Christmas and it’s
green and tropical and in the mid-80s! The WMUR (TV9 Manchester) app on my
smart phone tells me that NH has
been warmer this Christmas as well. Kathy and I did get to see snow fly in
Celebration, FL (the town Disney built) a few weeks ago in that town’s
Christmas Festival. It looked real but at 75 degrees,
you know it’s an illusion!
There it is. Our Year 2015. No longer New Hampshire
residents but now Florida residents. We miss you all and pray the Lord grants
you peace and joy this Christmas. May He bless you richly.
All our love, Mike, Kathy along with Mike’s sister Deb
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