Joanne Heim: Independent living

It's hard to believe that it's been four months since I moved into my new home! I moved in on May 15 and felt pretty settled with the first couple of weeks. Mom and Dad worked really hard to make that happen, arranging furniture and hanging things on the walls. I think part of growing up in the military and moving a lot is learning to get settled very quickly. The key is to set up your bed first so you have a place to sleep. Next comes the kitchen--gotta have the coffee maker ready to go for your first morning in your new house. A place to sit in the living room is important too, along with clothes in the closet and food in the fridge. My kitchen table was too small for my dining room, but worked for a couple of weeks until we managed to get to IKEA for the one I wanted. Mom and Dad spent long days here working super hard and I made lunches for us on the patio and kept the freezer stocked with popsicles. By the time they went back to Denver for the summer in early June, I was fully moved in and feeling very much at home. I did post house pictures on Facebook as I got settled, so if we're not friends there, send me a request and a note so I know that you're a blog reader.

I do have a short list of house things for Dad when they get back to Arizona in about a month, but everything has gone really well this summer. (I often tell people that I don't have a "Honey-Do" list since I don't have a honey. Instead, I keep an ongoing "Daddy-do" list at his request!)

I really love my home and my neighborhood and have enjoyed getting to know my neighbors. My little neighborhood is very social--we have happy hour on Thursday afternoons at our community pool which is just out my back door, as well as monthly dinners out at local restaurants. We have an active social committee that plans parties and events and it's been fun to get to know some of the women on the committee better since I joined the group last month.

I am still volunteer at the library in Surprise twice a week, something I thoroughly enjoy. I am still loving my church here (and still attend my Denver church online each week too). Women's Bible study started this past week. We are studying Matthew and I am looking forward to a great year of study with friends on Tuesday mornings.

I really like living on my own and rarely feel lonely. All the same, I am very excited to bring my new kitten home next week. Again, there are pictures of him on Facebook and will be many more once he's home with me!

I am anxious for Mom and Dad to get back. A neighbor asked if I need their help everyday to manage living on my own. My answer was that our family really likes each other and that I just miss them when they're gone! After they get back, our yearly beach camping trip is coming up.

So lots to look forward to--new kitten adoption and a friend coming for a short visit next week, Mom and Dad returning in a month and then a trip to the beach!