Southwest Florida

We have been in Port Charlotte, Florida since May 3 (almost 5 months.) I feel like it's time to kind of evaluate our time down here as well as share my thoughts on Southwest Florida.

Things I like:

Palm trees everywhere

Beaches nearby

Friendly young families at the awesome church we've found

A great group of team members at Ian's store

Lakes/canals around every corner

A short drive away from Orlando and Miami (places that have always been hours and hours away from wherever I've lived)

Parks/playgrounds EVERYWHERE

Multiple airports nearby

Another CFA operator that enjoys investing in my husband

Things I'm not fond of:

The heat and humidity when my friends and family are enjoying cooler fall-like temperatures

Not being able to take off one weekend to visit our families

Missing the birth of our best friends' baby

Missing watching our other best friends' child grow up

Not being at our nieces and nephews birthday parties, other special events and family get togethers

Our nice sectional sofa, mattress, pots/pans/crockpot

So in conclusion, I've realized that relationships are very important to me. Especially those relationships that are most important to me - those with my family and friends. Thankfully we have been blessed with great new friends down here in SW Florida. And as awesome as I think they are, no one ever takes the place of family or your very closest lifelong friends (no offense to any PC friends reading this!) But something else that I have learned since being down here is that your lifelong friends will be your lifelong friends whether you live 15 minutes, 1 hour, or 11 hours away. And your family members are always a phone call (or email or text or plane ride) away. But more importantly, I've learned that my heart belongs with MY family -- my wonderful husband and two amazing kids. I will always feel at home as long as I am with them. So while we do miss everyone in Raleigh and Charlotte and Augusta (and beyond...), I am extremely thankful for the time I have had reconnecting with my Savior and experiencing a new type of dependence on Him. I am so also thankful for the growth Ian and I have experienced as a couple during this new stage in our lives and marriage. And I am blessed and thankful for the awesome friends we met soon after we moved down here who made the transition so much more fun and easy! Overall, we have been beyond blessed by the Lord, and I have nothing to complain about in this stage of my life!

Speaking of friends... We were supposed to have our small group tonight. But due to a few different situations, we decided to cancel tonight. But I still had some things I needed to take over to Natalia, so after dinner tonight we drove out there. While we were there, the boys got haircuts! So the picture above is post-haircut bath (to get all the hair off of course!) The last time Cayman got his haircut like this, it took a few days for the shaved look to grow on me. But I really like it now! It really is a cute style on him!