Monday Morning Coffee

Good Monday morning, my friends! And Happy Labor Day to you! I have always loved this holiday, except perhaps for the years I spent it driving back to college! Labor Day signifies an end and a beginning to me. It is the end of the carefree summer days and the beginning of a brand new school year. This year, Labor Day means something much more for our family, a brand new beginning of sorts. My husband, Steve, is retiring from the job he has loved since the day I met him! Steve was sixteen years old and was selling cars when I met him at his family's car dealership. Following the sudden passing of his father thirty years ago, Steve, his two brothers, and two brothers-in-law built that small town car dealership into one of our area's biggest and most successful automotive companies. And I am sincere when I tell you they had the best time together while they did! 

Recently, one by one, Steve's family members retired until just Steve and his older and equally awesome brother Todd remained. The two of them decided that they would retire from the business together, and just as they began to think about it, an offer came from another family car business to purchase the entire corporation. God's timing is impeccable! After months of preparation, evaluations, and patience, Steve and Todd officially sold the company they, along with their brother and brothers-in-law, had built and loved for thirty-seven years. Steve is happy, thankful, sad, and relieved. And ready for the next chapter in our lives.

As for me, I realized just the other day I will be beginning this new chapter right along with him. Since 1996, I have been blessed to be a stay-at-home wife and mother. For twenty-seven years, I have sent my husband off to work and was there when he returned. My days were cozy and centered on my family and my home. Looking back, it all went so quickly. I can easily see the various seasons as chapters in the book of our lives...Steve and I, as a young married couple, both working and enjoying life...Being blessed with our first child, followed by two more back-to-back, and then years later, our last...Living a blessed life as a young family, sharing the joys and sorrows of life together. Now, we begin the next chapter as *Ahem* older parents with 3/4 of our children grown and less structure to our days. 

Our family loves the ocean, and we have vacationed in Maryland for years and years. Because Flynn is homeschooled, we are able to spend more time there now that Steve is semi-retired. ( He has agreed to continue working for the new owners in a remote way as a consultant. ) We recently bought a house there and will split our time between here and there. We are heading down to stay there for a few weeks soon. Why am I boring you with all this? Well, I wanted you to know that I won't be decorating for fall here because all my decorations are already down there! So, if you are wondering where my beloved fall is, I will share it from the new house soon! 

Well, if you made it this far, good for you!

Have a wonderful day, my friends.

Thanks for visiting!

BillieJo