After that interesting moving weekend experience with the late household goods delivery, we welcomed ourselves back into a home we actually own. It feels good to shift from living out of suitcases to focusing on the work needed to make this place feel truly comfortable. We started with some practical fixes around the house. We secured loose floor transition pieces, cleaned layers of leaves off the roof that had not been touched in quite a while, and cleared out the vents. We also made note of the carpet we still found in some areas that will need to be removed soon. On top of that, we caught a leaking bathtub that will also need to be taken care of soon. These small projects reminded us how much a 50-year-old home can reveal once you start looking closely.

Nathan connected with a farm and ranch in the local area that provides events and support for veterans. Once a month, they sell meat raised right there on the property. The sales help fund the programs that the farm and ranch offer to veterans. We bought a cooler full of it and look forward to trying the different cuts. If we like it, we may have found our new regular supplier for filling our deep freezer. It feels nice to start building these local connections after the move.

Our part of Florida has not seen much rain lately, from what we understand. The folks at the farm mentioned their lake is down about seven feet. We did get a bit of off-and-on rain over two days. One of those days, we had a bonfire with the tree branches and palm fronds we had taken from the roof. The fire burned for a couple of hours in the morning, but because it was raining, we didn’t go sit out by it. Still, it felt good to make a little progress on the property.

A Week of Work and Progress

In between the house projects, we have both stayed busy with work. I am really looking forward to sharing some exciting news soon about something that will help the Society of Military Spouses in STEM fulfill its mission this year. I met with the top leadership team this week as well, and we had a very productive and celebratory meeting. There is real momentum building, and I cannot wait to tell you more. Stay tuned.

I kept up with my standard weekly schedule, which helped everything feel a bit more normal during this settling-in phase of our military move. Having that routine in place makes a big difference when so much else is still coming together.

On Friday, my sailor took the PMP certification exam and passed with flying colors. He had taken the course and studied hard for it while we were still in Arizona. I am proud of him, especially after everything we have juggled during this move.

On Saturday, my husband went to a beekeeping class at the same farm where we bought the meat. He came back excited and full of new ideas. While he was there, I raked more leaves around the house, went for a peaceful walk around a local lake, and tried to get caught up on emails and the ever-growing to-do list. The walk by the lake gave me a chance to breathe and appreciate how far we have come in just a couple of weeks.

Little by little, the house is starting to feel like ours. We still have plenty of projects ahead, but each small win, whether it is a cleared vent, a bonfire with yard debris, or a successful certification exam, adds to that sense of home. I am grateful for the steady progress and the chance to build new routines in this next chapter.

Originally published on LinkedIn on April 15, 2026. [Read it here]