Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Update on our moving
We sold our home in Southern California. The escrow closed on December 7th. We drove one car with a small trailer carrying our important belongings and some essential items and left Orange County, California at 6:30 am on that day to beat the Downtown Lost Angeles traffic. People seem to get on the road earlier and earlier to get to work. At 6:30 am, traffic was bumper to bumper for at least 30 miles. I remember getting on the road around 6:00 am to be at work by 8:00 am. It seems people these days must start at 5:00 am or earlier if they work in the Los Angeles area. We took two days to reach my daughter Mercy’s home in Portland, Oregon.
We left California at 63°F and arrived in Portland, Oregon at 42°F. I bundled up the first few days. Eventually, my body got used to the cold. The weather got freezing the last few days. It was 21°F on Thursday, December 22nd and we woke up with snow on the ground on Friday. The grandkids had fun playing sleds. Lynton joined the kids sliding down the hills. The snow is melting this Saturday morning. We may not have a white Christmas tomorrow.
My daughter’s backyard
After we arrived in Portland, we started going to the home showings. We visited four homes and fell in love with one. By December 13th, we made an offer on one house. The escrow will be closed on January 10th. The home was built in the early 1990s and it was a custom home. The kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities are original. We got a break from the sales price to do the upgrades. It will be lovely when the improvements are done.
Our new home is about 18 to 20 minutes from Mercy’s home. The gym, nature parks, shopping, and our basic needs are within a 10 to 15 minutes drive.
We’ll move into our new home upon closing escrow. Lynton’s niece is getting married in February. So we’ll wait until February to return to California, attend Lynton’s niece’s wedding, then rent a moving truck to bring the rest of our belongings.
Wishing You a Blessed Christmas
and a Happy New Year!
From our family to you and yours!
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The Showers of Blessings 
Spring starts in February most years, Miriam. You’ll get used to the brief months of cold and rain. I’m so excited for you and Lynton, for Mercy and Will and the girls. It’s going to be wonderful live near each other. Here’s to a marvelous new year. Hugs ❤ ❤ ❤
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Happy New Year, Diana! We’ll live in the empty house for five weeks. Lynton’s niece is getting married on February 18. We’ll go back to CA on 2/17, go to her wedding, and move our things on 2/20. It shouldn’t have any ice on the road by then! I can’t believe that we’ll be in our new home next Tuesday! Thank you very much for your cheering message! Hugs to you! ❤ ❤ ❤
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No ice by then, I hope! Sometimes we have to start mowing the lawn at the end of February, so spring will be on its way. Enjoy your new space even if its empty! And safe travels.
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That’s great, no ice on the road! I look forward to settling down. Hope to do some gardening soon. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend! ❤ ❤
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Happy New Year
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Happy New Year to you!
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😊💐
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A beautiful post full of your beautiful family. I hope you had a wonderful and safe Christmas 💜💜
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Thank you, Willow! We had a wonderful Christmas, even though it was cold. Have a wonderful and happy 2023! ❤ ❤
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Thank you Miriam , may you and all your family be safe, happy and healthy in 2023 💜
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Have a blessed 2023, Miriam!
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Thank you, Priscilla! Wishing you and your family a wonderful and blessed new year!
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Congrats on your new home and move Miriam! You’ll be so happy being close to your daughter and grandchildren. It was 32 degrees in Florida on Christmas morning, I understand! Happy New Year to you too.
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That’s unbelievable, Melanie! 32 degrees in Florida must be unusual.
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2023!
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It sounds like everything’s coming together for you, Miriam. Happy Christmas and New Year!
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We’re very thankful of how things turned out, Debra! Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas.
Wishing you a happy 2023!
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I’m happy to hear you made it to Portland safely, Miriam. I know you’ll love being close to your family! I think 2023 will be a great year for you all! xo
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Thank you very much, Jill. My 5-year-old granddaughter asked if we’re staying forever, we said “yes.” She said forever is a long time but she was happy. She was always said to see us going back to CA.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful and blessed 2023!
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Aww, that’s wonderful! ❤️
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Hi Miriam. We made it up here to Portland. Our son and his fiancee could not fly in as flights were all canceled, but they rented a car in Seattle and drove here. Our nephew and his wife have lived here for two and a half years. We’re going to someplace called The Grotto today. We drive home tomorrow. There were lots of cars and trucks that ran off the side of the road. How great that you’re so much closer to your family!
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I’m glad to hear you made it to Portland safely, Pete! Does your son live in Seattle? Originally we booked the flights to arrive in Portland on Christmas Eve, we wouldn’t have made it.
With the crazy weather, I’m glad we don’t have to fly often anymore.
We went to Grotto. You’d loved it. The weather is getting warmer. You should have a better time driving home tomorrow. It’s wonderful you spent Christmas with your nephew. Happy 2023 to you. We may hear your son’s wedding bells.
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They live in Montana. It was -32 below there a few days ago. Crazy! Interestingly, their flight to Seattle went, but the second leg got canceled. Grotto was closed today, as it turned out. I guess a water pipe burst during the cold snap. We still had a lovely day despite the rain. My wife and I are starting to get stir-crazy already and ready to get home—an eight-hour drive tomorrow.
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It starts to get warm. Hope you’ll have no problem driving home!
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I am so happy how well this is working for you, Miriam. How wonderful to be so close to your daughter and family. That’s my dream, one day.
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I dreamed about that for many years, Jacqui! I hope either your son or daughter will get settled with a family soon. You can figure out what to do to be closer to them. I think that’s coming! Happy New Year to you and your family. 🎉
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Merry Christmas!
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Wishing you a happy and healthy 2023, Kymber! 🎉
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Great news that it’s all coming together for you, and good luck in your new home when the time comes. Happy Christmas 🎅
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Thank you so much, Clive! We officially accepted the counter offer today. Two weeks before we pick up the keys.
Wishing you and your family a happy and wonderful 2023! 🎉
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Congratulations, Miriam! Exciting times for you. Happy New Year to you and yours too 😊
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Happy Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you so much moveing update.
Nice you share your moveing experience.
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Thank you very much, Rajkkhoja. We’re happy with our new home. Happy New Year to you.
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HI Miriam, I am so happy for you that everything is going so well. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas Day.
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Thank you very much, Robbie! Things turned out wonderfully! We’re very thankful! Wishing you a happy New Year.
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happy Christmas and it sounds like you are in the right place
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I’m glad how things turned out, Beth! Thank you. Wishing you a wonderful 2023.
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Thank you for the update on your move, Miriam! It sounds as though you found the perfect house to meet your needs!! Have a wonderful Christmas with your family.
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Thank you very much, Liz! How was your Christmas? Did you set your children? How’s the weather your way?
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You’re welcome, Miriam. My husband and I had a nice, quiet Christmas. We did Facetime with our daugther and son-in-law in San Diego. (She’s recovering from surgery.) Thank you for asking!
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Good to know you had a nice Christmas, Liz! I hope your daughter will have a speedy recovery. It was not fun to travel this Christmas.
Wishing you and your family a happy New Year.
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Thank you, Miriam!
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You’re welcome, Liz!
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family, Miriam. So nice that you are with your daughter and her family for Christmas and that the end is getting near. Enjoy your holidays.
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Thank you very much, Carla! We’re thankful for being here in Portland. Not knowing if we could sell our old house so quickly, I booked the trip arriving in Portland today to spend Christmas with Mercy’s family. The cancellation and delays in the flights are terrible. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and new year!
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To you also 🎄🤗
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Thank you, Susie! 🎄😍
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Thank you very much, Annette! Wishing you a wonderful 2023!
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It looks like the pieces of the puzzle are coming together., Miriam. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and that everything goes well for you all in the New Year.
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It looks good so far, Dan. We have one more negotiation with the seller today. It should be final by tomorrow. Have a wonderful New Year!
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Good luck with that final session.
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We’ll be in our new home before we know it, Dan! Happy New Year to you and your family! 🎉😊
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I’m so happy for you, Miriam! The perfect Christmas gift to yourselves. Congrats on selling and buying so quickly. Enjoy the snow ( we’ve got almost 3 feet, and now rain). Merry Christmas to you and your family and may God’s peace envelop you.
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Oh wow! 3 feet of snow, Terri! We got less than an inch. It’s raining also, but it’s still freezing! Wishing you a blessed Christmas and a wonderful 2023. Will see you very soon!
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It’s all falling into place! Have a wonderful Christmas with your granddaughters. What an exciting 2023 you will have!!
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Thank you so much, Darlene! We’re thankful for the way things turned out! Merry Christmas and Happy 2023 to you!
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May your new house become a home quickly. Merry Christmas.
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Thank you very much, Quiall! We look forward to having all the work done and enjoying our new home!
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Merry Christmas! Blessings to your new home 🏡
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Thank you very much, Suzette! Merry Christmas to you and your family! ❤
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Thank you Miriam 😊 💓
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💖😍
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Wonderful, dear Miriam! 🎄💞 Sending lots of love your way… xoxoxo
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Thank you so much, Bette! Merry Christmas to you and your husband! Keep warm and safe! 🙂 ❤
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Miriam–this sounds wonderful–everything is falling into place. Merry Christmas to you and your family. 🎄
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Thank you, Lois! We’re very thankful for the way things turned out! Merry Christmas to you and your family! 🙂
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And to you and yours a joyful Christmas.🔔👒⭐️
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Thank you very much! Same for you! 🙂 🙂
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Sounds good going with the move. Glad you’ll be close by your daughter and grand-kids! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas! 🙂
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Thank you, Barbara! We’re glad to find a home we like and are close to Mercy and the grandkids. Merry Christmas to you! 🙂
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🙂 ❤
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💖😍
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So glad that everything is going so well. May you be richly blessed in your new home. Have a marvellous family Christmas before the upgrades and moving in take over!
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Thank you very much, Peter! The kids look forward to Christmas. The 5-year-old Autumn has been counting the days. They’ll be excited to open the presents tomorrow.
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It sounds like such a wonderful situation for you, so close to daughter and her family. And everything you need PLUS cold hahaha. Have a wonderful Christmas, Miriam. xo
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I like everything except the cold, Luanne! Even though Portland and Seattle were the first cities I lived in for several years when I first came to study from Hong Kong 40+ years ago, I forgot about the cold. We have a lot to learn about how to live in a cold city. ❤
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We forget what we want to forget! xo
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You’re exactly right, Luanne!
Happy New Year to you and your family! 🎉
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Happy New Year!
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