Welcome Summer Solstice! ☀️

June marks the time of year when many of us get to celebrate--whether it's the changing of the seasons, a school graduation (kinder, 5th grade, 8th grade, high school or college), or a birthday, most of us welcome the shift with open arms. In real estate, this is the time of year when many people are eager to transition from one home to the next. Those of us in the housing world keep quite busy in effort to help our clients buy and sell their homes.

Wednesday, June 21, marks the first day of summer. After the extraordinary amount of rain we experienced in the Willamette Valley this winter and spring, I am more excited than normal to welcome these summer months. I know in my family we can all use an extra dose of Vitamin D to boost our immune systems, not to mention our moods!

June is particularly special this year for my family. First, this year, we will have our 3rd high school graduate. Go, Toby! While the road has been a bit bumpy, this milestone marks the end of an era and the beginning of something new for Tobes. Furthering his desire to make "cool art" is high on his priority list. It will be fun to see where his path takes him!

Second, our youngest son, Liam, celebrates his 17th birthday and will participate in his first boxing match. He will also travel to Milan, Italy, on a Rotary exchange. He is the first of our four kids to travel abroad - super exciting! Liam is pretty gifted with language learning, so fingers crossed his time on Duolingo will serve him well. :-) We will be receiving Liam's host brother, Daniele, in a couple of weeks and are thrilled to meet him and have him become part of our family.

Third, we will be remodeling our kitchen. This has been in the works for several years now and it appears to finally be happening! I am hopeful it will be a smooth process, but am open to the learning (aka, challenges!) that we may encounter along the way. We are preparing for lots of BBQ dinners on the back deck since we won't have a kitchen for most of the summer.... wish us luck! And if you have any advice, we are open to any and all suggestions you may have! Stay tuned for progress updates!

Best wishes for a glorious onset to summer!

Summer is here! Let’s start it off with some home maintenance!

SPRING IS HERE!

April showers bring May flowers… and I am SO OVER THE RAIN!!

Come on, FLOWERS!

I’ll admit that patience has not always been a strong suit of mine, especially when it comes to wet weather. This spring is no different. Just when I think we are getting a glimpse of spring with a wink of sunshine, Mother Nature shows who’s boss and once again, brings another downpour.

I know that good things are on the horizon; they always are! And good things DO come to those who wait… and waiting with baited anticipation we are! With the warmer, sunnier weather, we see more smiles, hear more birdsong, and experience more of what Oregon’s great outdoors has to offer.

So let’s get ready for what awaits! Make plans to go for a hike, invite friends over for a barbie, move forward with those plans to renovate your space (or buy or sell your home!)

And in the meantime, ENJOY EVERY MOMENT! Find the peace and tranquility in the rain, know that with each drop, our yards will be greener, our gardens more beautiful, and our appreciation for what is, that much sweeter.

May the season of rebirth find you full of joy for each moment we have.

And on a personal note, my first born, Henry, is turning 22 this month!  WHAT?!  Needless to say, Bryce and I are so incredibly proud of our boy and the amazing young man he is becoming.  His heart is pure gold and radiates a love for life and adventure and people and family and animals… he is SUCH A BEAUTIFUL HUMAN!!!  I am honored he chose me to be his mom.  

It’s time for some Spring Cleaning! Check out the tips below to ensure you’re keeping up with your home.

We Made It Through Q1!

Spring is coming!

With the March 21 equinox right around the corner, I find myself revving up for the fresh energy that spring brings. Springtime is also a rush of newness: new buds on the flowers and trees, the birds, butterflies and BEES (oh my!) that will soon frequent our yards again, the baby lambs, calves and kids hopping around the fields... so much to look forward to!! It is my favorite time of year. It's also a time when most of us are gearing up for an uptick in business as new energy invites us to switch things up a bit.

While there is so much to appreciate with what spring brings us, there is also a lot to filter and consider: is the new year what I anticipated? Am I approaching my personal and professional life the way I intended? Are outside stressors getting the better of me? This is the perfect time to do a quick mental audit of what the first quarter of the year has been and figure out next steps for the upcoming months ahead.

I invite you to enjoy the shift! Embrace whatever comes your way and whatever changes you decide to make--and trust yourself to make the right decisions. Delight in the fresh opportunities that present themselves and know that each challenge is a chance to experience something new. Listen to your body and know she will always guide you in the right direction.

Now get out there and get it!!

End Q1 with a bang! …. and a super clean house. Check out the tips below to ensure you’re keeping up with your home. 🧹