One Year in Florida Today!

Yes, today is one year since landing in Florida. 

The night before we arrived in Plant City, our final destination, we stopped in Pensacola. After dragging all of our bags and valuable items from the van into our hotel room, and securing Dodger in his pen, we walked across the street to a Cracker Barrel. We were so exhausted and hungry. Our waitress was super friendly and sweet. At the end of our meal she made conversation with us and asked us where we were traveling. 

My husband, laughing, told her we just moved to Florida. "OH, from where?" she asked excitedly. And Gil, not wanting to spoil her excitement, sheepishly eked out, "California." 

Recognizing his shame, she quietly leaned in and replied, "You're on the run; I get it." Then she welcomed us to freedom. 

This month has seen a lot of changes. Yesterday I had to turn in the key to the rental house, and I felt a little sad about saying goodbye to the place that was such a blessing to us. It truly was God's timing that we ended up there, and now that part of our lives was over. 

Last weekend we helped move our oldest son into his new house in Port Charlotte, Florida. He had been renting a place in Venice, which was up in March; and again, in God's timing, found a house that was right for him and took the opportunity. Again, I felt a little sad about his moving further away, but mom's have to let these things go. 

On a fun note: Governor DeSantis is having a rally at my son's work today, and he gets to hear him speak. 

And finally, I'm disappointed in myself for not stopping to enjoy what is before me. One thing I loved about my life in California was that it was pretty easy. We hiked a lot and I stopped to enjoy the dry brush and sporadic wild flowers, the dead trees and rocks. Occasionally there was a trickle of a stream. I admired the peace of nature, even if it was brown and the same everywhere. It was still peaceful. 

But now, now that I am surrounded by ABUNDANT LIVING NATURE EVERYWHERE, I haven't taken time to soak it in as I should. I practically live in Jurassic Park. The sounds of exotic birds are everywhere, and everything is super size. Sadly, I have not taken pictures of all that is around me, and mostly because I haven't stopped to admire it. But I'm working on it. 

Thus, I do not have much to share. But this is what I have: 

My husband and the kids are building a chicken coop. 

There are frogs everywhere. I must check my rain boots in the morning before I put them on just to make sure I don't squish anyone. 

This beautiful creature was on my car. 

Oh, this cracks me up. There are many of these things on power lines above, and I don't know what they are; but they remind me of the covid virus emoji. 

Here is what it looks like most mornings from my front porch: 

And here is the chicken coop painted: 

I am mostly doing gardening for therapeutic reasons (see, I'm not alone), but in the end I hope to produce food. This is a blueberry bush:

Jalapenos: 

I live in the strawberry capital of the United States. I should be able to grow strawberries: 

Squash:

Oranges:

A variety of veggie seedlings. I need to move those into larger pots now:

My garden for now, but we hope to expand this if the experiment works:

My herbs:

And another way to grow from seed:

So we've been here a year. Would any of us return to California? No. No way! Especially not the High Desert. I am grateful that God answered our prayers -- multiply prayers -- to remove us, our kids, and to let me be here to care for my dad.

Granted, it has been tough on the soul. I miss my church family and my church and the kids miss their friends. I also miss my granddaughter. And I miss the dry weather in California. Getting used to the smell of mildew is trying. I don't miss the daily wind in the desert. It is calm here. If you see a breeze, you think: Oh, it's windy today. 

The winter, being the last season to experience, so far is the best. We wear shorts and tank tops most days. Sometimes you need a sweatshirt, but not past 11AM. We had one day of 30 degree weather on Christmas night. Brrr. We actually put the heat on. But I'm not looking forward to the wild weather again, in spring, summer, and early fall. I do not like it. 

Living in rural America is awesome. People practice self-sufficiency by nature. It's common sense. No one is waiting for government to do something for them; in fact, the least governmental intrusion the better. And while everyone has no trespassing signs on their property, these are the friendliest, most inviting neighbors we've every met. We've only been here 2.5 months in our new house, and we have been introduced to five neighbors. One only owns the lot next door, and yet he still came over to speak to me. 

Here in rural Florida, property owners burn their own yard waste in unattended huge bonfires. That would never happen in California. Not only because of the wind and dry conditions, but the government would never trust humans to do it safely. Only vagrants are permitted to light fires. Property owners? Not so much. 

And my husband and I are blown away by the efficiency of government, when necessary. Everything thus far has been quick and simple. Frankly, California is a mess. I am so sorry, but I do not think there is any hope for that mess. Such a waste. If Florida adopts the policies of the West, it will all be lost. 

I hope to take more pictures of my experience of this beautiful place. Hope to. And if my son adds any pictures of the rally with Governor DeSantis, I will share here, too. 

California Governor tries to sell freedom to Floridians

California Governor Gavin Newsom released a political ad on Independence Day because he is worried about freedom....in Florida. (The Newsom Ad below is part of a video that supports Newsom. It was the only one I found that included the entire Ad without anchors talking over it. And it is shown at the very beginning. You only need to watch the Ad. )

In his political ad, Newsom warned that America's freedom is under attack, especially in Florida, where Governor DeSantis is "banning books, making it harder to vote, restricting speech in classrooms, and criminalizing women and doctors." Naturally, Newsom is being deceptive, which is easy to do when you know people are just distressed because they aren't having their way. 

1. For one, DeSantis agrees with parents that sexually explicit material does not belong in the classroom. Frankly, none of it should be in any classroom, but Florida drew the line at 3rd grade. 

In California, the "sexual education" is perversion, abusive, and offensive. It goes beyond biology and promotes confusion, lies, and mental illness. Children are not protected because the material is pervasive through all subjects, and parents have no voice about it.

2. Newsom said Florida is making it harder to vote. But the question should be how does your state protect your vote while ensuring only legally registered citizens vote once? 

Here in Florida, I am training to work the polls on Election Day. If you keep your records current and active, your vote will count. In Florida, you have to provide a photo ID with a signature; you have to verify your current address in the county where you are registered, which you can update on Election Day. Voters need to be registered 29 days before an election. And there are two weeks of early voting prior to Election Day. I am really impressed with how thorough and careful my county here operates to ensure integrity. Meanwhile, in California, you don't have to show photo or signature ID to prove who you are. 

In 2020, Newsom decided early on that every "registered" voter would have a ballot mailed to his residence, even though there already was the option to vote by mail if you requested a ballot. But Newsom made the decision for the voters without considering the ramification of mailing millions of ballots all over the state. As if that doesn't invite voter fraud.

Furthermore, if you forget to request a ballot by mail, or you can't remember to vote early, or you can't go to your polling place on Election Day, you can print off your ballot at home, fill it out, and mail it in. What could go wrong with that? And don't worry if you mail it on Election Day. There is plenty of time to make it count. 

I did not feel confident that the 2020 election was managed well. Videos of people stealing ballots out of mailboxes were exposed prior to Election Day. Video of ballots being stolen from drop boxes was an issue, too. Some people arrived at the polls to find out they had already voted when they knew they had not! There was such a lack of trust, that many Californians believe their votes will never count and voting doesn't matter anymore. I rather live in a state that runs a tight ship. If you can't manage your civic duties, then you shouldn't vote. 

3. Restricting speech in the classroom has to do with the so-called "Don't say gay..." bill, which again goes back to the issue about inappropriate ideas and language being promoted in K-3rd grade classrooms. Newsom obviously supports anything that is politically expedient. If the more aggressive mob demands that they have their way in the classroom without ramifications, then parents will be censored. Newsom isn't entirely for free speech; parents do not have rights when their desires contradict the huge political teachers union. Free speech is for teachers and students with progressive voices voicing progressive ideas.  

In Florida, DeSantis is speaking as a father, and he has heard the parents. The sexual teachers unions  sharing their personal, private lives in the classroom need to focus on reading, writing, and math. 

4. Finally, Newsom complained that Florida is criminalizing women and doctors, which is obviously about abortion. Unfortunately, abortion, which is murder of defenseless babies in the womb, is still legal in Florida; however, after 15 weeks, it is a crime. That will be the law. Anyone who performs the abortion will be penalized. DeSantis said that women will not be penalized, and there are still provisions for rape and incest, which is still murder. 

Newsom is just trying to scare women already worked up over an unfounded fear of losing themselves since they have been told for so long that their identity is dependent on their ability to have unaccountable sexual freedom. Like males. 

And Newsom, again, is being politically convenient because he doesn't care about women or doctors. He doesn't believe in "My body, my choice." He cares about elections, and the abortion industry is his friend.

He didn't have a problem telling Californians (via the health department) to wear masks over their faces when they exited the house, or for every child to wear masks all day long when they returned to the classroom more than a year later. He (via the health department) had no problem working on ways to legally force government agencies and private businesses to threaten their employees with job termination if they did not get vaxxed. 

Newsom does not care about personal freedom or liberty. He was often bent on finding new ways to make our lives a living hell because he was constantly in a tyrannical mood. He jumped at the chance to threaten businesses, schools, and churches to close, then three months later gave permission for certain ones to reopen, but with restrictions. He made some businesses operate outdoors in parking lots, in tents! Restaurants, gyms, and beauty salons had to work outdoors. There was no consistency and only special groups had license to override restrictions; it was pure hypocritical chaos, and it is still going on to this day. Newsom released new regulations and restrictions weekly, always via state health agencies because as governor he cannot tell individuals what to do, though he would very much like. He continued to extend his own emergency powers so he could bypass the legislature. 

He was already thinking of ways to make unvaxxed lives impossible because they would not comply with his demands. He even sought to punish other states by not doing business with them, withholding all state employees from traveling to mean red states like Florida. 

For this man to lecture a state like Florida on protecting freedoms, he truly is a sanctimonious liar. I remember what a horror it was to live under his dictatorial leadership for two years during the scamdemic. He was  made for such a time because he strives to control lives and tell others how to live and function. It was absolutely miserable for young people. I know four families who left California "temporarily" or traveled to other states in order for their children to continue in their sports. Even my own kids ended up losing interest in their activities or their activity was so restricted that they lost opportunities. This went on for almost two years! 

Under rational circumstances, you may have been tempted to think, "Oh, this is going to end shortly and we will return to normal." But in California, it was like a never ending rollacoaster. It got worse and worse. My stomach turned when I saw that CASES increased. CASES!! People who tested positive for covid, not people who went into the hospital and died. Purely positive cases. When the numbers rose, Fuhrer Newsom made an announcement that it was back to masks and restrictions. And he blamed the people for not voluntarily wearing masks more often, as if masks prevented transmission. This...the man who "mistakenly" went to a birthday party at a restaurant with health department lobbyists (exceeding his prescribed limit of human gathering) in which none of them wore masks. The man who said (a week before this party) to wear a mask while eating! 

This same man, who cares so much about freedom, who told Californians to wear masks because it showed others that we care, also told protesters during the summer of 2020, to continue their rage because it was real, while they stormed freeways and blocked traffic, burned businesses down, and beat the crap out of people just trying to protect their small businesses that were already ruined by Newsom's scamdemic policies. By the way, when thousands of violent protesters were sanctioned by Newsom to carry on but funerals were limited to ten people, it was obvious that the virus, lockdowns, and restrictions were based on lies. ALL LIES!!!

Newsom further destroyed California because he wasn't and isn't in the business of rewarding good and punishing evil. Rather, he promotes perverse behavior, protects criminals and encourages crime, punishes law abiding citizens, neglects the states infrastructure, and even has ignored the will of the voters on several occasions. 

Here's the plain truth: 

Look at Canada! Do you see what Trudeau is doing to those people? That is what Newsom is doing to Californians. Trudeau and Newsom are graduates of Klown Schwab's WEF Young Global Leaders. They have no interest in preserving freedom, liberty, or self-government. Their task is to promote themselves, to implement a wicked (anti-freedom) agenda, and to CONTROL subjects. They care not for life, health, or privacy. They seek power alone. OK? There is no room for freedom when all you desire is power. 

I'm surprised Newsom didn't self-righteously condemn Governor DeSantis for still permitting plastic straws and bags for use. Or that he hasn't condemned gas-powered vehicles. Newsom has outlawed the selling of those by 2035, even though there isn't a comparable, affordable alternative in place. And by the way, plastic bags still exist in California, you just have to pay for them. It's a handy state tax. 

Newsom is a liar and a thief. He is going to run for President of the United States one day soon. He may very well be testing the waters now. CONSIDER YOURSELVES WARNED. 

* * *

Some other hits about Newsom:

Newsom Vacays in Montana, an Outlaw State (rules for thee, but not for me)

Red States are Winning

Dear Floridians: Newsom is Using You...

Why We are Leaving California

California is Not Beautiful

Take California 

Gavin Newsom's Weird Idea of Freedom

An excellent op ed by Robert Malone California, here they go

My Actual Letter to CA Governor Gavin Newsom

Dear Governor Newsom:

We are leaving California. We are not excited about leaving our home, our family, our friends, our church, and our children's friends and all they have accomplished in their activities; it has been a heartbreaking few months putting our home of twenty-five years up for sale and saying good bye to our best friends and watching our kids say goodbye to theirs. However, we have been praying about leaving California for a number of years because it has become apparent to us that this is not a place we want to continue raising our children or leave them here to take root and establish a future. 

Recently, God has answered our prayers, and while not in the way we had expected, He has provided for us an immediate way out, and we are going. I thought you should know why, even if you care not that you bear some responsibility as to why we and so many Californians would uproot our families and run from such a naturally beautiful state.*

In no particular order:

California is a dangerous place to raise children. While so many parents are willingly relinquishing their rights, the state is also chopping away at parental responsibility. My children have always been homeschooled (praise God), but I see what is going on within the school system, and I am certain it will not bring forth a healthy future society. California commemorates and encourages immorality and mental illness, especially through narcissistic teachers in the classroom, where students should be studying and learning the U.S. Constitution, reading classical literature, and understanding how to think critically. Instead they are trained to tolerate, promote, and celebrate one view, one opinion, with confusion and folly. 

Speaking of children, they have borne the brunt of this foolish global response to Covid. After a year out of the classroom, they now are forced to wear material over their faces inside classrooms for six to eight hours, or doing physical activity (such as my girls were made to do at their dance studio), or any other activity; and now they will be forced to vaccinate with an untested product for a virus that hardly affects them, or not be permitted into public or private institutions.

California does not respect or cherish law and order. Its policies encourage, foster, and reward lawlessness, and it is precisely why California has an exponential crime quandary. It is certainly not feasible to own a business in this state. It is also becoming dangerous to shop in public. 

California assists and protects thieves and squatters (delinquent renters) over landlords and is why it is not wise to rent your property to anyone. California gives new meaning to "neighbors from hell" and is why home buyers would rather steer clear of communities with subsidized rental housing. But I confidently understand why you would not know what that is like. 

California, and you in particular, dangerously advertise and encourage the increased murder of defenseless babies in the womb. You will be held to account for your speech and actions when you kneel before God. 

California has a vagrancy complication. It's not homelessness as much as it is mental illness and drug and alcohol dependency. They don't need more tents. They need to be removed from the streets and cared for in a safe facility. They need actual physical and psychological help. 

California supports the breaking of federal immigration law and harbors those who enter the United States illegally and commit other crimes while here, providing sustenance for them to continue stying here, protecting them form the Administration of Justice. 

California has not improved in the areas of saving and storing water, especially in the southern half; the state's only resolution is to make obtaining and using water a punishment. Also, California has a wildfire problem - every year. It's never a surprise. Yet, still nothing is done to proactively manage these vulnerable areas. Let me guess: both issues are held up in bureaucratic and political environmental chicanery?

The policies that protect and promote the climate change hoax are a burden to the young, poor, singles, families, those on fixed incomes, and anyone else I missed, making it increasingly difficult to be financially responsible. Continuous new regulations, restrictions, and taxes on homeowners, business owners, car owners, and consumers all in the name of saving the environment discourage financial progress and independence. 

I do not want to get into the high tax burdens, but I know people leave for those reasons, too. And sadly, high taxes hurt mostly the middle class because the rich don't feel the pinch and the poor have their lives subsidized forever. But the middle class, who move up and down the economic spectrum, find it a battle to remain financially capable: maintaining a vehicle, paying for college, rent or mortgage, gas, along with utilities, maintaining a small business and paying salaries, while still having to buy food and pay for healthcare. And big businesses never pay taxes; they pass those costs on to the consumer. The middle class feels it the most. 

Finally, for the last two years, you alone acted like a king and aggressively lead the way in unAmerican and unproven policies of locking down small businesses, schools, churches, and completely healthy adults and children, preventing them from self-governing, a God-given ability and constitutional right. Guess what! None of that prevented cases, hospitalizations, or death. The mask was utter foolishness. If masks worked, you would have always worn it, even when we weren't looking. If six-feet worked, if staying home worked, you and your elites would have practiced the same. But you showed yourself to be a hypocrite time and again. And your revolutionary policies are never going to stop the manmade virus. There is only one Man who can end death, and it isn't you. 

We have known for a long time that this manipulated virus is part of a scam to get everyone vaccinated forever and ever, enriching the global elites and eventually tying us all into a centralized monetary and surveillance state dependent on one's behavior and environmental credit score. ( I know you were a student of the WEF's Young Globalists, and I read Schwab's Covid 19: The Great Reset. He loves China!) We've seen China. That's where you are taking this state with a self-serving, arrogant ideology.

Just be reminded, Mr. Newsom. The only reason you are Governor of California is because God placed you there. And His one requirement of you is that you would reward what is right and good and punish evil. 

And what have you done? The complete opposite!

Last summer, my family drove through the South to Florida and up to Missouri. The moment we drove into Arizona, freedom smacked us in the face. With the exception fo New Mexico, every single state was a whole new world. Besides a few individual mask hold outs and the ugly, dirty 6 feet signs stuck to the floor and littering the windows of businesses, there really was no sign of the scamdemic. Americans had gotten on with life. 

Only on our return to California did we feel the oppressiveness, the melancholy atmosphere. Even the first restaurant we visited back inside the state line reminded us that there is a nationwide shortage of coins, which I think is only prevalent in California because no other state had that problem. 

Yeah, we can't live like this anymore. We desire liberty and self-government so much, especially for our kids. Even pre-covid, there was no encouragement of either anyway; but today, this is tyranny, and it's not OK. 

Nonetheless, I do pray for you, Governor Newsom, because you still are accountable to the Lord. You need to know His truth. If you lived in truth, told the truth, and steered clear of hypocrisy,  promise you, even your enemies would respect you. 

Sincerely . . .

Take California...for example

The Dying Citizen: 

How Progressive Elites, Tribalism, and Globalization

Are Destroying the Idea of America

Victor Davis Hanson

Published 2021

(still in progress)

Victor Davis Hanson, who lives in California, wrote about the problems with that state in his most recent book The Dying Citizen. He said (and I paraphrase):  

Twenty-first century California has a disappearing middle class. Soon it will be two classes: rich and poor. California is an icon of post modernism, where citizenship is extinguishing. It is a Progressive dream. The state is the leader in "awful things": it leads in high taxes, poverty, welfare, homelessness, gas taxes/prices, electricity, illegals/migrants, worst schools, worst roads, and highest ratio of inequality. 

Its green policies are expensive, unaffordable, and unreliable. One fifth of Californians live below poverty. Green power is the least of their concern. Regarding the state's excessive wildfires, it is known that controlled burns are discouraged, as well as removing dry brush and dead trees, grazing, logging, and the timber industry, whose policies are actually instrumental in controlling wildfires. The fires cause air pollution every year. 

The state has wasted billions on high speed rail to nowhere instead of fixing or repairing already troubled road projects. Open borders and hundreds of sanctuary cities throughout the state have permitted millions of abject poor with few skills to enter the U.S. They account for twenty-five percent of the state's population. 

Unfortunately, few of these problems affect the wealthy who politically support these policies and laws. The state's wealthy oppose charter schools while they send their children to expensive private schools for the rich. Meanwhile public schools are full of impoverished students, mainly immigrants from Central America and Mexico. 

Much of the middle class say nothing -- they leave the state. 

San Francisco has the highest economic inequality: the top one percent made thirty-six million, while the bottom ninety-nine percent made eighty-one thousand. The state's income tax was the highest at 13.3% until New York decided to top it. One hundred fifty thousand households pay half the total annual state income tax, while forty percent pay zero state income tax. 

What do the middle class get for the income tax they pay? Poor schools, crumbling infrastructure, high crime, high fuel and food prices, some of the most expensive housing prices in the nation, high business regulations and taxes. 

Small businesses are leaving California for Texas, where the business environment if friendly, and retirees are leaving, as well. Mostly conservatives are leaving, enshrining the state in its destructive policies and creating a permanent monopoly. California can only become poorer. 

During the scamdemic, California was the first to lock down and the last to open up. (I would argue, it's still not fully opened. The governor has his finger on the button, ready for the next hit -- his hit. You should see what they are doing to young people!) Oh, but it paid out generous subsidies and fell short $60 to 100 billion. Now it is looking at an estate tax. 

California, the trendsetter, where bad ideas originate (see, I'm not the only one saying it), is transforming its middle class into a modern traditional peasantry. It rates at the bottom for education and infrastructure, suffers high crime rates for many of its cities, hasn't updated its freeways or dams since the 1980s. Dams would help the thirty million who live in the state's desert climate. Can you believe...the state restricts water to its Central Valley for agriculture? (BTW, I witnessed this on a drive through the CV to San Francisco about ten years ago, where farmers posted signs begging voters to tell Congress to send water!)

The state is dividing its people into Haves and Have Nots. Half of the nation's homeless live in sunny California. (It is a great place if you live outdoors most of the time because it never rains.) One third of Americans on public assistance live in California. One fifth (mostly immigrants) live below poverty, and one third of residents are on Medical. Medical paid for half of all births in the state; thirty percent of undocumented moms come without English or skills. Twenty-seven percent residence in California were not born in the United States. And this I do not get: 5.5 million California immigrants were eligible to vote in 2020!!

What is California's rationale? To tax the middle class to death and give, in return, poor state service? Why do citizens make poor choices in self-government? The wealthy are not harmed by these policies because they have ways out, loop holes, and influence. Meanwhile, the poor pay little to no taxes and receive generous entitlements. The middle class are left holding the bag. 

Now there is only a single party rule. The Democrats have supermajorities in both houses of government. California is the model for the wealthy medieval keep of the coastal elite. It's a filthy rich state, though their farms are vanishing. It's like a tale of two worlds: a highly sophisticated, regulated uniform costal gentry vs. an impoverished interior of immigrants, with little ability or desire to adhere to rules, living on welfare, healthcare, food, housing, transportation, and legal assistance, with little education. And they know all the programs. They're free!

It's a scary thought, but it could happen if California is the model for the nation: a one party governance, drive out the middle class, import poor from abroad, enable staggering levels of global wealth concentrated in the hands of a few and one power source forever. And if California is the model, well, you can see for yourself what the end result will be. 

Let's just say: you better hope you are part of the wealthy elite. 

UPDATE: Another op ed by Victor Davis Hanson re. California: The Selfish Californian

UPDATE, UPDATE: Another op ed by Hanson including more supporting evidence for a reckless California: The Sovietization of America

California is Not Beautiful Anymore

The only way my family left California was through an unexpected opportunity provided by God -- otherwise known as GRACE. We had been trying to escape by way of finding employment in another state, which after two years of searching and applying and numerous interviews still did not produce fruit. However, continuous prayer did, though it was not for the reason we had imagined nor even the state we had focused. We left on faith, and we are grateful for God's answered prayer. 

Now, why would anyone want to leave California? Have you not heard how "beautiful" California is or how perfect the weather is? Yes, I can attest to how perfect the weather is, usually. To be fair, we lived in the Southern California DESERT where it is hot, dry, and windy. The seasons are winter, wind, summer, and fire. It rarely rains. And the earth is hard, scorched, and covered with dust.

But lately I had been finding it difficult to see the beauty in California anymore. There are pockets of beauty, like the mountains and the sunsets and San Diego. Yet a state as large as California can not rely on its  mountains, sunsets, and San Diego and continue to survive. The truth is, California has forfeit her beauty. It is losing viability. She has become a dry, thirsty, barren land. It is mainly dried brush. Even in the mountains, it can only showcase dead brush, dried pine needles, and dusty trails. 

California, a state that proudly leads the world in environmental salvation, has become a land of ruination, destruction, and demise. I believe the policies of the state are to blame, with help from the loyal electorate, legal and illegal. It is a losing argument; the people do not care. And the one's who do are leaving.

In our travels across the country over the years, from west to east and back again, we saw a similar theme: California, compared to the states along the I-10 and the I-40 specifically, is a dirty, neglected state. My husband said the reason other states appear beautiful and cared for is because those states use their tax dollars for infrastructure. They pave and improve roads, maintain landscaping, rest stops, and signage, and clean up trash and graffiti. Their roadways are an important investment. 

In California, special interest groups and progressive ideas are the investment. Infrastructure can wait.

Granted, California cannot help that it is a desert, or that it is deserted and uninhabited for miles from its neighboring state lines, or that most of that land is federally protected for a vanishing rodent. But that is no reason for its rest stops to be useless. Rest stops were erected for a reason. The least they can be is available. Other states not only keep theirs open, but they are maintained, and one does not need to hold one's nose with one hand while swatting away flies with the other.

But, this is the least of California's problems. We also noticed that the roads in other states are preserved and well kept, even easy on the eyes with appropriate landscaping.  Surely, we experienced road construction through Arizona and Texas, but that is to be expected. Once you hit central Texas, the roadway is lined with trees all the way to Florida. Trees, trees, and more trees. I don't know if I am complaining or exclaiming. That is just how it is. However, when heading west from El Paso on, the landscape turns to dust color. And by the time you get to the California border, the color is disappointment. It is akin to a mind draining - a kind of emptiness. 

Maybe that is because I was not seeing the land with my eyes, but the soul of California with my heart, which I know is dying, if not dead already. I could not take it anymore. It literally sucked the life out of me, and I could not stand the thought of leaving my children there to live as adults. Yet, I understood that if God wanted us to stay in that state, He would have willed it, and we would have stayed, and our children, too. Maybe. And He would have provided and protected us there as well. He will protect and provide for His believers regardless of what happens to California. But unbelievers will not have His protection, and they will suffer just as California dries up. 

Before I moved to Florida, I sent a list of grievances to Governor Gavin Newsom (similar to what the Founders did for King George III when they composed the Declaration of Independence) explaining why we were leaving. 

Some of the issues the State has failed to address include the water problem. It doesn't rain enough in California. It has to buy water from other states. But the governor has another agenda and rather starve the state's farmer's like a good obedient WEF Global Leader, while sending water back to the ocean and enforce restrictions on and punish water usage for the rest of the people. 

The State has failed to fix its energy problem. There are no new ideas. Wind and solar power aren't cutting it. All it can do is to restrict and discourage usage. Yet it wants to outlaw gas powered anything and force everyone into electric power. How long before you can't even drive your EV?

The State has a wild fire problem. Every year. The land is rocky, dry, and windy -- a hot bed for disaster. But it refuses to listen to wisdom about deforesting dead trees, brush, and pine needles. The State is beholden to the environmentalists first and foremost. But why waste money on such ideas? 

The State is neck deep in an expanding problem of mental illness. (Homelessness is just a cover for neglected addicts and the mentally ill.) In some cities, the taxpayers provide drug paraphernalia to the vagrants because: safety first. A lot of tax dollars are spent on maintaining the homeless population. All of this is done at the expense of business and residents who have to endure rising crime, arson, violence, and sidewalk excrement. 

Speaking of rising crime, voters agree that criminals should be treated with lighter sentences, less jail time, if at all, and more coddling instead. Looting cannot be treated as theft anymore. Felonies have been magically and conveniently switched to misdemeanors. It may not address the underlying problem of crime, but at least it has improved incarceration stats. And that looks good!

Legalizing marijuana was foolish. It's everywhere. Of course people drive while under the influence, go shopping while intoxicated, and sit in their cars and smoke at the park; the odor pollutes the air everywhere. This after the State worked so hard to completely ostracize tobacco smokers! But it is what the electorate wanted. 

California is a sanctuary state. That means it protects people who come to America illegally, especially those who commit crimes, by not turning them over to mean federal authorities. 

California is also an unfriendly state for landlords. Or California supports squatters over landlords. Or California believes that living rent free in someone else's property is a right. I don't know how else to say this one. 

You get the point. 

fire season

Then there are some very grievous moral issues in California. One is the application of sexual exploitation and confusion that has spread rampantly through public education and government agencies. This iniquitous ideology is the standard for everything - the common denominator. Nothing may exist unless it meets this standard. The governor, too, is very proud of this because it is brave to advance progressive ideas like humanism.

But perhaps the most dangerous ideology is Newsom's stance on abortion as a liberating and celebratory act of womanhood. He once proclaimed that women (even though he is not a biologist) who want an  abortion are welcome to come to California anytime. Now with the recent SCOTUS draft leak regarding the possible end of Roe v. Wade, Newsom is an anxious wreck. Abortion is the sacred sacrament of the Progressives. They are the Cult of Death. How dare the Courts reject their precious device of sacrifice. 

Therefore California is considering a state constitutional amendment to protect murder in the womb (and out of the womb?), especially in case the world turns upside down and Democrats loose control of California and the hate-filled Republicans outlaw abortion. Newsom promised that California taxpayers would gladly pay for the transportation of persons seeking abortions from other states, in the event their state outlaws murder in the womb.

Even before the SCOTUS leak, California legislative warriors passed a bill protecting anyone (because men can have babies, too) who gives birth and neglects that life to the point of death several weeks later. Otherwise known as infanticide. 

While I have not addressed the economic issues in California, I know the state is becoming financially unprofitable for the middle class. You will either be part of the wealthy elite or the subsidized poor. But my real focus is that none of us can expect to be this rebellious, this arrogant, and this immoral and not expect judgment from God. I believe California is experiencing this far worse than most states.

Newsom is falling apart, and he's taking California with him. I actually feel embarrassed for him. He looks to be a wreck. He is beside himself that governors like DeSantis even exist. ( Newsom goes scorched earth...) In fact, these two governors could not be more polar extremes than they already are. California is an absolute moral disaster, outside and inside to its rotting core, from its arrogant government to its complicit and participatory electorate. 

Another thing I pointed out to Newsom was that God appointed him to be governor, and he will be held accountable when he stands before God. All authority is given by God -- to reward good and punish evil. This is not how Newsom has governed. 

I wonder -- just a wonder -- if God is not judging California harsher than the rest of this forsaken nation for its rebellious toward and disregard for God, life, and morality. Newsom is a fraud. He is corrupt and a liar. You can see in his body language, his words, and his hypocritical behavior. He desires power and control at the expense of liberty, freedom, and self-government.  I wonder how he was even born in America; but obviously he was schooled under the World Economic Forum's Young Globalist Program and groomed for such a day as this. 

But he seems mighty uncomfortable, and I pray that God is disturbing his conscience. I know it isn't because he read my letter. He never read my letter. But God can stir his mind and make him miserable, and all I can do is pray that it will either turn his mind to truth (in which he repents of all his wickedness) or God drives him mad, like Nebuchadnezzar, and ends his ambitious climb to the top of all power and control. 

* * * 

The trip across America

The morning of our move, we woke up early and said goodbye to our house.  😢 

saying goodbye to our home of twenty-five years

We left later than we would have had we not needed to pick up meat, which is a very strange item to need before you move across country. Back in December, before we knew we were moving at all, we bought an 1/8 of a cow from a local rancher. It was to be available in mid-February. 

shaking on a good deal

However, the butcher was unable to do his job in the expected time, and the meat did not become available until the very morning we wanted to head out. Then we packed our chest with dry ice, filled it up with the cuts of beef, and strapped the chest to the back of our van. And there it remained until we arrived at the rental house in Florida, four days later.

Hence, off we went eastward on the I-10 through the Southern California desert.

just desert

From where we live, it takes three hours to exit Cali. It's all desert. No one lives there. Arizona is all desert, and with the exception of Phoenix, it hardly appears inhabited. By the time we got to the end of Arizona, it was sundown. 

beautiful sunsets

And thank God we had a short drive through New Mexico - and that it was nighttime - because there is nothing to see. Then we arrived in El Paso, our first stop over, after twelve hours of driving.

nothing to see here

After a short visit with my mother-in-law, we headed out again. This drive took us through most of Texas, which includes desert, a little rain, and then lots of green. After a second day of driving twelve hours, we stayed in Beaumont, Texas.

more deserts

more rainy

more green

We were able to sleep in a little longer because our third stop over, after driving through  Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, was Pensacola, Florida, only six hours away. 

more trees

trees and water

more water

While we were driving through Alabama, we received a call that our two cars (which were taken by auto transport three days before we left Cali) arrived before we did and were an hour from our rental house. We had to ask our son (already in Florida) to meet the transport at a Walmart in Sarasota, and we would have to pick up the cars after we arrived in Florida.

There go our vehicles off to Florida.

The fourth and final day we drove six more hours to our destination. We were so excited to drive to our rental house. We immediately liked the community, which is very rural and quiet and peaceful. We can hear the crickets and birds and cows mooing. It's just perfect.

long shadows and looming rain clouds

However, being that we are in a rural area, it also takes a long time to drive into town. It took even longer to drive into Sarasota to pick up our other vehicles. In fact, we had to do it over two days. We were mentally and physically exhausted and drained from the four day drive, and we haven't had much sleep because we do not have our beds. The container with our furniture won't arrive for eight or ten more days.

Things are coming together, and I know there will be challenges and trials and conflicts. 😬 But it is all part of the adventure.

Well, here we go . . . 

Goodbyes

February has been an emotional rollercoaster. 

It began with anxiety about finding a rental home in time. Every "available" rental home we found online already had an applicant. It was nerve-wracking. And then, in His timing, God provided the perfect opportunity to fit our current situation. It's more perfect than we could have imagined.

Then we ran into a complication with the buyer/buyer's agent. Ugh! I won't explain because it is not necessary. At the time of this post, we are still waiting to see what happens. It is our desire to sell our home before we leave, but it may not. We are disappointed, but it is not in our control. If we have to start over, our agent will take care of everything. 

And then came the goodbyes. Lots of goodbyes. When you plan to leave, friends and family will want to spend one last time with you. It can be heart-wrenching, especially when you know you may never see these loved ones again. At least in this life.

One of the goodbyes I had was with my homeschool/hike/book club moms. We decided to spend a day hiking Owl Canyon in Barstow. Another day some of us made time to go bowling and had Vietnamese for lunch. 

My youngest had her final pointe lesson with her teacher, who has been providing pre-pointe lessons in her home since last November (because my daughter could not attend her class lesson at the studio due to a conflicting schedule). We had a bitter sweet goodbye, knowing that her teacher is in the same situation as we are, planning to leave Cali later in the year.

My seventeen year old said goodbye to two of her long-time friends.

My youngest had emotional goodbyes with her dance classmates. Some of them have been dancing together for at least six years. They had a special night of bowling.

And one night she had a sleepover with two of her very best dance friends. The next morning everyone had red eyes - and not from sleeplessness. Even me. 

Finally had to clear out my very special bookshelves built by my husband. Can't take these because they are secured to the wall. 

Last weekend, our church family had a going away party for us and retirement party for another member. This is FAMILY! We wish we could take our entire church with us. 💔

Saying goodbye to our little granddaughter. 😢 I can't even speak. 

Saying goodbye to our upright piano that has been part of our family for fifteen years and has provided beautiful classical music. But gratefully it has been adopted by another family to play beautiful music all over again. 

The saddest goodbye was on our final Sunday at church. We've been attending this church for eighteen years. Pastor asked us to come up, he told a little history about our family, and he and the elders prayed over us. Way too emotional. It should not have felt like a funeral, but I know when we are settled, God willing, it will all turn to joy and gratefulness. 

On the same day, after church, I enjoyed one more time with a couple of high school friends. We agreed that we should have scheduled a day together long before this; when you put off these things, you will miss opportunities. Don't put off important occasions.

During February, once our home entered Escrow, we packed and packed and packed. What a mess! We downsized, discarded, and donated. Everyone helped...even Dodger.

Sometimes Dodger was no help.

On Monday of this final week in Cali, the UPack container arrived, and we have been loading it with all of our stuff. And more Stuff. I hate stuff; it is a source of anxiety for me. All of it seems so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Moving really puts perspective on what is essential and what is not. How temporary stuff is in this world. 

Sorry. It's me. I'm going through a lot of spiritual growth and learning. 

I have not had very good sleep these days. I think I may even be suffering from a mild case of shingles. Figures. I've had it before, during a very stressful time in my life; and hello, if this has not been stressful, I don't know what stress is. 

Last night, I broke into a flood of tears, and I shared with my husband what I figured out: I am in mourning. 

First of all, I am mourning my country and life as I know them. Our futures and our children's futures are being stolen from us by greedy, self-serving global tyrants. The theft is real. I am aware of it, and nothing can stop it. Believe me, I do not comply with tyranny. That's all I will say. I know the story and why it is happening. For two years I have been living with this emotional upheaval. It will take much prayer and God's strength to rise above it, which I am working on.

Second, I am saying goodbye to a huge chunk of my life, where I grew up, married my husband, and together raised five children. The family events, the school events, church events, the memories. I am mourning the house we made a home for twenty-five years; peaceful mornings alone with God while riding my bike around the block; gardening in the warm spring sun; still summer days while floating in our pool and reading a book for too long; the mocking bird that kept us up all night singing in my neighbor's tree, and on and on. 

I feel like Laura Ingalls Wilder when she said her throat ached. 

However, I am also hopeful. God has answered our prayers, and He has made all of this possible. And while sad goodbyes are part of the package, we know that joy comes after. I don't know where all of this will lead, but we are expectant of God using us to do His will. I rejoice in that, and to Him be all the glory.

💗

Leaving Friday.