Oh my. This is an epic memory challenge. I will focus on (hopefully) all the places I lived in as an adult. You will learn that I enjoyed moving to different places. Now, I have learned not to move, but to update a room! Much better!
As newlyweds, Jerry (John) and I lived in the poor part of Bell, CA. It was an upstairs, furnished, one-bedroom apartment. It had a sofa, chair, table, a little kitchen, a small bath, and bedroom. There was a pool in the common area.
Before Steve was born, we moved to South Gate, a safer area. It was a large, unfurnished two-bedroom apartment. That was a big upgrade. We bought furniture using the Sears Easy Payment Plan. You paid a little each month for many years, and it could not be paid off early.
We were given the opportunity to move to the house where I was raised. With Steve becoming active, the thought of a house with a yard seemed like a good idea. 3054 Olive Street in Walnut Park was a 2-bedroom, one-bath house with a large kitchen, and a washer and dryer in a room attached to the kitchen leading out to the backyard. It was only $75 a month. Michael was born while we lived there.
Then we were asked if we wanted to lease with an option to buy a home on Live Oak Street in the same town. We loved that house. It was Spanish style, 2 bedrooms, den, two baths, with a great backyard. It had a fruit-producing apricot tree. I made pies, turnovers, jam, and anything else we could think of to do with our abundant crop.
Thinking we would have the first opportunity to buy the house, as promised, we painted rooms and added all the touches we wanted in our home. We also cleaned up and improved the backyard. Then we were told by our landlord that the house was sold. There was nothing we could do.
So off we went to look at model homes in La Habra, Diamond Bar, Mission Viejo, and Irvine. We found our home in Irvine. A small (1400 sq. foot), four-bedroom, two-bath home on a cul-de-sac. Just right for the four of us.
We had kitchen appliances in Harvest Gold, gold squares of linoleum flooring in the kitchen with an attached little family room. We had brown shag rug in the living room, hallways, and bedrooms. Everything was new and in the latest colors. Then I got pregnant with Jason. It was so fun to prepare a nursery.
Then Jason arrived, and we had a full house. Sadly, the schools were not a good fit for Steve and Mike.
Jerry (John) got thinking. On his own he looked for, and found, a 2700 square foot, four-bedroom home in a cul-de-sac in Tustin. He took me there to check it out. It needed some updating, but it was just right for us and in a great school district. So much life happened in this house. Over time we redecorated. John put in new appliances in the kitchen; I stripped the woodwork. We put in wallpaper, new carpet, and painted. Outside, we cleared the backyard, having trees removed and a pool put in. Then we had decking put in around the pool with new landscaping. All this took place over years, and it was enjoyable to work together to make our home a dream come true. We had live with us there: unwed moms and an Iranian student. In addition, we entertained and served many others there.
After Steve got married and Michael was in college, we moved to a new home in Tustin Ranch. I loved this house. We put in a French garden, French doors, and it was decorated beautifully. This home was well used. Michael came home from college engaged to save up for their upcoming wedding. Sometime after Michael and Kristen's wedding, Steve, Diane, and 9-month-old baby Ian moved in for a while. We had a friend move in (we had her wedding there), I counseled and mentored others, and we hosted many kinds of events, including Chosen Women Stadium event fundraisers, first office space, board meetings, and countless other ways.
When I became too ill to manage the house with Chosen Women on my plate, we moved to The Colony apartment building in Newport Beach. Jason moved in with us there after a while. I was traveling back and forth to Oklahoma to plan the fourth and last Chosen Women Stadium event. Gratefully, I was directed to a doctor in Oklahoma who helped cure my migraines. While living at The Colony, I also found a specialist to help with the anemia issues, and had surgery to take care of the source of the issue. It was a place of healing. Also, Jason and Ariana became engaged, so we had a wedding shower there.
After John retired from his job, we started talking about moving again. This time we were on the hunt for a place for family to gather. We ended up buying a 4500 square foot, three-level, traditional home in Lake Arrowhead, and went about setting it up for family. We used this home more than any other. Family gathered for holidays, or weekends away. I would always try to make everyone feel special when they came to visit. I fixed brunches and special meals. Thanksgiving and Christmas were always so fun. I also held small retreats — mentoring classes for moms and daughters called the Esther Project. We had classes on each floor. It was also fun to entertain out-of-county guests — we had visitors from 13 different countries visit with us. It was all a privilege.
John developed health challenges and needed regular care, and I needed specialists as well. We determined to move back to Newport Beach, this time in a penthouse at Promontory Point. We had the most perfect view of Balboa Island and the ocean. We had such fun having family come see the Christmas Boat Parade and Christmas. We had our niece and great nephew — Paula and Trev — live with us for a time. After a while we moved back to The Colony. Neither John nor I had energy to entertain as we once did, so now we took people out to dinner. It was nice not to have the extra work of preparation or clean up. We were not well, and had little energy, but we still loved to be with family.
Our final move was to the Villas at Fashion Island. We moved there a few months after it was built. We had a very nice top-floor apartment, 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. It had wonderful amenities. We had occasional visitors. We loved each opportunity to host. The last event was the reception after John's funeral. I continued to have visitors stay with me over the next three years. It was just the right place to grieve and remember all the amazing life John and I had together.
Now, I am living with Jason, Ariana, Kenley, Reece, and Hudson. They have a beautiful, very lively home. I have my own living room, bathroom, and bedroom. I feel at home and so happy to be with a family who loves hospitality, so I do not miss out on a thing that is going on. I love it here. My heart is at home.
Related people
John, Steve, Michael, Jason