Remodel update

I seriously wish I had a before photo to show you. I will find one for tomorrow...or next week.. Here is a sneak peek at the kitchen. We did an octagon tile with oak trim. The cabinets are "Texas leather" color, thanks S for the Pottery Barn suggestion. The back splash is slate. I am still unpacking stuff so this is not the final way it will look...BUT I wanted to show a little of what all has been going on!

I am feeling better now that my mixer has been found. It was on the couch in the front room! I don't do well with change, I don't do well at all. With orders (military term for papers saying where we are moving) not done, moves to be coordinated, house remodel, house to sell, icky life situations I have gotten myself overwhelmed. So I am going to just be still...well after the squadron luncheon tomorrow and Dale's party on Saturday...But I am going to be still and listen...I look forward to the rest....

E

Birthday Fun!

Dale and all his loot!

He even

got excited about books!


Merideth was so happy to help him with his presents and very glad Dale got so many Star Wars toys. It is fun listening to them play together. Sounds a lot like my brother and sister and I when we were little. Except there is no war over who gets to be Leah!

We had a fun day. He wanted Sushi for lunch and then Thai food for supper. I will post those photos later. Our sweet waitress at Ann's Thai Kitchen made him origami swans for his present. He told her last week we were going to be back for his birthday!

The kitchen is almost done! PTL!

I better go and help defend the galaxy!

E

BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy...

As you can see he was a little sleepy this morning. Merideth wanted to get him up and all that know her know she is an early riser! Stephen had to be at work early so the donut run was made very early...So worth it!

More later!

E

Dale and B

I wish that the photos would have loaded with his "older" one first. Dale was 9 days old in the baby picture. This is the bear that my sister gave to him. She gave it to me when we went to pick her up from Eagle Lake in Colorado, it is the Navigator camp that she worked at and also where we went when we were teenagers. We have great memories there. Anyway when she gave Dale Robert the Gap Teddy Bear, I was 7 months pregnant at the time, I remember thinking that I hoped he liked it and would sleep with it and play with him...Little did I know! When my sister, Heather Belle, was younger she had Merle Freddy. I will post a photo of him and her someday...it was in the crazy cabbage patch kids day and she thought/knew Merle Freddy to be REAL. So when Dale started to love on his HB later shortened to B like Heather Belle did her treasured Merle Freddy I though how sweet. Well his affection for B has grown, he still sleeps with B every night. B is the first thing packed and often the first thing left! We DO NOT MAIL him for fear of loosing him! Once we left him when we were going on a long trip. It was about 2 hours into the trip when we realized the loved B was missing...I almost turned around to go and get him! I didn't! Dale still loves his B and so when I took photos last week he wanted B in the picture with him. Dale will be 6 on Wednesday. I wonder how much longer he will be that sweet little boy with the bear?

Oh MY GOODNESS!

SO here it is! The picture for the cards this year!! LOVE IT! Hope you do too...oh and let me know what size you want it printed in...you know 16x20 or 20x24!!

E

Thinking

Well as we move forward with the remodel it has me thinking. Is all this work worth it? I don't do well with uncertainty, who does? So with all this going on it has me realizing that there is a lot of growing that needs to be done. With the changes to the house, just fixing it up and making it better it makes me think about what the Lord wants to remodel in my house; in me. Not to make me "look better", but that is certainly an area I need to weigh in on, but what would make me more useful to Him. Just like putting in a new oven, I need to invest, put into my life things of the Lord. I need to "invest" in my spiritual remodel if you will. Anyway hope all that makes sense! Pray with me as I journey on the remodeling left to do in my life and home!

Oh our orders still say report no later than 4 Jan. What is up with that!?! Maybe we are supposed to be there, well I know we are "suppose to" be there but when? I know I would just like some certainty, there is that word again, of when we are moving!

Well I better bolt...lots to do...you know we MIGHT move soon!!
E

Now don't be shocked

But we had a great home school day. I even let them BOTH cut and color. I almost got the glue out but thought that I might be pushing my limits if I did! We are studying the letter "O" this week. The numbers 7 and 8. They are both coloring their octopus now. We watched videos of the "creature" online and are enjoying the new knowledge! Hope you are having a great day too!

E

Just some recent photos of the kids. I cannot believe that Dale is about to be six! Star Wars is what he is all about and I am having fun thinking of a cake to make for his day. Merideth is just so sweet. She is really into "I just need to hug you 3 more times" and then precedes to cry if you don't let her. Normally this takes place about 3 seconds after we have left the person she NEEDS to hug! The photo of them together was taken at the farm. Dale and Meri had fun playing in the water. Dale would fill her gun up and then she would shoot it. He decided to shoot her, well she cried and got mad for about 22 seconds and then figured out she could shoot him too! He would fill up the water guns and then they would shoot each another, that is how they say it...each another...

Well I have things to do! E

Transitions

So things are going slow with the remodel. I guess I should have expected that. I am just a list maker and doer and then life gets in the way and then gas lines don't run where they thought...okay well enough of that.

The kids and I are in Vera now. I went to be with the kids on Tuesday with my Mom in Graham. Then we came on to the farm. We are supposed to leave for home in the morning...and get ready for a garage sale...we have an ad in the paper, boxes of stuff everywhere. Pray for me as I decide to come home and live in the chaos and have the sale and make the money or stay here at the farm.

Oh and next weekend Stephen and I are headed to "A Weekend to Remember". I am looking forward to it, pray we learn and grow from the weekend what all we are supposed to. (Not what I think he needs to learn!)

I better go and "have a talk" with the kids. They are still up and are "talking"!
E

Interesting stuff...

We got word today that Stephen's start date for class is not until...JUNE! We are thankful to be staying near family and friends longer. Also it gives us a lot more time to sell the house!

I am feeling fine, just grumpy so I am going to rest now...Tests are all fine!

E

Just Stuff

Okay so we are still not sure what is happening with the move...I will update about that again when we know for certain what is happening. All other post will relate to that since so much depends/hinges on what is going on. Hopefully it will nor bore you too much! Last night Stephen and I were talking about when we would move and how all the things I am doing around the house are so tied up with what and when. Do I pack up the kitchen entirely or just sort of since we may need some stuff...it is really frustrating! I decided to pack up like it is January and to label boxes really well! Some things are going into storage for the showing of the house. But if I need them I know where they are and they can easily, please Stephen, be gotten!

So on Thursday my sweet Mother came and helped with the kitchen. She completely organized all my food. Which just in case you are wondering is staying! I can't pack that, I need to eat! Well and the rest of the family! But we got the kitchen done. THANK YOU MOTHER. And thank you for taking my sweet babies home with you for so long. I really really miss them! But Stephen and I are enjoying the time together and also I am getting a lot done!

Okay so then on Friday a miracle worker named Risa came over and she started in on the "organizing" part. She is a professional organizer and I HIGHLY recommend making the investment. On Friday we tackled the "office" area of my home. We ended up with at least 8 bags of trash! She came back on Saturday and we went into the school room. We cleaned out one closet entirely and then organized the school area. Oh and she organized my "cleaning" closet. I will not need to purchase cleaning supplies for at least 3 years! I must like to buy that stuff!! Anyway the biggest thing I have learned in the process is that everything needs a home. So with that new knowledge we have purchased a small inventory of sterlite boxes and small containers to "house" stuff! It is great! Googly eyes now have a home, so do pipe cleaners and my million and one sharpie markers, I like to buy those too! It has been exhausting but freeing. As we began the process Risa prayed that this would be a "cleansing" time for our home, for me. That I could release some things I didn't need to hold onto. WOW! It is so freeing to be letting go of so many things. But not the googly eyes we will need them for art projects in 2nd grade, Risa assured me! (She is also a home school mom!) If any local families want to hire Risa let me know and I will get you her information. I send out my full endorsement of her. She truly has a heart for God and I have enjoyed working with her.

Okay so it is funny that as we cleanse the house I am about to start the cleansing of my body!! I have my colonoscopy tomorrow. Also the upper gi test done. Pray all goes well and that I don't eat in the night!!

I better go and organize the bathroom...I already did the other one and man it makes me sleep better having it all done...
E