Yeah I know. Today's the day I promised my week 9 update.
So here I am.
I have to say folks it's not good.
If you've kept up with my blog you know my life has been a whirlwind indeed. The last 3 weeks have been literally hell on earth and I'm not ashamed to say I just can't keep up with it all.
I haven't completely fallen off the wagon...I still avoid sugar and all...but I haven't done all I set out to do and I'm definitely paying for it now.
So I'm starting fresh tomorrow and although I may be set back some I'm not about to give up. I bought smoothie/juice stuff today and I'm determined.
On another note, please pray for me. I love our church, I love my parents, I love our school, I love so many things...but I cannot handle living in such tight quarters with my parents. I'm trying so very hard to be patient but I am struggling. I can't specify everything I'm dealing with but please please pray God helps us find and be able to afford a house sooner than we had originally planned. I am already at my wits end and its barely been a week.
Good bye for now!
Our mission is to help parents and teachers to prepare our little arrows to approach life with bravery and courage; to love learning and God's Word, and to be given the tools to grow and develop into strong individuals, in body, soul, and spirit.
3.12.2013
3.04.2013
Officially Done
I am finally officially done with the move from hell.
Any move is directly from hell no doubt-I can't think of one in my lifetime that was easy or smooth. But this move was specifically bad due to the short notice, as well as all the dynamics surrounding it-school mostly.
The kids' teacher was devastated to lose us. I know it came as a shock to her-and we had such a good working relationship. The assistant director and office manager also expressed their disappointment in our leaving.
Of course it's rough when any school loses students, especially a family of four!
Anyway, I am so glad I will never have to look at that pink shower again! I'm so glad my days of no dishwasher are over (for now lol)
And today, marks a day of new beginnings in our homeschool. Today I will officially enroll the kids in Eleanor Roosevelt Community Learning Center in Visalia. It is a homeschool charter school based out of a 100 year old schoolhouse!
I will meet with the teachers today and gather books for the remainder of the school year. Luckily, I have much of what we need already so it's going to go very smoothly.
While I feel bittersweet feelings about some changes, and feel as if certain dreams have been dashed on the rocks, I feel hopeful that this new journey will be blessed and exciting.
We had an awesome service last night at FOT. The building was packed and everyone left in high spirits with exciting opportunities to be used and involved. I am so grateful.
I sit at this moment, curled up under a fluffy leopard blanket, on the couch, with coffee in hand, with my littlest boy...while my littlest girl snoozes on the other couch...the rest of the house is still sleeping...(we are a tired bunch!) and I feel peace and comfort, knowing we are welcome and loved enough to be given a place to recoup and get on our feet.
God is good! All the time!
Any move is directly from hell no doubt-I can't think of one in my lifetime that was easy or smooth. But this move was specifically bad due to the short notice, as well as all the dynamics surrounding it-school mostly.
The kids' teacher was devastated to lose us. I know it came as a shock to her-and we had such a good working relationship. The assistant director and office manager also expressed their disappointment in our leaving.
Of course it's rough when any school loses students, especially a family of four!
Anyway, I am so glad I will never have to look at that pink shower again! I'm so glad my days of no dishwasher are over (for now lol)
And today, marks a day of new beginnings in our homeschool. Today I will officially enroll the kids in Eleanor Roosevelt Community Learning Center in Visalia. It is a homeschool charter school based out of a 100 year old schoolhouse!
I will meet with the teachers today and gather books for the remainder of the school year. Luckily, I have much of what we need already so it's going to go very smoothly.
While I feel bittersweet feelings about some changes, and feel as if certain dreams have been dashed on the rocks, I feel hopeful that this new journey will be blessed and exciting.
We had an awesome service last night at FOT. The building was packed and everyone left in high spirits with exciting opportunities to be used and involved. I am so grateful.
I sit at this moment, curled up under a fluffy leopard blanket, on the couch, with coffee in hand, with my littlest boy...while my littlest girl snoozes on the other couch...the rest of the house is still sleeping...(we are a tired bunch!) and I feel peace and comfort, knowing we are welcome and loved enough to be given a place to recoup and get on our feet.
God is good! All the time!
2.21.2013
Last Post of the Gypsy Chronicles! 6/6
Ok here we go for the last post of the continuing explanation of our many moves.
The house we were renting last was so nice. Oh but I totally forgot one major thing...wanna make a wild guess? Think....
Dryer?!? YES! Same problem...no gas dryer so guess what we did? You guessed it, back to the garage it went.
Jiminy cricket I didn't even realize till this moment how many months...years actually that I was stuck with an unmarried washer/dryer set. TOO many.
Other than that the house was great.
But other issues began rearing up.
This time it had nothing to do with the house, the landlord, or our income. (well not directly) It had to do with our making a decision to resign our church and move on from Chowchilla. It took many months of praying for direction. But we really felt our time there was drawing to a close.
My husband began preaching out at a lot of other churches. He was also working a regular job to support us as the church wasn't big enough to do so.
We decided we needed to break loose and if we were going to do it, we needed to do it before school started in fall.
We decided we were moving to Sanger, to attend church there and sort of recoup. We chose Sanger because there was a school there the kids were very interested in attending, (homeschool charter with site based enrichment classes) and also we enjoyed the church there and felt it would be a safe place to be.
It was really hard to find a house though. Really hard. There was virtually nothing available in our budget. We spent hours...days...weeks combing the papers, Craigslist, and streets. We were getting really frustrated! Having 2 dogs and 4 kids really can complicate things.
One day, about a month before school was going to start we spent the afternoon hunting again. We didn't find anything. We were heading back home when I thought of another paper I could pick up. So we stopped by a gas station and got one.
I found a listing for a 4 bd 3 bth home on 3 acres for $1450. No city was listed but the street address was there. It sounded perfect. I called and left a message with the landlord. We drove out to see it.
My first impression was: Desert. It was a scorching hot day and the property hadn't a tree in sight. It had a nice shady patio though that was encouraging.
We snooped around as much as possible but really couldn't tell what the inside was like. It had 2 new ac units that looked promising, as well as new windows and a newish roof. Other than that it was clear it was a very old home.
When we got home that evening, the landlord returned my call and I asked him some questions and made an appointment to see the inside for the following weekend.
I asked him #1, was the house efficient? "Oh yes, the house is very efficient with brand new ac units-the utility bills are extremely low."
#2, does the house have gas hook ups for a dryer? "Yes the house runs on natural gas which makes it even more efficient."
#3, is Internet available? "Yes, high speed Internet is available."
#4, Does it have its own well? "Yes its own well as well as an irrigation ditch for watering the whole property for crops/animals/pasture etc."
Wow...sounds great.
So on Sunday, we took the family to church then afterwards went to see the inside of the house. I will be honest, I wanted to fall on the floor and kick and scream. It was in my opinion, the most hideous house I had ever seen. It's walls were putrid flesh tone. It smelled like old lady farts. One bathroom had a grotesque pink toilet and tub, the other bathroom had the same color shower that had a 6 inch gaping hole in its floor instead of a drain. That bathroom was actually in a walk thru area to get to the other side of the house. (Very odd design)
It happened to be 2 old houses put together-they were linked by an enclosed porch area that had carpet that smelled like sewer. The other house, had the 3rd bathroom, which reeked of mold, and 2 teeny tiny (8x9) cell like bedrooms with tile floors and the same flesh tone walls.
Since it was 2 houses put together, it had 2 kitchens as well. One kitchen had an interesting knotty pine paneling, the other had the horrid pink countertops. The grout looked like doodoo was crammed in between the tiles.
I was gagging. I looked at my husband in hopes he was doing the same. Apparently he was not. His eyes seemed to gleam a little even. Oh and it had fairly new carpet in the living room, and 2 bedrooms which was a horrible shade of dark mauve that totally clashed with the death tone walls. It did not have a master bedroom with an adjoining bathroom.
I snapped photos for whatever bizarre reason-probably to keep from developing a serious case of anxiety while my husband and the landlord went outside to talk.
When my husband came back inside, he was even more excited than he'd been before. He said, "Babe! This guy is so awesome! He's going to make this a wonderland for us! A WONDERLAND!!!!! (His precise most ridiculous words) He said he's going to plant TREES, he wants you to make a list of what kinds you want, he's going to put in a patio in the backyard-a COVERED patio so we can have parties back there. And he's going to pave the driveway and all KINDS of other great things! Not only that, he says we can move in with no deposit!!!!!!" (That was the kicker for him no doubt)
(((Sigh))) "I want to think about it babe...I'm just not sold on all of this...." "But babe!!!! We haven't found anything else that will work! What about the dogs? We have to have space for them! And your garden! And all this acreage, surely we can generate an income of some sort with it!"
(((Sigh))) "I'm just not sure...I just don't like so many things about the house...I don't want the girls being so far away, I don't like their rooms, I don't like not having my own bathroom, I don't like the pink tub? I don't like...I don't like...I. don't. like.
"We can PAINT the stupid tub! We can yank that pink toilet out and put a white one in! We can paint the whole house! We can jerk that carpet out, we can fix this, we can fix that, we can replace the poopoo counters, we can we can we can......
So the Pollyanna spirit began to have its way in me....I started envisioning some of these possibilities. I began to see the knotty pine kitchen decorated like a country cabin...the pink one began to look French to me. I picked out paint colors. I visualized the enclosed walkway a pottery barn approved mudroom.
I saw chickens, goats, pigs, horses, and maybe even a cow. I wanted it all. I drew up a garden. A vegetable garden AND a cutting garden.
So.....we moved in. It was mid August. It was hot. Hades hot.
Only one of the kitchens had a stove so that was the one we chose to use primarily. It did not have a dishwasher. Pollyanna didn't mind though. She had plans of homemade soap-a regular homestead she would have!
We cranked up the ac. Pollyanna doesn't like sweating.
We made a list of all the repairs/ideas we had. Hubby went and bought new lighting fixtures for the bathrooms. It was a start.
The kids started school.
It was hot.
It was dusty.
It was....a desert.
We went about getting Internet. Not available. Huh? We tried company after company. No one serviced the area. No problem, Pollyanna doesn't need Internet.
Getting trash service proved to be impossible. The city said it was county and the county said it was city. No worries, Pollyanna can burn her paper trash and compost her scraps.
We got our first PG&E bill.
We picked ourselves up off the floor and dusted ourselves off. $900.
You have got to be kidding! Even Polly was appalled.
We spoke to the landlord and asked why this was. He said he'd never known it to be so high! (Noooo?)
He couldn't explain the Internet thing either....
When will we have water in the ditch?
"Ohhhh that's just a few months out of the year." Polly's dreams seem to be dashing.....
He did plant a few Sequoia trees-but planted them in the heat of summer, and they withered and died no matter how much Polly HAND WATERED THEM.
We held on hoping for cooler weather.
Did I mention this place was $1450 per month?
By and by, the weather did indeed cool down. Way down. In December, it was cold. Wind and rain whipped around the house and we could feel drafts at every window. Polly doesn't like cold. Polly wanted a woodstove!
We could hardly keep the house warm enough without the heater running non stop. We got our gas bill for December. Just a mere $600. Polly nearly puked.
We kept holding on. Scraping by. My husband got a new job-a better job. But it required him to put money up front. Money we didn't have. So he did the unpardonable. He got a credit card.
We scooted through Christmas. And January. I don't ask much about our finances. But I found out we had acquired a lot more debt than we wanted to. We made promises years ago that we would not get into debt ever again. And here we were slipping into debt faster than a fat boy eats cake.
In addition to the compounding debt problem, the endearing little details of living in an old farmhouse were waning quickly.
Bathroom #1's tub wouldn't drain-although it had no plug either so couldn't be cleaned adequately, much less bathed in.
Bathroom #2 was the one with the gaping shower drain that prompted me to hork in my mouth just thinking about stepping in and...being sucked into the abyss of slimy, hairy, shower water. Plus this bathroom was the walk thru one-it's doors didn't have knobs much less locks. (Apparently these things aren't noticeable upon initial walk throughs) Nor did its sink work. (Water dribbled out of faucet)
Bathroom #3, which was on the complete other side of the house, became our main bathroom as it had all 3 working components that bathroom should have; however, it's mildew problem was never ending no matter how much bleach and caulking we applied.
We started using bathroom #2 for a pantry/storage area as the kitchen had very limited space. We had thought maybe converting that bathroom to a real pantry would be a good idea. I drew out the plans and visualized my perfectly labeled and organized container lined shelves. But due to limited funds and excessive frustration, that idea got pushed farther and farther away-and we settled for piling our bulk items around the toilet.
"Mom! Where's the flour?" "By the toilet!" "Oh yeah! Right where it belongs ! Dual duty! Use for baby powder!!!!"
Once, we discovered the hot water heater was leaking, rendering excessive use of gas to properly heat the water. After 4 months of dealing with this, LL finally decided to replace the water heater. He told us when it would happen and we prepared to let the workers in the back yard to do the work. (I have a post about this earlier) Anyway, I left the house for a job commitment I'd taken on. I didn't get home till late that night, hot, sweaty, stinky and ready for a hot shower. No. Water. None. They had removed the hot water heater and had not replaced it at all!
This is just a sampling of the quickly piling up hardships presented daily while living in this house. $1450 a month.
Finally...things came to a head...
On Valentines Day, (lucky me) I got a phone call. From my husband. And no it wasn't to tell me to meet him at Ruth's Chris for a romantic candlelight dinner.
"We have to move babe. I can't handle this anymore."
*slowly withdraws knife from stomach*
"Seriously? Now?"
He told me I had to find a place to move to within 2 weeks as he was not forking over another dime for the rathole or for utilities that aren't even doing the job.
*deep breath*
*thinking* ....we are in the middle of school....I have dogs...we have a bunny....I'm already so overwhelmed.....
I answer, "Ok I will think about it and pray about it."
He says, "I don't mean make a decision next week. I mean now, like tonight."
I hang up.
I cry. I bawl. I squall. I pray. I cry some more. I even punched my pillow a few times. I'm thinking of how to tell the kids. How to tell them they have to leave the school they've grown to love. How to tell them we are going to go to another church. All of it just seized into a bowling ball sized knot in my stomach.
He calls me an hour later asking if I knew what we were gonna do. I tell him the only solution I knew of is to move in with my parents. He says, "Call them."
I wrote a rough draft email to my dad.
I didn't send it.
I wanted to wait till that evening to see if maybe my husband would change his mind.
He didn't.
I told myself I'd send the email in the morning if he still felt the same. He did.
So I sent it.
Of course, my parents are always more than happy to extend a helpful hand if needed.
So we began to talk and work out details.
I withdrew the kids from school and enrolled them in another one closer to my parents house. (Amazing school-will post about that later) And I began to pack our things.
We are sad but resigned to this change as we know it is for the best. We will save money, we will get ahead. And lastly, we have decided our gypsy days are over. I can't do this anymore. Polly is pollied out.
While most of our moves have been due to circumstances out of our control, we do know there have been times we jumped the gun when we should have waited something out.
Hind sight is always better than foresight.
So...if you have wondered what we've been up to, that's the scoop. Are you wallowing in billows of pity for your dear friend Polly?
I know you are. Well....please don't take it too seriously, as I truly AM a Pollyanna, I AM the adventurous sort, and I DO like saving money.
My life! Longest post ever I know!!!!!
The house we were renting last was so nice. Oh but I totally forgot one major thing...wanna make a wild guess? Think....
Dryer?!? YES! Same problem...no gas dryer so guess what we did? You guessed it, back to the garage it went.
Jiminy cricket I didn't even realize till this moment how many months...years actually that I was stuck with an unmarried washer/dryer set. TOO many.
Other than that the house was great.
But other issues began rearing up.
This time it had nothing to do with the house, the landlord, or our income. (well not directly) It had to do with our making a decision to resign our church and move on from Chowchilla. It took many months of praying for direction. But we really felt our time there was drawing to a close.
My husband began preaching out at a lot of other churches. He was also working a regular job to support us as the church wasn't big enough to do so.
We decided we needed to break loose and if we were going to do it, we needed to do it before school started in fall.
We decided we were moving to Sanger, to attend church there and sort of recoup. We chose Sanger because there was a school there the kids were very interested in attending, (homeschool charter with site based enrichment classes) and also we enjoyed the church there and felt it would be a safe place to be.
It was really hard to find a house though. Really hard. There was virtually nothing available in our budget. We spent hours...days...weeks combing the papers, Craigslist, and streets. We were getting really frustrated! Having 2 dogs and 4 kids really can complicate things.
One day, about a month before school was going to start we spent the afternoon hunting again. We didn't find anything. We were heading back home when I thought of another paper I could pick up. So we stopped by a gas station and got one.
I found a listing for a 4 bd 3 bth home on 3 acres for $1450. No city was listed but the street address was there. It sounded perfect. I called and left a message with the landlord. We drove out to see it.
My first impression was: Desert. It was a scorching hot day and the property hadn't a tree in sight. It had a nice shady patio though that was encouraging.
We snooped around as much as possible but really couldn't tell what the inside was like. It had 2 new ac units that looked promising, as well as new windows and a newish roof. Other than that it was clear it was a very old home.
When we got home that evening, the landlord returned my call and I asked him some questions and made an appointment to see the inside for the following weekend.
I asked him #1, was the house efficient? "Oh yes, the house is very efficient with brand new ac units-the utility bills are extremely low."
#2, does the house have gas hook ups for a dryer? "Yes the house runs on natural gas which makes it even more efficient."
#3, is Internet available? "Yes, high speed Internet is available."
#4, Does it have its own well? "Yes its own well as well as an irrigation ditch for watering the whole property for crops/animals/pasture etc."
Wow...sounds great.
So on Sunday, we took the family to church then afterwards went to see the inside of the house. I will be honest, I wanted to fall on the floor and kick and scream. It was in my opinion, the most hideous house I had ever seen. It's walls were putrid flesh tone. It smelled like old lady farts. One bathroom had a grotesque pink toilet and tub, the other bathroom had the same color shower that had a 6 inch gaping hole in its floor instead of a drain. That bathroom was actually in a walk thru area to get to the other side of the house. (Very odd design)
It happened to be 2 old houses put together-they were linked by an enclosed porch area that had carpet that smelled like sewer. The other house, had the 3rd bathroom, which reeked of mold, and 2 teeny tiny (8x9) cell like bedrooms with tile floors and the same flesh tone walls.
Since it was 2 houses put together, it had 2 kitchens as well. One kitchen had an interesting knotty pine paneling, the other had the horrid pink countertops. The grout looked like doodoo was crammed in between the tiles.
I was gagging. I looked at my husband in hopes he was doing the same. Apparently he was not. His eyes seemed to gleam a little even. Oh and it had fairly new carpet in the living room, and 2 bedrooms which was a horrible shade of dark mauve that totally clashed with the death tone walls. It did not have a master bedroom with an adjoining bathroom.
I snapped photos for whatever bizarre reason-probably to keep from developing a serious case of anxiety while my husband and the landlord went outside to talk.
When my husband came back inside, he was even more excited than he'd been before. He said, "Babe! This guy is so awesome! He's going to make this a wonderland for us! A WONDERLAND!!!!! (His precise most ridiculous words) He said he's going to plant TREES, he wants you to make a list of what kinds you want, he's going to put in a patio in the backyard-a COVERED patio so we can have parties back there. And he's going to pave the driveway and all KINDS of other great things! Not only that, he says we can move in with no deposit!!!!!!" (That was the kicker for him no doubt)
(((Sigh))) "I want to think about it babe...I'm just not sold on all of this...." "But babe!!!! We haven't found anything else that will work! What about the dogs? We have to have space for them! And your garden! And all this acreage, surely we can generate an income of some sort with it!"
(((Sigh))) "I'm just not sure...I just don't like so many things about the house...I don't want the girls being so far away, I don't like their rooms, I don't like not having my own bathroom, I don't like the pink tub? I don't like...I don't like...I. don't. like.
"We can PAINT the stupid tub! We can yank that pink toilet out and put a white one in! We can paint the whole house! We can jerk that carpet out, we can fix this, we can fix that, we can replace the poopoo counters, we can we can we can......
So the Pollyanna spirit began to have its way in me....I started envisioning some of these possibilities. I began to see the knotty pine kitchen decorated like a country cabin...the pink one began to look French to me. I picked out paint colors. I visualized the enclosed walkway a pottery barn approved mudroom.
I saw chickens, goats, pigs, horses, and maybe even a cow. I wanted it all. I drew up a garden. A vegetable garden AND a cutting garden.
So.....we moved in. It was mid August. It was hot. Hades hot.
Only one of the kitchens had a stove so that was the one we chose to use primarily. It did not have a dishwasher. Pollyanna didn't mind though. She had plans of homemade soap-a regular homestead she would have!
We cranked up the ac. Pollyanna doesn't like sweating.
We made a list of all the repairs/ideas we had. Hubby went and bought new lighting fixtures for the bathrooms. It was a start.
The kids started school.
It was hot.
It was dusty.
It was....a desert.
We went about getting Internet. Not available. Huh? We tried company after company. No one serviced the area. No problem, Pollyanna doesn't need Internet.
Getting trash service proved to be impossible. The city said it was county and the county said it was city. No worries, Pollyanna can burn her paper trash and compost her scraps.
We got our first PG&E bill.
We picked ourselves up off the floor and dusted ourselves off. $900.
You have got to be kidding! Even Polly was appalled.
We spoke to the landlord and asked why this was. He said he'd never known it to be so high! (Noooo?)
He couldn't explain the Internet thing either....
When will we have water in the ditch?
"Ohhhh that's just a few months out of the year." Polly's dreams seem to be dashing.....
He did plant a few Sequoia trees-but planted them in the heat of summer, and they withered and died no matter how much Polly HAND WATERED THEM.
We held on hoping for cooler weather.
Did I mention this place was $1450 per month?
By and by, the weather did indeed cool down. Way down. In December, it was cold. Wind and rain whipped around the house and we could feel drafts at every window. Polly doesn't like cold. Polly wanted a woodstove!
We could hardly keep the house warm enough without the heater running non stop. We got our gas bill for December. Just a mere $600. Polly nearly puked.
We kept holding on. Scraping by. My husband got a new job-a better job. But it required him to put money up front. Money we didn't have. So he did the unpardonable. He got a credit card.
We scooted through Christmas. And January. I don't ask much about our finances. But I found out we had acquired a lot more debt than we wanted to. We made promises years ago that we would not get into debt ever again. And here we were slipping into debt faster than a fat boy eats cake.
In addition to the compounding debt problem, the endearing little details of living in an old farmhouse were waning quickly.
Bathroom #1's tub wouldn't drain-although it had no plug either so couldn't be cleaned adequately, much less bathed in.
Bathroom #2 was the one with the gaping shower drain that prompted me to hork in my mouth just thinking about stepping in and...being sucked into the abyss of slimy, hairy, shower water. Plus this bathroom was the walk thru one-it's doors didn't have knobs much less locks. (Apparently these things aren't noticeable upon initial walk throughs) Nor did its sink work. (Water dribbled out of faucet)
Bathroom #3, which was on the complete other side of the house, became our main bathroom as it had all 3 working components that bathroom should have; however, it's mildew problem was never ending no matter how much bleach and caulking we applied.
We started using bathroom #2 for a pantry/storage area as the kitchen had very limited space. We had thought maybe converting that bathroom to a real pantry would be a good idea. I drew out the plans and visualized my perfectly labeled and organized container lined shelves. But due to limited funds and excessive frustration, that idea got pushed farther and farther away-and we settled for piling our bulk items around the toilet.
"Mom! Where's the flour?" "By the toilet!" "Oh yeah! Right where it belongs ! Dual duty! Use for baby powder!!!!"
Once, we discovered the hot water heater was leaking, rendering excessive use of gas to properly heat the water. After 4 months of dealing with this, LL finally decided to replace the water heater. He told us when it would happen and we prepared to let the workers in the back yard to do the work. (I have a post about this earlier) Anyway, I left the house for a job commitment I'd taken on. I didn't get home till late that night, hot, sweaty, stinky and ready for a hot shower. No. Water. None. They had removed the hot water heater and had not replaced it at all!
This is just a sampling of the quickly piling up hardships presented daily while living in this house. $1450 a month.
Finally...things came to a head...
On Valentines Day, (lucky me) I got a phone call. From my husband. And no it wasn't to tell me to meet him at Ruth's Chris for a romantic candlelight dinner.
"We have to move babe. I can't handle this anymore."
*slowly withdraws knife from stomach*
"Seriously? Now?"
He told me I had to find a place to move to within 2 weeks as he was not forking over another dime for the rathole or for utilities that aren't even doing the job.
*deep breath*
*thinking* ....we are in the middle of school....I have dogs...we have a bunny....I'm already so overwhelmed.....
I answer, "Ok I will think about it and pray about it."
He says, "I don't mean make a decision next week. I mean now, like tonight."
I hang up.
I cry. I bawl. I squall. I pray. I cry some more. I even punched my pillow a few times. I'm thinking of how to tell the kids. How to tell them they have to leave the school they've grown to love. How to tell them we are going to go to another church. All of it just seized into a bowling ball sized knot in my stomach.
He calls me an hour later asking if I knew what we were gonna do. I tell him the only solution I knew of is to move in with my parents. He says, "Call them."
I wrote a rough draft email to my dad.
I didn't send it.
I wanted to wait till that evening to see if maybe my husband would change his mind.
He didn't.
I told myself I'd send the email in the morning if he still felt the same. He did.
So I sent it.
Of course, my parents are always more than happy to extend a helpful hand if needed.
So we began to talk and work out details.
I withdrew the kids from school and enrolled them in another one closer to my parents house. (Amazing school-will post about that later) And I began to pack our things.
We are sad but resigned to this change as we know it is for the best. We will save money, we will get ahead. And lastly, we have decided our gypsy days are over. I can't do this anymore. Polly is pollied out.
While most of our moves have been due to circumstances out of our control, we do know there have been times we jumped the gun when we should have waited something out.
Hind sight is always better than foresight.
So...if you have wondered what we've been up to, that's the scoop. Are you wallowing in billows of pity for your dear friend Polly?
I know you are. Well....please don't take it too seriously, as I truly AM a Pollyanna, I AM the adventurous sort, and I DO like saving money.
My life! Longest post ever I know!!!!!
2.19.2013
As promised...5/6 of our many moves
Ok so we were finally able to start looking for a house. I failed to mention one big issue (to me anyway) while living at the church. While the men were doing the remodel, they forgot to measure right for installing a place for a washer and dryer. Long story short we had to put the washer in the bathroom and the dryer in the kitchen. Yes I know. Joyful and triumphant indeed. So I had to put sopping, wet clothes into a basket on wheels and maneuver it through the kitchen, around the dining table over to the dryer every.time.I.washed.clothes. It was the thorn in my flesh.
So we found a house. It had a pool! It was in the same gated community we'd lived in before. It was a 2 story 3 bedroom 3 bath with an office.
We were pleased.
We had half our stuff moved in when the dryer was being delivered and it hit us. The house wasn't equipped for a gas dryer. We loved our gas dryer. It saves us lots of money. Hubby refused to buy an electric one. He said he would put the dryer out in the garage by the hot water heater. I said, "No way! I am not going through that again!" He said, "Are you serious? You would move right now because of this silly dryer issue?" I said, "Yes, yes I would." He told me HE would do the laundry until he could have the gas piped inside. Imagine that. That's right, you can't. Good because there's no need to because it never happened. Neither thing.
So here I was, stuck again with a washer and dryer, two items that are supposed to be married....like pb&j, like mac n' cheese, like pizza and ranch...you get the picture. But mine had to be separated. We lived there for over a year and I endured the digging, throbbing thorn.
After a year went by, we were still very happy with that house. (Other than my laundry demise) We were renting through a property management company and they were great. Oh we were paying $1300 a month for it.
At church one day, a lady asked me if I knew anyone needing to rent a house. I didn't. Several weeks later she asked me again, this time asking if WE wanted to rent her daughters house. Specs? She said $1000 per month for a small 3bd 2 bath house in an iffy neighborhood. It had a beautiful pool. Nahhh...we had something much bigger and nicer and moving stinks and that price wasn't too tempting for what it was.
Several weeks later, she asked us this, "My daughter is putting her house on the market and needs someone to live in it RENT FREE until it sells which the realtor estimates to be 9 months to a year."
Hmmmmm....nahhhh....I don't want to live in a house that's on the market. (Free) I don't want to move...(Free) Blahhhh it's an old yucky house...(Free) The thought of "free" kept haunting us. We looked at our income and our bank account and thought some more.
Thinking of all the money we could save we decided to give it a go.
Ugh. Just thinking about it makes my stomach hurl. The house was gnarly dirty. There was a gourmet smorgasbord under the stove for hungry critters....the ceiling fans and window sills could have sprouted a garden the dust was so thick. One bedroom literally smelled like a zoo so badly, we ripped up the carpet and put in new flooring and painted just so we could breathe. The window sills were filled with mold and spiders. It was awful. But it was free. So we cleaned it up as best we could and made it home.
The pool was amazing with a beautiful waterfall.
We had to set up our classroom in the living room.
The bathrooms were hideous and stinky. We had intentions of fixing them up a bit to make them tolerable.
We were there 2 months when the realtor wanted to show it. Of course we knew that was part of the deal so we let her. Oh! The client made an offer?!?! Really now? The bank said yes! Yes?!?!? So the house is sold? What happened to the 9-12 month estimation? Yes. The house is sold. LOVELY.
So back to the drawing board we went.
I'd remembered a friend mentioning another friend getting ready to rent out her beautiful 4bd 3bth home for only $1000 per month! I met with her and immediately we scraped up the deposit and first months rent to secure it. It was too good to pass up.
It was an amazing home. The landlords were so nice, they put in a huge concrete patio in the back and grass and sprinklers. They even put in a raised garden bed since I'd mentioned I wanted a garden! It was by far the most efficient home we've ever lived in. It had the normal rental white walls and cheap carpet but overall it was a lovely house. It even had a loft area we were able to use for a classroom. We really really liked this house.
So we found a house. It had a pool! It was in the same gated community we'd lived in before. It was a 2 story 3 bedroom 3 bath with an office.
We were pleased.
We had half our stuff moved in when the dryer was being delivered and it hit us. The house wasn't equipped for a gas dryer. We loved our gas dryer. It saves us lots of money. Hubby refused to buy an electric one. He said he would put the dryer out in the garage by the hot water heater. I said, "No way! I am not going through that again!" He said, "Are you serious? You would move right now because of this silly dryer issue?" I said, "Yes, yes I would." He told me HE would do the laundry until he could have the gas piped inside. Imagine that. That's right, you can't. Good because there's no need to because it never happened. Neither thing.
So here I was, stuck again with a washer and dryer, two items that are supposed to be married....like pb&j, like mac n' cheese, like pizza and ranch...you get the picture. But mine had to be separated. We lived there for over a year and I endured the digging, throbbing thorn.
After a year went by, we were still very happy with that house. (Other than my laundry demise) We were renting through a property management company and they were great. Oh we were paying $1300 a month for it.
At church one day, a lady asked me if I knew anyone needing to rent a house. I didn't. Several weeks later she asked me again, this time asking if WE wanted to rent her daughters house. Specs? She said $1000 per month for a small 3bd 2 bath house in an iffy neighborhood. It had a beautiful pool. Nahhh...we had something much bigger and nicer and moving stinks and that price wasn't too tempting for what it was.
Several weeks later, she asked us this, "My daughter is putting her house on the market and needs someone to live in it RENT FREE until it sells which the realtor estimates to be 9 months to a year."
Hmmmmm....nahhhh....I don't want to live in a house that's on the market. (Free) I don't want to move...(Free) Blahhhh it's an old yucky house...(Free) The thought of "free" kept haunting us. We looked at our income and our bank account and thought some more.
Thinking of all the money we could save we decided to give it a go.
Ugh. Just thinking about it makes my stomach hurl. The house was gnarly dirty. There was a gourmet smorgasbord under the stove for hungry critters....the ceiling fans and window sills could have sprouted a garden the dust was so thick. One bedroom literally smelled like a zoo so badly, we ripped up the carpet and put in new flooring and painted just so we could breathe. The window sills were filled with mold and spiders. It was awful. But it was free. So we cleaned it up as best we could and made it home.
The pool was amazing with a beautiful waterfall.
We had to set up our classroom in the living room.
The bathrooms were hideous and stinky. We had intentions of fixing them up a bit to make them tolerable.
We were there 2 months when the realtor wanted to show it. Of course we knew that was part of the deal so we let her. Oh! The client made an offer?!?! Really now? The bank said yes! Yes?!?!? So the house is sold? What happened to the 9-12 month estimation? Yes. The house is sold. LOVELY.
So back to the drawing board we went.
I'd remembered a friend mentioning another friend getting ready to rent out her beautiful 4bd 3bth home for only $1000 per month! I met with her and immediately we scraped up the deposit and first months rent to secure it. It was too good to pass up.
It was an amazing home. The landlords were so nice, they put in a huge concrete patio in the back and grass and sprinklers. They even put in a raised garden bed since I'd mentioned I wanted a garden! It was by far the most efficient home we've ever lived in. It had the normal rental white walls and cheap carpet but overall it was a lovely house. It even had a loft area we were able to use for a classroom. We really really liked this house.
Fitness Journey Update
Well it's time to report! It's been 6 full weeks since I started this journey and I am proud to say I'm still in the game.
I have never in my life stuck with something as long as I have this time, except for the time I joined Curves. Exercise alone, no real dietary changes, warranted me a 9lb and 12 inch loss-over the holidays during that time. That was great. But I never did it again.
Ok so today, on the 6 week mark of dietary changes only, I am exactly 10.5lbs lighter than when I started. I am not going to tell you what my starting point was as that would be rather embarrassing. But I will say this puts me at 1/3 of the way to my goal. So if things keep up the way they have been, I have 12 weeks till I reach my goal. It's looks doable people! I am rarely hungry and for the most part have plenty of energy.
Today, I will incorporate something new. Exercise. So I may not lose pounds as fast if I start gaining muscle, but...it will be all good in the end. I am also going to juice vegetables. My downfall is skipping veggies and they are a key element to success so juice them I shall.
Ta ta for now! I will update again at week 9 for a sneak peek at where I am with my goal.
My formula is low carb, moderate protein, and high fat. Good fat that is. I am still playing with calories in. I usually can't get more than 1200 in a day-I'm just not hungry. But I strive to get at least that amount. Also started using heavy cream in my coffee. That puts my calories levels up there. We will see how it goes!
I have never in my life stuck with something as long as I have this time, except for the time I joined Curves. Exercise alone, no real dietary changes, warranted me a 9lb and 12 inch loss-over the holidays during that time. That was great. But I never did it again.
Ok so today, on the 6 week mark of dietary changes only, I am exactly 10.5lbs lighter than when I started. I am not going to tell you what my starting point was as that would be rather embarrassing. But I will say this puts me at 1/3 of the way to my goal. So if things keep up the way they have been, I have 12 weeks till I reach my goal. It's looks doable people! I am rarely hungry and for the most part have plenty of energy.
Today, I will incorporate something new. Exercise. So I may not lose pounds as fast if I start gaining muscle, but...it will be all good in the end. I am also going to juice vegetables. My downfall is skipping veggies and they are a key element to success so juice them I shall.
Ta ta for now! I will update again at week 9 for a sneak peek at where I am with my goal.
My formula is low carb, moderate protein, and high fat. Good fat that is. I am still playing with calories in. I usually can't get more than 1200 in a day-I'm just not hungry. But I strive to get at least that amount. Also started using heavy cream in my coffee. That puts my calories levels up there. We will see how it goes!
2.16.2013
More Birthday
Today we celebrated a little more for our big 10 year olds birthday! Since we were out of town last weekend, and the week was short, we finally got to meet up with my parents for a little more party time.
We met in Kingsburg for breakfast at The Dala Horse restaurant. I had been wanting to visit Kingsburg for awhile! Can't believe it's taken this many years to do so. The breakfast was pretty good, although all I had was a few fried eggs. But everyone else seemed to love their Swedish pancakes.
After meandering through some shops everyone convinced Nonnie to buy them ice cream at Baby Cakes.
Then later I took Caeden to Walmart to blow his birthday money-which was a major task. Luckily we escaped with only $4.00 out of my pocket and a smiling boy.
I still just can't believe he is 10. My little apple head baby boy. *sniff*
We met in Kingsburg for breakfast at The Dala Horse restaurant. I had been wanting to visit Kingsburg for awhile! Can't believe it's taken this many years to do so. The breakfast was pretty good, although all I had was a few fried eggs. But everyone else seemed to love their Swedish pancakes.
After meandering through some shops everyone convinced Nonnie to buy them ice cream at Baby Cakes.
Then later I took Caeden to Walmart to blow his birthday money-which was a major task. Luckily we escaped with only $4.00 out of my pocket and a smiling boy.
I still just can't believe he is 10. My little apple head baby boy. *sniff*
2.14.2013
Patience!
Have patience my dear ones! The continuation of my "exciting" life is coming!
I got a little off track this week, what with a birthday and all. We went to Carson City, Nevada to see friends and celebrated there. We had a marvelous time! We went to Adventure Mountain in Tahoe on our way home. The kids loved the groomed hills for tubing!
So this week being short, I'm scrambling to get all our lessons completed and our bags unpacked.
Hang tight SoCalMom! :)
I got a little off track this week, what with a birthday and all. We went to Carson City, Nevada to see friends and celebrated there. We had a marvelous time! We went to Adventure Mountain in Tahoe on our way home. The kids loved the groomed hills for tubing!
So this week being short, I'm scrambling to get all our lessons completed and our bags unpacked.
Hang tight SoCalMom! :)
2.07.2013
The Saga 4/6
We found out later the reason the landlord of the 14 acres wanted to go month to month was because she was losing the house. This was ridiculous. 3 houses in 3 years lost. The economy was certainly taking its toll.
We made our decision to move so we gave our landlord the 30 day notice. She was very angry. She had already been difficult to deal with but after that she treated us like dirt. There was foul language spoken and she called my husband some very ugly names. We has not done her wrong, she was the one wanting month to month!
We had chickens, pigs, goats, and horses-all that had to be re-homed.
The church did not have a shower so it would be a few weeks before we could move in. It ended up taking much longer.
We put in a bathroom and shower and painted. We moved most of our belongings to storage, and made a small living space out of 1 large Sunday school classroom. We divided it in half with furniture and hanging clothes to make a bedroom and a living room/classroom.
I always try to be a Pollyanna and see the rainbow in every situation. This one was tough. But there was a park across the street, the library within walking distance, a gas station the kids loved frequenting, the rent was free, we had plenty of space outside of the little classroom......we made the best of it.
Even though it was beyond challenging and difficult, my kids to this day say their most memorable times were spent in that classroom! We would listen to Odyssey as a family nearly every night. We spent a lot of time at the park, and we learned to face obstacles together and to pray.
I remember one day in particular, I felt really claustrophobic, the kids blow up mattresses and blankets were piled everywhere, their school books, art supplies, and toys were up to our ears, a hanging rack had just collapsed, and I lost my cool and snapped at my precious babies for arguing or something of that nature.
I immediately felt pricked in my heart...this wasn't their fault. I gathered them around me and told them I was sorry and that we needed to pray for God to help us get a house. I sobbed my heart out to the Lord that day, with my loves all around me. I believed God had something better for us.
We were in the church for 7 months! We moved in, in the heat of summer, and made it through a cold, wet, and rainy winter with a leaking roof and moldy walls/carpet. It was in spring that the black mold was so bad we felt it was detrimental to our health so we knew we had to do something.
My husband had a new job that was a blessing and it had been stable for a few months so finally we were back on the house hunting adventure. This time it was pure excitement!
We made our decision to move so we gave our landlord the 30 day notice. She was very angry. She had already been difficult to deal with but after that she treated us like dirt. There was foul language spoken and she called my husband some very ugly names. We has not done her wrong, she was the one wanting month to month!
We had chickens, pigs, goats, and horses-all that had to be re-homed.
The church did not have a shower so it would be a few weeks before we could move in. It ended up taking much longer.
We put in a bathroom and shower and painted. We moved most of our belongings to storage, and made a small living space out of 1 large Sunday school classroom. We divided it in half with furniture and hanging clothes to make a bedroom and a living room/classroom.
I always try to be a Pollyanna and see the rainbow in every situation. This one was tough. But there was a park across the street, the library within walking distance, a gas station the kids loved frequenting, the rent was free, we had plenty of space outside of the little classroom......we made the best of it.
Even though it was beyond challenging and difficult, my kids to this day say their most memorable times were spent in that classroom! We would listen to Odyssey as a family nearly every night. We spent a lot of time at the park, and we learned to face obstacles together and to pray.
I remember one day in particular, I felt really claustrophobic, the kids blow up mattresses and blankets were piled everywhere, their school books, art supplies, and toys were up to our ears, a hanging rack had just collapsed, and I lost my cool and snapped at my precious babies for arguing or something of that nature.
I immediately felt pricked in my heart...this wasn't their fault. I gathered them around me and told them I was sorry and that we needed to pray for God to help us get a house. I sobbed my heart out to the Lord that day, with my loves all around me. I believed God had something better for us.
We were in the church for 7 months! We moved in, in the heat of summer, and made it through a cold, wet, and rainy winter with a leaking roof and moldy walls/carpet. It was in spring that the black mold was so bad we felt it was detrimental to our health so we knew we had to do something.
My husband had a new job that was a blessing and it had been stable for a few months so finally we were back on the house hunting adventure. This time it was pure excitement!
House History Continued 3/6
Fall 2007
By this time, I'd decided we needed more space to roam. I started looking at homes for rent on acreage. I had a dream of my home daycare evolving into a full fledged preschool, on a farm.
I found an older farm house on 14 acres for $1500 per month. We were thrilled! The house was set up perfectly for what we needed. It had a separate mother in law quarters perfect for a classroom and daycare. I promised to work hard to help pay the rent as this was more than we'd ever paid since moving to Chowchilla. Hubby's pest control business and the church wouldn't be able to shoulder it.
It took awhile to do some repairs and what not to be ready for the state inspection for daycare licensing. I found out I needed the landlords signature. She said no. No? My husband called her and gave her our 30 day notice. She recanted.
I finally got my license. Victory!!!! Things were good! State programs pay great for kids whose parents are in the CalWorks program. It was hard work but the money was there.
Spring 2008
We had a 6 month lease for that house. At the end of the 6 months, the witch called to say she was stopping by for me to resign the rental agreement. As I was reading the contract, she muttered everything was the same...except one thing. What's that? "Well, I want to go month to month now". Me, "Really? Why?" Her, "Well just so you can have your freedom and I can have mine too!" Me, "I don't NEED freedom, I need STABILITY."
I had finally got my state license and the head pains were hardly lessened from that ordeal and she was putting us on month to month? This was my livelihood on the line here! I went ahead and signed for at least the next 30 days....
We were really unsure and worried about what to do. We didn't want to make any rash decisions. I prayed and prayed about it.
A few weeks later, I got a letter in the mail from the state saying that they had not been approved for their funding and that the PAST month and 2 months to come were not guaranteed to be paid for. What? We are taking about several thousand dollars of income here and our basic survival! I nearly had a nervous breakdown. It all was just piling up so heavily I couldn't see straight.
I woke up that night in the middle of the night and got up to go pray. I literally felt like I was having a heart attack. My husband, who rarely wakes when I do, sat up and asked where I was going. I hadn't told him about the state letter. I said I was just going to get a drink of water. He said "Is it that letter?" So he had seen it. I burst into tears. He asked "What do you want to do?" I said I didn't care anymore. That I was tired and weary of beating my head against a wall to make ends meet. That I didn't care if I lived in a shack, that I was not going to be homeschooling my kids, being a pastors wife, and work full time while having to move and get relicensed every 6 months. I was done. And I told him we should just move into the church until we got clarity as to what steps we needed to take next.
So that's what we did.......
By this time, I'd decided we needed more space to roam. I started looking at homes for rent on acreage. I had a dream of my home daycare evolving into a full fledged preschool, on a farm.
I found an older farm house on 14 acres for $1500 per month. We were thrilled! The house was set up perfectly for what we needed. It had a separate mother in law quarters perfect for a classroom and daycare. I promised to work hard to help pay the rent as this was more than we'd ever paid since moving to Chowchilla. Hubby's pest control business and the church wouldn't be able to shoulder it.
It took awhile to do some repairs and what not to be ready for the state inspection for daycare licensing. I found out I needed the landlords signature. She said no. No? My husband called her and gave her our 30 day notice. She recanted.
I finally got my license. Victory!!!! Things were good! State programs pay great for kids whose parents are in the CalWorks program. It was hard work but the money was there.
Spring 2008
We had a 6 month lease for that house. At the end of the 6 months, the witch called to say she was stopping by for me to resign the rental agreement. As I was reading the contract, she muttered everything was the same...except one thing. What's that? "Well, I want to go month to month now". Me, "Really? Why?" Her, "Well just so you can have your freedom and I can have mine too!" Me, "I don't NEED freedom, I need STABILITY."
I had finally got my state license and the head pains were hardly lessened from that ordeal and she was putting us on month to month? This was my livelihood on the line here! I went ahead and signed for at least the next 30 days....
We were really unsure and worried about what to do. We didn't want to make any rash decisions. I prayed and prayed about it.
A few weeks later, I got a letter in the mail from the state saying that they had not been approved for their funding and that the PAST month and 2 months to come were not guaranteed to be paid for. What? We are taking about several thousand dollars of income here and our basic survival! I nearly had a nervous breakdown. It all was just piling up so heavily I couldn't see straight.
I woke up that night in the middle of the night and got up to go pray. I literally felt like I was having a heart attack. My husband, who rarely wakes when I do, sat up and asked where I was going. I hadn't told him about the state letter. I said I was just going to get a drink of water. He said "Is it that letter?" So he had seen it. I burst into tears. He asked "What do you want to do?" I said I didn't care anymore. That I was tired and weary of beating my head against a wall to make ends meet. That I didn't care if I lived in a shack, that I was not going to be homeschooling my kids, being a pastors wife, and work full time while having to move and get relicensed every 6 months. I was done. And I told him we should just move into the church until we got clarity as to what steps we needed to take next.
So that's what we did.......
The Abode Saga Continued~2/6 (see earlier post for intro)
Spring 2006
So we were house hunting again. I failed to mention what we were paying for rent when we first moved to Chow. It was $1250 per month. A bit much with little knowledge as to what our income would be, but God was faithful and always provided.
I found a house just down the street from where we lived but it was 1/3 bigger! 3000 square feet! I spoke with the landlord who was asking $1450 per month for it. I offered $1300. He said, "You mean to tell me you want to move from a $2000 sq ft home to a 3000 sq ft home and only increase your rent by $50? And you call yourself a Christian?" I said, "yep." And he said, "Ok you got it."
The house was huge! We had hardly any furniture for it. It seemed so big and empty even when we moved everything in. It was beautiful though. It is still by far my favorite floor plan of homes I've lived in.
It had a draw back of having a large front room that's ceiling was super high and it had uncovered west windows that made it really hot in the summer. It wasn't the most efficient home, but it really was pretty.
We lived there 18 months when the letters started coming there as well. No way not again! Yes again....I had just began the licensing process for home daycare-had a family of 4 children waiting for my services, money was coming in, and we had to move.
We should have stayed and waited for cash for keys. But I made the mistake of telling state licensing that the home was in pre-foreclosure and they refused to come out to inspect it.
So...back to square one we went.
So we were house hunting again. I failed to mention what we were paying for rent when we first moved to Chow. It was $1250 per month. A bit much with little knowledge as to what our income would be, but God was faithful and always provided.
I found a house just down the street from where we lived but it was 1/3 bigger! 3000 square feet! I spoke with the landlord who was asking $1450 per month for it. I offered $1300. He said, "You mean to tell me you want to move from a $2000 sq ft home to a 3000 sq ft home and only increase your rent by $50? And you call yourself a Christian?" I said, "yep." And he said, "Ok you got it."
The house was huge! We had hardly any furniture for it. It seemed so big and empty even when we moved everything in. It was beautiful though. It is still by far my favorite floor plan of homes I've lived in.
It had a draw back of having a large front room that's ceiling was super high and it had uncovered west windows that made it really hot in the summer. It wasn't the most efficient home, but it really was pretty.
We lived there 18 months when the letters started coming there as well. No way not again! Yes again....I had just began the licensing process for home daycare-had a family of 4 children waiting for my services, money was coming in, and we had to move.
We should have stayed and waited for cash for keys. But I made the mistake of telling state licensing that the home was in pre-foreclosure and they refused to come out to inspect it.
So...back to square one we went.
Our Many Abodes 1/6
I do believe the only type of house we've not lived in is a shoe....it wouldn't surprise me if one was somewhere on our horizon that's for sure....
1996-2004
We lived in fifth wheels while traveling for a living, in fact we'd been married 8+ years before we decided it was time to purchase our first home. What a disaster that was. We were so desperate to have a house, we jumped on the first house we looked at, that was listed at the very lowest price on the MLS in our area.
$215,000 for an 1100 sq ft home built in 1965. But it was ours. We had big plans to remodel it and make it spectacular. Those dreams however, were dashed on the rocks when I got sick.
Our lovely Aerostar van blew up while I was going through chemo, warranting the need to refinance our house to purchase another vehicle. We had no idea what a mess we were getting into.
Our hardly affordable house payment of $1700 jumped up to $2200...my husbands housing allowance of $800 for being youth pastor, while paying the same amount in rent for our branch work in Davis, then his regular job going south, along with my being very ill, pointed us in one direction. Foreclosure. We tried to short sell but it never happened. Que Sera there on Elk Way!
For a short time after that, we evangelized and stayed wherever we were put up.
Four months in a small 2 bd mobile home in Tucson Az....
Summer 2005
The call came to apply for the church in Chowchilla. That took months to come to fruition.
Obviously it did eventually. When it did there was no time to lose. We had to find a house and move in in a week and be ready for our first service the next Sunday. We knew not a soul. We brought one dear friend from Elk Grove to help us.
A neighboring pastor was so kind as to call to inform us we were not to contact friends of ours who attended his church to help us. No need to expound here, it was what it was and how it continued to be during our 5 year stay. Just dripping with brotherly love.
We rented a modest sized (2000 sq ft) home in a nice gated community. It wasn't the exact house I had hoped for-it had white carpet and I had a toddler. That toddler happened to be my only companion as I viewed the home-I spoke with the landlord while she ran around banging closet doors. The landlord was desperate to rent it out. He offered 2 months free rent if I'd take the keys that day. We could not pass that up as we were broke-the church account was in the red upon our arrival. No job to speak of yet, we were strictly riding on faith.
The backyard wasn't landscaped but he promised to have it done before fall. (This was late August)
That never happened. 2 months later he said it was too rainy to do the yard-we must wait till spring. By mid winter we noticed certified letters were arriving and odd photographs randomly being taken of the home. The tell tale signs of a foreclosure and a trial membership to foreclosures dot com confirmed our fears.
So 8 months in we were house hunting again.....
1996-2004
We lived in fifth wheels while traveling for a living, in fact we'd been married 8+ years before we decided it was time to purchase our first home. What a disaster that was. We were so desperate to have a house, we jumped on the first house we looked at, that was listed at the very lowest price on the MLS in our area.
$215,000 for an 1100 sq ft home built in 1965. But it was ours. We had big plans to remodel it and make it spectacular. Those dreams however, were dashed on the rocks when I got sick.
Our lovely Aerostar van blew up while I was going through chemo, warranting the need to refinance our house to purchase another vehicle. We had no idea what a mess we were getting into.
Our hardly affordable house payment of $1700 jumped up to $2200...my husbands housing allowance of $800 for being youth pastor, while paying the same amount in rent for our branch work in Davis, then his regular job going south, along with my being very ill, pointed us in one direction. Foreclosure. We tried to short sell but it never happened. Que Sera there on Elk Way!
For a short time after that, we evangelized and stayed wherever we were put up.
Four months in a small 2 bd mobile home in Tucson Az....
Summer 2005
The call came to apply for the church in Chowchilla. That took months to come to fruition.
Obviously it did eventually. When it did there was no time to lose. We had to find a house and move in in a week and be ready for our first service the next Sunday. We knew not a soul. We brought one dear friend from Elk Grove to help us.
A neighboring pastor was so kind as to call to inform us we were not to contact friends of ours who attended his church to help us. No need to expound here, it was what it was and how it continued to be during our 5 year stay. Just dripping with brotherly love.
We rented a modest sized (2000 sq ft) home in a nice gated community. It wasn't the exact house I had hoped for-it had white carpet and I had a toddler. That toddler happened to be my only companion as I viewed the home-I spoke with the landlord while she ran around banging closet doors. The landlord was desperate to rent it out. He offered 2 months free rent if I'd take the keys that day. We could not pass that up as we were broke-the church account was in the red upon our arrival. No job to speak of yet, we were strictly riding on faith.
The backyard wasn't landscaped but he promised to have it done before fall. (This was late August)
That never happened. 2 months later he said it was too rainy to do the yard-we must wait till spring. By mid winter we noticed certified letters were arriving and odd photographs randomly being taken of the home. The tell tale signs of a foreclosure and a trial membership to foreclosures dot com confirmed our fears.
So 8 months in we were house hunting again.....
2.06.2013
Diet Update~and a fave foodie item
(((Sigh))) Well I will be honest. I have not seen the results I was hoping for although I have been more than diligent in completely avoiding all grain and sugar, keeping daily carbs to 30 or less, and keeping my calories at 1200 daily for exactly 30 days now. And no I have not exercised. I was hoping to shed about 10lbs before really jumping on that.
I did read it can take 5-6 weeks for ones body to acclimate to these changes and that it may not become an efficient fat burning machine until then and we are not there yet so I am trying ever so hard to be patient! I have only lost 6lbs since the first of the year. I know that's a decent start but it's still not what I was hoping for. The alarming thing is that I've been stalled for about a week at one spot. Very alarming.
Anyhow, I rarely have cravings, however, today I saw some valentine cookies that were tempting. And my son made sugar cookies last night that called out for a nibble but I did refrain.
I can't say this has been super difficult, in fact it's been fairly easy. Now if only it would work for me! I am going to give it till the full 6 week mark, then I will reformulate my plan. I do believe I'm on the right track. I just didn't think such drastic changes would result in such non drastic differences. I mean the fat girl says "might as well pig if the weight isn't coming off anyway right?"
I sometimes worry I have a thyroid issue. That bugs me because from what I gather there's not much help for that-naturally or medically. I would like to read Maria Emmerich's book on Healthy Metabolism but I'm not about to pay $92 for a BOOK.
Hoping to find one on eBay or something-apparently her work is highly sought after at the moment.
Ok so you know how you can order a burger at In N' Out called protein style??? Well....tonight I put In N' Out to shame. So much that my daughter who had chosen not to eat since we were having BURGERS, just had to dive in and try it. We both loved it. Of course I winced as I popped the freshly toasted bun off the grill-and gave it to my other children. But a little mayo and mustard on a nice, crisp lettuce leaf was absolutely awesome wrapped around my perfectly grilled patty with cheddar cheese. Scrumptious!!!! Now let the fat melt away already!!!!!!
I did read it can take 5-6 weeks for ones body to acclimate to these changes and that it may not become an efficient fat burning machine until then and we are not there yet so I am trying ever so hard to be patient! I have only lost 6lbs since the first of the year. I know that's a decent start but it's still not what I was hoping for. The alarming thing is that I've been stalled for about a week at one spot. Very alarming.
Anyhow, I rarely have cravings, however, today I saw some valentine cookies that were tempting. And my son made sugar cookies last night that called out for a nibble but I did refrain.
I can't say this has been super difficult, in fact it's been fairly easy. Now if only it would work for me! I am going to give it till the full 6 week mark, then I will reformulate my plan. I do believe I'm on the right track. I just didn't think such drastic changes would result in such non drastic differences. I mean the fat girl says "might as well pig if the weight isn't coming off anyway right?"
I sometimes worry I have a thyroid issue. That bugs me because from what I gather there's not much help for that-naturally or medically. I would like to read Maria Emmerich's book on Healthy Metabolism but I'm not about to pay $92 for a BOOK.
Hoping to find one on eBay or something-apparently her work is highly sought after at the moment.
Ok so you know how you can order a burger at In N' Out called protein style??? Well....tonight I put In N' Out to shame. So much that my daughter who had chosen not to eat since we were having BURGERS, just had to dive in and try it. We both loved it. Of course I winced as I popped the freshly toasted bun off the grill-and gave it to my other children. But a little mayo and mustard on a nice, crisp lettuce leaf was absolutely awesome wrapped around my perfectly grilled patty with cheddar cheese. Scrumptious!!!! Now let the fat melt away already!!!!!!
2.05.2013
My Son's Daybook
I know I promised a post about our house and I'm hoping to get there sometime today but here I am again with another random thought.
Ok so we homeschool right? This post is probably best for my homeschool blog at www.discoverytreelearningcentre.blogspot.com and perhaps I will post it there as well but this can pertain to anyone who has their kids in any school.
We homeschool through a public charter school that lines out our curriculum and lesson plans. That's a whole issue in itself. It has pros and cons. Mostly cons in my ever to be humble opinion at the moment.
Since our school is this format, this post can pertain to anyone in regular school or not since we use regular public school material.
I have never really had to put much thought into the content of my kids' curriculum. I've always been able to choose the curriculum I want and I always chose what I believed to be wholesome and thorough.
What I'm thinking about right now, along with several other areas of quackery based learning, is the dreaded DAYBOOK for 8th and 9th grade.
For the most part, the 9th grader has been able to meander through hers easily enough-she has a teacher that is an English major so she focuses on writing and while it hasn't been a breeze, we've coasted through adequately.
The 8th grader however, is another story. He has done really well this year in developing writing skills. But this book is so stupid even I read the passages and mutter kosher obscenities as I go.
His passage is examining a writers perspective on how death will come. So joyful and triumphant! For an 8th grader? I could see possibly for a philosophy class but for 8th grade English? Analyzing and dissecting a poem on the arrival of death.
Not that death isn't something we all know we will face one day-but in 8th grade?
Truly another mark against being forced into a curriculum that someone else has chosen based on whatever reasoning.
For now, he will plow through this nonsense and get an A in English but I will have it known that this will not happen again!!!!
Reminds me of a funny story regarding the 4th grader. His English passage merely mentioned "witchcraft", and he automatically shut his mind off and said he absolutely could not follow through with reading the passage. These kids are so funny.
I'm so looking forward to getting back in the swing of formulating my own curriculum packages for each student.
I think I need a solo planning retreat to line everything out. Ah yes that sounds amazing.
Ok so we homeschool right? This post is probably best for my homeschool blog at www.discoverytreelearningcentre.blogspot.com and perhaps I will post it there as well but this can pertain to anyone who has their kids in any school.
We homeschool through a public charter school that lines out our curriculum and lesson plans. That's a whole issue in itself. It has pros and cons. Mostly cons in my ever to be humble opinion at the moment.
Since our school is this format, this post can pertain to anyone in regular school or not since we use regular public school material.
I have never really had to put much thought into the content of my kids' curriculum. I've always been able to choose the curriculum I want and I always chose what I believed to be wholesome and thorough.
What I'm thinking about right now, along with several other areas of quackery based learning, is the dreaded DAYBOOK for 8th and 9th grade.
For the most part, the 9th grader has been able to meander through hers easily enough-she has a teacher that is an English major so she focuses on writing and while it hasn't been a breeze, we've coasted through adequately.
The 8th grader however, is another story. He has done really well this year in developing writing skills. But this book is so stupid even I read the passages and mutter kosher obscenities as I go.
His passage is examining a writers perspective on how death will come. So joyful and triumphant! For an 8th grader? I could see possibly for a philosophy class but for 8th grade English? Analyzing and dissecting a poem on the arrival of death.
Not that death isn't something we all know we will face one day-but in 8th grade?
Truly another mark against being forced into a curriculum that someone else has chosen based on whatever reasoning.
For now, he will plow through this nonsense and get an A in English but I will have it known that this will not happen again!!!!
Reminds me of a funny story regarding the 4th grader. His English passage merely mentioned "witchcraft", and he automatically shut his mind off and said he absolutely could not follow through with reading the passage. These kids are so funny.
I'm so looking forward to getting back in the swing of formulating my own curriculum packages for each student.
I think I need a solo planning retreat to line everything out. Ah yes that sounds amazing.
2.04.2013
On a Lighter Note
Since my last post was rather transparent *hehe* I had a little random thought I'd post to lighten things up.
It's nothing profound at all but in the frame of mind I've been in lately I just need to focus on the lighter things in life.
Isn't going to bed so awesome? I love when it's about 8:00pm and I know bedtime is just around the corner. I know for sure I am not the best proverbs woman because I certainly love my sleep. Eeeks and my poor hubby is always railing on me to get up and make him breakfast. I promise it's something he rants about every single day. And for 16 nearly 17 years I have held my ground that I am a woman of the 2000's not his mother's era! There's the cereal dear! (((Sigh))) I'm bad.
Anyway....you know what else I love? I love waking up in the middle of the night -well I wish I didn't wake up-but when I do, it's so awesome when I look at the clock and realize its only 1 or 2 am and I still have 5 or so glorious hours of sleep. Ahhhhhh.....what's that scripture about slothful sluggards and their sleep? That's me!!!
I do wake up naturally around 7, but it takes everything inside my to haul myself up to tackle my day.
Tomorrow I'm going to post about my house. I'm going to describe some if the houses we've lived in and then show you what I can about this place we live now. Should be fun!!!
It's nothing profound at all but in the frame of mind I've been in lately I just need to focus on the lighter things in life.
Isn't going to bed so awesome? I love when it's about 8:00pm and I know bedtime is just around the corner. I know for sure I am not the best proverbs woman because I certainly love my sleep. Eeeks and my poor hubby is always railing on me to get up and make him breakfast. I promise it's something he rants about every single day. And for 16 nearly 17 years I have held my ground that I am a woman of the 2000's not his mother's era! There's the cereal dear! (((Sigh))) I'm bad.
Anyway....you know what else I love? I love waking up in the middle of the night -well I wish I didn't wake up-but when I do, it's so awesome when I look at the clock and realize its only 1 or 2 am and I still have 5 or so glorious hours of sleep. Ahhhhhh.....what's that scripture about slothful sluggards and their sleep? That's me!!!
I do wake up naturally around 7, but it takes everything inside my to haul myself up to tackle my day.
Tomorrow I'm going to post about my house. I'm going to describe some if the houses we've lived in and then show you what I can about this place we live now. Should be fun!!!
2.01.2013
Lunches~Reinvented
Making my poor husband a lunch every day I must admit is not one of my favorite chores. I know I should do it with joy-but making lunches period has just never been my forte.
Recently, however, he has been working so many hours, is usually gone from sun up to sun down, and eating on the road is not only taking its toll on his stomach, but on the pocket book as well. It's been brought to my attention that if I am not going to get up when he does and make him breakfast, (*hangs head in shame*) I had better at least make something for him to take for lunch and snacks on the road. Of course, I agree-and definitely don't want to resort to 5am breakfast makings. (I am such a bad example)
I think the reason I have avoided the lunch making is because in my mind for the past few years it has been so mundane-sandwich, chips, drink. Drink, sandwich, chips. Chips, drink, sandwich. Yuck!!!!! Who wants a soggy sandwich anyway?
So I began thinking....and doing a little hunting online for better ideas.
I had purchased a package of deli containers from Smart&Final a few months back, with the intention of using them for boys Lego organization. We did use some of them but the boys decided they'd rather organize them differently. (Translate: dump)
I'd seen a layered salad to go pin on Pinterest, stored in mason jars which I loved. I totally use mason jars for this too, my husband is good about returning the containers, BUT the disposable ones, (which I reuse) are much lighter, less hassle if they do get left in the car and need to be tossed, and are just the perfect size for a magnificent salad.
I got dip/dressing sized containers at The Dollar Store.
I also bought a few sets of bpa free (can't have Alzheimer's stealing my husband too early) divided containers made by ziplock from Amazon. I couldn't find them at Walmart or Target. These I use for fruit, hummus, nuts, cheese, etc. I really do try to make everything "real". No artificial flavors, or preservatives if I can help it.
I don't eat grains, so most crackers available are out for me, and that makes it pretty hard to get crackers that pass the scrutiny. I pick my battles and that is not one of them. So I just buy what he likes, which is club or ritz, but he'd be fine with something a little more healthy if I felt like spending the extra money.
Anyway, it's worked out really great to make lunches this way. It's sort of a spin off the "Bento Box" lunch theory.
I make up several of the salads, and containers with snacks, and he can pick what he wants to take.
The kids really like them too! On Tuesdays only 2 kids need a school lunch. The other 2 are home at lunchtime. But they like my lunch packings so well they ask for those instead of a normal ol' quesadilla and veggies. (Or whatever totally boring fare i may have planned) It's funny. I don't mind though because I feel I am able to squeeze in more nutrient dense selections and they eat them much more readily.
Next, I want to try to use cute packaging tricks. Like fancy cutters and pretty toothpicks. I sometimes make little "kebabs" on toothpicks and I thought getting cool ones would be fun.
I also am working on a quick breakfast plan. I got a toaster oven so I'm working on some ideas for things I can make ahead that can be grabbed and toasted quickly during the week.
But now I need a nap. ;)
Pictured below are a few of my latest presentations. One is a southwestern tri-tip salad with chipotle ranch dressing, the box has hummus, pretzels, mango with tajin, and caprese bites with crackers.
So now you know why I'm put in time out when I forget or fail to prepare lunches. I just might have some pretty spoiled family members on my hands!!!!
That's ok though...I have fond memories of my mom forcing alfalfa sprouts on me every day. I was so worried I'd look like a dinosaur at school while I ate. But now I know it's because she really cared about me and my health. My mama is the best when it comes to making healthy meals.
So I will carry on as she taught me and continue to find ways to make sure my husband and kids don't end up fat, sick, and nearly dead!
Recently, however, he has been working so many hours, is usually gone from sun up to sun down, and eating on the road is not only taking its toll on his stomach, but on the pocket book as well. It's been brought to my attention that if I am not going to get up when he does and make him breakfast, (*hangs head in shame*) I had better at least make something for him to take for lunch and snacks on the road. Of course, I agree-and definitely don't want to resort to 5am breakfast makings. (I am such a bad example)
I think the reason I have avoided the lunch making is because in my mind for the past few years it has been so mundane-sandwich, chips, drink. Drink, sandwich, chips. Chips, drink, sandwich. Yuck!!!!! Who wants a soggy sandwich anyway?
So I began thinking....and doing a little hunting online for better ideas.
I had purchased a package of deli containers from Smart&Final a few months back, with the intention of using them for boys Lego organization. We did use some of them but the boys decided they'd rather organize them differently. (Translate: dump)
I'd seen a layered salad to go pin on Pinterest, stored in mason jars which I loved. I totally use mason jars for this too, my husband is good about returning the containers, BUT the disposable ones, (which I reuse) are much lighter, less hassle if they do get left in the car and need to be tossed, and are just the perfect size for a magnificent salad.
I got dip/dressing sized containers at The Dollar Store.
I also bought a few sets of bpa free (can't have Alzheimer's stealing my husband too early) divided containers made by ziplock from Amazon. I couldn't find them at Walmart or Target. These I use for fruit, hummus, nuts, cheese, etc. I really do try to make everything "real". No artificial flavors, or preservatives if I can help it.
I don't eat grains, so most crackers available are out for me, and that makes it pretty hard to get crackers that pass the scrutiny. I pick my battles and that is not one of them. So I just buy what he likes, which is club or ritz, but he'd be fine with something a little more healthy if I felt like spending the extra money.
Anyway, it's worked out really great to make lunches this way. It's sort of a spin off the "Bento Box" lunch theory.
I make up several of the salads, and containers with snacks, and he can pick what he wants to take.
The kids really like them too! On Tuesdays only 2 kids need a school lunch. The other 2 are home at lunchtime. But they like my lunch packings so well they ask for those instead of a normal ol' quesadilla and veggies. (Or whatever totally boring fare i may have planned) It's funny. I don't mind though because I feel I am able to squeeze in more nutrient dense selections and they eat them much more readily.
Next, I want to try to use cute packaging tricks. Like fancy cutters and pretty toothpicks. I sometimes make little "kebabs" on toothpicks and I thought getting cool ones would be fun.
I also am working on a quick breakfast plan. I got a toaster oven so I'm working on some ideas for things I can make ahead that can be grabbed and toasted quickly during the week.
But now I need a nap. ;)
Pictured below are a few of my latest presentations. One is a southwestern tri-tip salad with chipotle ranch dressing, the box has hummus, pretzels, mango with tajin, and caprese bites with crackers.
So now you know why I'm put in time out when I forget or fail to prepare lunches. I just might have some pretty spoiled family members on my hands!!!!
That's ok though...I have fond memories of my mom forcing alfalfa sprouts on me every day. I was so worried I'd look like a dinosaur at school while I ate. But now I know it's because she really cared about me and my health. My mama is the best when it comes to making healthy meals.
So I will carry on as she taught me and continue to find ways to make sure my husband and kids don't end up fat, sick, and nearly dead!
My Precious Nieces
I have two of the most adorable nieces on the planet. I am getting a little nephew soon as well and I just couldn't be happier.
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be able to spend a weekend with Quinn and Skye while their parents went on a little getaway. I decided to journal our time together in a letter to them as it meant so very much to me:
"Dear Quinn and Skye,
What a wonderful and special time we had with you while mommy and daddy got to go to a very special party for work.
We had fun riding the train to come see you! We had been counting the days-it was the last hurrah of our Christmas vacation and we couldn't have been spending it better but to be with you!
I wanted to tell you that it made me very happy and proud of the big girls you are growing up to be that you didn't cry or fuss for mommy and daddy while they were gone. This to me means that you are very stable and confident little girls and that says so much for your mom and dad and how they are raising you!
There are many moments that I want to remember but I wanted to write a few of them down so we won't forget how silly, how sweet, and how loving you are.
Skye: You were swinging on the swingset when mommy and daddy left. So much fun! When Elyse came late Saturday afternoon, you were not too sure about her. You would look at her and just burst into tears! Then you would hold your little arms up to me and would not have me put you down. Of course Elyse knew this is how little girls about 17 months old are! And I was just very glad that I could provide the comfort you needed. This went on for a few hours-I cooked dinner with you on my hip and we made the best salmon together! Then we did the dishes. you loved to climb up on the dishwasher door, hand me things and say "tatoooo!!!" (thank you)
By 7:00 sharp, you were ready for bed. After your bath and warm jammies were put on, we got your binkie and went to sissies bed to lay down. You didn't waste one minute! You were fast asleep in no time. I almost dozed off myself! But then your sister needed a new movie put on so I put you in your crib and went downstairs. You only woke up 2 times during the night and then you woke up at 6:00am when it was still dark outside! I thought maybe if you got in bed with me you would fall back asleep but that was not the case! You were knocking on the wall and kicking your little feet and I knew you were more than ready to start your day so we went downstairs.
Later we went for a walk and you did not like it when I would stop the stroller! You would point your finger straight ahead and babble to me to get moving. Then when sister got out to walk, you wanted out too! You are little miss monkey see monkey do for sure.
When we got home, it was almost time for your nap, but mommy and daddy were coming and I wanted them to be able to see you so I let you stay up. You were being so silly! Shaking your head from side to side getting very dizzy I'm sure.
You are just the sweetest little punkin on the planet. I love you with all my heart!
Quinn: Oh my where do I start! I was so worried you would be upset when mommy and daddy left but you did not even flinch. You took everything in stride just like a great big girl and I am so proud of you! Of course you had times of being frustrated just like any little girl your age would, but you always bounced right back to being the darling, and funny sugar pie you are.
You do like Dora a whole lot! I was cracking up when you made poot noises after each title of episode you did not want to watch. You were also very very silly saying "poopoo" anyway you could think of! We had fun being so silly! We played the bonk heads I love you song game and you really liked the "cheese cheese please excuse my sneeze" song.
I love talking with you. I thought it was really sweet when I was laying down with you while you watched a video on my phone you kept reaching over and rubbing my face to check and make sure I was still there. I was so sleepy! You had taken a late nap so you were not so sleepy-but I knew I didn't get to spend that sort of time with you very often so I was very thankful. I was worried you were going to cry and ask for mom and dad. But you just handed my phone to me and said "I'm done now, I'm tired." And you went right to sleep.
In the morning, I had gone to sleep with Skye and you woke up and found me gone. You told me that made you sad and it made me sad too. I didn't want you to be sad! But you were very happy as we held hands and went downstairs to watch Dora. :) You had a fun day going for a walk to see cows and playing outside with Ava.
When we were being silly while watching strawberry shortcake, you were teasing me about pulling my socks off. I had holes in them and you were sticking your fingers in the holes and pulling them. I was laughing because you were so funny! Then I got distracted and looked away and suddenly you tried to take a little bite out of my leg! It hurt but most of all my heart hurt when I knew you realized you had hurt me and your tears broke my heart. You are such a sensitive girl and I didn't mean to make you feel bad-I know you were only being silly like we like to do!
You sat on my lap as we watched a few more episodes until it was time for daddy to take us to the train station. You are my sugar plum girl and I love you so much!
I will always remember this special weekend spent with my special girls.
I hope we can do it again soon!!!!"
I love my family so much and these girls are so very special to me.
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be able to spend a weekend with Quinn and Skye while their parents went on a little getaway. I decided to journal our time together in a letter to them as it meant so very much to me:
"Dear Quinn and Skye,
What a wonderful and special time we had with you while mommy and daddy got to go to a very special party for work.
We had fun riding the train to come see you! We had been counting the days-it was the last hurrah of our Christmas vacation and we couldn't have been spending it better but to be with you!
I wanted to tell you that it made me very happy and proud of the big girls you are growing up to be that you didn't cry or fuss for mommy and daddy while they were gone. This to me means that you are very stable and confident little girls and that says so much for your mom and dad and how they are raising you!
There are many moments that I want to remember but I wanted to write a few of them down so we won't forget how silly, how sweet, and how loving you are.
Skye: You were swinging on the swingset when mommy and daddy left. So much fun! When Elyse came late Saturday afternoon, you were not too sure about her. You would look at her and just burst into tears! Then you would hold your little arms up to me and would not have me put you down. Of course Elyse knew this is how little girls about 17 months old are! And I was just very glad that I could provide the comfort you needed. This went on for a few hours-I cooked dinner with you on my hip and we made the best salmon together! Then we did the dishes. you loved to climb up on the dishwasher door, hand me things and say "tatoooo!!!" (thank you)
By 7:00 sharp, you were ready for bed. After your bath and warm jammies were put on, we got your binkie and went to sissies bed to lay down. You didn't waste one minute! You were fast asleep in no time. I almost dozed off myself! But then your sister needed a new movie put on so I put you in your crib and went downstairs. You only woke up 2 times during the night and then you woke up at 6:00am when it was still dark outside! I thought maybe if you got in bed with me you would fall back asleep but that was not the case! You were knocking on the wall and kicking your little feet and I knew you were more than ready to start your day so we went downstairs.
Later we went for a walk and you did not like it when I would stop the stroller! You would point your finger straight ahead and babble to me to get moving. Then when sister got out to walk, you wanted out too! You are little miss monkey see monkey do for sure.
When we got home, it was almost time for your nap, but mommy and daddy were coming and I wanted them to be able to see you so I let you stay up. You were being so silly! Shaking your head from side to side getting very dizzy I'm sure.
You are just the sweetest little punkin on the planet. I love you with all my heart!
Quinn: Oh my where do I start! I was so worried you would be upset when mommy and daddy left but you did not even flinch. You took everything in stride just like a great big girl and I am so proud of you! Of course you had times of being frustrated just like any little girl your age would, but you always bounced right back to being the darling, and funny sugar pie you are.
You do like Dora a whole lot! I was cracking up when you made poot noises after each title of episode you did not want to watch. You were also very very silly saying "poopoo" anyway you could think of! We had fun being so silly! We played the bonk heads I love you song game and you really liked the "cheese cheese please excuse my sneeze" song.
I love talking with you. I thought it was really sweet when I was laying down with you while you watched a video on my phone you kept reaching over and rubbing my face to check and make sure I was still there. I was so sleepy! You had taken a late nap so you were not so sleepy-but I knew I didn't get to spend that sort of time with you very often so I was very thankful. I was worried you were going to cry and ask for mom and dad. But you just handed my phone to me and said "I'm done now, I'm tired." And you went right to sleep.
In the morning, I had gone to sleep with Skye and you woke up and found me gone. You told me that made you sad and it made me sad too. I didn't want you to be sad! But you were very happy as we held hands and went downstairs to watch Dora. :) You had a fun day going for a walk to see cows and playing outside with Ava.
When we were being silly while watching strawberry shortcake, you were teasing me about pulling my socks off. I had holes in them and you were sticking your fingers in the holes and pulling them. I was laughing because you were so funny! Then I got distracted and looked away and suddenly you tried to take a little bite out of my leg! It hurt but most of all my heart hurt when I knew you realized you had hurt me and your tears broke my heart. You are such a sensitive girl and I didn't mean to make you feel bad-I know you were only being silly like we like to do!
You sat on my lap as we watched a few more episodes until it was time for daddy to take us to the train station. You are my sugar plum girl and I love you so much!
I will always remember this special weekend spent with my special girls.
I hope we can do it again soon!!!!"
I love my family so much and these girls are so very special to me.
Post Birthday Brain
Well yesterday was a great day. I always love celebrating with my kiddos, even if they don't have a party-just making their day special means so much to me.
On Sunday, we took the kids to the snow as an early "pre celebratory" event. We ate a nice dinner at the restaurant in Kings Canyon. Elyse had invited a friend, but the friend cancelled at the last minute so we went just as a family. It was by far THE most amazing day at the snow. I took TONS of pictures and will post them soon in a special post just for that day.
Then yesterday, we had planned to go to Visalia to meet my parents, eat sushi, and celebrate some more but Chandler has been sick all week,(he's coughing like a seal as I type) then my mom came down with it, so we felt it would be best to postpone our plans.
So we set Chandler up with plenty of books, games, and snacks and he was fine with us taking Elyse out to buy a gift and to dinner.
We took her to Boot Barn because she is going to start horseback riding again and needed new boots. My lands, have the prices ever gone up since I last bought riding boots! Poor dad nearly choked on his tongue when we saw the price tags. I should have researched that a bit more before going inside that's for sure. But we agreed and settled on a good pair that will last her a long time-and if any consolation is needed for the hefty price tag, at least we wear the same size so if she grows out of them I can keep them. 😍
Next, we went to Yoshinos's for sushi. The kid is a sushi fiend. We were a bit apprehensive as we have been spoiled by a lot of amazing sushi and we did not wish to be disappointed. We were not! It was great-except the non sushi eaters had little choices and the ones they did choose (teriyaki salmon) was a bit spendy. ($8 for a child)
Anyhow, I'd ordered a small portion, believing I'd scoot by without binging on the rice/sugar filled fried delicacies. Anyway I wasn't very hungry. Eating low carb has that effect. I'm hardly ever hungry.
Elyse had ordered small also, but was still hungry when hers was gone. She had admired dad's choice, so we ordered one to split. It was great. We paid extra to have it baked. (Love baked sushi!)
So I was resolved to the fact I had completely blown my diet. Of course birthdays are known for that. But I really had hoped I would be able to stay on track because that seems to be the bane of my existence. Birthday binges. Celebrations. Parties. Weddings. They all result in one thing. SUGAR.
Earlier in the day, I'd had a brainstorm for making a dessert Elyse would like. She is quite health conscious and has mentioned many times how much she would love to get an Edible Arrangement. I looked up the website to place an order and nearly plopped out of my chair. $85 for a mediocre bundle of pineapple and strawberries?!?!? Plus tax and shipping??????? No thank you! My daughter is worth every penny of course but I know she would much rather have that amount of cash to buy something tangible.
So my busy brain got to work. With the help of Pinterest, I put a plan into action and headed to Walmart. 45 minutes and $35 later I was back home laying out my supplies. It was easy and so fun. It turned out great-she had no idea I'd made it, except when she recognized a ribbon I'd used before. It was a huge hit-she ate till she was stuffed.
But while I'd been so hot to trot to get it made, I'd also taken a few bites of strawberries that I normally wouldn't even notice. (I've never cared for strawberries) Oh. My. Word. They were amazing. Trust me, I knew what strawberries taste like, but I guess going sugar free for so long made the flavor really pop in my mouth and before I knew it, I was inhaling them as I worked. Not sans chocolate either. Yes it was demonic possession for sure.
The guilt was so heavy. So eating the sushi that night basically was just my way of saying Que Sera and throwing it to the wind. Happy Birthday.
I went to bed last night with horrible heart burn. I never get that. I woke up at 1:00am with a scratchy throat. I panic when that happens-with the kids having been so sick the past few weeks, I absolutely cannot afford to get sick!!! I got up and took an array of immune boosting supplements. I slept fitfully. I woke up at 6am and tossed and turned to go back to sleep. By the time I did, my alarm went off. I hit snooze once. When the alarm went off again, I knew I had to get myself out of bed to get Elyse off to school.
I didn't notice anything abnormal while getting dressed. I am not a morning person so I generally attribute any ill feelings to that. I didn't eat or drink anything before driving E to school. We were chatting and whatnot when suddenly I felt really lightheaded. When I got home, I stumbled to the coffee pot. I took care of menial chores and took a B-complex vitamin. I cut up some fruit for the kids and sat down to help Caeden with his math.
Then nausea started in...and brain fog. Major brain fog. Lightheaded and yucky. Just BLEH. I felt weak and sort of clammy too. Gahhhh I can't get sick!!!!
I drink water. And cave to the starvation I'm suddenly feeling. Cave to hummus and pretzels.
And sit down to snoop on google about the effects carb binging has on the body. Here is what I found. I literally laughed out loud when I read this because it pinpointed my problems to the T.
Incredible. Kinda sad too!!!!! It means that as long as I'm living these foods will affect me this way. Because to be honest, I've always struggled with feeling ill after eating a lot of carbs. So there it is. I now know what triggers my health issues. Sugar. Rice. Wheat.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-carb-binge/#axzz2JfrihSVb
Pictured below are some iPhone snaps of the fruit bouquet and my girl and I doing the sushi binge.
Overall, it was a great day and even though I'm having a major carb hangover today, I'm so thankful for the great day we had.
Now I need a job to help pay for those boots!!!
On Sunday, we took the kids to the snow as an early "pre celebratory" event. We ate a nice dinner at the restaurant in Kings Canyon. Elyse had invited a friend, but the friend cancelled at the last minute so we went just as a family. It was by far THE most amazing day at the snow. I took TONS of pictures and will post them soon in a special post just for that day.
Then yesterday, we had planned to go to Visalia to meet my parents, eat sushi, and celebrate some more but Chandler has been sick all week,(he's coughing like a seal as I type) then my mom came down with it, so we felt it would be best to postpone our plans.
So we set Chandler up with plenty of books, games, and snacks and he was fine with us taking Elyse out to buy a gift and to dinner.
We took her to Boot Barn because she is going to start horseback riding again and needed new boots. My lands, have the prices ever gone up since I last bought riding boots! Poor dad nearly choked on his tongue when we saw the price tags. I should have researched that a bit more before going inside that's for sure. But we agreed and settled on a good pair that will last her a long time-and if any consolation is needed for the hefty price tag, at least we wear the same size so if she grows out of them I can keep them. 😍
Next, we went to Yoshinos's for sushi. The kid is a sushi fiend. We were a bit apprehensive as we have been spoiled by a lot of amazing sushi and we did not wish to be disappointed. We were not! It was great-except the non sushi eaters had little choices and the ones they did choose (teriyaki salmon) was a bit spendy. ($8 for a child)
Anyhow, I'd ordered a small portion, believing I'd scoot by without binging on the rice/sugar filled fried delicacies. Anyway I wasn't very hungry. Eating low carb has that effect. I'm hardly ever hungry.
Elyse had ordered small also, but was still hungry when hers was gone. She had admired dad's choice, so we ordered one to split. It was great. We paid extra to have it baked. (Love baked sushi!)
So I was resolved to the fact I had completely blown my diet. Of course birthdays are known for that. But I really had hoped I would be able to stay on track because that seems to be the bane of my existence. Birthday binges. Celebrations. Parties. Weddings. They all result in one thing. SUGAR.
Earlier in the day, I'd had a brainstorm for making a dessert Elyse would like. She is quite health conscious and has mentioned many times how much she would love to get an Edible Arrangement. I looked up the website to place an order and nearly plopped out of my chair. $85 for a mediocre bundle of pineapple and strawberries?!?!? Plus tax and shipping??????? No thank you! My daughter is worth every penny of course but I know she would much rather have that amount of cash to buy something tangible.
So my busy brain got to work. With the help of Pinterest, I put a plan into action and headed to Walmart. 45 minutes and $35 later I was back home laying out my supplies. It was easy and so fun. It turned out great-she had no idea I'd made it, except when she recognized a ribbon I'd used before. It was a huge hit-she ate till she was stuffed.
But while I'd been so hot to trot to get it made, I'd also taken a few bites of strawberries that I normally wouldn't even notice. (I've never cared for strawberries) Oh. My. Word. They were amazing. Trust me, I knew what strawberries taste like, but I guess going sugar free for so long made the flavor really pop in my mouth and before I knew it, I was inhaling them as I worked. Not sans chocolate either. Yes it was demonic possession for sure.
The guilt was so heavy. So eating the sushi that night basically was just my way of saying Que Sera and throwing it to the wind. Happy Birthday.
I went to bed last night with horrible heart burn. I never get that. I woke up at 1:00am with a scratchy throat. I panic when that happens-with the kids having been so sick the past few weeks, I absolutely cannot afford to get sick!!! I got up and took an array of immune boosting supplements. I slept fitfully. I woke up at 6am and tossed and turned to go back to sleep. By the time I did, my alarm went off. I hit snooze once. When the alarm went off again, I knew I had to get myself out of bed to get Elyse off to school.
I didn't notice anything abnormal while getting dressed. I am not a morning person so I generally attribute any ill feelings to that. I didn't eat or drink anything before driving E to school. We were chatting and whatnot when suddenly I felt really lightheaded. When I got home, I stumbled to the coffee pot. I took care of menial chores and took a B-complex vitamin. I cut up some fruit for the kids and sat down to help Caeden with his math.
Then nausea started in...and brain fog. Major brain fog. Lightheaded and yucky. Just BLEH. I felt weak and sort of clammy too. Gahhhh I can't get sick!!!!
I drink water. And cave to the starvation I'm suddenly feeling. Cave to hummus and pretzels.
And sit down to snoop on google about the effects carb binging has on the body. Here is what I found. I literally laughed out loud when I read this because it pinpointed my problems to the T.
Incredible. Kinda sad too!!!!! It means that as long as I'm living these foods will affect me this way. Because to be honest, I've always struggled with feeling ill after eating a lot of carbs. So there it is. I now know what triggers my health issues. Sugar. Rice. Wheat.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-carb-binge/#axzz2JfrihSVb
Pictured below are some iPhone snaps of the fruit bouquet and my girl and I doing the sushi binge.
Overall, it was a great day and even though I'm having a major carb hangover today, I'm so thankful for the great day we had.
Now I need a job to help pay for those boots!!!
1.31.2013
FIFTEEN
I simply cannot believe that it has been fifteen years since my precious, gorgeous baby girl was placed in my arms. I still remember the unbelief and amazement I felt when I looked at her face and how beautiful she was.
My first born baby girl.
She still amazes me with not only her beauty, but her strength, grace, poise, fortitude, diligence, and zest for life are qualities I notice every day. I knew she was a star when she was born; but she has surpassed my expectations in every way.
~I love you my Ellie Wren...my sweet song bird who's brightness shines in my life brighter and brighter each and every day. May God's grace continue to be upon you and may He keep you and guide you all your days.
Always know that I love you more than life itself. Wishing you the happiest birthday baby girl. ~Momma~
My first born baby girl.
She still amazes me with not only her beauty, but her strength, grace, poise, fortitude, diligence, and zest for life are qualities I notice every day. I knew she was a star when she was born; but she has surpassed my expectations in every way.
~I love you my Ellie Wren...my sweet song bird who's brightness shines in my life brighter and brighter each and every day. May God's grace continue to be upon you and may He keep you and guide you all your days.
Always know that I love you more than life itself. Wishing you the happiest birthday baby girl. ~Momma~
1.29.2013
A "Loving Family"
We all have seen them before, the sad bundle of artificial flowers, brightly colored mylar balloons, wreaths, crosses and whatnot marking the spot of a terrible traffic accident. The fact is always so sobering, while we drive so easily and speed by an average intersection or corner, only to realize someone had an incident there, where they took their last breath. So sad.
A few weeks ago, while driving down a major street we drive on every day, we noticed clustered around a stop sign, some flowers, and a few small candles burning. The kids were intrigued and asked why they had been placed there. I explained how people make little memorials on the side of the road where their loved ones have died.
I hadn't seen them there before so I googled the intersection and discovered the accident had taken place the evening prior to our noticing the array. A small Honda civic, a four way stop sign, a big utility truck who did not stop, resulted in the deaths of two innocent lives. I explained what happened to my children. Their first reaction was placing the time it took place, and mentioning how grateful they were their teacher, who had been at our home until right before it took place, had not been involved.
The article was short and to the point. The victims names were not published as I am not sure family had been notified at the time of the article being published. That article was the only explanation of their fate I was able to dig up online. No memorial, no article touting safer driving laws, no anything. Just two nameless individuals, departed into eternity in a mere few seconds.
As the days went on, we drove back and forth past the site on our way to town for church and school. The little site grew bigger. More flowers, more balloons, and most of all, more candles. Lots of candles. Always burning.
One night, it was cold and rainy, and we noticed only one little candle was weathering the cruel winter night. The next morning, we could see the little spot had once again been attended to, as new candles replaced the old ones, and little crosses with names engraved had been added. Now we could learn the names of these two people. No one we knew, but they were only 33 and 35 years old. Quite possibly a husband and wife, or two siblings, as they shared a last name.
That night, as we drove by again, the kids noticed the candles all burning brightly once again. They spoke about it. And Caeden said something that although was simple, it touched my heart. Softly he said, "Wow.....they must really be a loving family". I swallowed the lump in my throat and agreed with him that yes, indeed, they were a loving family.
I do not know them, probably not very many other people knew them or know the family, but my heart aches for them. A family who just a few weeks after Christmas, lost two members in one moment. While their names never made news, or their story was never really published, this family made an impact by demonstrating to my children, how loving and devoted they were to one another. While I know this happens all over the world, in every country, state, city, town, and community, I wanted to share this today, and embrace life; for it is but a vapor. And I hope that when my days on earth are gone, that being a part of a "loving family" will be a great piece of my legacy.
A few weeks ago, while driving down a major street we drive on every day, we noticed clustered around a stop sign, some flowers, and a few small candles burning. The kids were intrigued and asked why they had been placed there. I explained how people make little memorials on the side of the road where their loved ones have died.
I hadn't seen them there before so I googled the intersection and discovered the accident had taken place the evening prior to our noticing the array. A small Honda civic, a four way stop sign, a big utility truck who did not stop, resulted in the deaths of two innocent lives. I explained what happened to my children. Their first reaction was placing the time it took place, and mentioning how grateful they were their teacher, who had been at our home until right before it took place, had not been involved.
The article was short and to the point. The victims names were not published as I am not sure family had been notified at the time of the article being published. That article was the only explanation of their fate I was able to dig up online. No memorial, no article touting safer driving laws, no anything. Just two nameless individuals, departed into eternity in a mere few seconds.
As the days went on, we drove back and forth past the site on our way to town for church and school. The little site grew bigger. More flowers, more balloons, and most of all, more candles. Lots of candles. Always burning.
One night, it was cold and rainy, and we noticed only one little candle was weathering the cruel winter night. The next morning, we could see the little spot had once again been attended to, as new candles replaced the old ones, and little crosses with names engraved had been added. Now we could learn the names of these two people. No one we knew, but they were only 33 and 35 years old. Quite possibly a husband and wife, or two siblings, as they shared a last name.
That night, as we drove by again, the kids noticed the candles all burning brightly once again. They spoke about it. And Caeden said something that although was simple, it touched my heart. Softly he said, "Wow.....they must really be a loving family". I swallowed the lump in my throat and agreed with him that yes, indeed, they were a loving family.
I do not know them, probably not very many other people knew them or know the family, but my heart aches for them. A family who just a few weeks after Christmas, lost two members in one moment. While their names never made news, or their story was never really published, this family made an impact by demonstrating to my children, how loving and devoted they were to one another. While I know this happens all over the world, in every country, state, city, town, and community, I wanted to share this today, and embrace life; for it is but a vapor. And I hope that when my days on earth are gone, that being a part of a "loving family" will be a great piece of my legacy.
1.28.2013
Fresh Air
Awwww life just speeds too quickly. Today we spent several hours at my parents' property in Visalia, just breathing the fresh air! I love this photo-she was imagining she was sitting on a "trail to home"!
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