Stumped

I've been in the new house for 17 days.
Just over two weeks now.
My dresser drawers are mostly full but not all.
My nightstand is empty, 'cept for
some chocolate-covered pomegranate balls
that I got from Costco last weekend.
(which are so good!)
The kitchen is done,
has been done from Day One
because I hate packing and un-packing the kitchen,
so I did an extra-good job of that room--
but I got lazy when it came to my room.
I didn't label the boxes.
Stupid, I know.
What was I thinking??
Ack!

The new house has one linen closet.
I've never only had one linen closet.
We had four in the last house,
which means I own enough linens to fill
you know, four linen closets.

I already have a box of linens TO BE DONATED.
It's full.

There is also no closet in the office/loft.
So there are boxes of crafts sitting around me
with no place to go.

And there's no medicine cabinet in the Master bath.
Seriously--
huge mirror over the sinks,
no medicine cabinet.

We do have two coat closets on the main floor.
Back to Back.
Evidently, the good folks at Richmond homes
knew we own alot of coats here in Colorado
so they made closets for those.
But not so much on linens.
Or medicine.

I'm not creative when it comes to putting stuff away--
I need a closet or a cabinet to fill.
Otherwise, I'm stumped.

IKEA opens July 27th.
I am SO there.

What's funnier than not remembering what boxes have my stuff in them?
When Mr W and the yahoos ask me
if I remember where their stuff is too!
Is that not like asking the blind to lead the blind?

Our garage is like a sea of boxes.
A sea of boxes with nowhere to go.
I need a professional organizer.
Or less stuff.

I like less stuff.

I love my new house.
Oh how I do!
Just need a little help here
to find all my shoes.

Tales of Moving

I have learned so much that I wanted to share from our moving experience,

that I actually wrote "keywords" to remind me of different events and thoughts

down on a white board.

Marvelous things,

Funny things,

Inspirational things.

Then, I placed that whiteboard on the fridge,

and got back to unpacking,

thinking that when I got a chance,

I would go to that whiteboard and start blogging those magnificent ideas.

I should've put a 24 hour security guard on the whiteboard,

because one of the yahoos was inspired by my notes

and then without notice

erased them all.

So I may not be able to relive and relish every moment

that our move inspired,

but the important stuff is still rollin' around my noggin

and that's what I'm gonna try to get on this page

before it too is lost to the X-files of my mind.

~~~~~

Monday, a week before the closing,

our mortgage guy calls and says

it doesn't look like we're going to get the loan

we wanted--

it had a lower interest rate that we not only wanted

but needed to make this deal work.

He called Mr. W at work 

then Mr. W called me at home.

Mr. W was feelin' blue.

He's said since, that he didn't think we'd really be able to get into a home

this year....that he thought we'd have to have alot more money to put down

to get into the kind of home we're accustomed to.

But he didn't tell me that back then.

He kept that little gem to himself.

So when he got the call from Kevin, our mortgage guy,

he said he wasn't surprised,

but felt badly for me.

Well, see the thing about this is,

I didn't know what to do except call the kids to my room,

gather them at the foot of my bed,

and pray for those that were working on this loan for us.

We prayed for the mortgage people on our end,

and the bank people,

and the home owners who were anxious to get this debt off their shoulders

as it's a Short Sale home,

and we prayed that if this wasn't going to be a blessing for our family,

then we'd gratefully pass on the opportunity

and look with hope and clarity on the horizon

for the blessings our Heavenly Father has instore for us.

Yes, we cried.

We'd already set our hopes on this little house.

We're tired of the feelings of being homeless as we've been renting for 5 years

as the Lord had directed us to do.

We wanted our own place.

So we were sad.

At first, Kevin said that if we came up with 8k more,

we could get that loan--

well, we didn't have it,

and we know of noone that we could even ask to borrow it from...

but here's the deal:

Heavenly Father already knew that.

I knew that He knew that.

So if this was going to work,

then He was going to have to make it so.

I turned to the scriptures,

I just said a little prayer that I would read something

that would comfort me 

and then I opened to

Mark 4--

where we read about Jesus and His Disciples

entering a ship and once they're out in the sea

a great tempest storm starts tossing them about--

so much so that waves are crashing on the ship

and the Disciples are so afraid 

that they wake a sleeping Jesus.

"Carest thou not that we perish?"
And he arose, and rebuked the wind,
and said to the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased,
and there was great calm.
And he said unto them,
Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

I read that sacred story again and again.

I called the children to the dining room 

and read it to them.

I read it to Mr. W that night after dinner.

And I kept my scriptures open to that page

for the rest of the week.

I called my oldest children and my best friend 

and asked them to remember us in their prayers.

We kept packing the house up.

I had an appointment with our mortgage guy on Wednesday,

where he and I spent an hour talking about faith

and trust in God's love and plan for His children.

When I left his office,

he and I both felt uplifted by the experience.

I told him we were praying for him and the underwriters,

and the homeowners and the loan officers.

That brought tears to his eyes.

He may have known alot about Mormons' lifestyles--

but after our meeting, 

I hope he knows alot more about faith.

By Friday,

Kevin called me,

his voice was filled with electricity:

"We got it! We got the loan!"

The next Monday, as Mr. W and I were driving to the 

Title company's office for the closing,

Mr. W shared that he was surprised that we were actually 

doing this on that day in this year.

And that he felt "foolish" for not having more faith.

I said we all had our faith tested and rewarded in this experience

and that's what this life is all about.

After the closing,

Kevin smiled and said to Mr W:

"You've got a diamond right there". (pointing to me)

His compliment filled my heart--

he had done his best for us,

and our experience together blessed us all.

I can't say I've ever had that experience with a 

mortgage broker,

but there you have it.

Look, I know home ownership isn't the be-all-end-all

of life in this world--

but for my heart,

it means more than I can say.

I have always felt like a bit alone--

my parents are not in my life,

Mr. W's parents are deceased,

we do not have extended family that is involved

in our lives beyond occasional

"hey, what's up?" and Christmas cards.

So a home to me,

means security.

The Lord knows this about me.

And He knows that I am completely dependent upon Him

for every thing in my life.

If there's a moral to this story,

it might be well-said from a quote by

Neil A. Maxwell:

"Faith in God includes faith in God's timing."

The night after we started moving in,

our family gathered together in the new diningroom,

surrounded by moving boxes, 

and we knelt in a little circle and dedicated our new home

to our Heavenly Father.

We asked that our home be filled with His Spirit,

that we will make it a sacred place for all of us,

a refuge from the world,

and always a blessing in our lives.

We acknowledged our Heavenly Father's hand in our lives

and expressed our love to Him.

And then we stood, hugged, and started unpacking.

This is our home, 

through the blessed efforts of many,

this is our home.

(pics have been taken, but I can't find the usb cord thingy to transfer the pics off my camera!)

She has a Wii Face

I'm in the middle of moving...
today should be the last big push to get our
belongings from one house to the next.

I hate moving.
I'd rather have a root canal than move crap.

And you know this if you're in a big family,
with grown children--
we still have their stuff to move too!
Not even kidding.
The stuff that they can't take with them while they're in school,
living in tiny apartments, etc.
Yeah, it's all still in my basement.
And where are they during this move?

Well they ain't here, that's for sure.
Ugh.

We have filled up the Suburban to the roof
and taken excess to Good will.
There will be another trip there today.

Yes, I have taken pictures of the mess--
(thanks to Tauna for encouraging me to keep it real),
but I think the camera got packed.

I have also had to work during this process.
When I left a few days ago,
I had specific tasks for the yahoos to do while I was gone--
go thru the toys,
pick out the clothes that don't fit anymore,
etc
etc.
Not on the list?
"Pluck your little sister's eyebrows."
Yet, when I came home last Wednesday night,
the Caboose asked me if I "noticed anything different?"
I looked--
"what happened to your eyebrows?"
"Dara plucked them!" she beamed.
I looked closer--
to see that Dara had done an awful job--
not only did she pluck them,
but she used tiny scissors to cut them when the Caboose
said she'd had enough of the pain--
and to cover it up, she'd used dark brown eye shadow
over the tiny little hairs to fill it in.
It looked awful.
And I said that outloud.
Which brought tears to the Caboose's eyes--
"I thought I looked beautiful!" she cried.
I hugged her and told her she IS beautiful,
but she also looks like Groucho Marx.

She stopped crying to ask who Groucho Marx is--
just then,
the Boofus piped in,
"She looks like a Wii face!"

A what? I asked.

" A Wii Mii face. You know, from the Wii. You can pick your eye brows n' stuff for your own Mii face."

Got it.

I look at the Caboose again.

Yes, yes she does look like a Wii face.

New rule in the house:

No. 421: 

Dara is not allowed to pluck anyone's eyebrows. Ever.

Have you had to make rules based on ridiculous choices your kids have made?

It's Hard to Smile with Clenched Teeth

Mother's Day weekend was awesome.
AWESOME!
We took a little road trip to visit Dean
in northern Colorado.

I wish so much I'd had my camera in my hand
when his caregiver led us to him--
he was out in the pasture petting their horse
all by himself.
When he turned and saw us,
his face, indeed his whole countenance was so calm and happy.
I haven't seen him look that way in a very long time.
He hurried over to us all smiles and gave us all big hugs.
Then, very purposefully, he said,
"I'm staying here."
I understood exactly what he meant.
"Yes, you are."

He took all the kids on a tour of the grounds--
introducing them to "Lucky" the horse,
the pigs, the chickens,
the dog,
and back around a couple more times.

We just all hung out with his caregiving family,
and it felt so relaxed and genuine.
We asked if they'd be our caregivers too.

We took Dean into Fort Collins to his fav restaurant--
Red Robinnnnnn....YUMMMMMMMM.
And over to a park to hang out for a little bit.
Fort Collins has a lovely Spring--
they're lower in elevation than Colorado Springs,
so all of their trees are blooming and the grass is already green
everywhere you look.
Mr W and I talked about moving back up there someday
once the yahoos are out of school.
We prefer the school system here which is the major reason
we moved back down here
when we left Idaho.
Anyway, our Saturday afternoon with Dean was perfect.
I love that boy.

Clenched teeth.
Well, before we left to see Dean Saturday morning,
we went to check out a house in our area.
It's a house I've had my eye on since last Fall,
but it was outta our price range.
Then, there was a contract on it,
so I just forgot about it.
mostly.
Well, on Friday night, it popped back up on the MLS
and I emailed my realtor to get the details.
Not only was it back on the market,
but
it's priced 30k less than before!
She set up a showing for us Saturday morning.
We took the yahoos with us b/c we're on our way outta town
anyway, and they went nuts.
Loved the house.
It is pretty darn cute.
We talked about it,
then last night, Mr W and I prayed about it,
and have gone forward and put an offer on it.
That's why my stomach is trembly,
I can't sleep (it's a little before 4am)
and my teeth are clenched.

I hate buying a home.
It has got to be one of the most miserable experiences in life.
I'd rather have a root canal.
I'd rather have three root canals.

I'm self-talking/coaching all day long inside my head:
"it'll be okay."
"if it's meant to be, it'll work out."
"be patient in the process."
and on and on.
I get sick of listening to my self so much,
that I talk back--
"What if it's not okay?"
"Are you doing everything you can?"
"I feel sick to my stomach."
"The MONEY!"

Ugh. I'm pathetic.

I'm focused on other things--
in fact,
you could say I have many irons in the fire...
the yahoos are at the end of the school year--
which means concerts,
dance performances,
recitals,
plays,
ceremonies,
finals, etc.
We're talking about summer plans
with the house;
with family;
Dani and Mr. Idaho's summer internship in Houston
and their baby boy that'll be born there;
and
I'm pitching my home staging business to
an entire Keller Williams real estate team
this morning,
in exactly 5 and a half hours.
Power-point presentation even.
Daisie helped me make it, of course.
She likes it when she knows how to do something that I don't.
Whipper-snappers these days.
I need to go back to sleep,
but I can't for all the noise in between my ears!

I hope the presentation goes well.
Mainly, I hope I can smile with clenched teeth
and don't pass out or puke in a room full of strangers.
Cuz, ya know, noone wants to see that.

Cross your fingers and toes for me, please.

We are not Home-less, home-less...

Thanks to my beautiful and talented and wonderful half-sister (lol!) Nannette...we found a home in her ward! Email me for the address!
We emptied the moving truck last night with the help of Nannette (supervisor and self-inflicted workhorse), our new missionaries Elders' Leavitt and Longenecker, Matt, Eric, and the rest of the familia. It went pretty fast actually. Kent is leaving tonight to go back to Idaho and pick up the rest of our stuff, turn around and come back to CO. with Dani.
We weren't ever really homeless, because my friend, my sister, Nannette would never allow it--but I am much calmer after last night.
This experience has been trying for me. It was never a matter of my faith--I know Heavenly Father loves me and knows me and indeed TRIES me--it is not knowing how far I will be allowed to be tried that concerns me. I know He knows what my strengths and my weaknesses are better than I...and man, sometimes that just freaks me out!
Nannette has rallied old friends around me these past couple of days. Wonderful sisters whom I love and admire who share their trials and their faith and by so doing, have lifted me up too.
I think I might be pretty wimpy to tell you the truth. After hearing what trials I do NOT have, there is comfort in the ones I DO. Does that make any sense??
Sister Malley, from Louisiana said she wishes that when inconsiderate people offend her or her family she could "just slap them! I know that would make me feel better! That's how we do it down South!" lol
Anywho, we are partially moved in--Diana stayed the night in the new house last night with Taylor--my other daughter, and I have to get over there to unpack that house and start making it a Home.

All Is Well, All Is Well...

I'm looking out at the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado Springs. I see "my" beautiful Pike's Peak with the cloudless blue skies stretching out as far as I can see and the wind is gentle and cool.
I am home. The reception we have recieved from old friends has been gracious and warm. It is good to be around so much familiarity...I know where my bank is, where my Albertsons' is, and how to get to the Post Office. The whole northern part of Colorado Springs has changed more than I can describe--it is so much bigger! But I look at those mountains and they are the same as when we left here 3 years ago. They haven't changed a bit. I missed them.
Our trip back began on Saturday morning @10:30am from Meridian, Idaho. I'd had about 5 hours of sleep; Kent had less than 4. His flight into Boise from Denver was delayed by 3 hours. he got in at 3 and up at 7am and we took off for Colorado. The trip was 20 hours start to finish. That's right 20 hours! The moving truck can only go so fast, and up hills dropped down to 50mph or slower in some places. Kent drove the truck, I was in the Suburban, and Danielle in her little red Blazer...all of us following along. Around midnight we were in Rawlings, WY. Fatigue was settling on Kent, tho I was wired to keep going because I knew how close we were to Colorado. We rested at a truck stop for an hour...I say rested, but Kent is the only one who shut his eyes. Arianna was asleep in my car, while Joseph was wide awake in the truck with Kent.
We kept trying to get the dog, Denver, to go potty at every rest stop, but he was just too confused about what was going on: Aspen was gone (having been sold to a 12 year old boy in Idaho for a wad of $5 bills he'd been saving up and diliriously happy to have his own dog! but left the rest of us in tears when we had to say goodbye to our golden retriever)...so Denver was too distressed to potty. Poor dog. He just held it all in!
Anyway, when Kent rallied, we were in Colorado in no time it seemed! Dani and I talked via walkie-talkies as we drove down I-287 towards Ft. Collins. We'd left Ft. Collins in July 2006 for Idaho...so that was kinda nice to see some familiar streets. I knew we only had 2 hours to get to the Springs, but I too was feeling fatigue set in...so Dani and I chatted on the walkie-talkies to keep each other awake. We talked about the huge moon in the sky and how we could see the stars so clearly, unlike the skies in Idaho where it seemed to be cloudy alot and the veiw from our house was mostly limited to straight up. And we talked about the new boy in her life, Brad.
It was going pretty good until Kent phoned me and said that Joseph was going to be sick. We found a place to pull over, where Joseph held onto his cookies until we could get him out of the truck. The night air was cool, and he was shivering. The constant jiggling of the truck had upset his tummy so we put him in the car with me, covered him up and he was out in about 5 minutes.
Dara traded him places and she rode with Kent the rest of the way. We did stop just north of Denver (Longmont) and slept for exactly 1 hour. We all needed it. I was getting wonky, and Kent was already tired. Dani however tired she was, was stil motivated to get to the Springs because she knew Brad was already at the Jones' waiting for us.
Anyway, we made it THRU Denver in less than an hour --the sun was coming up as we entered Colorado Springs at 5:50am. We got the kids in the house, put the dog Denver in the backyard, and he and I just sat outside as I soaked in a beautiful sunrise. Oh, and Denver peed like he had a 20 gallon bladder.
I went to bed around 6:30am, got up at 10am, and helped all of the kids get ready for church meetings that began at 1pm. Now, I know what you're thinking, and yes, we were beat-tired, BUT, we needed to be at Church. Kent wanted to take the sacrament. I wanted to see old friends and feel the Spirit...I had alot to be grateful for, right?!! So off we went.
In our meeting, we were able to witness a new Bishop being presented and sustained: Bishop Sterling Rogers, our old hometeacher whom we love so very much! That was so cool--because as I was getting ready for church I was thinking, "who do I want to see today?" and I thought of Sterling..tho I wasnt' sure if he was even in the same ward, as the Stake had changed so much since we've been gone. SO that was so cool to see him called to be the new Bishop!
The next few days have been spent house-hunting. We have one, we think and hope to be moving into it either today or tomorrow. We'll see. It is in the Colorado Springs North Stake, Northgate Ward---with Bishop Rogers. How cool is that?!
We just left the Edinburgh Ward with Bishop Rodgers--whom we came to know, appreciate and love, and now we have another wonderful Bishop to lead and guide us.
So we are home. I must admit that tho we are physically here, our hearts have not caught up to us from Idaho. We were loved and cared for by so many good good people there and we miss them more than words. Thank you Idaho for being a "blessing and a joy" for our family. You truly were.

The Moving Countdown

The Sign I made for the kids upstairs. I think it says it all, don't you??
what's left in the girls room besides their beds. all that's left in the kitchen pantry

this is the front livingroom...done

We're down to 10 days before we leave Idaho...we've been packing stuff like a fat kid on a cupcake...