The Rundown (no, not that horrible movie with The Rock)

I wish I had something amazing and exciting to talk about.

I don't.

Sorry.

So, I guess you just get a rundown of what I did last week.

• I cooked.
  
• I cleaned.
  
• Dave cleaned my floors, and I feel like our house is sparkling.
  
• I reorganized my craft shelf and got rid of a bunch of fabric.
  
• I made a skirt for Maryn.
  
• I finished a sweater for my friend Nicole's son, Calvin.
  
• I repaired two stuffed animals.
• I took my kids to the park twice.
• I played miniature golf, and my son almost beat me (he got two holes-in-one).
• I got to see my good friend, Elizabeth, on Saturday for a couple of hours.
• We had Nicole's family over for supper and s'mores last night. Though, our smores had to be made in the toaster oven because it started raining during dinner, and we have an electric stove and a capped fireplace. They were still good.
• When I cleaned out the craft shelf, I discovered a few unfinished projects. I'm working on an afghan as a gift, and that darned old advent calendar is STILL waiting for me. My friend's mom gave me hers to use as a pattern, so I'm starting from scratch with that. Forget the old one. There is also a pile of bibs waiting to be sewn. I may or may not get to those this century.
  
• We got doughnuts for snacks one day.

All in all, it was a pretty fun week. Dave and I are finishing up Season 5 of Lost this week. We have the season finale, and then we can move on to Season 6. I'm ready to be done!!! I have enjoyed the story immensely, but I'm ready to have some closure.

I believe it is time for me to do mundane chores. I hope your day is blessed and filled with lots of laughter.

The Provision

In the grand scheme of things, bunk beds are pretty low on the list. I must say, though, that we distinctly felt His provision for them yesterday.

I had done plenty of online research of several stores in the nearest city, and my conclusions were that if we were to buy metal bunkbeds, bunky boards, mattresses, and pay to have them delivered, we would spend at least $800.

I did not want metal bunk beds. I'm sure there isn't anything wrong with them, they just don't seem as sturdy as wooden ones. But, we certainly did not want to spend even $800 and certainly not for metal bunk beds.

I checked Craigslist. Most bunkbeds with used mattresses were going for $500. We didn't want used mattresses, but most folks wanted us to take the mattresses with the beds.

So, we went on our adventure yesterday morning. We were both dreading the idea of wandering from store to store and back again just comparing prices and trying to get a good deal. It just sounded exhausting. We went downtown first because we knew of three furniture stores we wanted to check out there. The first store we went to was closed. Closed on Saturday. Seriously?

As we were driving back around, we saw a store that wasn't even on our list--Bates Furniture. It was in an old building downtown and didn't look fancy. We get in, and the lady comes right up and asks what we're looking for.

"Bunk beds. We're just shopping around and trying to get an idea of what we want to buy."

She takes us to the back of the store, and shows us what she has in stock. The first picture she showed us was everything we wanted:

Twin/Full
Solid Wood
Ladder
Rail
Drawers Underneath
MATTRESSES INCLUDED

For $550.

That is right.

I am not even kidding.

$550.

They would also provide setup and delivery for $75.

This is awesome considering we don't own a truck and couldn't rent a U-Haul for less than $90. And we'd rather have people set them up that are used to setting them up!!!

We walked out of there so relieved that our task was OVER and we had saved so much money. At another store I had talked to, they would have been able to give us all the same stuff for--get this--$1200.

We paid HALF.

God is a provider, and I am thankful.

The Loveliness of Nothingness

I have been a blogger failure this week. I haven't posted in a whole week! I guess I've been busy...and just haven't had much to say (odd, I know!).

Here's what I can think of:

1. I gave up on the no-shampoo. I made it almost three weeks. It was going okay, but I felt like I couldn't find the perfect balance of formula, and I didn't feel like experimenting endlessly. I am going to shop around for more natural shampoos.

2. Maryn's birthday party was Saturday. It was a quick trip up to see our extended family. We had reserved a room at the pizza place. My friend, Lesley, made her an awesome cake. I need to get my phone synced so I can show you a picture. She received lots of clothes and girly stuff as well as some fun summer toys.

3. Our kitchen sink is CLOGGED. Badly. Nothing we did helped. A plumber comes out tomorrow. Paper plates it is. Our dishwasher is full of dirty dishes and the counter is half-way full. I thought about trying to wash them in the bathroom, but that grosses me out. Is that weird?

4. The house looks decent, though my floors could use a good sweeping and mopping. My craft stuff is piled to heaven. I still have a couple of projects to finish. I'm such a lame-o right now as far as finishing projects. I just have no drive. I started cutting out the purse for my friend, Christy, but then realized I didn't have enough of that same fabric. Grrr. Back to the drawing board.

5. I'm looking forward to doing nothing today. Well, not nothing, but not anything productive (besides caring for kids and feeding them).

So that's it. I know, not too exciting, but such is life.

Couch to 5K--Week 9--Already!!!

It is Week 9. I am a bit behind, but my friend, Lee, modified my running plan. Here's what it will look like this week:

Monday: Run 20 min.

Wednesday: Run 10 min, Walk 5, Run 10

Friday: Run 21 min.

Sunday: Run 25 min.

I ran 19 minutes last night and walked 5. It was hard--I wasn't paying close enough attention to my breathing. Once I got it even, it got easier. I was 40 seconds shy of running 2 miles during the 19 minutes. I was very proud of myself. That's a little under a 10-minute mile. I have less than two weeks to be more comfortable running that far. I would still really love to run the whole 5K (3.1 miles), but we shall see. My ankle pain is so-so. We will see if my vitamins do their job.

Also, I am on a "making natural cleaners" kick. It is so cool! I never realized how many cleaning solutions you can make yourself. Last night, I was reading online about clogged drains--our kitchen sink was clogged, and I really hate using and paying for Drano. Most natural sites said that you should first try a plunger--that will sometimes do the trick (or a pipe snake). If not that, then try this:

1 cup washing soda (not baking soda)
3 cups of boiling water

Wash that down the drain, if it doesn't work, chase it with 1 cup of vinegar.

We tried that, and stuff started coming up into the sink--nasty. Dave grabbed the plunger, plunged it once, and skadoosh--the sink drained immediately. Awesome. My sink also looked a lot shinier! The washing soda is awesome. Arm and Hammer puts it out, and it is usually in the laundry aisle. Not all Wal-Marts carry it--you are more likely to find it at a Kroger, Reasors, etc.

Here are some links to other natural, safe, cheaper homemade cleaners:

Furniture Polish (instead of Pledge--which is neurotoxic!!!--who knew?)

Laundry Detergent

Window Cleaner

Dishwasher Detergent

Deodorant (not an anti-perspirant): HERE and HERE (two different kinds)

Shampoo


Isn't it weird to use these homemade cleaners? No, it's just weird that we've been buying stuff (chemical-laden, at that) because the TV tells us to. Or it is what our mom used. Or we don't want to take the time to make them. But seriously, most of of them take a few minutes to prepare. Give it a try, and see how you like it! I am going to!

Also, Sam is doing really well. He's been in his cast for a week now. Only two more weeks to see if he can bear weight on it! He is getting around like a champ. If anything, he has been a little demanding. :)

Our garden is going crazy! Everything has sprouted except for the red bell peppers and the marigolds. We are so excited about it! Yea for fresh veggies!!!

Have a blessed week!

Humpday Run--Couch to 5k

Wednesday, I did 5 min walk, 8 min run, 5 min walk. It was hard, but it wasn't too bad. Week 4 is shaping up nicely; it's next week that I'm worried about. The intensity level picks up a bit. Pressing on!

I saw the rottweilers again. This time they growled and nipped at my dog. I kept running. I love my dog, but I will not sacrifice my life for him! He just let them sniff and then joined me a few moments later. Seriously need to get that pepper spray...

I'm short on coffee this morning. I don't have anything AMAZING to rant about. I do, however, feel that my momentum with my house is wearing thin. I have been working so hard the last few weeks to keep my house looking great. I love how it looks, but it gets messy so fast--kids, meals, tracking in dirt from outdoors, and the like. I am worn out. I work most of the day cooking and cleaning.

I have two sewing projects and two crochet projects yet to finish. It's hard to set aside the time to do them when I'm constantly cleaning up my house. So, to those of you who are waiting on these dear gifts from me, I am trying to finish them!!!

I have no wit today. I'm going to brew a pot of coffee. I'm sure it will help a little.

Filling the shelves

Thank you for praying for Kathy. She tried to open her eyes last night. Big improvement. They are running a bunch of tests today. Please continue to pray as you think of her.

I went on a little decorating spree last night. Well, for me, anyway. I do not shop for decor that often. I have these two ugly and plain white shelving units in my kitchen that are desperate for decor. So, I decided to channel my inner Anna and make them more attractive.

Here is a Before Picture:

Sad, isn't it?

When we moved in, I wasn't too thoughtful about where I should put the coffee mugs. They ended up on the shelf because I didn't have a clear vision or plan for the kitchen. But now, I just want the shelf to look like I care about it. So, I decided to hit Hobby Lobby and see if there was anything that appealed to my tastes. I found a few things.

I found that robin egg blue vase (for $5) with a sweet bird on it. It needed flowers, so I bought the silk ones ($2.50) and some foam ($1.77) to stick them in. I reordered my pictures and cookbooks as well. I think it looks better.

Then I found the birdhouse ($11.25). I loved it, and I knew it would be right at home on my shelf. I once again reorganized cookbooks and another flowerpot I have (that needs some flowers). We shall see. I am taking baby steps here!!!

Here is the big picture:

Much better, wouldn't you say (at least the top two rows!)? I think I spent $19 and some change. I took it out of the entertainment fund. :)

I need further ideas for the bottom three rows. Please contribute your design wisdom. I was contemplating using some fabric or scrapbook paper to line the backs of some of the shelves in a true Nester fashion. Whatdya think?

What to say...

it's hard to think of things on Mondays. Even if we had a good weekend.

And we did.

But, I'm tired. It's Monday; did I mention it? I have a pile of things to do in my mind. I want to do the fun stuff first, but I feel like I have to do the unfun stuff instead. I wish I had a friend over who would chat to me while I did stuff. That would help distract.

I used to do Flylady.

I'm reading the Sidetracked Home Executives book (what Flylady is based on).

There are so many good ideas. But, I'm afraid that the problem lies within.

ME.

I am the problem. There! I said it! I make a lot of excuses for why my house is messy and dirty. I don't like to do housework, so more often than not, I don't do it. Seriously.

So, please turn over a new leaf with me today. Let's get our shoes on and put things back where they belong. Let's step away from the computer. Let's get moving.

Who's with me?

Before and After Pictures of Our House

I have finally re-sized all these pictures and uploaded them. It was no small feat, let me tell you! Please excuse their poor quality and janky angles. They should give you a glimpse into what our house looks like. We're pretty pleased with how things turned out, but some things remain unfinished, so excuse it all.

The Living Room

Before

After

Before (corner of living room)

After (corner of living room)


The Dining Room

Before (angle looking up into living room)

After (angle looking down from living room)
This is also our "International Art Room".

Left to Right countries represented:
Wall hanging--India; Framed papyrus--Egypt; Table Runner--Uzbekistan; Oil on Wood--Iran; Framed Oil on Canvas--Philippines; Hand-Painted Scroll (Mt. 6:33)--China

The Kitchen
(excuse the lady cleaning!--she was hired for us by our realtor!)
Though I liked the yellow, Dave did not, so we compromised.

Before

After

I had to show you a close up of the cute fabric I used for the curtains.

The Sunroom

Before

After (and I've rearranged since this picture)

Behind the Screen

The Downstairs Bathroom

Before (this bathroom is too small for pregnant women and the morbidly obese)

After (the yellow sink will one day be replaced with a white pedestal sink)



The Stairs (leading up from the living room to the bedrooms)

Before
(When we moved in almost everything downstairs was a gross beige)



After
(We used a lot of medium gray and dark gray)



The Upstairs Bathroom

Before
(This lavender was sickening--especially paired with the scratched hunter green countertop)



After
(Someday we hope to replace the counter/countertop; sorry for the non-matching angle)



Lucy's Room

Before (it was icky)



After
(I still feel like this room is in limbo)



Sam and Maryn's Room

Before (when the old owners still lived here)



After
(I also feel like their room needs more decor on the walls and perhaps some more organization)



Our Room

Before (when old owners lived here)



After
(Our curtains are temporary. I like how dark it is , but I want something that will let in light during the day. Just haven't gotten around to it. I LOVE my bedspread. Thank you, Target.)



That concludes the tour. Whew.

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.

Well, it was more like the other way around--worst first and then best.

1. Thursday night, we had water pouring into our house thanks to the poor drainage in our yard. We cleaned up water twice that night. Dave got to buy a shop-vac.

2. Saturday, the transmission died in our car. Our only car.

Our friends let us borrow their car (generosity at its finest!!!). Little did they realize that we are cursed in the car department. Seriously. Even when we borrow people's cars things go awry.

3. Sunday, Dave hit a deer with their car.

Like I said, things go awry.

Thankfully, the deer didn't damage their car--unless you count leaving behind some hair in their front license plate and grill.

4. Monday, the best began to happen.

We bought a van.

A mini-van.

A 2004 Honda Odyssey.

With 76,000 miles.

If you know us or what we have been waiting for for the past 1.75 years, then you know that this is a BIG deal.

We are so happy. And thankful. And blessed.

If the mechanic can fix the Acura for less than 2K (if not, it won't be worth it b/c the cost to fix it will exceed its worth) then we'll fix that so Dave can drive it to work. Then we will be a 2 car family again. That will feel weird if it happens.

5. Today, we got DSL!!! I need to get to work on some pictures so my blog won't be so boring!

So, this past week started off poorly, but it did get better.

6. Well, except that I had to call a stone mason (not to be confused with a freemason) to fix the leak in our chimney (which will eventually rust out on the inside anyway and have to be completely rebuilt).

Okay, three out of six isn't too bad...I guess it is just a reminder that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction...or something like that.

Hedonism and Me

So, I have this friend, Hedonism, that is a bit of a leech. She hangs around ALL the time, and she's constantly persuading me to do whatever I feel like doing while I ignore what is important and best for others. In fact, there have been many times when I have chosen Hedonism over my husband, my children, and my friends.

Hedonism and I go way back. This is particularly most evident in housekeeping. I have struggled since my teenage years with being tidy. I am just not neat. I'm not pigsty filthy, but I am not tidy. I am messy. I leave a trail wherever I go. You could look at my house most days and see where I have been and what I have done, cooked, and eaten.

I married a man who is tidier than I am. He generally picks up after himself (except for his shoes and doctor mail), and unfortunately, he is really laid back as well. This does not bode well for a procrastinating, untidy wife. I can count on my hand the number of times he has asked me to pick up my stuff or told me that the house is making him feel a bit overwhelmed.

The funny thing is that I feel overwhelmed by it, too.

So yesterday, I told him how I was feeling about my job as housekeeper. I have considered hiring someone to help me with the house. After all, I do have three children who keep me busy, right? Wrong. The deal is this: I do whatever I want to do whenever I feel like doing it. I rarely don't have time to clean; I just don't want to. So, I don't. I have a hard time making myself do things that I don't want to do (of course, this is part of the fun perks of being an adult--there's no one to boss you around and make you do the stuff you don't want to do!). Yet, someone has to do them.

I'm a bit of an extremist--all or nothing--never half-hearted. So, back to my conversation with my melancholic/phlegmatic husband who is too gracious for words. I asked him, "How do people who are organized by nature motivate themselves to do the undesirable, boring, and unpleasant things in life? And, what should I do about my problem? I waver too much between legalism and grace (all or nothing). I am either too hard on myself about it or too lenient. I can't seem to be balanced."

His answer?

"Maybe you should set some limits for yourself--like only play The Sims for an hour a day?"

Problem. When my hour is up, I don't care, and I keep playing. (Yes, I play computer games. Too much. I also sew, crochet, read, play on Facebook, talk on the phone...and too many times, I do these things while my kids watch PBS or Boomerang.)

So, I LOVE IT when people ask me, "How do you have time to do all the projects, etc?" Well, I do whatever I want to do. Sadly, though, it is often at the expense of my family.

While I was in the shower last night, I began talking with Dave about breastfeeding (a subject I am very familiar with and talk about a lot because it has always been difficult for me). I have nursed all of my children, and each of them has had some crazy issue that has made it incredibly hard--Sam would have nursing strikes that would leave me in tears, Maryn had a horrible latch which was incredibly painful for me for the first two months, and Lucy had horrible reflux, was losing weight, and would refuse to nurse because of her pain. A lightbulb suddenly went off in my head. Why did I persevere with breastfeeding, especially when it was so hard and unpleasant? Why did I do the things that were hard? Where was hedonism in those moments?

I persevered because it was important to me. I believed strongly that what I was doing in breastfeeding would set the tone for my kids' development and our bond. I wanted the best for my kids. Hedonism took a backseat because breastfeeding my children was more important to me than my own interests. It was sacrificial on my part. They took preeminence over my comfort.

So, now I am asking myself? What is most important to me here at home? Perhaps I haven't had the motivation to keep the house tidy or play more with my kids because I haven't considered what is most important. Is Hedonism going to win while my kids are rotting their brains (okay, maybe not so much with PBS...) in front of the TV? Is the peace that comes with a clean home worth it for my family and for me?

Hedonism, it is time you left the building.

Nieces, A Nephew, and This and That

I did clean up the house. It looked great. I didn't take pictures. Now it is a bit of a mess again. We went to see our extended family this weekend. It was nice to see everyone, but I must admit seeing my nieces and nephew was the highlight. :)

I got to see Britany, who is so much of a woman now, it freaks me out a little bit. It's hard to believe she was our flower girl and so little and now so tall and beautiful. I got to see her little sister, Jadlynne, who just turned one! I can't believe she's one. I am getting older moment by moment. Jadlynne had a birthday party, and it was fun to watch her stuff her mouth with cake and open her presents like a pro.

I got to see Case too. This kid is a bundle of energy and fun, but he is also genuine and sweet. I'm so thankful he and my kids are close in age; they have so much fun together. I did get to see 3 week old, Addison Mae, for the first time. She is a DOLL. She looks a lot like my brother, and that is a little strange to look at her and see so much of him there. (I could see Miranda there too, but I do think Chris' genes were a little dominant!) I think my brother is a grown-up man now--he has fathered a child and is dedicated to his family. I'm very proud of him. I was telling him that if I didn't know better, I'd think Case was his biological son because he acts so much like Chris did as a little boy! :) Addison better look out!

We went to hear William Paul Young speak last night. He wrote The Shack, in case you didn't know. There has been a lot of controversy over this book, and I understand it. I just don't agree with it (the controversy). I think the book is amazing and beautiful. It touched some deep places in me and awakened me to the truth of God's love for me. That can never be bad. :) I think the people who get up-in-arms over it need to be shaken--they need to know that the box they've put God in is of their own making, and He is not under their thumb. I found the book refreshing and eye-opening. It truly is a message of grace and freedom, which is what Jesus came to give us. Paul's talk last night was his story--where he came from, what happened along the way, and how Jesus healed him. It was beautiful, just like his book.

I finished He Loves Me by Jacobsen as well as Loving our Kids on Purpose by Silk (see earlier post of my book list). Both are fantastic. Jacobsen's book built on the truth of grace and freedom, and Silk's book applied those truths to parenting. I am excited about the place God is bringing me in these truths. Both are wonderful, refreshing reads, so check them out. I'm going to read a little fiction for now before I pick up any more of the books on my book list. I just picked up Adam by Dekker at the library. We'll see. He's a good writer, for the most part. Sometimes I don't like his word choices, but that's just me being a nerd and being irritated by Christian artists.

Okay, well, that's my update for the day. I must move on to menu planning and grocery list making. XoxoXO!

Motivation, Accountability, Whatever You Call It

I'm struggling with the mess around here.

I am unmotivated to clean it up.

There's too much to do.

Cleaning is boring.

But, it must be done.

So, here is the ugly truth.

I'm hoping the promise of "after" pictures will get me into gear.

I know I'm not alone.

I'm letting this ugly out in the open so it can be exposed for what it is.

Then, perhaps, I can take some pretty pictures of our new house with its fresh paint.

Without further adieu, I present my mess.

The sunroom was attacked by a sewing monster.

The kitchen counter is full of dishes.

Bills, paper clutter, ugh.

And, to comfort your seared eyes, here is the rag rug that I made. I really like it. If you can do a simple single crochet, you can make one of these.

I didn't use vintage sheets or anything, just fabric scraps I had lying around.

Wah-Waaah

I'm in a bit of a melancholy mood today--missing my friends and just kind of Debbie Downer-ish. I think today is that day because Dave also started work today after a glorious 3 week+ vacation. It's so true that stuff and money can't make you happy. I recently heard someone say that it could make you comfortable but not happy.

Well, now that we're livin' the high life with a doctor's salary, I'll tell you this: it means NOTHING. It's nice. We're blessed. We're able to bless others in ways we have never been able to. We are thankful. But it doesn't replace community. And THAT is what I really want out here in the sticks.

A Scripture is coming to mind, "Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred." Proverbs 15:17

Not that we are hatin' around here, but the truth is that community and love go a long way--farther than any dollar. Sunday is coming up, and my heart is hoping that this church is the one. But, I know I have to be okay if it isn't. I'm ready to make friends and invest in some relationships.

I had some pretty incredible friends and groups I was a part of back in Oklahoma. However, I do recall feeling much the same way when we moved there 3 years ago. It's a cycle, and I know it will get better. It just stinks to be in it right now. If you know what I mean. :)

I found a few pictures I wanted to share with you. No house pics yet--they're coming soon. Everything is almost finished, and I want to get things all picked up and prettied up with the new curtains I'm making. The fabric is GREAT!!!

But, oh, the pics--the first one is of my LAST book club meeting before we moved. :(

Kaysie (bottom left with the bagel) invited me to book club three years ago, and it was such a blessing for me. It was MY thing to do, and I loved it. That day, Ronna (2nd from the top on the right) was making me tear up. I miss these ladies, and I plan to migrate back to Tulsa once in awhile to have book club with them. XOXO, Book Club.

This is what I made for dinner last night--Chicken Tikka Masala (one of my favorite Indian dishes). I used this recipe. It was good, but it could have been spicier. It was pretty mild. I like it spicy! I also made Jasmine rice, naan, and curried lentils.

It was GOOD.

And this is the beautiful place I live. There is a gorgeous lake just down the road--like 2 minutes down the road. I took these pics shortly after we got here. It's just lovely.

And we caught Sam taking care of business off the deck. Check out how the fencing is wet on the right. Nice. Country livin', folks.

Things to Celebrate!

1. My brother has finally made me an aunt! I have two nieces and a nephew by marriage, but this morning about 2am, Addison Mae joined our family, and I now have a niece by blood. It is VERY exciting, and I can't wait to meet her and cuddle her. Miranda sent me a picture on my phone, and she is just adorable. She looks a lot like my brother! It is fun to see him in a little baby.

2. The painting is almost finished. The house looks great. We are slowly seeing it come together. I can't wait to post pictures!

3. Maryn is going on the potty quite well. She has had fewer #1 and #2 accidents. Her biggest hangup with #2 is that she wants to do it all by herself...which makes for a messy situation. :( But, she's getting it down, and I am so proud of her!

4. We may be buying a van today! We have shopped around, and we found an older Odyssey for a good price. We want to pay cash, so we can't spend much. It has quite a few miles, but we are having our mechanic in Conway take a looksie at it this afternoon. If he gives it a clean bill of health, we will more than likely purchase it! I haven't completely gotten my hopes up about it, but I am excited. This is something we have been waiting for since February of 2008.

5. We're gearing up for a week of meeting people. Dave has several functions to attend next week to let people know he's in the area. I'm hoping to figure out some activities for the kids and me to do together.

6. We're trying one more church this week, and unless God tells us to wait, we will be making a decision quite soon on where to attend. This has been a very difficult process for us. We are really seeking His peace and direction for where to be. You can join us in prayer for guidance and discernment in this situation.

7. Dave starts working on Friday! He's excited and nervous. I'm so happy for him, and I hope all goes well.

8. I have a new project--rag rugs. I'm starting off on just one, and we'll see how it goes. I'll post pics when I am finished. My friend, Carrie, sent me the tutorial which can be found HERE.

What are you celebrating?

Wish I Had a Title, but I Don't. So there.

Trying to think of what to say.

Sunroom is unpacked. It looks a lot better. We need another desk in here. I'm planning on taking over the old desk and making it my sewing desk. Dave wants a bigger desk for the computer (and for MY calendar). I want a big desk calendar like I had when I was teaching. I like to look at it and write everything down that I need to do. I forget more now that I have three kids. Like right now, I know I have a bunch of things I was supposed to do--like pay student loans, change addresses, send support $, but my head is swimming. I'm ready to get organized in the sweet moolah department.

I also want to secondhand shop for a queen sized bed frame so we can have a bed in the sunroom for guests. We want to buy a new mattress/box springs for it b/c our parents are all creaky in the back. I mean no disrespect. :)

We got a roof estimate, painting estimate, and now we're waiting on a sign-on bonus to help out with the repairs/painting. I told Dave to take a rest this time and let someone else paint. I didn't want him to use his whole break painting like we did before residency started. He has been working so hard for the last seven years, I think a mini-vaca is reasonable.

I bought some precious lime-green 100% cotton, it has little fabric dots (of the same color) on it. I wish I knew what it was called. I also bought a SWEET knit print that's all Japanese looking--mainly white with black and red flowery stuff on it. MORE SKIRTS FOR ME.

We've picked out our paint colors. They are as follows (for those of you who recall how bright our former home was, this one is not AS bright, and is even more IKEA than the other house):

(All paint is Behr paint from Home Depot can be viewed at Behr.com)

Living room-- Anonymous (a medium gray)

Accent Recessed Area--Dark Granite (a dark gray)

Dining Room-- 1 Full Wall- Anonymous
3 Walls with chair rail--bottom is Anonymous, top is California Poppy (a brightish red that matches our red chairs)

Kitchen-- New Green (it's darker than the green in our old kitchen--kind of a lighter shade of avocado?)

Lucy's Room--One accent wall will be Traditional (a brown)...trying to decide about the other three walls. We want it gender neutral since it is a nursery, and we don't think we're done having babies. But, the room is so small, we don't want it ALL brown. Her nursery decor is the pink/brown combo we had for Maryn, so we want THAT to coordinate too...decisions, decisions...

We're leaving the sunroom white. The hallways will be gray and white in spots. Our room is remaining the robin egg blue and the kids' room will remain the yellowish/green color it is (similiar to our old kitchen). The bathrooms are another story...they need to be completely revamped, so we're talking remodelling them...color will come last.

Wish I had pictures for you...The before and after pictures will be fun.

I'm going to stop now, b/c I'm about positive you're bored to tears. I am, at least.

Home Sweet Home

No pictures to share this time. I'm waiting for the after pictures. A painter and roofer are coming out to give estimates on Monday. I'm hoping to get everything just so before I show you what we've done with the place. The before pics are very boring and blah, so I'll spare you. It has been fun putting feathers in our new nest. The kitchen came together the first night. It was my top priority. We have groceries. We have functional bedrooms and bathrooms. It's all good.

We had some adventures already. Our old house hasn't closed yet. We pre-signed documents on Monday as planned. They're hoping to close this coming Monday or Tuesday. Our closing here went well. The moving truck had a bit of a problem, though. Because it was a semi truck, it couldn't quite make the turn down our country road. The ditch was proving to be an obstacle. So, they ended up having to go into town to the U-Haul and shuttle our stuff out on smaller trucks--two trips total.

Woodrow loves roaming free like a real dog. His chest seems a little more puffed out than usual. He's a country dog now. He still enjoys the comforts of sleeping indoors. Who doesn't?

Maryn is in full-on pottytraining. She has been in underwear for two days with ZERO success and a BAZILLION accidents. She really doesn't get it. She's three and two months. I'm hoping she figures it out very soon. She doesn't enjoy being wet, but she hasn't quite figured out how to let it out intentionally...

We have NO CELL SERVICE at our house. It's a tragedy. We are looking into purchasing a signal booster to see if that will help out. They vary in price range, but the one we are looking at is about $350. I can kind of have a conversation in the driveway, but it's still hit and miss. We won't be changing cell providers b/c we're still under contract AND we've checked with two other major providers and they don't have coverage here either. We're contemplating the land line and possibly a pager for Dave so that the hospital will only have one number to use to contact him.

We have satellite internet. It's supposed to be fast, but it isn't for us. We think there's something wrong with the setup, but the installer guy swears it is our computer (which was fine before we moved...). So the technology stuff is annoying.

We will have to purchase satellite TV if we want local channels or other stuff. The jury is still out on that one. We may just stay unplugged in that regard. We'll just have to see. Everything we like to watch is online anyway. It would be nice to have local channels for weather and for PBS.

This is country living, folks. Did I mention how quiet it is here? It is, and we love it. We are in the woods. Totally immersed in the woods. It's like a western. I'm about to get a clothesline.

The Beverly Hillbillies have returned.

Thoughts

Time for a list.

1. This past year has gone by so quickly (minus that whole being pregnant thing). It has been an important year for me. I faced several challenges, and I believe I grew in them. I'm so thankful for the faithfulness of a Father who teaches me so diligently and patiently.

2. Lucy is truly a bundle of joy. There's something very unique and special about her disposition. I anticipate seeing how God uses her to bring life and wholeness to others.

3. Sam is starting to grasp little bits of what it means to know God. Little bits. I continue to pray for more fruitful conversations with him. His little heart is so beautiful.

4. Maryn has increased the volume of her screams--especially in the last few weeks. I think the lack of order in the house (due to the move--boxes, etc) are coming out as frustrations. I'm discovering that she needs to have constructive control over certain things. I'm thinking of some ways to give her things to be in charge of--feeding the dog is one of them. Will take other suggestions. :)

5. My life is too hectic right now. Too much to do. Too many places to go. I'm looking forward to the country life.

6. Sweet Lucy has been a bit of a poor sleeper the last few nights. She's teething (though they haven't broken through yet--just swollen on the top) for her top teeth. Night before last, I got up SIX times with her. Last night, I didn't even count, but I know I got roughly 4.5 hours of broken sleep. I'm sleepy this morning, but I already feel God's grace on me. Thank you, Lord.

7. I'm getting as much packed as possible today. We also have to pack for our summer "retreat". We leave Thursday afternoon and come back Sunday after lunch. We close here on Monday, moving van loads us up on Tuesday, we drive to Arkansas on Tuesday night, and close on our house there Wednesday morning. Yes, all in three days. CRAZY.

8. It's 9am, and I haven't eaten or had my coffee. BUT, I did get important stuff in the mail, give Lucy a bath (she was all sticky from the dose of Tylenol she spit out in the middle of the night), and washed a load of clothes (containing sticky sheets and blankie).

With that, I close.

Randomosity

Not sure if that's a word, but who cares, anyway? I can only have so many posts titled "Random".

I bought two pairs of eyeglasses (aka spectacles) at http://www.zennioptical.com/. One pair was $8 and the other pair was $9. Shipping is a flat fee of $5 no matter how many pairs you buy. That's a grand total of $23 plus tax. It took about 3 weeks or so to get the glasses. They are good quality. They are actually better than the cheap $90 glasses I bought at Wal-Mart 8 years ago. This is their price for frames AND lenses. I'm not joking. There is no middle-man, no advertising, and they come straight from the factory. They are not name-brand unless you consider their name, "Zenni", a brand. I'm very pleased with my glasses. When you order, it helps to have an old pair of glasses around so you can measure the dimensions you want for fit. You also have to obtain your prescription from your eye doctor including the pupillary distance (not normally on the prescription, but they can measure you for it). By law, they are always required to provide this prescription, and pupillary distance is a part of it. Your doctor shouldn't charge you for this. I highly recommend Zenni Optical. And I'm not being paid to say this, I am just satisfied with their customer service. They've become popular because of satisfied customers. I hope you'll give them a chance. I haven't taken pictures of myself with them on, but rest assured, they look rockin'. I'll have Dave photograph me soon in my spectacles.

I did finish the three skirts I was making. I'm quite happy with them, and they are serving me well to keep me cool this summer. It was 94 yesterday with a whole lotta humidity. I have plans to make more once we get settled in our new house. Oh, and they cost about $8-$9 each to make. I could make them even cheaper if I went thrifting for fabric (or used some free fabric I already have!).

Emerald Green Seersucker (my favorite one--love this fabric--it flows well and is very breathable and SO comfortable)

Brown Linen (reminds me of some skirts my roommate, Meggie, made in college)

Lightweight Cotton Print (love the antique look here)

In other news, Samuel got a haircut. I think it had been 8 or 9 months.

Before:

After:

He's adorable either way. We're partial to the longer style, but it is summer and as I mentioned before, IT IS HOT.

Packing and moving is going fine. I'm okay with it. Not too overwhelmed with the packing--mostly just the goodbyes.

And, Maryn is feeling lots better. She's more herself. I'm so thankful.

And, here's a video of my sweet Lucy. She LOVES to kick more than anything else. Sorry it's sideways. I always forget that.

Moving Right Along

I've gotten a lot accomplished since we last spoke. I've gotten all the utility set-up and disconnects taken care of. I found a satellite ISP since we live out in the boonies and can't get cable internet or DSL. Moving truck/movers is established and scheduled. I've changed addresses where I can. Some I have to wait on. Talked to the bank about new checking accounts. We're keeping our current cell service. We still haven't decided if we're getting satellite TV or not. Part of me says "yes!" so that we can have Oscar parties and Superbowl parties, but we rarely do that anyway...so "no!" seems more acceptable. All of the shows we watch are online...and our TV screen is about the same size as our computer monitor anyway (I'm not kidding.). I just measured them. Our computer monitor is 17" and our TV screen is 19". Yeah, the 2" doesn't make too much difference.

So that's going well. I've continued packing. I love packing. I'm good at it, too. I think I get it from my mom. I don't know how, but I did. She and I both know how to pack things really efficiently--the dishwasher, the trunk of a car, a suitcase. You name it. It must just be how our brains work. I can make it fit. I bet I could win a packing contest, too.

I've got a few things on the calendar as well. Date night tomorrow night...trying to decide what movie to watch. I'm guessing it will either be "Angels and Demons" or "Land of the Lost". We're saving "Up" for netflix with the kids. May go to OKC to see Sweesha. Birthday party for Funke on Sunday. Small group goodbye sometime next week. 2 or 3 baby showers. 2 more weeks at church. :( Last book club. :( Get to see David Asher this evening. Still need to work in all those other goodbyes...

Made some iced coffee this morning. Yum.

Dave and I went to bed before 10 last night. I can't remember the last time BOTH of us were in bed before 10. That :never: happens.

Today I have some Craigslist goals. I need to photograph several items and get them all posted on there. I really need to sell some stuff before we move. Well, I think I've overstayed my welcome in this post, so I'll mosey along and get stuff done. xoxo

Mental List

Okay, so it's not entirely mental b/c I'm typing it out for my blog...but you know...

1. Make a list of places I need to change our address.
2. Get info from new bank regarding new accounts there.
3. Reserve moving truck/movers etc...
4. Make list of places to stop services--gas, electric, etc.
5. Determine what kind of internet services are available in our new town.
6. Determine best cell phone coverage company for the area.
7. Figure out if we're getting satellite or cable or bunny ears. lol. We've only had cable for 6 months during our marriage, and it was a gift for my birthday. We watch most of our shows on the internet anyway.
8. Check out auto registration in Arkansas.
9. Find out all the utilities to turn on in Arkansas.

Am I forgetting anything? My mommy brain needs your assistance.