June 25, 2006
Disconnected
The movers arrive tomorrow morning at 7. I am off to bed after a rough and emotional day. I have a lot to accomplish in two hours in the morning.
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I'll be offline til who-knows-when, but I'll try to pop by Cara's to use the computer and say hey.
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Please pray for me.
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God Bless You.
June 22, 2006
The difference 24 hours makes
The phone rang this morning at five-to-nine. It was a woman who'd arranged through freecycle to pick up our microwave.
[The house we're moving to has a built in microwave and I've caught a couple bags of popcorn on fire in ours in the last month. (I later determined that it was due to the metal turntable base - since Husband blew up the glass plate in there, everything just sits right on the base). Anyway, the microwave is great, though big. And it's been in storage a lot because of our penchant for moving. And this time, it'd be in storage a couple years (due to the built-in one in the new place) and it's just one more thing to move twice before it gets possibly used again.]
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So back to this morning... The phone rang. And I wondered who could be calling from the gate. And when the woman announced herself, I was flabbergasted. I believe I said, "Is it Thursday ALREADY?!!?" She laughed nervously. I buzzed her in the gate and proceeded to wipe down the microwave one last time, all the while panicking - we are really moving. In 4 days.
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I have a lot of work to do.
June 21, 2006
Broken Record
I know, you're probably sick and tired of me talking about moving, but this is what is consuming my life right now, so don't read if you're going to be rolling your eyes.
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I have to say that this move is really the easiest, so far, of any of our interstate moves. Even though we were thrilled to be moving back to Florida, there was the reality of a long separation and the tiny apartment we moved into (so small, in fact, that most of our stuff ended up in storage). And the fact that everyone we know is an hour from here..... So, aside from the hiccups of the last couple weeks (do we or do we not have a house to move into?), this is really the best experience I've had to date.
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For one, we have friends in the very town we're moving to. Incredible friends. Friends who seem to be excited about us moving there. So excited, in fact, that one was instrumental in us finding a place to live. And even more, she's helping my husband scan and email to our new landlord the signed lease. We also have friends less than 2 hours away. One who is willing to come down and keep our children occupied while the truck is being unloaded and helping with the girls for another day or so while we get as much unpacking done as possible. Yet a third friend is willing to come over and hang out with me while I unpack. These friends are helping this experience feel much less scary - and even dare I say? somewhat exciting.
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Secondly, going back to Georgia isn't such a bad thing. We're still within easy driving distance of our family in Florida, and we plan on frequent trips "home". Realistically, we know we won't visit more frequently than about every other month, but if we need to come back more, then we can.
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Thirdly, but not least, this is the shortest time between Husband starting new job and family moving. [When we first moved away from our families in 2003 (coincidentally, Husband began the job in Atlanta right about the same date three years ago), we were separated for 2 months. When we moved back to Florida at the end of 2004, we were separated for almost 3 months.] And this time? about 2 1/2 weeks! We were in GA last week, so we were mostly together for 8 days in the middle of a 3 1/2 week separation. We are losing only one month on our lease here (ouch! it hurts to pay double rent, but it's worth it to be together sooner). And bonus, the property manager will arrange for the carpets to be cleaned once we move out (something that is our responsibility per the lease). Of course, we have to pay for that carpet cleaning, but I'd have had to pay whether I took care of it or not.
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Things are falling into place easily. Last week with the house fiasco, I knew that we were moving into the right house - God truly led us to it (helped of course, by Cara). The movers were able to give us about the dates we wanted (a bit earlier, but close considering the timing). I have had an easy time of taking care of the smaller details, everything being rather simple.
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I even was able to arrange, with the help of a charity, to donate a sofa with a sofabed to a family in need. With only 2 days notice. And it's a silly thing to be excited about, but I am happy to give the sofa to someone who actually needs it rather than just giving it away. I guess the sofa maybe represents something of the bigger picture for me. That God will work out every single detail?
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The money we've needed to move is basically falling in our laps (okay, not really, because we still have to pay it all back). And it is incredible that at a time I do not want to use credit cards to facilitate any of this, my mom is in a situation where she can give a short term loan. (Maybe most parents can do this anytime, but my mom hasn't really been in a position ever to do that before).
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Am I happy about moving? Not really. But I am embracing it in a way I didn't think possible before. I will definitely miss our family and friends here. And our church. And our doctors. And our community. And our neighbors. And most everything about living here. But I know that we will be happy wherever God leads us. And I'm especially grateful that He's led us to a place where we have good friends. A place that will be easier to enjoy after living in this smaller town. A place that will become a new home for us, for however long we are blessed to be there.
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And all these things make it so much easier to get through this week of lists and tasks and things to do. Because I really do miss my husband and my children really miss their daddy. But we know we will be together again in one short and fast week. And that makes it all the sweeter.
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God Bless You.
June 19, 2006
7 days and counting
We have paperwork! Which means the house is official. Which also means I can breathe again. Sleep, once again, eluded me last night. I will be glad when this whole moving business is over with because I will sleep much better in my own bed with Husband at my side.
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After an incredibly long week, the girls and I arrived home last evening. It was SO nice coming home to a squeaky clean house (remember all that work I did before I left?). I have to say it gives me some motivation to do that before every trip. Not likely to happen, but it's something to aspire to.
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So, the house. Yeah, that was a nightmare. Some houses fell through and like I said last week, thank God for Cara. But even that house had some initial headaches (the owner, for instance, lives in the UK) regarding communication. I was seriously 3 minutes into my drive back to Florida when the owner called me to say that he'd emailed the corrected lease. So, Husband's actually going to sign it and when we are together again, we will both sign/notarize a copy to be mailed overseas.
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It's an incredible house. Beautiful neighborhood. Stunning, really. The layout is great (though we'd have loved a 4th bedroom or an office or even a bonus room above the garage) and we're looking forward to getting our stuff in there and making it our new home. There is some work to do since the owner's wife loved bright colors and insisted on a wallpaper in a massive room. We are going to repaint the master bath and take down the wallpaper and repaint the kitchen/dining room. But, it will be worth it. We're looking forward to planting some flowers out front and making the back patio comfortable. We look forward to evenings spent with good friends and long walks in the neighborhood. We're looking forward to being together again as a family - it's been crazy! But we're happy it will be over soon.
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The movers pushed all my dates forward, so instead of having two weeks back in Florida to prepare for the move, they will be storming our home one week from today. And loading the truck the next day. It's so hard to believe that just next week, this will no longer be our home. We haven't even adjusted to the IDEA of moving back to Georgia. But, we look forward to time with our great friends. We aren't that far from Atlanta, so we hope our friends there will make the trek to visit us in our new home (and I suppose we'll go there on occasion as well).
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I have a lot to do, yet not much of it is time consuming, so this week will be busy, but lots of time to take the girls to the pool and enjoy our last week with our friends here. I need to get going because I have to make some phone calls about furniture pick-up. :)
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Hope your week last week was a good one. I am so sorry for the Duckworth family and for Linda and her family. I wish there were words to give you the comfort and peace you need.
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God Bless you.
June 12, 2006
Rest in Joy, Amazing Jacob
My heart is heavy after checking in on Jacob Duckworth this afternoon.
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His fight is over, God has won! Mercifully, Jacob passed from the pain of his earthly body and has joined the angels in Heaven.
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May God protect and comfort his parents, his brothers and the rest of their family during this unimagineable time.
God Bless Cara!
I write this from Cara's living room, her husband in the front yard mowing, her two older children happily munching the lunch I just served them. Funny how peaceful it feels at someone else's home, with their kids playing and your own about a hundred miles away. :)
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Cara text messaged me with a few home listings yesterday while we were at the park with friends in Atlanta. Her efforts and looking came at a time when we were feeling a bit frustrated with things falling through on three other houses - and a fourth that was our way-back-up choice that was signed on just hours before my call. So, we were pleasantly surprised when Cara sent a picture message to Husband's phone last night - she'd gone to check out one that she found listed yesterday (admittedly, I did ask if she was too busy to do it - and she said she was - but then she went anyway). I already had an appointment for this afternoon to see the inside of the house, but we were curious.... I drove by the house this morning and called the guy to see how we might proceed if I like it this afternoon (the owner lives in the UK). And I got to see it this morning. It isn't everything we wanted, but for the price and the neighborhood, it simply can't be beat. Add to that we would never be able to be in a house like this in a bigger city (too expensive), it's probably better that it isn't quite as big as we wanted. It will keep us grounded... :)
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So, I'm waiting for an international call to work out details. We left the house unlocked (with his approval) so Husband and I can go back and see it this afternoon. I think we'll leave it unlocked for Cara to take a look around this evening. :) She rocks! ***I got the call! He's calling our references and we should have a contract by the end of the week!!!***
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We're praying this is the house God has had in mind for us for while we are here. It is in an absolutely stunning neighborhood - a neighborhood I can't believe we may live in. We're excited and happy to have these things drawing to a conclusion (at least this part of the moving). I'm looking forward to having an easy dinner with Cara and Sandi possibly this Thursday (maybe I'll mention making pizzas and I'll help or do most of it).
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Anyway, I have a couple errands to run, so I'm outta here for now. I hope to catch a moment to read up on everyone else before I head back to my children and friends in Atlanta (God Bless Becca for keeping them for me today!! And letting us sleep at her house for a few nights! and making dinner!)
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God Bless you and I'll update more soon.
June 09, 2006
Update and Goodbye for Now
I'm in mad dash mode and packing and cleaning to get ready for our trip (our house has to be showable for the realtor here). I leave today at noon straight from picking up the girls at VBS to drive to Husband's new place of work.
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New House: Still no word on the house we really want, so Husband is submitting an app for our #2 house this morning (maybe we'll get word in the next day or so before we have to sign a lease for house #2?) I don't like this uncertainty, but it sounds like we'd love house #2 if #1 weren't this close to our grasp.
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Wonky Cycles: Still nothing. Well, except for a BFN on yet another stick. Not worried, though, amazingly. I'm not really interested in being pregnant anyway. And well, the reprieve from horrendous cycles is kind of nice, if I let myself just be.
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Trip: I'm getting excited (or will be after my long drive this afternoon and a great sleep with my husband at my side). We are spending a few days in Hot-lanta and have a packed schedule. Of course, one of the things I'm most looking forward to is a couple of days just hanging with my girl, Becca, and her family. As an added bonus a couple days later, we'll likely get to play at Cara's house at some point before heading back to Florida for the wrap up and move.
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So, my friends, I'm out. I've got to turn this computer off or I will never get the things done that need to get done this morning if I even so much as listen to my iTun*s music (too easy to sit back down and just browse through the blogs... ). Anyway, you all have a blessed weekend - or two. Maybe I'll be able to pop in while I'm at Becca's, but don't count it.
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Much love and many prayers for you all.
June 07, 2006
CD44
My last two cycles were 24 days (lighter than normal) and 25 days (8 days of light spotting).
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This cycle, I have no idea if or when I ovulated. I thought I detected the typical EWCM, but now I can't recall (must. start. charting. details!) what days those were. I don't remember it being odd on the timing, but then I thought the last two were odd anyway.
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This time, on cd33 I had a negative hpt. Another one on cd38. That was nearly a week ago.
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The retarded thing is I don't FEEL like I'm pg, which is why I suppose I'm not using that last test in the pack yet. But, I wonder what the heck is going on here. I do have an appointment with my OB/GYN at the end of the month, that I am okay to cancel if my period shows up between now and then. They are obviously not concerned that things have turned wonky, but I'm starting to lose it.
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Maybe it's just because this is heaped on top of so much else with the relocation?
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Anyway, I can't figure out why this would be happening - I've had pretty normal 27-29 day cycles until recently.
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What do you think? Any ideas?
June 05, 2006
Houses!
The house we really like is a huge IF right now. The owner has decided that maybe they want to sell it, instead of renting it out. Urgh! I told the realtor our plans (just a few years) and told her to let them know we will move in July 1st, in case that will influence their decision to keep the house at least a couple more years.
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Please pray (I know it's a dumb thing to pray about, but hey, we love this house!) that the owners decide to rent to us. It will be big enough that people can come visit and have plenty of space..... :)
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God Bless you!
June 02, 2006
It Has Begun
Husband left this morning to drive to his new job in another state.
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I guess this means we really ARE moving. I don't know why it feels so unbelievable this time.
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And somehow it feels like I have far more to take care of in the coming weeks, but husband reminded me that he's never done anything other than pack his clothes and toiletries. So, I guess there's not more to do than I've done in the past, but there's a helluva lot for me to do!
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Today, I have phone calls to make, but I'm also taking the kids to a children's museum and spending some time with a friend. And making sure my cousin's daughter is picked up (her dad is supposed to pick her up, but he often just doesn't show up) from her daycamp. So, I'll be away from home all day. And then tomorrow, I need to get a lot of work done.
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And I'm thinking of taking the girls to Universal or Islands of Adventure on Sunday. We have a free ticket and I'd hate it to go to waste - and a friend said he'd give me tickets for the kids. :)
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The countdown has begun. We might even have a new address after tomorrow - husband has appointments with realtors tomorrow afternoon! Woweee!!
