Our good friends moved on Saturday. They moved to a different state. We had lunch with them last Sunday after church and it was nice to sit down and catch up. I realized at that point that we took the fact that they lived so close for granted. It is always hard to say goodbye to someone. No matter what the circumstances are, it is never easy to say goodbye.
As they were moving to a new home and new life, we were painting our house. We are doing the paint equity in the house to help with our down payment. It is nice they have that option. We had plenty for the down payment, but if we can get an extra $2026 out of them, bring it on! It is rough work, on your knees on concrete floor, caulking, getting dirty, getting paint in your hair, making sure the primer is on thick enough, semi-gloss vs. flat paint. You get the picture. As I was sitting, taking a break, drinking some water, I looked around me and I looked at what we were doing and it hit me. Like a ton of bricks it hit me. This is real, this is the future I had all planned out for us. A nice sized house for the three of us, Shane has a great job, a college degree, I have a great job, one that I can still be at home, work from home even, and still be there to take care of all the minute details of the finances, the cooking, the cleaning, the caretaking, etc. CWe live in a great, safe area, in the suburbs. Our little piece of heaven right here on earth. It didn't occur to me before until I was inside this home working, that we are saying hello to the future! A future Shane and I discussed when I was pregnant with Cameron so many years ago! The things we dreamed of for our lives. The goals we had for the future, here it is. All of it. We couldn't ask for anything else.
As we say goodbye to our past, we say hello to the future. God has richly blessed us.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Painting and Priming and Houses OH MY!!!!
Paint is bought, caulk is bought, rollers are ready. Painting commences in T- 3 days. We have two full weeks to get our entire house interior primed and painted. I am looking forward to getting in there and getting it ready to close. They will have the cabinets and countertops already installed, the trim and doors up, all ready to bepainted and then the flooring will be put down, some finishing touches and then we close!
While it has only been a 5 month timeline, I feel like it has been a year to complete this house building process. I guess when I worked for Davis homes and was the salesperson, it seemed like they put them up in no time, but now that I am the homeowner and on the other side of the process, it seems to take forever! I know I am just being impatient, but I am so ready to be a homeowner and get settled into our home. We have been kind of like drifters since we moved to Westfield, living a year or so in one place, then moving on to bigger and better. Finally, we can settle down. Nobody thinks we will stay there long, but I am going to prove them wrong. I never can settle into a house or apartment very long, because it isn't what I really want. I always told Shane from the day we got married, and talking about our goals in our married life. I wanted a 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch home. I wanted a big bathtub and a kitchen with an island and a little front porch so I can sit out there in the rain and not get wet. I want a nice sized backyard with the ability to put in flower beds and a small raised bed garden and a fireplace. So, now, I get what I have always wanted except more because we have an upstairs bonus room.
So, we have this week and a month left until we close. So 5 more weeks basically. I cannot wait. Finally our hard work has paid off and we are ready to settle down. So many changes in our life this year. A house, Shane's job is changing, I am getting back in real estate probably later this week or so, Cameron going into high school. Lots of changes. But I am ready for all of them.
Here we go!
While it has only been a 5 month timeline, I feel like it has been a year to complete this house building process. I guess when I worked for Davis homes and was the salesperson, it seemed like they put them up in no time, but now that I am the homeowner and on the other side of the process, it seems to take forever! I know I am just being impatient, but I am so ready to be a homeowner and get settled into our home. We have been kind of like drifters since we moved to Westfield, living a year or so in one place, then moving on to bigger and better. Finally, we can settle down. Nobody thinks we will stay there long, but I am going to prove them wrong. I never can settle into a house or apartment very long, because it isn't what I really want. I always told Shane from the day we got married, and talking about our goals in our married life. I wanted a 3 bedroom, 2 bath ranch home. I wanted a big bathtub and a kitchen with an island and a little front porch so I can sit out there in the rain and not get wet. I want a nice sized backyard with the ability to put in flower beds and a small raised bed garden and a fireplace. So, now, I get what I have always wanted except more because we have an upstairs bonus room.
So, we have this week and a month left until we close. So 5 more weeks basically. I cannot wait. Finally our hard work has paid off and we are ready to settle down. So many changes in our life this year. A house, Shane's job is changing, I am getting back in real estate probably later this week or so, Cameron going into high school. Lots of changes. But I am ready for all of them.
Here we go!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
TV = Blah.
I don't watch a lot of tv. I have never been a huge tv watcher. I have had a few shows that I got into and watched religiously. I have been off and on watching One Life to Live since I was 13. I still look forward to watching it now. I like to watch Glee, and I was once addicted to Dawson's Creek.
I would rather listen to music than watch tv. I have always been a music junkie.
however, yesterday Shane was home sick. There is two things to notice in that sentence.
1. Shane was home
2. Shane was sick.
What does this mean for me? Well, it means taking care of him and being forced to watch tv all day. He started by watching a movie, then some tv shows he likes, then I got to watch one life to live then he took over and watched another movie or so until Glee came on. I have no idea what we watched. I was so busy trying to find something else to do instead of watch tv. If I watch tv for too long, my eyes end up all gritty and unfocused and I can't sleep.
Well, seems like Shane can watch tv all day with no problems. Cameron too. They can sit and watch movies all day long and be fine and content. I cannot. For one, ADD kicks in and I have to be doing something. Two, it makes me feel like crap if I sit in front of the tv too much. Ugh.
Thankfully, Shane is feeling better and went to work this morning. Thank goodness! Not that I don't like him being at home with me, but I cannot sit for another day and watch tv.
I am going to go outside today. It is going to be so nice out today. In the 50's and sunny! I can't wait!
I would rather listen to music than watch tv. I have always been a music junkie.
however, yesterday Shane was home sick. There is two things to notice in that sentence.
1. Shane was home
2. Shane was sick.
What does this mean for me? Well, it means taking care of him and being forced to watch tv all day. He started by watching a movie, then some tv shows he likes, then I got to watch one life to live then he took over and watched another movie or so until Glee came on. I have no idea what we watched. I was so busy trying to find something else to do instead of watch tv. If I watch tv for too long, my eyes end up all gritty and unfocused and I can't sleep.
Well, seems like Shane can watch tv all day with no problems. Cameron too. They can sit and watch movies all day long and be fine and content. I cannot. For one, ADD kicks in and I have to be doing something. Two, it makes me feel like crap if I sit in front of the tv too much. Ugh.
Thankfully, Shane is feeling better and went to work this morning. Thank goodness! Not that I don't like him being at home with me, but I cannot sit for another day and watch tv.
I am going to go outside today. It is going to be so nice out today. In the 50's and sunny! I can't wait!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Spring
I do this every year. I sit at home with my sweatshirt on, bundled up on the couch with a thick blanket, looking outside while it is overcast and cold, snow piled up and looking brown and dirty. I sit there and grumble and whine about how much winter stinks. Then it happens. The 7 day forecast comes up and there is a glimmer of hope in the drudgery of winter. It gets in the 40's or 50's for a week and I go crazy! Get the shovels back out happily to scooop the leftover slush away, clear out the sidewalk, driveway and anything in the way. I get my walking shoes on and go outside in the wet thawed out world and hit the pavement.
So it won't last. I know this. It happens every year. There is a nice thaw, warm temps and then boom, gone. Sometimes a big winter storm comes and takes away the hope for the spring.
So if you need me in the next few days, you might try the walking trails! I will be hitting the pavement all week to get the winter blahs our of my system!
Later peeps!
So it won't last. I know this. It happens every year. There is a nice thaw, warm temps and then boom, gone. Sometimes a big winter storm comes and takes away the hope for the spring.
So if you need me in the next few days, you might try the walking trails! I will be hitting the pavement all week to get the winter blahs our of my system!
Later peeps!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Ahhh....memories.
I got in my big stereo the other day and pulled out some old CD's to listen to. They are my old CD's from high school, from the 1990's. Quite the interesting range of music. I have everything from classical music to broadway musicals, to soundtracks to movies, to angry chick music.
So I sifted through the CD's and decided to listen to one of my faves from my junior year, Alanis Morissette. Yikes! I guess when you're 16, you don't pay that much attention to the lyrics of the music you are listening to. As I was sitting there, I heard practically every curse word in the book, everything from being mad at someone to wanting to have vengeance on an ex, to being thankful, to going to confession. What?!?! She is an odd duck.
So as I was listening to my music, Cameron comes home and hears some of it and we get into a conversation about what kind of person I was in high school. As an up and coming freshmen, he wanted to gauge how it was going to be. Now, I am not that old, only being 31. But I know for a fact, as a substitute teacher, that high school is very different than when I was there. Some things are the same, but it is a vastly different place than what I remember. It doesn't help that Cameron is going to a huge high school and I went to a school that had less students in the entire high school than he will have in his graduating class!
Anyhow, it will be interesting to see just how different things are for him than they were for me. I was the type of girl in high school that didn't care much about what people thought of me. I wore mismatched socks and my hair in a ponytail. I walked around with my friends and got called a band geek. I didn't care. I took pride in what I was involved in and didn't care what anyone else thought about it. I spent all my free time listening to music and singing along to broadway titles and pop music.
After Cameron listened to a little Alanis, he came to the conclusion that I was "emo" in high school. I told him that type of music was what was popular back then. Grunge, "emo" music, cranberries, alanis, sophie b hawkins, weezer, etc.
Anyway, it got me thinking, I wonder what Cameron will look back on when he is 31 and remember about high school? Will he be a band geek because he is in marching band? Will he be popular? Will he end up finding his soulmate in high school like Shane and I did? Who will he take to prom and what will be his best memories? Who will he be excited to see at his 10 year reunion? 20 year reunion? Will he still graduate wanting to be an archaeologist or biblical historian?
So many exciting times ahead of him. I am excited to see him through it. All the ups and downs of being in high school. Friends that come and go. Girlfriends and broken hearts. I hope he comes out of it as unscathed as possible. No long lasting pains.
While I wouldn't go back to high school if someone paid me to, I have lots of fond memories and some painful memories. What do you remember most from your years in high school? A certain boy/girlfriend? The Prom? Graduation? Extracurricular activities?
For me, I enjoyed marching band and winter guard the most. I learned a lot. I was a spelling bee champion, and a spell bowl nerd. But, all in all, I remember my friends and regret not keeping in touch with them as well after we graduated.
ahh memories.....
So I sifted through the CD's and decided to listen to one of my faves from my junior year, Alanis Morissette. Yikes! I guess when you're 16, you don't pay that much attention to the lyrics of the music you are listening to. As I was sitting there, I heard practically every curse word in the book, everything from being mad at someone to wanting to have vengeance on an ex, to being thankful, to going to confession. What?!?! She is an odd duck.
So as I was listening to my music, Cameron comes home and hears some of it and we get into a conversation about what kind of person I was in high school. As an up and coming freshmen, he wanted to gauge how it was going to be. Now, I am not that old, only being 31. But I know for a fact, as a substitute teacher, that high school is very different than when I was there. Some things are the same, but it is a vastly different place than what I remember. It doesn't help that Cameron is going to a huge high school and I went to a school that had less students in the entire high school than he will have in his graduating class!
Anyhow, it will be interesting to see just how different things are for him than they were for me. I was the type of girl in high school that didn't care much about what people thought of me. I wore mismatched socks and my hair in a ponytail. I walked around with my friends and got called a band geek. I didn't care. I took pride in what I was involved in and didn't care what anyone else thought about it. I spent all my free time listening to music and singing along to broadway titles and pop music.
After Cameron listened to a little Alanis, he came to the conclusion that I was "emo" in high school. I told him that type of music was what was popular back then. Grunge, "emo" music, cranberries, alanis, sophie b hawkins, weezer, etc.
Anyway, it got me thinking, I wonder what Cameron will look back on when he is 31 and remember about high school? Will he be a band geek because he is in marching band? Will he be popular? Will he end up finding his soulmate in high school like Shane and I did? Who will he take to prom and what will be his best memories? Who will he be excited to see at his 10 year reunion? 20 year reunion? Will he still graduate wanting to be an archaeologist or biblical historian?
So many exciting times ahead of him. I am excited to see him through it. All the ups and downs of being in high school. Friends that come and go. Girlfriends and broken hearts. I hope he comes out of it as unscathed as possible. No long lasting pains.
While I wouldn't go back to high school if someone paid me to, I have lots of fond memories and some painful memories. What do you remember most from your years in high school? A certain boy/girlfriend? The Prom? Graduation? Extracurricular activities?
For me, I enjoyed marching band and winter guard the most. I learned a lot. I was a spelling bee champion, and a spell bowl nerd. But, all in all, I remember my friends and regret not keeping in touch with them as well after we graduated.
ahh memories.....
80 year old woman.
I woke up this morning feeling like an old woman. My back is so tight and knotted up that I can barely stand up straight. I have always had lower back issues since I was a kid. My back curves in too much and it causes pain.
Well, after spending 2 hours last week scooping ice to form a path from our front door to the street, I felt it. Then I kept trying to keep it clear every time it would snow (which seems like every day these days).
I helped move our new sectional sofa into our condo on Sunday and yesterday I spent about an hour and half hepling my parents and grandparents scoop out their driveway. Well, I was working pretty hard and bending over to scoop big shovelfuls of snow and ice and throwing it across to the yard....bad idea by the way.
So now I am in serious pain with my back. I am doing laundry today and sitting is the only thing that doesn't hurt, except when I change positions. The laundry baskets, which usually get thrown around with no problem, weigh at least 752, 683 lbs. today.
Going to soak in the bathtub and get the icy hot out to rub into my back. Maybe that will help...maybe it will just take some time to heal up. Time will tell.
In the meantime, might be a good time to catch up on some blogging and some light packing. This condo keeps getting smaller and smaller with all the packing and the new sectional in the living room along with the old couch....ugh.
How much longer until we get to move?
We have our pre-drywall meeting tomorrow morning. Cannot wait, because we will get our approximate closing date and I can start planning ahead for it!! Yay!!
If you see me out and about, I may be the one that looks young but is walking hunched over like an old lady....
:)
Well, after spending 2 hours last week scooping ice to form a path from our front door to the street, I felt it. Then I kept trying to keep it clear every time it would snow (which seems like every day these days).
I helped move our new sectional sofa into our condo on Sunday and yesterday I spent about an hour and half hepling my parents and grandparents scoop out their driveway. Well, I was working pretty hard and bending over to scoop big shovelfuls of snow and ice and throwing it across to the yard....bad idea by the way.
So now I am in serious pain with my back. I am doing laundry today and sitting is the only thing that doesn't hurt, except when I change positions. The laundry baskets, which usually get thrown around with no problem, weigh at least 752, 683 lbs. today.
Going to soak in the bathtub and get the icy hot out to rub into my back. Maybe that will help...maybe it will just take some time to heal up. Time will tell.
In the meantime, might be a good time to catch up on some blogging and some light packing. This condo keeps getting smaller and smaller with all the packing and the new sectional in the living room along with the old couch....ugh.
How much longer until we get to move?
We have our pre-drywall meeting tomorrow morning. Cannot wait, because we will get our approximate closing date and I can start planning ahead for it!! Yay!!
If you see me out and about, I may be the one that looks young but is walking hunched over like an old lady....
:)
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