"Dog Tired...?"

At 10am this morning, this was in my bed.

The reason for that would be one or more of the following:

a) She's just lazy

b) She thinks it's her bed

c) She was up late last night watching everyone play on the new Wii

d) All of the above

"Remarkably Easy" House Story #1

It's difficult to know exactly where to begin on this story, so I'll start by giving a 4 point overview of the last week of June:

1-Monday - we put our house on the market
2-Tuesday - we signed the papers to begin building our new house (more bathrooms...)
3-Wednesday - we had our first two showings and an offer from the first showing
4-Thursday - we found out our buyers aren't in a hurry to move down here from Illinois and they'll rent our house back to us until our new house is finished in February

Sound like a dream world? Feels like a dream world! Actually, it's just been "remarkably easy".

On Sunday, we met with our sales person to talk about building a house. Before we drove over to the sales office, we went by the lot we wanted and prayed. Then we went by the spec home of the plan we're building and walked through it one more time and stood in the family room and prayed. Dad specifically prayed that God would make this whole selling/buying process either "remarkably easy" or "remarkably difficult" so we would know that we had reached the perfect timing for this big decision. "Remarkably Easy"...

1-We have talked about finding a bigger house (2 more bathrooms, a game room and a 3rd car garage) for over a year now. We had slated "late spring" as our projected time to list the house and try to sell. Just thinking about the whole process of having a house on the market pretty much freaked me out. I was SO dreading the stress of being so particular about how everything looked for showing because I share a house with 5 people whose particularities aren't particularly particular in that area. Needless to say, we've been practicing for several months to try to get into the hang of natural neatness. It wasn't miraculous, but I do think the practice has paid off. The particularity of other family members has gone up at least a notch or two.

Now, here's the important part. Knowing at least a year ago of the impending "manic mom" that would take over our house, I began praying for the people who would come to buy our house. I told God I knew His timing would be perfect and He would send the perfect people at the perfect time. I also asked Him to please send them quickly. Patience is always something I can work on, but please help me learn some patience lessons in some other area besides the showing of the house for sale. I kind of think that a lesson in patience has come in the waiting of the actual listing. I was beginning to think we were never going to get it on the market. The "punch list" never did get completely finished, but the sign went up anyway.

2-We've been looking for a potential house to move to for at least the last year, if not longer. We were torn with wanting to stay in our current school zoning and being open to change schools for the kids. Again, I prayed for God to help me be open to changing schools if needed, but I really hoped that we could remain in the same zoning. Of course, staying in the same zoning meant a VERY small window of places to look for a house. We mainly wanted two more bathrooms, a game room for the kids to gather, a 3rd car garage for Dad's growing workshop collection and hopefully a little bigger yard for Heidi to run around. Before we really even started looking over a year ago, I actually found a perfect house plan in a brand new neighborhood directly across from our elementary school. We kept coming back to that house and comparing it to the existing homes we looked at. Nothing else really compared. Our only problem - they ended up taking the plan out of the neighborhood in May because they couldn't sell the two spec homes they had on the ground. We stayed in touch with the sales office and kept checking with them to see if they were adding any other 5 bedroom plans that we liked. I was so disappointed, but I thought that if God was telling us that this wasn't it then He was speaking pretty clearly by taking that plan away from us. However, while we were on vacation in early June, we got a call that not only were they going to bring that plan back for us to build, they would do it on a contingency for the sale of our current house.

So, we signed all the papers to start building our house on Tuesday. When the sales guy printed up the numbers after we added a few changes to the already extensive list of included upgrades, the bottom line was actually LESS than it had been when we had met on Sunday. We got to drive out to the lot and meet our construction superintendent and ask him a few questions about the grade, drainage and retaining wall before we signed everything. (by the way, he's an Aggie... how perfect) He gave us every answer we were hoping for and more. While we were back in the office actually signing the massive multitude of papers to get this going, we received a phone call for our first showing the following afternoon. We just looked at each other - "remarkably easy". I shed a few tears during the 3 hours we spent getting our new build in order. "Remarkably easy" tears...

3-Geared up for our first showing on Wednesday afternoon, I had the whole day planned out. Did I mention it was VBS week? Aunt Cynthia and her husband were coming to spend the day with us, so I had planned some last minute cleaning - especially floors - for that afternoon before we left the house. HOWEVER, just before leaving the house to take the kids to the church, I got another phone call. Another showing at 11am. I was ecstatic. And panicked!! The kids had done a good job, but I had a whole afternoon of plans that I needed to cram into an hour and a half. Did I mention the touch-up paint blooper from the night before? Dad had gone to Home Depot ONE more time with a huge chunk of the purple paint wall (NEVER found that can of paint in the garage) so he could get it color matched and we could touch up paint in the last room. Well, after about 25 little spots had been touched up, Bit says "Daddy, I don't think that's the same color..." Sure enough - blue spots all over the purple wall... I spent 30 minutes at Home Depot that morning trying to get the paint fixed, but the machine just wouldn't cooperate. I left without paint and only about 45 minutes to do what I had planned to do in 3 hours. As crazy as I had been for the last hour or so, as I walked out of the house 10 minutes before the showing window I had a strange feeling of calm. I prayed once again for the people who would come and asked God for these to be the people I had prayed for. Please let them walk in and know that this would be their house. The way I felt the first time I walked into the house like we're building. Sounds crazy, but it "spoke" to me. I know - crazy.

So, we got home from VBS and spent the afternoon visiting with Aunt Cynthia and everyone helped me do the floors again before we left again for the other showing that day. We met up with Dad and took everyone to dinner and while we were eating, we got another phone call. Someone wanted to see the house after the current showing was finished with their time. Then they said something about this being a "2nd showing". A 2nd showing? Did that mean that someone was coming to see it again? Isn't that good? "Remarkably easy..." They made an offer that evening. More tears. I stayed up late looking at rental information online. If this went through we were going to need to find a place to live until February when our house was finished!

4-Our realtor was coming over Thursday afternoon with papers for us to sign on the offer. She walked in and said she had great news. I said, "You found us a place to rent!?" She said she did. I said, "Oh, where!?" She said, how does this house sound. I was frozen for a moment - oh, no! Had the offer fallen through? She said the couple is retired and we thought they were wanting to close quickly so they could move, but they were just wanting to get it all taken care of so they could have it finished. They live in Illinois, but they aren't planning to move down here for another year and they were going to rent it out in the mean time. They said we could stay as long as we needed and pay them rent until our house is finished. "Remarkably easy..." I have tears even as I type this story that I told many times over the past weeks. "Remarkably easy..."
No, God is not teaching me patience in the listing and showing of our house. Although, I do think he gave me some lessons in patience as we waited for the right time to list it. I think God is teaching me gratitude. My thoughts immediately went to Sarah and Abraham. When God told Sarah she would have a baby in her old age, she laughed. It doesn't say the word "unbelievable" in the scripture, but that's the general idea that went through her mind as she laughed. Yet, how can she think "unbelievable" when she had prayed for a child for so long? If she prayed believing that she would have a child, how can she tell God it's "unbelievable"?

That's what I found myself thinking - "unbelievable" - as I laugh at the whole week of "remarkably easy" events. Yet, how can I really find it "unbelievable"? I prayed for this to happen! Didn't I believe that God could answer those prayers as I prayed them?

God knew exactly when our sign would go up. God knew exactly when this couple would be planning a short trip to Texas to look for their place to retire. They looked at 30 houses in two days. God knew exactly when they would come even though I only found out two hours before they came. God knew that they would want to find renters. God knew we would be building a house and we would need to rent a place.

Now, the story doesn't stop there. As it happened, on the day of our closing in mid-July, while we were AT the title company office waiting to sign, the buyers' lender informed us that they were actually missing a document for the loan that the buyer's son wouldn't sign for them (rental property they owned together), so they had to cancel the contract. (The buyers weren't there, but they had already signed everything up in Illinois and sent it down. They weren't happy at this turn of events...)

And yet, in the midst of this HUGE disappointment, I never felt panicked or even hugely disappointed. I felt calm. I knew things would work out, even though we went back to "manic mom" for a bit after that. (Dad wasn't as calm, but that's being a guy, I think.)

And so, we were back on the market. And it took twice as long this time... :-) SO, story #2 should be ready to publish the first week of school. We'll see how this one pans out. It doesn't look as easy for US this time, but I like where it's taking us.

Sky Ranch

Bear's grade level at school went on a 3 day field trip to Sky Ranch back in March. I knew I had to go with her, but quite honestly, I was dreading the whole experience. I'm not much for roughing it - no matter if we did sleep indoors and have at least 3 showers between 15 of us in the cabin. That's still roughing it to me. Of course, I started out the trip in a perfect way - I left all my bedding and towels sitting by the front door at home. Lovely. I did have my pillow, thank goodness. And I snagged one of Bear's sheets (she had two) and one of the teachers had an extra that I borrowed as well (how embarrassing...) Thank goodness I made Bear pack all her own stuff in her own bag! Oh, and my hairdryer was in the bag with the bedding. Thank goodness my cap wasn't! I'm telling you, I'm NOT a roughing it kind of gal.
Bear had to follow directions (moving items around an area) as given by a classmate who had to figure out what the directions were only by non-verbal communication from the rest of the group. (I guess that's actually quite difficult to verbalize...) It was quite interesting...
It rained some while we were there, so this picture of Bear on our cabin porch facing the lake doesn't look as wonderful as it really was.
They sat in outdoor classroom areas and went on expeditions. Mom even went on a trail ride. In doing that, though, I missed one of their classes that I would have LOVED to be in - Orienteering. Maps and compasses and figuring out directions - how cool!! I got back just when they were finishing up and writing down their adventure.

Bear is looking for evidence that this pond is alive and well. (And it was!)

(Bear got her braces off a few weeks after camp!)

Sunrise our last morning at camp.

So, as much as I had dreaded the whole trip, it greatly exceeded my expectations. It was very educational. Very relaxing. And very exhausting.

4th of July

We forewent the annual family reunion down south to take the older girls over to Mawmaw & Pawpaw's for the weekend. (And with gas prices, the closer location was more favorable...) Plus, since we sold our house in 3 days (more on this after we close next week) we had some little repairs we needed to get to after receiving the inspection report at 5pm on the eve of a holiday weekend.

So, here are some shots of yesterday as we visited with Mawmaw & Pawpaw at the Lake. They had festivities and were glad to have some kids to share it with.

Bit enjoys our first big tomato from our garden - we took it to share with Mawmaw & Pawpaw since only two people really like tomatoes at our house.

Bear got a flag tattoo on her face while the others were out riding a boat around the lake. It was a LONG boat ride, so she took a throw at the dunking booth and listened in on some Karaoke for a bit while we waited for the others to get back.

Sno-cones were a hit. Nice and cold on a very warm day.

Pawpaw let Little Buddy back up the golf cart on the way back to their house. Little Girl was keeping an eye out for him as he drove. He knows what he's doing, but he scares us to death. Oh, I hope the next 7 years go slowly before he's allowed to get his driver's license.

The kids did the little poppy thingies out on the driveway at Mawmaw & Pawpaw's house. Here's Little Buddy chasing Dad & Heidi with one.

Little Girl just stood there and threw all of her little bag one at a time on the ground in front of her.

Mawmaw & Little Girl played a few games of Uno. I think Little Girl won most of the games. She must have had a good teacher...

Heidi really enjoyed her turn to ride on the golf cart. She NEVER voluntarily gets into anything with wheels. EVER. She HATES to get into or out of the truck or van. We were amazed when she jumped up into the golf cart, hardly before it stopped. The only thing we can figure is that she enjoyed the thought of the wind blowing through her ears... On the other hand, maybe she's claustrophobic like Mom and Little Buddy...

Making faces... Bear

Making faces... Bit

Making face... Little Buddy

Making faces... Little Girl

Fireworks on the lake

I like the outlines of all the people sitting out on their docks on the water watching the fireworks.

A Week in DC

Dad's employee convention this year was in Washington DC. We took the oldest two on the trip and let them explore their nation's capitol. It was fun to see them enjoy the different things that interest them.

We stayed at the Marriott Wardman Park. It was an old hotel that had a new addition with a huge convention expansion. The best part was that it had an outdoor pool and an indoor Starbucks! Of course, we only ventured to both places twice while Dad was working...

Our first night in DC, we ate out with friends at a restaurant near the hotel, then hopped on the Metro (subway) to head to a Marine Jazz Band concert on the steps of the Capitol Building.

The Washington Monument as seen from the steps of the Capitol at sundown.

Dad & Bit on the Metro - this was obviously later in the week after everyone was a bit more comfortable with the mass transit system. (And after recovering from the frenzy that surrounded a fire in one of the tunnels on one of our transits...)

The Washington Monument from Bear and Bit's perspective looking up. Yes, the stones are two different colors. If you don't know why, you should - check it out here.

Such team work... They've been working out...

Bear and Bit in front of the White House... there's a story...

Long story short... (Really. This could be SO much longer...) On our way to an appointment tour at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving (just us girls), the fire incident occurred on the Metro, causing us to be dumped out two long stops from our hotel and 15 blocks from our appointment destination. We tried some alternate plans which included the White House (barricaded for several blocks around because of the Metro incident), Constitution Hall (closed because of a special event), Museum of History (closed due to renovation), National Archives (not open for another hour and already 200+ people in line), Ford Theatre (closed due to renovation) and even a department store (shopping's good for any ailment, right? - opening an hour late that morning for who knows what reason...!)

HOWEVER, we finally found ONE place open (besides the air conditioned souvenir shop with the restroom next door)...

The house where Lincoln died... Bear found it to be very interesting. She likes the old houses and museums like that. After that we even found a Starbucks. Life was good! AND the Metro was going again - at least half of it was. We waited over 30 minutes for a train going our way, but we finally got back to the hotel. And it was ONLY just before 11am by this time. We were so exhausted.

Dinner with the family down on the Potomac. Phillips Seafood Buffet was highly anticipated, but sorely disappointing...

Bear on her nightly phone call to her little sister and brother back at Mawmaw & Pawpaw's house.

Mom & Dad at the party at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

Bit & Bear with Christian artist TobyMac

Family shot - Mom, Bit, Dad & Bear - on our way out to do more touring

Trying to learn how to take cool pics with the new camera - not quite there yet, but it's fun anyway - the dome of the Capitol Building

The big party the last night in DC. This was the Superman room. I think it was full of kryptonite, though. Didn't quite get that. There were several themed rooms with all kinds of different foods and impersonators. Dolly Parton, Tina Turner and Barry White were on stage. If you didn't know better, you'd think they really were.

Next convention is in Orlando. We told the older two that the younger two get to go next time. Yeah, that idea didn't go over so well...

I finally made it to California - and BACK

I was praying that if California is ever going to fall off into the ocean, please don't let it by while I'm there for the first time. It didn't help that Dad says to me on his way out of the hotel room the first morning that if an earthquake comes, remember to get out of the building. Well, I was awake then, thank you very much.

Obviously we got back home safely and other than that it was a very nice trip. The weather was incredible. Absolutely perfect. We arrived back in Dallas to a "balmy..." something - I didn't catch the temperature because I was stuck on the word "balmy". For that, I was wanting to get back on the airplane and head back to CA.

This is where Dad had meetings each morning. No, really, he had meetings here each morning.

We went to Muir Woods - one of the redwood forests close to San Francisco. AWESOME trees! Dad got called a "tree hugger". He wouldn't "hug" anymore trees for me - perspective or not.

Dad at the Golden Gate Bridge leading into San Francisco. Even in May it was windy and chilly up on that hill looking down into the bay.

We met my cousin and her husband in SF for the day since they live fairly close to the city.

New Toy...

We decided it was time to branch out into the realm of SLR digital photography. It may take me all summer to read the users manual... I should have paid more attention in high school journalism. I vaguely remember talk of apperture, ISO and f-stop...

In the mean time, we're already enjoying immense improvement in photo quality! Such a difference in these pictures! Guess I'll have to get a bigger purse if I'm going to carry this camera around with me...

The knockout roses out front

Double impatiens in hanging baskets out back Day lillies in the backyard
And, of course, sweet Heidi. I think she's actually tired of having her picture taken. The look on her face here says, "enough already..."

Well, how about that?!

According to Scientific American, blogging is good for you.