Gratitude

I am blogging surrounded by boxes with an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. Eric and I have lived in some cramped, small, stinky, moldy and even kinda of dangerous places..BUT they were ours. And in those little cramped apartments there was always a sweet spirit that surrounded us b/c we were in our home. We lost that a year ago, which is alot of ways was just as hard as losing a job. BUT TODAY that sweet spirit is back and I am overwhelmed. Yes I am grateful for the beauty my new home. It really is quite remarkable. We just love it. BUT MOST importantly I am grateful for the sweet feeling I feel.
My home is my refuge from the world. Kids will scream, cry , laugh,dance and yes have accidents in this house. And through it all we will share love and feel of His sweet spirit. We are so grateful to parents for allowing us to live in their home. But it is theirs and not mine.
I can tell you that I know without a doubt that God keeps His promises. I am looking forward to this new chapter of my life:) So as we continue to get things situated this weekend I am looking forward to having conference(General Conference is when the prophet,apostles and other leaders of my church address the world. They will guide, council and inspire us with words from God.) in my home all weekend along!!! What a blessing to be able to gather around the tv and watch it with my family. I am truly blessed!

Dreams in Progress

So when we started building this dream house we sat down with a builder and told him how much we wanted to spend and a basic idea of the house we wanted. We had a floor plan from another builder but he just used it as a reference. So with that as just an idea we went to work with him and his computer designing our new home. Once we came up with the floor plan we then had to send the drawings to an an architect who after a couple rough drafts and some more changes created a blue print. A blue print of our home that we designed. Let me tell ya I think that is sooo coooll! Then with this blue print we went to the bank and took out a construction loan. Yep we closed on this house back in the middle of MAy! There were a couple little hiccups along the way but once they broke ground on May 20th...its been fast movin. In May They estimated this Home would be completed in 5 mos. At the rate we are going it'll be under 4!!! this is another miracle and I hate to even mention it cause I don't want to jinx it!!!

The first picture is while still framing. The next set were taken today. The black stuff on the wood is some kinda of protective coating. The last picture is a house that is very simialar to what we are building and we have used the exterior to help pick out our color

The back

The view

By the end of July dry wall will be done and they will be doing all the finishing work. This week I go to the granite supplier to pick out the slab I want. Every step of this process we are deeply involved. I just went there today to make my island bigger b/c i didn't like the lay out of it on the kitchen floor (they outlined it on the floor.) We changed the location of the electrical box to the other side of the basement . we knocked out a wall to make a closet bigger...we are doing all these changes as they are building it. Its kinda neat that they let us do this.

And next week, GUESS where I'm going?...where every body knows my name...and they're always glad I came.... I feel a little down trodden so it'll be nice to visit with all my old friends and escape some of the every day nonsense have to deal with here!

last day

Congrats to my little sweeties. Bekah on to 3rd grade, Kaylee onto Kindergarten and my sweet little Sidney gets to stay home w/ me!!!!!They all did great this school year! And of course we went to Red Lobster to celebrate!! The girls had so much fun they were dancing on tables(Sidney)!!!! too bad I don't have a pic of that or the expression of the people sitting next to us!

4/27/09

Picture of Daddy Date night

.1 year ago(from date above) E laid off. You often wonder what you might do, or feel when that happens. Looking back in my journal I see so much hope and faith. I remember him calling me and saying that senior partners were lookin for him and he was pretty sure he was going to be laid off. I told him YOU hold your head high .You did nothing wrong and don't you ever forget you have the Lord on your side. I hadn't heard from him for a few hours and then I heard the garage door go up and I knew that he was let go. We waited to tell the kids. I didn't say anything to anyone(except for N). E and I wanted to have time to process this and come up with a" plan" Little did I know what all we would go through. I remember helping our dear friends through a very serious medical problem last summer. It really helped us to get lost in service. It gave us something/ someone else to pray for and serve. Our problems seem so little compared to theirs. I'll never forget the dread as I prepared to sell my beautiful home. I didn't want to leave ...not like this..not b/c we had to or else we would be financially ruined. Right after putting our house up for sale a dear friend of mine died after a long battle w/ cancer. Once again I was reminded of my blessings and I knew I needed to show more gratitude to the Lord . When we did sell our home we knew it was a blessing/ and a sacrifice that we would be blessed for later. The lowest point through it all was the girls accident. I will NEVER forget that feeling of helplessness while driving to the hospital. It was the first time we actually felt to what end... you can loose your job/ your home/ leave great friends..BUT to have something happen to our kids was just not FAIR!!! But that was just another lesson I needed to learn. That miracles do happen and the Lord needed us to know that he does have a hand in our lives. About 4 months after moving here E got his new job. Everything about this job is perfect for him. And even though we went through a lot to get here. I know this is a huge blessing for him and his career.

This whole experience is still close to my heart and I am sure I am not seeing all the lessons learned or tender mercies given. But I do know that I am so grateful that Eric now has a job. And now to put the rest of our life back together. My girls have yet to really have any friends here. Its kinda of sad. I have tried to reach out to people, I guess I need to start stalking them :).We are suppose to close on our new house tomorrow (we have had lots of set backs w/ this due to the county), then they SHOULD start digging next week and be done HOPEFULLY in September. We sat down with the builder and designed our new home. OH to have my own home again. I just can't wait! But in the mean time I am trying to endure this trial of not having a home. It is a lot easier knowing that Eric does have a job and in a few months we will have our own place.

So all in all things are doing well. I do miss my "old life" and feel like we still haven't moved on yet. But soon all will be restored . We have been so blessed so I really don't mean to complain . E loves is new job, and we are looking forward to hanging out at the local pool. It has slides and a splash area for little ones so we will have a blast! I miss you all so much . I have the greatest friends.

The Best

SO my friend Nikki tagged me with this photo tagg. You go into your pictures on your computer, open the first folder and post the 10th picture so here it is....

This is Bekah at age 6-7mos. We are at my paents house visiting. The picture of above this I found while looking up my picture for the tagg. It is of my Dad and Bekah.

Bekah is the first grand child. Now my dad was a pretty good dad but he is the Best grandpa in the world. He takes care of my kids from changing diapers/ bottle feedings/ temper tantrums, even potty training he can handel it. Sure sometimes there are some mix ups...he was late picking kaylee up from pres-school other day, BUT my kids just love and adore him. Ever since we moved in with my parents I have been woking more and Eric and my dad would watch the girls. Now that Eric is working ..sigh.. I have decieded to keep my 1x a week job that I absolutely love and He my dad watchs the girls for me. And he wants to, and he loves it. From Cosi to the parks to chikfila you name he takes them . Bekah who is at school all day misses "Pa Pa" days so he actually makes up for it by taking her out by herself. Most nights after scripture and prayers my dad will tuck the girls in with Pa Pa stories. What lucky little girls to be surrounded my such love. Its a pity that many grandparents who do live close to there grandchildern aren't involved in their lives. I guess they are missing out on some of heavens sweetest blessings. So thanks dad for being "The Best"

Even though it has been nice to stay with my parents we will be moving on(but not too far w/in a mile) ....more to come on that and it is SUPER exciting!!!

3 little letters

JOB

Thats right folks...FINALLY

This is a great Job with a great company(NETJETS) with great compensation and benefits, but more importantly Eric is so excited . It is here in Columbus at Easton(huge shopping area) It is exactly the type of Job he has wanted. Miracles do happen and prayers are answered!!! He starts the 22nd. More to come I have to get ready for my big night out on the town!!!!!

All Rocked out!

Sidney will run around the house saying, "Rock band mommy please, rock band mommy". After awhile we give in and give her the guitar to play with.