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| Detective Madeline, Lydia the Butterfly, Anna the Monkey, and our lil pumpkin Cora. |
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| Cute cousins. |
Friday, November 12, 2010
Trick or Treat
This is a little late but as cute as ever.
Monday, November 1, 2010
House hunters
Moving is not easy. It interrupts life. There are a lot of decisions to make. So while all these things are on my mind, I thought I'd provide some (hopefully) helpful tips concerning the topic:
When you are looking for a new house, take notes on house detail sheets that will help you recall the specific house. Our moves are always quick. We go to our new place, see 20-30 houses in a couple days, make a decision, and put in an offer. Touring so many houses in a short amount of time causes many of the houses to blur together. I remedy that by making unique notes about the houses, things that will make sense to me but may not to anyone else (such as big dog, ugly wallpaper, or boy house). Later on when I am reviewing the houses, my notes will usually spark a memory of the house. In addition, take notes about important aspects of the house. I love to take baths, so I usually noted if the house had a big bath tub or not.
Try to keep a running ranking of houses in your mind. If I walk in to a house and it doesn't make my top three, I don't think about that house any more. Don't get bogged down by too many options.
Looking at house pictures online is helpful, but you have no idea what the house will be like until you walk in to it. One house we went in to had a sloping basement floor. Another house boasted a pond view. Well, it was a small pond with a huge electrical facility behind it. Don't waste too much of your precious time on the Internet. (I know this is easier said than done.)
Make sure you are not too hungry or tired when house searching. This sounds silly, but it really is important. The houses we see just before lunch or supper are just not as appealing. Our blood sugar is low, we are tired, and want to be done. Be aware of this and bring along snacks or drinks. Schedule in some downtime for your mind to unwind, then wind back up again.
Look at a map before, during, and after your house hunting. When you move to a brand new place and have no idea of the layout of the place, it is very easy to become disoriented with where you are at. You are riding along with a realtor who zooms around town. Before you know it, you don't know how far away from the office, church, or school you are. Being somewhat familiar with a map beforehand helps.
Verbally process your thoughts. This is difficult for me, who keeps my words in my own head. Point out the obvious and not so obvious aspects of a house. Mark and I see completely different things when we walk in a house. He notices the siding while I notice the light fixtures. Talk about as many of these things as possible while you are in the house and once you are out of the house.
Once you do the final viewing of the house you're going to purchase, take pictures of everything in the house. We saw so many houses in a short time of high stress, I would not remember anything about our new house if I didn't have the pictures to look at. Since I have my pictures, I can start to dream about where to position furniture, curtains, painting, and new purchases.
Use some detective skills to learn about the neighborhood. Visit the house at different times of the day. Drive around the neighborhood at night. Talk to any neighbors that are working in their yard. Ask them who lives in the area.
Pray.
When you are looking for a new house, take notes on house detail sheets that will help you recall the specific house. Our moves are always quick. We go to our new place, see 20-30 houses in a couple days, make a decision, and put in an offer. Touring so many houses in a short amount of time causes many of the houses to blur together. I remedy that by making unique notes about the houses, things that will make sense to me but may not to anyone else (such as big dog, ugly wallpaper, or boy house). Later on when I am reviewing the houses, my notes will usually spark a memory of the house. In addition, take notes about important aspects of the house. I love to take baths, so I usually noted if the house had a big bath tub or not.
Try to keep a running ranking of houses in your mind. If I walk in to a house and it doesn't make my top three, I don't think about that house any more. Don't get bogged down by too many options.
Looking at house pictures online is helpful, but you have no idea what the house will be like until you walk in to it. One house we went in to had a sloping basement floor. Another house boasted a pond view. Well, it was a small pond with a huge electrical facility behind it. Don't waste too much of your precious time on the Internet. (I know this is easier said than done.)
Make sure you are not too hungry or tired when house searching. This sounds silly, but it really is important. The houses we see just before lunch or supper are just not as appealing. Our blood sugar is low, we are tired, and want to be done. Be aware of this and bring along snacks or drinks. Schedule in some downtime for your mind to unwind, then wind back up again.
Look at a map before, during, and after your house hunting. When you move to a brand new place and have no idea of the layout of the place, it is very easy to become disoriented with where you are at. You are riding along with a realtor who zooms around town. Before you know it, you don't know how far away from the office, church, or school you are. Being somewhat familiar with a map beforehand helps.
Verbally process your thoughts. This is difficult for me, who keeps my words in my own head. Point out the obvious and not so obvious aspects of a house. Mark and I see completely different things when we walk in a house. He notices the siding while I notice the light fixtures. Talk about as many of these things as possible while you are in the house and once you are out of the house.
Once you do the final viewing of the house you're going to purchase, take pictures of everything in the house. We saw so many houses in a short time of high stress, I would not remember anything about our new house if I didn't have the pictures to look at. Since I have my pictures, I can start to dream about where to position furniture, curtains, painting, and new purchases.
Use some detective skills to learn about the neighborhood. Visit the house at different times of the day. Drive around the neighborhood at night. Talk to any neighbors that are working in their yard. Ask them who lives in the area.
Pray.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Catching up with the girls
Here is a photo overload update of the past month while I've been absent from blog land.
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| Apple orchard with homeschool friends |
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| Mark and I at Pebble Beach, California for a work trip |
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| Birthday festivities |
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| Riding in the combine with Papa |
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| More birthday parties |
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Corndogs
Well, we're moving. My stellar husband is taking the next step up with his job. He is a very gifted man with a strong work ethic. This leads to us being pushed on, even if we don't necessarily want to be pushed. My first reaction with this possible move was "No!" As time went on and God worked on my heart, it changed. We believe that God has great things for us, wherever that may be. We believe the things that we want for our life are not necessarily the things that God wants for our life. We believe that Christians should be in positions of influence in our world, doing the best they can for God's glory.
So, we are going to ride this next part of the journey with excitement. This was not an easy decision as we will dearly miss our church, homeschool community, and close family. This will always be our home.
Where are we going? Lincoln, Nebraska. It is not too far away, relatively speaking. Mark officially started the beginning of October. Our present close date for our new house is December 1, but that may be moved up. Until then, we are here, there, and everywhere.
Am I stressed? Yes. Am I excited? Yes. We are leaving Hawkeye territory to join Cornhusker land. Lydia mistakenly calls them the Corndogs. We are not correcting her.
So, we are going to ride this next part of the journey with excitement. This was not an easy decision as we will dearly miss our church, homeschool community, and close family. This will always be our home.
Where are we going? Lincoln, Nebraska. It is not too far away, relatively speaking. Mark officially started the beginning of October. Our present close date for our new house is December 1, but that may be moved up. Until then, we are here, there, and everywhere.
Am I stressed? Yes. Am I excited? Yes. We are leaving Hawkeye territory to join Cornhusker land. Lydia mistakenly calls them the Corndogs. We are not correcting her.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Sisters
I am the oldest of three girls. I love my younger two sisters. Without a doubt, they are my best friends. My heart is full of memories: doing our hair together as we prepare for school, playing with my youngest sister as our "baby," standing up in each others' weddings. When we had Madeline, I really wanted to give her a sister. It turns out that was not a problem. I consider all my girls so blessed to have sisters. There is something about the bond of sisters.
My sisters are incredible women. Let me tell you....
My youngest sister, Marissa, delivered a handsome baby boy named Charlie two days ago. She is going to have her hands full taking care of Charlie and his big sisters. Maleah is a responsible 3 year old. Layla is a very spirited 1 and a 1/2 year old. We visited Marissa yesterday, less than 24 hours after giving birth. You would never know she had just pushed a baby out. She was walking around the room, looking fabulous, helping run after all the kids. Seriously, people. I think I birth babies and recover well. Marissa is in a league of her own. She is one tough lady.
My middle sister, Alisa, takes amazing photos. I could never do that. But she loves to bless others through her special gift. She is fabulous.
I pray that my girls have the same pride in each other. I pray they have the same fierce dedication to helping find God's best for each other. I pray they are as thankful for their sisters as I am of mine.
My youngest sister, Marissa, delivered a handsome baby boy named Charlie two days ago. She is going to have her hands full taking care of Charlie and his big sisters. Maleah is a responsible 3 year old. Layla is a very spirited 1 and a 1/2 year old. We visited Marissa yesterday, less than 24 hours after giving birth. You would never know she had just pushed a baby out. She was walking around the room, looking fabulous, helping run after all the kids. Seriously, people. I think I birth babies and recover well. Marissa is in a league of her own. She is one tough lady.
My middle sister, Alisa, takes amazing photos. I could never do that. But she loves to bless others through her special gift. She is fabulous.
I pray that my girls have the same pride in each other. I pray they have the same fierce dedication to helping find God's best for each other. I pray they are as thankful for their sisters as I am of mine.
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