Hmmm....

Hmmm....I still have lots going through my tired little brain!! We are deep into this real estate stuff. I forgot how much time and energy it takes to sell/buy houses. Anyway....we haven't had any more lookers on our house yet. I'm confident though that we are going to make it through this process better than we were when we started it. Whether we buy the house we have all fallen in love with or something different....God is bringing us closer as a family in a sweet way.

One thing also that I forgot about the whole selling process is how impeccably clean one must leave their house every morning when going to work. You just never know when your house will be shown...so every bed has to be made, every towel hung up, every laundry basket needs to look sparse, every dish must be in the dishwasher or put away, pillows fluffed, crumbs swept....you get the picture. So, there is no time for lolly-gagging in the mornings. I'll have to remember this is really not a huge stretch of inconvenience...just a little extra time. So, when we move, maybe I could keep up this trend?? Nah, probably not!!

I'm taking a sick day today because Kaylyn got sick last night and it was rather nasty. Here's the deal...we are not a good throw-uppy famiy. When one of us has just one huge yack, we're down for the next 14 hours. I don't understand how a person can do a throwup so violently and then turn around the next day and be normal. My insides hurt like crazy. So, anyone out there that doesn't understand why one round of yackiness causes me to call in and take a sick day...just don't judge....just nod and know that thought it doesn't happen often...when it does, I'll be the first to call in and take a day of rest!!

Have a great day....I know I'll be disinfecting, cleaning out a drawer or cabinet or something and enjoying a little extra quiet today!!

How do you know??

We put our house on the market this week. It's already been shown once too. I'm having some anxiety issues with this too. I need some advice...some good sound Bible-based advice...wisdom. The older I get, the harder it seems for me to become at peace with decisions that are major ones to make. I mull things over and over like beating it with a dead fish or something. To the point that I know it gets on Kevin's nerves....and probably most likely the nerves of my friends too.

How do you truly know that going out on a limb to sell your house is the right move to make? How do you know that anytime making any kind of a huge purchase is the right thing to do? I'm great at giving advice to others...even when they didn't ask for it...I feel like it's my right to interject what I think others should do. But, it's a teeny bit different when it is yourself. I know God will put up the stops if He sees us doing something that is detrimental to our family's well-being. I know he puts people in our paths to guide us....I know all of this. But, I don't know if what we're doing is what God is truly desiring us to do. I've prayed and prayed and prayed. Sometimes I think I "will" things into motion and then convince myself that God has paved the way. I don't know if that makes sense....but I really need some feedback here. And here's something else that keeps floating around in my mind.... Am I wanting too much in wanting a 4 bdrm house?? Am I spoiled?? Will buying this dream house in my head lead me to contentment? Seriously....all I ever really wanted in wanting a 4 bdrm house was more in the future: when all our children are grown, I want them to come to our house and feel like they have a place here...a bit of privacy while being altogether at the same time. A home. I want our home to be their safe place from this cruel world - their haven!! I think about the last 7 years that the girls have shared their bedroom and in reflecting, I have watched a beautiful relationship get so tight that they can truly say that they are best friends. Will that be lost if we move into a bigger home?

Kevin and I have made some huge blunders in our married life when it came to making decisions. We've also reaped the blessings over and over for the wise ones we've made too. I don't like regrets. So, if you are reading this and feel inspired to respond...I'll gladly take whatever thoughts you have into consideration!!

A Month In...

It's been a long while since I last updated my blog!! Not that anyone has probably noticed, cause I doubt anyone reads it...but....it's good to put my thoughts on here, helps me to reflect later on.



Last time I updated, I was so excited that the architect was going to draw us some plans to add onto our house. Well, sad to say that it was a "no-go"...and now we're going to look at a house tomorrow after church to see if moving is what we want to do. Everyone in the family is all for it, except Big Daddy!! He's the one that makes the most and works the longest hours...so his opinion is crucial!!! But over the past month, Kevin has gone from NO I don't want to move, to well let's see what this house looks like...to even coming home the other day telling me what all we must do to get our house ready to list!! WOW!!! :)



School has been in session for over a month now with kids and almost 2 months for me counting all the hours the I put into moving into my room and getting it ready for kiddos. What a relaxing year it has been too. I have 19 kiddos....and nobody has any big issues. Learning or behavioral-wise. It's been kind of nice also to be in a different hallway. I get to greet the kids as they come off the bus and that's fun for me.



I'm learning FINALLY the art of keeping my mouth shut. My mouth gets me into all sorts of trouble and I've prayed about my mouth and when I hear God say....STOP...I've been walking away and that's been good for me. I want to live out Psalm 119:1 in my life.



I had my yearly checkup this week...that's always so much fun for me. Everything went fine, except when the doctor said for me to keep up with my blood pressure for a couple of weeks. It was a little high in his office...DUH...I hate going to the dr.!!!!! So, the commitment to working hard on the treadmill or going for walks will have to be REAL!!! I refuse to have to resort to blood pressure medication!!!! I stopped drinking pop on a regular basis a long time ago...I already drink at least 32 ounces of water while I'm at school daily.....and I stick to a pretty good diet at school with brining lunches and eating a healthy breakfast...plus I don't use table salt for anything unless baking. So.....I guess it comes down to working out and getting enough sleep!!!!



I'll post later on all of these updates.....

The Verdict is In!!

Well after almost 7 years of living in our home and dreaming of oneday adding on some more living space to make it perfect...we decided to get an architect's professional opinion on the matter. And he did. And it's not what I wanted to hear. He came to our house and drew things on graph paper and measured...he listened to Kevin and I describe to him the perfect new master suite...I felt like we were on an HGTV show!! Then a month later, after he had time to research covenants, easement lines, utility lines, planning commission bumble jumble....it won't work. At first I was ok with all of this. "At least we know" is the phrase that kept coming to mind....but now the realization of that dream never coming to life has made me very heartbroken. I love our house....most of the time. You see, I want a home that has 4 bedrooms. I want my girls to have their own space...because that's what they really want. And when looking ahead to the future...I want them to be excited to come home when they are in college, etc. I suppose the logical thing to do is to sell our house and find the perfect home....and I have. It's actually in our neighborhood a couple of streets over and it's empty!! However, I am afraid by the time I convince Kevin we should sell...someone will already have snatched it!! Moving is alot of work....I've done it quite a bit since we've been married. But everytime we've moved, it's been a cleansing process. We've purged junk, thrown away stuff that needed to be thrown, had garage sales, and taken stuff to Goodwill by the truckloads. That's the work part of moving...but after the move has taken place and the last box unpacked, there's always this sense of everything being clean and fresh!!!! That's the best feeling after moving!!!
I feel this sense of urgency that we need to do something soon like today. I think that's called an anxiety disorder...and that's where Kevin gets completely out of sorts with me. He is so laid back and relaxed and I'm so NOT!!! Perhaps, God is continueing to do a work in me....and I know He has his hands full with me!!
Anyway, I know this story isn't finished yet. Kevin and I have alot to think about and alot to talk about. We seem to process at different speeds....which is kind of frustrating....but good in the longterm. So, as we continue this new little journey called the future....I'll keep praying for God's wisdom!!

The other "New Year"

Every January 1 is the ultimate in New Year's Resolutions!! But when you are a student OR a teacher there is another "new year" and it starts in August when school starts!!! Everyone thinks that kids are only ones with new expectations for their new grade level and they are the only ones that need school clothes and supplies and they are the only ones that need haircuts!! Excuse me...but I'm a school teacher and I'm the oversized student!! I love to go and find a few new outfits, maybe a pair of shoes, get my hair cut/colored the week before inservice, go to mardels and buy lots of stuff for my classroom and finally I absolutely LOVE getting my room ready for the 1st day!!!! I have done this now for 36 years...it started when I was 5!! So, this is my New Year's!! So, since you have to make resolutions for the Jan. 1 new year....I also revisit those resolutions when August hits. I have actually done a terrible job of keeping my last resolutions....I did great til April....and then haven't given them a thought til now. Oh well!!! So, I suppose since I have a new start and new schedule and all...I should at least attempt to pull off some of those resolutions. I have no idea how this schedule will unfold. I'm taking Ryan to High School....:( every morning, he will be dropped off to me in the afternoons by a sweet friend, and then we'll be coming home. This is where things get a little fuzzy....should I then drop the kids off at home and then go to the rec center to work out? Or...should I find a nice little routine that involves walking around my 'hood and biking too? That would be the cheaper fix....but I have found that if I pay for gym memberships, then I go and workout. Something about paying!! Anyway...the eating right thing falls into place when school starts...b/c I take my lunch. I take the normal turkey sandwich, fat free pringles, weight watcher yogurt and some purple grapes!! I'll be shedding a good 3 pounds the first couple of weeks.....
Oh well...I'm looking forward to an awesome school year!! Ryan will have lots to talk about daily!! Christen will be in the 7th grade with all her peeps and Kaylyn will be at the south campus. Lots of changes...but God is good and He is my strength always!!

Thinking in Print

I've always heard of people "thinking out loud"...so instead of rambling audibly, I am choosing to "think in print".
I've done a lousy, and I truly mean LOUSY, job of watching my weight this summer. Actually my weight really hasn't gone up...rather what is unacceptable is that all the work I did to tone up all last year, has disappeared. I have been hit/miss to the gym and more miss than hit. I've given in to cravings and such in the food area too. I always tell my family that "tomorrow" I'm going to start that new workout routine and such....hasn't happened all summer.
I really want to get my classroom all together so I can feel like I'm a little more free. I have some little chores that I'd like to get done before school starts. Things like getting my carpets cleaned and going through my closet!!
The architect came a couple of weeks ago to tell us what we can or can't do in the way of building onto our house. We've talked and talked about building on to our house...but never what are options were. He hasn't called us back yet....he said it would be a little while longer...he's rather busy. So, as we patiently wait for him to show us what he's drawn, Kevin and I have talked about time frames of when to begin, etc. Of course the kids are also anxious...this means the girls won't have to share their bedroom anymore....which makes me a little sad. I know they each deserve their own space and they are truly excited about re-decorating their "new" rooms...but they have many memories of sharing their room. I was talking to my brother about all of this and his advice was not to build on...I asked him why and he said because the bigger the house, the more it hinders closeness in the family. I've thought alot about that lately. Do we want bigger houses to have more space away from the ones we love the most? because we're out to show off? or to adequately accomodate all members?? I really never thought that a big house would hinder our tightness I enjoy so much as a family.
I think my brain in now empty....
If you have any insights or comments...I want to read them!!!!

Cool Deal!!

I have been faithfully working on my NEW classroom lately. I really enjoy being in my classroom and trying to figure out where to put furniture, where to put all of my wall decor, and just trying to figure out how I see my year unfolding. It's really really fun!! It's also a little expensive...because I like to buy stuff for my room every July! This July has been no different. Last year, I think I figured I spent well over $600 in July just for my classroom...and it was my 19th year to teach. That was a little over the top...but Ineeded things: desk chair that wasn't embarrassing, new blinds for my windows...and I splurged on the faux wood kind, instead of the cheapo deapo kind, a nice big plushy red rug, and a table/lamp combo to sit with my rocker. Anyway, I wanted to stay more reasonable this summer and I think I have....to date I think I've spent about half of what I spent last summer. But the deal that I got today at Walmart was a cool deal....it's called 2 saucer chairs for my reading area for $38...together!!! I had been looking online for about a week now for seating. I was going back and forth on the bean bags vs. something from Lakeshore (which is very pricey). And when I saw these saucer chairs, it was just meant to be!! I can't wait to place them in their places tomorrow when I return to try to finish my masterpiece of a classroom!!