Well, we have a new house! We closed Friday morning and have been discovering the fun (and challenges) of living in two places! I am taking a little break from painting and packing, so thought I'd write about it a bit.

         It was a little nerve-wracking Thursday night. Apparently, due to some bureaucratic issues (nonsense, really,) there was a possibility that we were not going to be able to close on our house the day we had planned. This had to do with flood insurance, which we had, but the mortgage lender needed a specific document. Of course, they waited until pretty late in the game to begin with to even let us know that this is necessary. We have a tiny creek at the back of our property that is not fed by a larger water source, only by field drainage. Furthermore, our backyard is HUGE.....almost an acre, so if our little creek were to flood enough to come up to our house, we would be talking about an actual disaster situation that would be affecting the entire region, not just our little house. Otherwise, our home is not even in a flood plain (but the yard is....) I just hate it when people (or businesses.... and esp. govt.) don't use common sense about things.  As it turned out, we were in the middle of the process of signing papers when the final phone call came to go ahead and complete the closing.

        Speaking of the closing...... we had to take all four of our youngest. (2, 4, 7, 10) with us to the closing. I let them play with Gameboys while we were there, and you hardly knew they were in the room. My 2yod did throw a fit, but once we got her dry cereal out of the car and into her stomach, she was less cranky and did a good job, too.

       We had a lot of people in the room during the closing. Besides Tony and I and our four younger children, our realtor was there, the sellers were there, their THREE realtors (one was the boss and the others were his assistants, I guess) and the lady from the title office. Wow! i just added at that up and counting the kids, that was 13 people in one room for the signing!  We found out at the end of the closing that instead of paying $2000.00 at the closing as we thought we'd have to do, we actually RECEIVED a check for just over $1600.00! This was exciting because this gives us plenty for finding a new oven and maybe even a new grill!

         After the closing, we picked up some lunch and went over to our new house to eat there. The kids had never seen the inside of the house before, so they were VERY excited! Each loved their bedroom and they really loved the basement and backyard. I started cleaning bathrooms after lunch, so hopefully, I will start painting soon. We have a LOT of work ahead of us. :-)

          I had a friend tell me when she and her husband went through building a new house that it was very much like going through a pregnancy. She has delivered 6 children, so she does understand that process very well.

          This morning when I woke up, I was thinking about how much I could relate to what she said with our own process of buying a new home. It's true! I feel like I am about to give birth again. In fact, we are in the final countdown as we anticipate closing next week and moving in the week after that. For those who maybe haven't given birth, or those who have but haven't bought a new home, I will try to explain this little analogy.

        Back in February, we found out that we might have a buyer for our current home. (Could we be pregnant?) We started looking for homes, trying to anticipate that this could be the real deal. As it turned out, we did not have a buyer at this time (negative test,) but it set up a chain of events that led to the actual event.

         In March, the realtor of the home we are buying asked our realtor if we'd make an offer on that home on a contingency of the sale of our current home. (Ok, maybe that would line up better with adoption than pregnancy.....) Tony had seen the home, but I hadn't. I knew if I saw it, I would be more likely to be emotionally attached, and I didn't want to see a house unless it looked like we really were selling ours. However, this realtor offered to have some "investors" come look at our house if we did this, so I agreed to look at this house along with another house we had been interested in.

        We saw the houses in April. Both houses were great. The properties were completely different, but I could see myself living in either one. However, it was obvious that this particular property is the better one for our family.  So, we signed papers and pursued this house on contingency of the sale of our home. (We're pregnant!) (Not really! This is  part of the analogy....stick with me.....)

        Of course, April and May was mostly about our son's surgery and recovery. However, certain things lined up so that we could make an offer on this house without the contingency. It seemed like we were really going to buy this house (entering second trimester...) At one point, it looked as though the sellers were not going to let us purchase the home, but they had to because they signed the original contingency. It was very nerve-wracking, and could easily be related to worrying about a miscarriage!

        Finally, they agreed to our offer and the next phase of the process began--- inspections! We were a bit nervous going into the inspections and appraisal, knowing that if something major was wrong, the sale might not go through. (This was a lot like going to the dr for an ultrasound, wondering if something significant would be wrong and would the baby be healthy. This is particularly true after you've gone through an ultrasound of a miscarriage...... )

        Everything went well with inspections and the appraisal! We really are going to move to a new house.....(the baby is ok and healthy....) and now we wait and wait and wait. Preparations are made as we get closer and closer to the "due date." Instead of pulling out boxes of baby clothes and baby furniture, we pull out boxes and put everything in them. We are trying to make sure we have everything we need and we anticipate the house's future needs, our financial needs, etc.

         We wait and wait.... and now, we are in the countdown. Only 6 days until closing..... less than 2 weeks till we move in..... ...... I feel like I am anticipating both the day my labor begins AND the delivery date. Well, I have been in labor for over a week before, so that still holds true a bit. There will be hard work going through that final week, but that will be nothing compared to the day of delivery! Furniture delivery, that is!

          I can only anticipate that the transition afterwards will also be similar. It will take some time for the pain to go away. Time to get to know the character and charm of the new place. Paperwork will be in order as we change our address and order various utilities (birth certificate, social security number, insurance forms, etc.) We've already been offered a couple meals and I'm sure people will want to stop buy just to see the new place. Each member of our family will have to adjust to the changes that will take place. I'm sure afterwards, I will be able to relate very well to the process of bringing home a new baby (but, hey, without the nighttime feedings and diaper changing, so that is ok!)

Yes, I feel very much pregnant with a house!

        We are slowly but surely getting ready to move to our new house. Only 9 more days until we close on our new house! This is still a bit surreal for me, and there is a part of me that wants to say, "I'll believe it when I see it." This has been such a long journey, it seems.

       It has come in handy having a son working at the local grocery store. He brings me boxes for packing almost every day that he works. We have a huge stack of them filled and ready to go. I still don't have all my books packed. I have a LOT of books. I haven't even packed very much other stuff.... mostly just books and more books. We did get the clothes that are not in season packed into some plastic containers and I packed a few dishes. I also got quite a few toys packed away. It is hard to know what else to pack, though, because we are also still living here. I try to pick a closet or drawer, etc. to go through each day.

          Lately, I've been having a hard time with not feeling very well. I think it is allergy related. I am stirring up a lot of dust in this process. I wake up feeling tired. It is hard to push through some days. I also have something going on with my knees.... I think tendonitis. I could take ibuprofen everyday, but it also helps if I just remember to do my stretches that my chiropractor told me to do. If I forget, I can really tell a difference. It is frustrating because the more I sit around to rest my knees, the more tired I feel and the less I get done, but then, when I try to do more, my knees hurt bad and I get less done the next day. For the most part, though, I have been able to accomplish quite a bit in the last two weeks, so it isn't hampering me too much.

          Amazingly, everything seems to be going well with the sale of our current home. This is exciting, as we had made the difficult decision to buy our new home without selling the current one. The housing market has been so crazy, we didn't think it was going to happen this year. We thought maybe if we got out of the house, fixed it up a little more, then maybe it would sell. We also entertained the idea of renting it out, but I really struggled with prospect of maintaining TWO properties. I just didn't know if we could do it. After we bought our new home, I had a lot of anxiety about this.... more than I should've had, I guess.

        Then, just a couple weeks after buying our new home, our current home sold! We just had the home inspections and are now trying to prepare to move while also getting repairs done, but wow.... it looks like this is really happening...... and it worked out that we are going to close on our new home one full week before we close on our current home, so that means we have a week to get things moved to the new home. That is a nice luxury not everyone has, and very helpful with a larger-than-average family.

It's that time of year once again! Time for buying and selling curriculum.

I have quite a bit for sale, plus I am moving, so really need to get this stuff out of the way!

Here is a portion of what is available, email me directly at jamull@localline.com for the entire list!

Thanks!

A Child’s History of the World, by V.M. Hillyer—Sonlight—very good condition,         $12ppd---- SOLD

Adam of the Road, by Elizabeth Janet Gray, pb, good condition—Sonlight 6 Reader-- $5ppd

Alphaphonics: A Primer for Beginning Readers—by Samuel L. Blumenfeld—an             effective, step-by-step, intensive phonics program—Fair condition—The binding             came apart, so this book has been put in page protectors and a binder. Otherwise,        the pages are in good condition, $9ppd

Analogies 1 & 2—by Arthur Liebman--  Two student workbooks that teach problem    solving strategies, exercises for analysis, and vocabulary study; helps to prepare            for SAT, 7-12^th grade, both are in good condition, $8ppd for both books

And Then What Happened, Paul Revere, by Jean Fritz, pb, good condition, some wear on        cover—Sonlight 3 Reader-- $3ppd

Apologia Biology—Audio book—Mp3-CD-- $10ppd

Apologia Biology—includes textbook and solutions/test manual. In excellent condition.

            includes daily lesson plans-- $60ppd

Apologia Biology Multimedia Companion CD-- $10ppd

Apologia Lab set—includes dissecting tray, dissecting kit, blank slides with slide covers and dropper, box of prepared slides, and one unused disposable scalpel.  -- $70ppd (retails $106)

Apologia Biology—two frogs preserved and ready for dissection-- $12ppd

Apologia Biology—1 blood typing kit -- $6ppd

Purchase entire Apologia Biology kit for $165ppd

Well, we did get a signed agreement, anyway. We still have to wait until the buyer's finances are confirmed, the inspection is done, AND the appraisal. Needless to say, we are still sort of holding our breath. But, hey, after a year and a half of waiting for our house to sell, this is the closest we've gotten. Hopefully, it will, indeed, work out.

We close on our new house July 18. So far, everything has gone smoothly on that end. We still need the appraisal done, but that is all. It is still rather overwhelming at times when I think of all I need to do. I'm not a good "planner." Once I have a plan, I do pretty well with staying on it, but I really struggle to put a plan together. I see the whole picture, and struggle to break it down into manageable parts. Even when I can finally do that, I struggle to prioritize and find myself focused on things that are not so important, instead of working on those things that are imperative.

Somehow, I have to start packing.... but not everything... because we do still have to live here for the next four weeks. Oh, and I need to finish buying homeschool curriculum..... make a transcript for each of my high school boys...... figure out what we will be needing in the way of appliances and other miscellaneous items at our new house..... keep this house from falling apart while waiting for everything to go through with our buyer's finances, etc. And all this while caring for my children who are much better at destruction than they are at keeping a house intact.

So... you know... it's really boring.... nothing to do.....   LOL!

The Lord has been gentle with me through this process..... I have struggled so much with trusting Him that everything is going to work out. Of course, it still isn't over, but so far, He has shown me that He is paying attention to all the details. I don't feel worthy of such attention.

I know some are shaking their heads and saying that I should know I can trust Him. Others are amazed that I have trusted Him as well as I have. I felt bad at times that I couldn't make myself not be anxious.... but after we got our signed agreement last week, it dawned on me that if I had trusted so well, I truly would've missed some things in the process.

I don't mean that it would be better that I not trust-- of course, trusting is always better! But, in the struggle, He sees how much I am longing to be wholly His and knows how much my heart yearns for peace and settledness. In working out this process, He has taken care of details that only He and I knew about. He is showing me how much He cares and in the process dismantling my fears. He is gently restoring me, and I know He loves me for desiring more of Him. This is all part of the process and I am thankful for it. I wish I could trust more, but I am so glad to see the many ways He works to build my trust. He truly is the Author and Perfector of my faith.

        Fun day of shopping today..... I normally am not much of a shopper and don't usually enjoy it. I have difficulty with the arches in my feet and end up with a lot of leg and foot pain (and knees and back, etc.) I also don't have a lot of money to spend, so that also takes the fun out of it.

        Today was fun because I got to go shopping with my 7yod. It has been quite awhile since just the two of us went shopping together. Even when she was a toddler, she was a lot of fun to shop with. I think it must be in her blood or something. You wouldn't think a toddler barely more than a year old would be so excited about looking at clothing, but she always was. She had to touch every fabric. Now that she is older and we can have conversations, too, it is even more fun.

        One of the things I enjoy about spending time with Sarah is that she is so decidedly feminine. I think anyone who knows her would agree. The way she walks, talks, and observes the world is just so completely feminine. That shouldn't surprise me, I guess, but I find it so fascinating. She has four older brothers (as well as a younger one and also one younger sister.....) and I waited such a long time to see the difference.

        Today, we bought a bunch of household items first. Spent quite a bit, but shouldn't need to buy many of these things again for quite awhile. Then, we shopped for shoes and birthday presents. It took awhile, but we found some sandals for her that she liked. I tried on several pair, but my feet are very wide and I really struggle to find shoes that fit well.....esp at a place like Walmart. It was fun, though, watching her go through the different shoes, picking out ones that she thought I should try on..... listening to her comments on how the shoes looked on my feet. In the end, though, I decided to wait on shoes for me.

        We looked for birthday presents for her brother, Caleb, and her cousin, Ellie, who both have birthdays next month. Again, it was obvious that she is very perceptive of the things her brother likes. I was impressed with her suggestions. What really touched my heart, though, was listening to her choose a present for her cousin. She had received a gift card for Walmart for her own birthday back in March. She saved it this whole time so she could buy a present for her cousin whom she is very close to. I thought  perhaps she was going to spend maybe half or a little less on Ellie, but she had intended on using the entire card ($25) on her cousin. As it turned out, she found more than one present, but was also able to keep a little and even spent a little on herself.

         Later, we went to the self-checkout, thinking this would be easier since we had gift cards and only a few items. It was, of course, NOT easier! First, I could not seem to follow the directions. (Ok, so this has never been one of my strong suits! I always think I can just figure it out!) Just as the cashier started to come over to help me, my 7yo daughter explained to me how it worked. Had she done it before? No, she was reading the directions and watching the picture that explained the process. (And, I'm saying, "Picture? There's a picture?" )  LOL

        As it turned out, even after my daughter got me through the process, the card didn't work so we had to wait until the cashier could work out the problem. Whew! We took our merchandise out to the car for the second time, then went back inside .... (ever spend four hours at the SAME store?!?!?) We headed back again to the garden center this time. She helped me pick out flowers and had to read nearly every tag as she wanted to learn the names of the flowers. She picked out the red and orange marigolds as HER flowers to plant this year. We picked out several annuals and finally headed for home.

        It was precious to see her, when we arrived home, running to hug her younger brother and sister as though she hadn't seen them for weeks. She excitedly explained to Matthew that Mom bought him some Thomas the Tank Engine toothpaste and told Beth that she got a new Dora toothbrush. They were so excited with her that you would've thought those were the best presents ever.

        I'm starting to think that maybe I enjoy shopping more now than I used to.  

Never a dull moment around here!

First, I got a phone call today from the dentist office because I didn't show up to bring my daughter to get her fillings in her teeth. I thought the appointment was next Thursday, not today. Thankfully, I only live 10 minutes from the dentist's office, and managed to get her there in very quickly. She did great with the nitrous oxide and had no problems with the procedure. I, on the other hand, from the waiting room, had to grit my teeth every time I heard the drill sound. Ugh! Anyone else can't stand that sound? I can't even handle hearing it on tv.

Next, after I got home, I found out that the office of the plastic surgeon for our son called and scheduled him for a CT scan. He's been having some pain in his nose where he had his reconstruction. My dh called to let the dr.'s nurse know, and she scheduled the appointment and emailed the dr. who is out of town. Apparently, the dr. ordered the ct scan on his Blackberry from out of town, which the nurses implied is rather rare.... so I guess he is really concerned.

For the most part, Nathan seems fine except for the pain which he handles well and occasional nosebleeds. He says he feels like he just has a cold except for the pressure in the bridge of his nose. Hopefully, if there is a problem we will be catching it early... he doesn't have any other signs of infection, so I am not too worried yet. It is important that he doesn't get a full-blown infection, from my understanding, because that would mean more surgery! We certainly don't want that.

And last, but not least, our most exciting event today--- Bethany went poo-poo in the potty! Yea!

This is her first attempt of any kind in the potty and it was successful. We are anxiously looking forward to having her trained soon, as Matthew was only trained about 5 months ago. Thankfully, every time the Lord has given me a child who was difficult to train, He has also given me an easier child to train right after that.

"This is the day that the LORD has made, let us be glad and rejoice in it!"