House stuff

Someday I am going to look back at this time in my blogging existence and be really annoyed that I didn't take and share more pictures. I do have some, but the camera hasn't gotten much love these days, and I have no idea where the card reader is. I have a habit of doing a last minute "clean" before we have a showing, and that cleaning consists of me throwing whatever clutter happens to be around into a Rubbermaid tub that then gets shoved in a closet. There are a lot of missing items that I am sure will someday be unearthed in a Rubbermaid tub.

So I haven't said anything because I really didn't want to jinx it. I still don't want to jinx it, and yet, here I go sharing....

We have accepted an offer on our house. The home inspection is complete, with only a few small known issues that we are going to take care of. No termites. We find out about Radon tomorrow, and all of the wheels are in motion for us to be out of this house on April 23rd. A date chosen by the buyer.

In the meantime, we have a lot. We will close on the lot on March 31st, and construction will begin April 1. We picked out a plan, and we are working on finalizing the details and getting a final price and contract in place.

Saturday morning Cory and I are going to look at an apartment that we would be able to lease on a short term basis (6 months, beginning in April). The apartment is 3 bedrooms and has a two car garage, so really, we aren't going to lose very much space, but we also aren't going to lose much of the monthly cost of living either. Though, given the short term nature of our needs, and the fact that it has three bedrooms, and that our dog is allowed to live with us makes that worth it. We will have a place for the summer that actually fits our family, and we will save money on not having to purchase more storage. Provided we get this lease, which I think we will.

So many blessings and so much good news makes me feel very fortunate, and also makes me worry about what bad thing is going to knock me to my knees. For now, I am basking in the good, and hoping that everything works as it should. September should find us all moved into our new forever (hopefully!) home.

About 6 years ago when I was newly graduated from college I started my first "real job" as a telephone customer service representative. For my job I interacted with elderly people on the phone, who were generally having a hardship that caused them to need help. One day I took a call from a woman who was at the end of her rope. I can not remember what her issue was, I just remember spending a lot of time trying to convince her that things would be ok. The most memorable part of the call was the very end. I had defused her anxiety enough that she was calm, and had a plan. She thanked me for helping her and then she asked me what my name was. I told her my first name and she reacted in shock. She told me that her daughter, who had been a powerful supporter for her but had passed away was named Tricia. She said that our conversation, and my care for her was a sign from her daughter, and she was happy.

"I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me" Philippians 4:13

I was reminded in church this last week of this verse, and of the importance of remembering that in everything I do, I am representing my faith. All my accomplishments are a testament to God, and all of my hardships represent an opportunity to show the strength and resilience that I possess because of my faith. And sometimes, through no choice of my own, I am doing God's work, so it is important to do it well and to realize that the lord is at work in all of us if we allow him.

Cory did take Thea's 11 month picture, and I will post it as soon as I can get up the ambition.  Right now I am just reminding myself of my new shoes post and keeping my mouth shut.  I have had an upsetting couple of weeks and I am just trying to grow a thicker skin and some extra patience.

Roseanne

Last Thursday I was sitting at my desk when one of the frequent Hancher emails popped into my inbox.  On this day I decided to scan it before sending to my trash can, and the name Roseanne Cash caught my eye.  I am not really "in to" music of any kind myself.  I listen to lots of different things, but I haven't been to a concert in years and it generally isn't something that appeals to me enough to be worth the cost, but...my mom LOVES Roseanne Cash.  So we bought 5 of the very last tickets available to a show that was held last night, and my mom, my sisters and I had dinner and an evening with Roseanne Cash's list.

When the lights went down and Roseanne Cash graced the stage with her presence and then her strong and beautiful voice, I was swept back in time.  I felt myself sitting on the gold carpet of the house in Tabor in front of mom's prized stereo.  Roseanne started right in with songs from her latest album, "The list" which consists of 12 of the 100 essential country songs that her father had mandated that she learn, in order to know her musical genealogy.  The songs weren't familiar, but the sound of her voice felt like a warm memory of a time when my own mom was teaching us the love of music.

The entire evening felt like a reunion with my childhood, a reunion with my family as I sat in line with the women who most influence me, and the love between Roseanne and her father permeated the air in the small theater.  After several songs from "The List"  Roseanne stopped to talk about her own daughter, and wondered if she were ever to make a list for her future child, would she include any of her mother's songs?  With that, the familiar tune to "Seven Year Ache" began to play and once again, the overwhelming memories of singing and dancing to that very song with my mom in our little farm house in Tabor came over me.

There is something so surreal about sitting at a concert with your grown sisters and mother, who is now a grandmother; listening to a performer pour out her heart and soul into a performance inspired by her own father.  The memories, the love, the legacy.  An amazing night.

 

This picture projected over the stage while Roseanne performed her final song of he night displayed the loving tutelage between Roseanne Cash and her father. That song was written by Porter Wagner and is titled, A Satisfied Mind.

How many times have you heard someone say

If I had his money I would do things my way
But little they know that it's so hard to find
One rich man in ten with a satisfied mind

Once I was winning in fortune and fame
Everything that I dreamed for to get a start in life's game
Then suddenly it happened I lost every dime
But I'm richer by far with a satisfied mind

Money can't buy back your youth when you're old
Or a friend when you're lonely or a love that's grown cold
The wealthiest person is a pauper at times
Compared to a man with a satisfied mind

When life has ended my time has run out
My friends and my loved ones I'll leave there's no doubt
But there's one thing for certain when it comes my time
I'll leave this old world with a satisfied mind.

Tonight I held my baby girl Thea on my hip and danced in the kitchen like my Mom used to do while Roseanne Cash sang Tennessee Flat Top Box over my laptop speakers, a song written by Johnny Cash; and for a few minutes I didn't have a worry in the world, but a satisfied mind. 

New Shoes

“I cried because I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet"

This saying popped into my head this morning.  When I was in college I had a little book that I had filled with quotes that I had read or heard that really resonated with me.  If I remember correctly, this quote graced the first page of that book.  At that time I was going through a rough spot. I am not really sure why, probably just the last bit of teen-aged angst showing its face. I had to remind myself all the time that as much as I wanted to complain about my mediocre grades and my lack of funds or clear direction in my life, I really had no right to complain. 

I have found that that attitude is a double edged sword. Sure, it is great to keep things in perspective and count your blessings. But sometimes, no matter how many blessings you have, counting them doesn't do much to make you feel better about life, and that is doubly depressing.

Jealousy and longing are really ugly traits, and I am feeling fugly these days. I wanted to speak to my attitude for just a moment, and to say that if all of my updates are quick family status reports or pictures of my beautiful girls for a while, I am just following that the universal rule, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

Our first parent/teacher conference

Love A Lot has a system of evaluation, where both Cory and I, and Leila's teacher fill out an evaluation form about Leila and her development and behavior.  Now that Leila is in pre-school, we had our first sit down discussion about Leila, and the differences in the way that we had scored her.
Cory wasn't able to make it because Thea was home with her first fever on Thursday, so I represented for both of us.
Overall, we both agreed that Leila is a very smart little girl.  She has an awesome vocabulary and she is capable of carrying on very adult conversations. She has been this way for some time, and I really appreciate that about her.  One other major area of agreement...girlfriend is STUBBORN.
A couple of things that I got to hear from Krystal that I didn't already know about Leila was that she does her own thing, she doesn't have a "best friend" at school, but can be found playing with any and all of the kids in the class at different times, and is also happy to play by herself if no one else is interested in her activity of choice.  This made me really happy.  I don't want my kid to be a loner, but I do really want her to be confident and happy without needing to feel accepted and validated by those around her.  Of course, she is just nearing the 4 year mark and lots can change over the years.  I am sure that we will have tough times, because lets face it...kids are assholes to each other.  I just really hope that my kid isn't often the ass hole, and is confident enough to not let other kids get her down.
The other thing that I honestly have worried about, and had my fears put to rest (somewhat) by my conference with Krystal, is that the teachers at Love A Lot view Leila as a compassionate kid.  She watches out for the other kid's feelings.  When another kid is building a tower, Leila will cheer them on and would never dream of knocking it over.  In my experiences with Leila, this isn't really true.  She isn't the nicest to Sawyer and to Thea.  I wouldn't call her compassionate, and it has caused me a lot of concern.  It is nice to know that she does display that behavior at school.  I wonder if it has to do with the fact that she spends a lot of time with younger kids outside of school, I can see that it might be harder to be nice to a baby that doesn't reciprocate that same courtesy.  At least that is what I am going to tell myself.
So there you have it, Leila is smart, friendly, independent and compassionate.  Does it get any better than that?

Swimming lessons!

Cory is such a trooper...he swam with Thea while I watched Leila from the deck.  The idea of wearing a swimming suit makes me want to cry.

Leila leading the charge into the pool! I am so proud of how brave and agreeable she is about swim lessons.  She is a leader and shows the other kids that it's ok to get your hair wet!.

 

Look at those chunky thighs! I had two other mom's come up to me at swim lessons to ask if that was my baby and both commented that she was so adorable and chunky, which she is!

Thea loved swimming lessons!

This picture is zoomed, which my camera doesn't do very well, but she looked so cute holding that little ball! 

Sorry for the lack of Leila pictures.  It was hard to get her without the teacher and the other kids.