Just a quick post to let you know that we made it and so did all our stuff. The drive was a wonderful adventure, our new home is beautiful, and we are working on settling in nicely.
And as of yesterday we have internet, phone, and cable (not an essential, but watching NHL playoff hockey is a wonderful treat!). I will now get all your comments in my email, and if you go to my profile and click to email me, you will be able to.
We are spending the weekend doing more unpacking, playing, and trying out a new church.
I will be back with the details of our move next week.
Before I go, I am thrilled and thankful to report that while the moving truck was loading up we accepted an offer on our house, and this one seems to be sticking nicely.
Have a great weekend!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Gone Fishing
Well, not really, but it sounds like fun!
It was a crazy busy weekend with many people coming to see our home. It felt like we no sooner got home and we had to leave. Between the two days we had 5 people come during baby's nap time knowing they could not see her room!
The bad news was that we did not get everything packed for the car on the weekend, but we are getting it done tonight.
Then there is the good news.... We have at least 2 offers to review with our agent tomorrow.
The packers were here today and it was a mad house of packing creativity...once they arrived at 1PM. They are almost done and will finish packing tomorrow morning and we should be on the road by 4ish.
It is an exciting adventure, and I will be back around here once we take care of the necessities like taking delivery of our stuff at the other end and setting up internet...probably the first week of May.
Blessings to you!
It was a crazy busy weekend with many people coming to see our home. It felt like we no sooner got home and we had to leave. Between the two days we had 5 people come during baby's nap time knowing they could not see her room!
The bad news was that we did not get everything packed for the car on the weekend, but we are getting it done tonight.
Then there is the good news.... We have at least 2 offers to review with our agent tomorrow.
The packers were here today and it was a mad house of packing creativity...once they arrived at 1PM. They are almost done and will finish packing tomorrow morning and we should be on the road by 4ish.
It is an exciting adventure, and I will be back around here once we take care of the necessities like taking delivery of our stuff at the other end and setting up internet...probably the first week of May.
Blessings to you!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Email changes
My email for the blog is being turned off, but I don't have a new one yet...will let you know when it is connected. Unfortunately that has been how I read all my comments! So please understand if I miss one or two!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Children's Hospitals' Child Life Programs
Tonight I was interviewed on tape about our experience with the Children's Hospital and the network of doctors. Our story is a long and varied one, and it is a great story! The Lord healed our girls, and He use the hospital and doctors to do it.
As we were preparing and then talking after I was struck again by how incredibly grateful they were for our help, which was not a huge deal to us. We told them our story and gave them permission to use it. For us it was a way to say thanks.
Like a lot of hospitals and charities, Children's Hospitals feel the effect of the economy just like the rest, but their little patients don't stop getting sick.
This is not a request to ask you to write a check to your children's hospital, so don't click away! (Although if you can and would like to, I assure you that even the smallest donation makes a difference).
It got me to thinking, Children's Hospitals have Child Life departments, and they have unusual needs for hospitals. They use things like character band-aids, box after box of crayons, coloring books, Play-doh and small toys. Once these things are given to a patient and are opened they cannot be reused for fear of sharing germs between patients, so you can just imagine the need!
I am reading all over the blogosphere about people decluttering, and I might have an idea of what you could do with some of that stuff.
If you have new little toys in your gift box/shelf/closet you are clearing out, or fresh boxes of crayons that need a home because you got too enthusiastic at the back to school sales that is the kind of donations they can use. Your Children's Hospital can help you understand what kinds of items they need the most and can accept. (Because of the germ issue the items do have to be new, and unused.)
The Child Life team made Miss Pear's stay at the hospital something fun. It went from something to be endured to "the cruise for children that doesn't go anywhere." (to quote my husband). Little things like this make a tremendous difference to their little patients, and most people don't know about this need.
So please spread the word...your Children's Hospital will think you are a hero!
P.S. Most Child Life departments will also accept gift cards to places like Target, Amazon etc. so they can fill the gaps in their toy chests...just in case you had a garage sale to get rid of your clutter and want to share! :-)
As we were preparing and then talking after I was struck again by how incredibly grateful they were for our help, which was not a huge deal to us. We told them our story and gave them permission to use it. For us it was a way to say thanks.
Like a lot of hospitals and charities, Children's Hospitals feel the effect of the economy just like the rest, but their little patients don't stop getting sick.
This is not a request to ask you to write a check to your children's hospital, so don't click away! (Although if you can and would like to, I assure you that even the smallest donation makes a difference).
It got me to thinking, Children's Hospitals have Child Life departments, and they have unusual needs for hospitals. They use things like character band-aids, box after box of crayons, coloring books, Play-doh and small toys. Once these things are given to a patient and are opened they cannot be reused for fear of sharing germs between patients, so you can just imagine the need!
I am reading all over the blogosphere about people decluttering, and I might have an idea of what you could do with some of that stuff.
If you have new little toys in your gift box/shelf/closet you are clearing out, or fresh boxes of crayons that need a home because you got too enthusiastic at the back to school sales that is the kind of donations they can use. Your Children's Hospital can help you understand what kinds of items they need the most and can accept. (Because of the germ issue the items do have to be new, and unused.)
The Child Life team made Miss Pear's stay at the hospital something fun. It went from something to be endured to "the cruise for children that doesn't go anywhere." (to quote my husband). Little things like this make a tremendous difference to their little patients, and most people don't know about this need.
So please spread the word...your Children's Hospital will think you are a hero!
P.S. Most Child Life departments will also accept gift cards to places like Target, Amazon etc. so they can fill the gaps in their toy chests...just in case you had a garage sale to get rid of your clutter and want to share! :-)
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Thursday Night Update
Good evening, I though I would pop in and give you the latest.
We found out this morning that we got the rental place! It was actually our second choice, but thinking about it more it appears it should have been our first choice. So when the place that turned us down called to see if we were interested we could easily say no.
I had a dentist appointment today for a cleaning and 2 fillings and officially maxed out our dental coverage that expires this month - such good timing! Now I will have new dental coverage to use!
We had supper with friends and it was great. I will miss them tremendously.
Our house is showing lots, and we have heard talk of offers, but nothing on paper yet. But that is okay, I am trusting God in this, and He has never let us down! Led us on the scenic route, yes! Let us down, never!
Thanks for all the encouraging comments, they helped tremendously!!!
Calling it a night, I can barely hold my eyes open...and it is not even 8:30!
We found out this morning that we got the rental place! It was actually our second choice, but thinking about it more it appears it should have been our first choice. So when the place that turned us down called to see if we were interested we could easily say no.
I had a dentist appointment today for a cleaning and 2 fillings and officially maxed out our dental coverage that expires this month - such good timing! Now I will have new dental coverage to use!
We had supper with friends and it was great. I will miss them tremendously.
Our house is showing lots, and we have heard talk of offers, but nothing on paper yet. But that is okay, I am trusting God in this, and He has never let us down! Led us on the scenic route, yes! Let us down, never!
Thanks for all the encouraging comments, they helped tremendously!!!
Calling it a night, I can barely hold my eyes open...and it is not even 8:30!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Should have stayed in bed....
Yup, it was truly one of those days.
We found out yesterday that the offer on our house fell through, actually the buyers just backed out. As much as they raved about the house and fruit trees I guess it was not true after all.
The back up offer was a joke because they did not actually have the down payment money, it was to be gifted by a relative who in turn used the money to pay his taxes instead. So without down payment money in hand they were making offers. That just sounds kind of dishonest to me. And they stayed so long last night when they came for a "quick peak" that I ended up having to feed mu children in the car. I was a bit annoyed.
So now we are back on the market.
At least the termite inspection came in clear.
And then my husband found a great rental home for us up where we are moving to. And after a couple months with no activity another family made an offer the same day we did, and they were accepted.
We are a bit discouraged.
But here is what I know. God is fully in control, completely sovereign, and always good.
We found out yesterday that the offer on our house fell through, actually the buyers just backed out. As much as they raved about the house and fruit trees I guess it was not true after all.
The back up offer was a joke because they did not actually have the down payment money, it was to be gifted by a relative who in turn used the money to pay his taxes instead. So without down payment money in hand they were making offers. That just sounds kind of dishonest to me. And they stayed so long last night when they came for a "quick peak" that I ended up having to feed mu children in the car. I was a bit annoyed.
So now we are back on the market.
At least the termite inspection came in clear.
And then my husband found a great rental home for us up where we are moving to. And after a couple months with no activity another family made an offer the same day we did, and they were accepted.
We are a bit discouraged.
But here is what I know. God is fully in control, completely sovereign, and always good.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Car Emergency Kit Update
I am ALMOST finished the emergency car kit that I started working on when it was clear we were moving away from Southern California and were going to have a long car trip somewhere!
So here is where we were at:
When I posted originally I had the following in the car:
I still need to add:
Next up is preparing a first aid kit for the house. I have a list put together by a nurse whose husband is a police officer to work from, so that ought to be perfect!
So here is where we were at:
When I posted originally I had the following in the car:
- jumper cables
- highway flares
- air compressor (tires, children's toys, check tire pressure)
- flashlight
- jacket
- blanket
- wet wipes
- anti-bac wipes
- wipes and change pad
- jack knife
- New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs
- Pen and paper
- At least $15 in quarters plus other assorted change
- umbrella (one of those little folding ones)
- diapers
- kleenex (spare box plus a sample pack)
- Cottonelle flushable wipes
- Feminine supplies (pads also to double for first aid needs)
- roll of toilet paper
- 5 bottles of water
- Nutrigrain bars for high energy snacks that are peanut free
- Fleece blanket for each girl (they are the receiving blanket size, just big enough to cover up with when in car seats
- AAA 121-Piece Road Trip First Aid Kit
(I did add in children's character band-aids as they make life so much easier)
- Box of quart sized freezer bags with zip tops for smelly diapers and other assorted things
- extra underwear for Miss Pear
I still need to add:
- Spare batteries for the flashlight - need to check if we have these
- Single serve Children's Benedryl "Perfect Measure"
Next up is preparing a first aid kit for the house. I have a list put together by a nurse whose husband is a police officer to work from, so that ought to be perfect!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Multitude Monday 13
It has been a while since I posted for Multitude Monday, and it most certainly is not for lack of material or an ungrateful heart, it has been for lack of time to be still and reflective as well as on the computer at the same time!
119. My girls are healthy, and each day they get stronger. A miracle! Every day a miracle.
120. We were able to help the Children's Hospital where our girls were treated by being interviewed for their donor letter. Each direct mail piece raises between $125,ooo and $250,ooo. We are able to help make a difference.
121. The Children's Hospital here is helping us find the specialists we need at the Children's Hospital we are moving near.
122. The Children's Hospital we are moving near is an excellent hospital. While I pray that our girls health problems are behind them, should they need care it will be excellent, and they will have great doctors for their continued follow up care.
123. We sold our home. The first day on the market we got an offer, the second day on the market we got a second offer late that night, and the third day on the market we signed the second offer. We opened escrow this past Friday.
124. We have had wonderful neighbors here who we love dearly.
125. The new people buying our home already love it and the fruit trees we so carefully planted and loved.
126. Our neighbors have all agreed to lie to us if the new owners of our home pull out the fruit trees! :-) Yes, it would make me very sad if they did, but it truly sounds like they love them.
127. My wonderful husband is looking for a home for us to rent for a year so we have time to learn the area before we buy a new home. He has spent hours and hours researching and making calls. Now he is up there looking for us while I have the luxury of staying home with the girls, confident that he will find a great home for us.
128. The Lord blessed me with a husband who loves his family and takes wonderful care of us.
129. The Lord has provided abundantly in ways I could not see at the time during our time in Southern California.
130. The Lord is good, always.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Books, Books, Books
Quick prayer request for the move. The sheer volume of books in our house is driving up the move cost estimate!
Please pray that the weight estimate would be over-estimated and that we would be able to sort through books pulling out the ones we really will not read again or use again.
A silly request, I know, but this is important to my husband so I am going to do what I can.
Please pray that the weight estimate would be over-estimated and that we would be able to sort through books pulling out the ones we really will not read again or use again.
A silly request, I know, but this is important to my husband so I am going to do what I can.
Middle of the Miracle
Things are rolling right along here, we listed our house so it was visible Tuesday morning, we got an offer that night and an offer last night, so we are accepting an offer tonight that is so good we are not even counter-offering, we are just saying thank you. To both the buyers and to God.
The way this whole move things is working out our crazy ambitious schedule is actually working, and I think the key reason it is working is because we have seriously prayed about it and think we are doing what God wants us to do. Because it is pretty clear to us we are supposed to move north we laid out a schedule of what we would have to do to move there in time for my husband to start is new job the last week of this month so that our health care did not lapse! And if you have been reading around here very long you know that is very important right now. As crazy as the schedule looked, it is working, and that is only by the grace of God.
Just want to be clear who gets the credit here! It has been incredible to see how God has cleared this path for us.
And I am grateful like you would not believe to be selling the house this fast because it is exhausting having it on the market! How did I do this last time for 8 months? (Oh yeah, God helped me!)
So all is going well, and things are moving right along. Just wanted to let you know the fun and miraculous latest!
The way this whole move things is working out our crazy ambitious schedule is actually working, and I think the key reason it is working is because we have seriously prayed about it and think we are doing what God wants us to do. Because it is pretty clear to us we are supposed to move north we laid out a schedule of what we would have to do to move there in time for my husband to start is new job the last week of this month so that our health care did not lapse! And if you have been reading around here very long you know that is very important right now. As crazy as the schedule looked, it is working, and that is only by the grace of God.
Just want to be clear who gets the credit here! It has been incredible to see how God has cleared this path for us.
And I am grateful like you would not believe to be selling the house this fast because it is exhausting having it on the market! How did I do this last time for 8 months? (Oh yeah, God helped me!)
So all is going well, and things are moving right along. Just wanted to let you know the fun and miraculous latest!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Home for Sale
The "For Sale" sign went up on our lawn this morning with the MLS listing being visible for the first time this morning as well. And we had 5 showings.
It was gratifying to have 5 showings after all the work we did the past week to get ready! With all the craziness of life some things had fallen behind, and some things were just never done despite the good intentions until all of a sudden we were moving! Although I did notice that all our pictures are crooked after the earthquake in Mexicali on Sunday, so that will be a project for tomorrow (along with mopping the floors and dusting the corners of the house!)
It is sad to think of leaving this great little house and all our fruit trees, but we know it is God's plan for us so we are praying that the family who buys our house will love it as much as we did and love all the fruit trees! (We are also praying that it would sell fast and for a great price.)
It was gratifying to have 5 showings after all the work we did the past week to get ready! With all the craziness of life some things had fallen behind, and some things were just never done despite the good intentions until all of a sudden we were moving! Although I did notice that all our pictures are crooked after the earthquake in Mexicali on Sunday, so that will be a project for tomorrow (along with mopping the floors and dusting the corners of the house!)
It is sad to think of leaving this great little house and all our fruit trees, but we know it is God's plan for us so we are praying that the family who buys our house will love it as much as we did and love all the fruit trees! (We are also praying that it would sell fast and for a great price.)
Monday, April 5, 2010
School Mascot
Note to self: Never ask Miss Pear what our school mascot should be after she has been given a Zhu Zhu pet for Easter. If you do, she will suggest hamsters.
You will suggest something more ferocious.
She will suggest the obvious: the ferocious hamsters.
You will laugh so hard you cannot talk and she will take that as agreement and you will have the school mascot of ferocious hamsters.
The ferocious hamsters will be named Nugget and Winkie.
You will suggest something more ferocious.
She will suggest the obvious: the ferocious hamsters.
You will laugh so hard you cannot talk and she will take that as agreement and you will have the school mascot of ferocious hamsters.
The ferocious hamsters will be named Nugget and Winkie.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Black Bean Fajitas
We had black bean fajitas for supper tonight - with cheese of course. The only substitution I made was fresh peppers and onions, and to warm the bean mixture.
It was very good!
It was very good!
Our God is AMAZING!
No, this is not a Good Friday / Easter post.
This is just because God is amazing. The way He cares for the details of our lives is incredible. Actually, incredible is not a strong enough word, but I cannot thing of one that is.
This morning as we were finishing morning reading time the phone rang. A friend of ours calling to see if we would like her to play with the girls while I worked on a project that needed to be done. Turns out my husband has today off, and we needed to paint some trim on the house. So he painted, I held the ladder (our yard is sloped), and the girls played happily! Totally a God thing the way that worked out.
The moving company called and did not freak out when I gave them my "ideal" dates for everything. They will be here Monday for a walk through/survey...right before the real estate agents arrive to do what is necessary to list our house.
Mr. Pear's trip up North to find us a place to live is all scheduled with the ideal dates and times.
Our neighbors who sold their house moved out today and the new people are moving in Mondayish so there will not be a vacant house next to us. They said the first day they listed their house they had 15 showings. I nearly fainted.
We will be playing at our other neighbors on Tuesday morning - she promised me cake. I am bribe-able that way.
There is a church in our denomination up there whose pastor gets a high seal of approval from my friend, and the pastors parents go to our church!
God is confirming in many ways that we are following the path He has for us. In our lives He has always used "coincidences" to encourage us and confirm things. Such a blessing to have that confidence!
Now I must go clean something....
This is just because God is amazing. The way He cares for the details of our lives is incredible. Actually, incredible is not a strong enough word, but I cannot thing of one that is.
This morning as we were finishing morning reading time the phone rang. A friend of ours calling to see if we would like her to play with the girls while I worked on a project that needed to be done. Turns out my husband has today off, and we needed to paint some trim on the house. So he painted, I held the ladder (our yard is sloped), and the girls played happily! Totally a God thing the way that worked out.
The moving company called and did not freak out when I gave them my "ideal" dates for everything. They will be here Monday for a walk through/survey...right before the real estate agents arrive to do what is necessary to list our house.
Mr. Pear's trip up North to find us a place to live is all scheduled with the ideal dates and times.
Our neighbors who sold their house moved out today and the new people are moving in Mondayish so there will not be a vacant house next to us. They said the first day they listed their house they had 15 showings. I nearly fainted.
We will be playing at our other neighbors on Tuesday morning - she promised me cake. I am bribe-able that way.
There is a church in our denomination up there whose pastor gets a high seal of approval from my friend, and the pastors parents go to our church!
God is confirming in many ways that we are following the path He has for us. In our lives He has always used "coincidences" to encourage us and confirm things. Such a blessing to have that confidence!
Now I must go clean something....
Thursday, April 1, 2010
What do you think?
A couple I hardly know are getting married in our church, and the church women are having a shower for her. They are not done registering yet, and what they have registered for is either outside my budget ($25) or I just cannot bring myself to select as it is so boringly practical (not cute practical or fun practical, think wire shoe rack).
To say my shopping creativity is strained would be an understatement.
So do you have any ideas? What would you get? Should I just give up and find out who is doing the group gift and give them money?
To say my shopping creativity is strained would be an understatement.
So do you have any ideas? What would you get? Should I just give up and find out who is doing the group gift and give them money?
thinking out loud
Do you know that in 4 weeks we will have moved?
My brain shudders at the thought! Especially considering that all the girls are sick in our house right now, including me! Just for fun you see because we like to make things complicated that way!
The new company has contacted the movers to schedule an appointment with us to pack up and move us. Mr. Pear is looking into flights to fly up and look for a new home for us - and in the time frame we are talking about we are thinking about renting for a while so that we can figure out the area and not be forced into buying the first decent thing we see. (Plus, looking at the prices and what you get I saw a gorgeous home in our price range I would not mind renting for a year!) And we are getting our house ready to be on the market on Monday.
So not much going on.
Easter weekend will be interesting, plus a friend is spending Easter Sunday with us. Should be great. Crazy, but great.
Happy Easter.
My brain shudders at the thought! Especially considering that all the girls are sick in our house right now, including me! Just for fun you see because we like to make things complicated that way!
The new company has contacted the movers to schedule an appointment with us to pack up and move us. Mr. Pear is looking into flights to fly up and look for a new home for us - and in the time frame we are talking about we are thinking about renting for a while so that we can figure out the area and not be forced into buying the first decent thing we see. (Plus, looking at the prices and what you get I saw a gorgeous home in our price range I would not mind renting for a year!) And we are getting our house ready to be on the market on Monday.
So not much going on.
Easter weekend will be interesting, plus a friend is spending Easter Sunday with us. Should be great. Crazy, but great.
Happy Easter.
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