Well, we had 2 showings on Sunday, which was encouraging. 2 showings in one day! Be still my heart! Then we got the following feedback today.
Family #1 - they saw 10 properties and narrowed their search down to 4, our house was not among them. Why? Not a big enough yard. Ok well, that's not something I can change, sorry!
Family #2 - our house was #2 on their list with their #1 house around the corner priced $3K over ours. But that doesn't matter because they plan to lo ball the other house and our house is their back up plan. But then that means if it comes to it they will lo ball us too I suspect. The other house does show well online, and it does have granite in the kitchen. But, it does NOT have a finished basement! How much more could you do with an extra 300 ft^2 of space? Yep pretty sure that is more important than granite. Guess we'll see what happens. But that house is vacant, so I will bet they will play "Let's Make a Deal" and it will never come to us to get to play.
I was so hopeful! Jeff is going back to OH on Wednesday through next Monday to go with a friend to a race Friday - Sunday. On Thursday he is going to have a garage sale to get rid of some big items we are not going to move including a 42'' TV, kitchen table, wood picnic table, Little Tikes swing set, washer, dryer, and stove. Sure hope they bring in big bucks! So, seems like it'd be perfect if he had to cancel his return flight in order to get a moving truck, pack it all up, and drive it home. And since the ticket is with Southwest, he'd even be able to reuse the amount toward another ticket later.
Okay, so this is my new perfect plan. Someone needs to make us an offer that we can agree upon by Sunday night 8/24. Do you people hear me? This is the plan, please get with the program and let us get moved on!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Another Niece/Nephew
Last year was the year of the baby... I mean I have 5 sisters-in-law and 1 sister. Last year (from June - February) 4 of my sisters-in-law (all of them on Jeff's side) gave birth to a baby. Just found out that the 5th of my sisters-in-law (my brother's wife) is now pregnant. So, 6 months, count 'em, and another one is pregnant!
As for my sister, ... well they are done if you know what I mean :).
Me? Well, we're not really sure where we stand on that at the moment. Jeff kind of feels like our family is complete, but I'm not so sure. What I do know is that even though I'd love 2 more (have one and adopt one) I can probably only convince him to do one or the other (if even that :) ). So if I have to choose (or get to I should say) I'd say I'd rather adopt.
Adoption is the heart of God, I think. That God can take a child born not of my body and create such a love in my heart for that child and that child for me is nothing short of a miracle. It gives me just a taste of how much He must love me. That I, His child through adoption into His family can have such a Father! Wow! I am really just not sure how anyone chooses not to adopt!
So, as far as our family. We're staying 4 for now... we've a lot on our plates right now anyway. What with having 2 house and not living in either one, Jeff still not in a permanent job, me starting a new job, the kids starting daycare, Abi starting 1st grade, well I'm not sure we need any more excitement at the moment. But in a year... who knows :) ?
As for my sister, ... well they are done if you know what I mean :).
Me? Well, we're not really sure where we stand on that at the moment. Jeff kind of feels like our family is complete, but I'm not so sure. What I do know is that even though I'd love 2 more (have one and adopt one) I can probably only convince him to do one or the other (if even that :) ). So if I have to choose (or get to I should say) I'd say I'd rather adopt.
Adoption is the heart of God, I think. That God can take a child born not of my body and create such a love in my heart for that child and that child for me is nothing short of a miracle. It gives me just a taste of how much He must love me. That I, His child through adoption into His family can have such a Father! Wow! I am really just not sure how anyone chooses not to adopt!
So, as far as our family. We're staying 4 for now... we've a lot on our plates right now anyway. What with having 2 house and not living in either one, Jeff still not in a permanent job, me starting a new job, the kids starting daycare, Abi starting 1st grade, well I'm not sure we need any more excitement at the moment. But in a year... who knows :) ?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Last Days of Summer
Well, next week starts the new adventures of real life here in Oklahoma.
I have meetings starting on Monday and Abi starts school on Wednesday. Both kids will start day care on Monday as well. And Abi starts Dance on Tuesday.
Oh, and just for fun I should throw in that Jeff is going back to Ohio on Wednesday (til Sunday) to go to a Nascar race with a friend of his. That should really make my week easier (NOT!).
What about the OH house you ask? Still not sold. And we lowered the price another $5K yesterday.
What about the OK house? Well it's getting closer, I think.
What about a job for Jeff. Still have some irons in the fire, but no interviews or anything lined up. But there might be some temp work that pays well.
So what have I been doing this last week of summer you ask? Well, so far we have gone to White Water (a water park) twice and Frontier City (an amusement park) once. I had a meeting on Tuesday at my new school and have another one on Friday. Tomorrow I plan to take the kids to the Splash Pad and to see Shrek Forever at the dollar theaters. Yep, we are making the most out of this last week of summer.
I have meetings starting on Monday and Abi starts school on Wednesday. Both kids will start day care on Monday as well. And Abi starts Dance on Tuesday.
Oh, and just for fun I should throw in that Jeff is going back to Ohio on Wednesday (til Sunday) to go to a Nascar race with a friend of his. That should really make my week easier (NOT!).
What about the OH house you ask? Still not sold. And we lowered the price another $5K yesterday.
What about the OK house? Well it's getting closer, I think.
What about a job for Jeff. Still have some irons in the fire, but no interviews or anything lined up. But there might be some temp work that pays well.
So what have I been doing this last week of summer you ask? Well, so far we have gone to White Water (a water park) twice and Frontier City (an amusement park) once. I had a meeting on Tuesday at my new school and have another one on Friday. Tomorrow I plan to take the kids to the Splash Pad and to see Shrek Forever at the dollar theaters. Yep, we are making the most out of this last week of summer.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
More Frustrations
Well even though we had two showing this week, they were unsuccessful showings, with little feedback other than that the second family wanted a bigger yard. Sorry that's not something within my power to change. So, that's a bummer.
The bigger bummer though was what happened with the job interview we thought Jeff had. OK so let's back up a little. In early July when we first moved back here we thought Jeff might have better luck getting interviews if we had an Oklahoma phone number (as opposed to a clearly long-distance one). However, we were reluctant to give up our Ohio numbers because Jeff still had a few job applications "out there" that had the Ohio number on them. So, we decided to get a go-phone.
Now back up to this Wednesday. Jeff was out of the house and I heard the go-phone ringing. When it finished I checked the Voice Mails. There was one on there from a school district that Jeff had applied to. This was THE job, the only one out there with this new phone number on the application. Jeff had set up an account with the employer and had both his OK go-phone number and is OH number on the account. I was pumped! The VM said they wanted to set up an interview on Monday or Tuesday. Very exciting!
So, on Thursday I am in a meeting learning to use my new laptop when I check my phone and see a text from Jeff. He called the school district that had left the VM. Here we go ... are you ready... the VM was 2 1/2 weeks old and the position had been filled already. Jeff was crushed. I was crushed. It was almost more than I could stand. Jeff said he nearly started crying on the phone when the lady at the school told him. He was near tears on the VM he left me after he found out. I seriously thought I might throw up.
We are still not 100% sure how this all happened. Jeff says he checked the VM on the go-phone daily and the message was not there. It would seem that the go-phone had some sort of issues with this VM. So, the go-phone is no more. Just to prove the point Jeff decided to throw the phone at the brick wall outside his parents' home....TWICE. OK so maybe not the most mature thing to do (and try explaining it to a 5 year old as well). I think he made his point though.
And what is even worse that faulty technology is the school itself. They called 1 phone number, the OK one. Remember what I said earlier? The account he had on file had 2 phone numbers on it, the OK and OH one. So, why ask for 2 phone numbers when you only are willing to call 1? Also, ever heard of email? You also asked for Jeff's email address? How hard would it be to send an email or make 1 more phone call. I mean really are you that inept? So, I am hard-pressed to say that where I have more anger, at a messed up go-phone or a lazy secretary making phone calls for interviews.
We went that night and changed our phone numbers to OK numbers.
Now as kind as everyone thinks they are being with comments like...
"It just wasn't meant to be."
"God must have something else in store for you."
"Things will work out."
.
.
.
ETC.
I must say. As true as these statements may be, they really are not helpful. Tell me you'll pray for us. Tell me you are disappointed with us. But comments like these feel so shallow. They don't feel like the one making them really understands at all.
Do you have ANY IDEA what we are going through! ANY IDEA that if our OH house does not sell we can't get a loan for our OK house? ANY IDEA that Jeff has been out of work for 1 year completely and the 2 years prior to that he made $200 a week as youth pastor! Do you have ANY IDEA how hard this all is?
Please pray. We SO need God to make a way in this seemingly endless standstill we are in.
The bigger bummer though was what happened with the job interview we thought Jeff had. OK so let's back up a little. In early July when we first moved back here we thought Jeff might have better luck getting interviews if we had an Oklahoma phone number (as opposed to a clearly long-distance one). However, we were reluctant to give up our Ohio numbers because Jeff still had a few job applications "out there" that had the Ohio number on them. So, we decided to get a go-phone.
Now back up to this Wednesday. Jeff was out of the house and I heard the go-phone ringing. When it finished I checked the Voice Mails. There was one on there from a school district that Jeff had applied to. This was THE job, the only one out there with this new phone number on the application. Jeff had set up an account with the employer and had both his OK go-phone number and is OH number on the account. I was pumped! The VM said they wanted to set up an interview on Monday or Tuesday. Very exciting!
So, on Thursday I am in a meeting learning to use my new laptop when I check my phone and see a text from Jeff. He called the school district that had left the VM. Here we go ... are you ready... the VM was 2 1/2 weeks old and the position had been filled already. Jeff was crushed. I was crushed. It was almost more than I could stand. Jeff said he nearly started crying on the phone when the lady at the school told him. He was near tears on the VM he left me after he found out. I seriously thought I might throw up.
We are still not 100% sure how this all happened. Jeff says he checked the VM on the go-phone daily and the message was not there. It would seem that the go-phone had some sort of issues with this VM. So, the go-phone is no more. Just to prove the point Jeff decided to throw the phone at the brick wall outside his parents' home....TWICE. OK so maybe not the most mature thing to do (and try explaining it to a 5 year old as well). I think he made his point though.
And what is even worse that faulty technology is the school itself. They called 1 phone number, the OK one. Remember what I said earlier? The account he had on file had 2 phone numbers on it, the OK and OH one. So, why ask for 2 phone numbers when you only are willing to call 1? Also, ever heard of email? You also asked for Jeff's email address? How hard would it be to send an email or make 1 more phone call. I mean really are you that inept? So, I am hard-pressed to say that where I have more anger, at a messed up go-phone or a lazy secretary making phone calls for interviews.
We went that night and changed our phone numbers to OK numbers.
Now as kind as everyone thinks they are being with comments like...
"It just wasn't meant to be."
"God must have something else in store for you."
"Things will work out."
.
.
.
ETC.
I must say. As true as these statements may be, they really are not helpful. Tell me you'll pray for us. Tell me you are disappointed with us. But comments like these feel so shallow. They don't feel like the one making them really understands at all.
Do you have ANY IDEA what we are going through! ANY IDEA that if our OH house does not sell we can't get a loan for our OK house? ANY IDEA that Jeff has been out of work for 1 year completely and the 2 years prior to that he made $200 a week as youth pastor! Do you have ANY IDEA how hard this all is?
Please pray. We SO need God to make a way in this seemingly endless standstill we are in.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Opportunities? Sure Hope So
Well, Jeff has a job interview with a local school district IT department next week. This would certainly be a God-send if it works out.
We had a house showing yesterday, from which we heard nothing. But we have another showing tomorrow, so maybe that one will be the ONE.
We also decided that we are going to try a couple other churches around where we will be living. Just to see what else is sort of "out there." We are trying to be very open to where God could be leading us and are just not sure we will know if it is the church we have gone to a couple times just yet.
About 2 months ago I posted on Facebook that if I could just have a glimpse of how this all works out .... WOW would that ever be helpful. Again, I feel this way. If we only just knew we could maybe actually be at peace here. But all these decisions and all the unknown is enough STRESS to make anyone CRAZY!
We had a house showing yesterday, from which we heard nothing. But we have another showing tomorrow, so maybe that one will be the ONE.
We also decided that we are going to try a couple other churches around where we will be living. Just to see what else is sort of "out there." We are trying to be very open to where God could be leading us and are just not sure we will know if it is the church we have gone to a couple times just yet.
About 2 months ago I posted on Facebook that if I could just have a glimpse of how this all works out .... WOW would that ever be helpful. Again, I feel this way. If we only just knew we could maybe actually be at peace here. But all these decisions and all the unknown is enough STRESS to make anyone CRAZY!
One Decision Made
Well one decision has been made. My kids will be going to a home day care next year. Yesterday the kids and I visited a home day care that we saw an advertisement for at Abi's new school. It will cost $10 less a week than the day care center we were going to put them in. For both kids, Eli full-time and Abi before/after school it will cost us $155 a week for day care. This is the least expensive I have found. So we decided to go check out the home yesterday.
The drawback to this daycare, you see, is the drive. It is another 5-7 minutes out of the way. And as bad as this sounds when the lady said it was in a double wide I had my doubts. As I was driving out I thought there was no way this would make sense. But I will tell you what, the home inside is so nice. It is light and clean and practically new! I loved it. I really liked the lady as well. Her name is Amy. The kids seemed to connect and wanted to stay as well.
As we left I knew this was the one. The right place for my kids to be when I could not be with them. Abi raved about it and I clocked the time back to my new (unfinished) house, 20 minutes, but it would have been 15 min to the other one anyway. I called her back in the next hour and asked that she keep spots for us.
Yea! One decision made. At this point any decision feels like progress.
The drawback to this daycare, you see, is the drive. It is another 5-7 minutes out of the way. And as bad as this sounds when the lady said it was in a double wide I had my doubts. As I was driving out I thought there was no way this would make sense. But I will tell you what, the home inside is so nice. It is light and clean and practically new! I loved it. I really liked the lady as well. Her name is Amy. The kids seemed to connect and wanted to stay as well.
As we left I knew this was the one. The right place for my kids to be when I could not be with them. Abi raved about it and I clocked the time back to my new (unfinished) house, 20 minutes, but it would have been 15 min to the other one anyway. I called her back in the next hour and asked that she keep spots for us.
Yea! One decision made. At this point any decision feels like progress.
Monday, August 2, 2010
A Few Updates
Today we registered Abi for school. She will be in 1st grade this year. Sometimes I look at her and think that cannot be possible. I still remember (though vaguely) life before kids. She simply CAN'T be in 1st grade! And yet here we are.
While we were registering her we noticed a flyer for an at-home day care. The kids and I are going to check it out tomorrow. It would be $10 cheaper a week than the traditional daycare we currently have arrangements at, but it would be less convenient. It is an additional 7 minutes or so out of my way to get the kids there in the morning.
In actuality we are still trying to assess if day care is necessary for Abi. It is possible that she could ride the bus to and from school from our neighborhood. But the timing might be cut short for me to get her on the bus, then get Eli to daycare, then get me to school to teach by 8 AM. This is the issue on M/W/F. Then the issue on T/Th is in the afternoon. I don't get done teaching until 3:15. School lets out for Abi at 2:50. Not sure when the bus would get her back home. If we knew for sure that Jeff could be there at these moments that would be fine. But at the moment we have no clue.
Jeff's job situation is still up in the air. There may be a possibility of a church job opening up. But that is still in the air because the church is currently searching for a primary pastor as well. Until that is settled the youth pastor job there will not be "posted" so to speak. I think this is where Jeff's heart is leading him and potentially where he feels God is leading him. However, until there are more concrete details this too is up in the air.
For the meantime Jeff can certainly work for his Dad or brother, but for many reasons this is not an ideal situation long-term. The question is in the short-term does it make more sense to juggle Abi not being in day care (savings of $210 a month) or does it make more sense to simplify things and pay the $210? I sure wish I could see into the future. Sure would make decisions easier don't you think?
Our OH house is still for sale. But we do at least have a showing tomorrow at 10:30 EST. That's good news anyway. Our OK house is still kind of at a stand still. I am getting kind of anxious. I have to report to work in 2 weeks. Abi starts school in 2 weeks. This holding pattern has got to give. That OH house has got to go away! I so need my life to MOVE ON!
While we were registering her we noticed a flyer for an at-home day care. The kids and I are going to check it out tomorrow. It would be $10 cheaper a week than the traditional daycare we currently have arrangements at, but it would be less convenient. It is an additional 7 minutes or so out of my way to get the kids there in the morning.
In actuality we are still trying to assess if day care is necessary for Abi. It is possible that she could ride the bus to and from school from our neighborhood. But the timing might be cut short for me to get her on the bus, then get Eli to daycare, then get me to school to teach by 8 AM. This is the issue on M/W/F. Then the issue on T/Th is in the afternoon. I don't get done teaching until 3:15. School lets out for Abi at 2:50. Not sure when the bus would get her back home. If we knew for sure that Jeff could be there at these moments that would be fine. But at the moment we have no clue.
Jeff's job situation is still up in the air. There may be a possibility of a church job opening up. But that is still in the air because the church is currently searching for a primary pastor as well. Until that is settled the youth pastor job there will not be "posted" so to speak. I think this is where Jeff's heart is leading him and potentially where he feels God is leading him. However, until there are more concrete details this too is up in the air.
For the meantime Jeff can certainly work for his Dad or brother, but for many reasons this is not an ideal situation long-term. The question is in the short-term does it make more sense to juggle Abi not being in day care (savings of $210 a month) or does it make more sense to simplify things and pay the $210? I sure wish I could see into the future. Sure would make decisions easier don't you think?
Our OH house is still for sale. But we do at least have a showing tomorrow at 10:30 EST. That's good news anyway. Our OK house is still kind of at a stand still. I am getting kind of anxious. I have to report to work in 2 weeks. Abi starts school in 2 weeks. This holding pattern has got to give. That OH house has got to go away! I so need my life to MOVE ON!
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