House

Put our house up for sale today. Bittersweet. You put your money, heart, soul, sweat, and tears into something and then watch the recession suck all of that away... Thanks for the memories.

Waiting Over - Kind of

We got the offer from ND. Going back soon for final testing/details. Still waiting to hear on the MI job. My mind is whirling with all that there is to do, but still need to get the holidays done.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Update

Another good interview for Andy but we are back to waiting to hear more. It was a really quick (and COLD) trip to ND. Housing is a bit expensive there compared to MI. The recession never really happened there. Will worry more about that if and when Andy gets the job. If he does, you better believe we'll be investing in warm outerwear and lots of underarmor...

Andy does have an interview in MI this week. We'll see what happens.

In the meantime, bring on Christmas. Cue up the music, time to make cookies, ornaments, presents, etc. Oh yeah, and all that household upkeep stuff too. Wish that would all magically disappear for Christmas.

Update

Interviews went well for Andy last week. Should hear more in the next 1-2 weeks on those. We've been asked to go back out to ND for the final interview. Time to start making decisions. Your prayers this week will be appreciated.

Mad Dash

This is a mad dash of a week of interviews for Andy. He's got three interviews (NC, IN, & MI) set this week and will find out about a fourth hopefully tomorrow. The one we are waiting on is a final interview for a position in ND... yes that really cold state. At least it is activity. That alone is highly encouraging after lots of effort with little results and a lot of thanks-but-no-thanks letters.

We have so much to be thankful for. God keeps providing every step of the way. It's been exciting to see how that happens.

Three Week Thanksgiving

With money tight right now, I've been working hard with my family to have a purpose-driven holiday. Thanksgiving really gets skipped between Halloween and Christmas. So we are finding ways everyday for 3 weeks to celebrate. I was inspired by the story of Barbara Rainey from FamilyLife Today who talked about here devotion to helping her family celebrate, experience, and remember the purpose of Thanksgiving.

Here's a few things we are doing over the course of 21 days to celebrate Thanksgiving.

• Celebrate being thankful and grateful EVERY DAY in some way
• Read kids books with Thanksgiving theme - silly to historical
• Kindness garlands - I hung a string from our slider window. Everytime I see the boys showing an act of kindness or helpfulness - they chose an artificial leaf from a basket and we tie it to the string. What you end up with is a cascade of colorful leaves. Mine are above a floor vent so they can "move in the breeze."
  
• Coloring - using clipart that I removed color from to make themed coloring sheets.
• Some of those sheets were leaves and acorns that we colored and cut out to put on our windows and send to others.
  
• Cards - We turned a coloring sheet with leaves reading "Happy Thanksgiving" into cards to send to the grandparents. We tucked in some of the leaves/acorns we colored and cut out.
• Thankful Turkeys - We cut turkey shapes out of brown construction paper and made beaks, legs, and feathers for them. The feather we colored and then wrote on them the things we were thankful for. They were then cut out and glued to our turkeys.
• Pilgrims - read about their lives and hardships they faced, watch Charlie Brown's pilgrim movie (second story on the thanksgiving disc), color pictures, play "pretend" pilgrims
  
• Pilgrim hats - color pictures of a pilgrim hat, cut it out and staple to a band of construction paper to make a hat.
  
• Thankful dinner table - while we eat we go around the table and talk about all the things we are thankful from. We hear everything from "Jesus loving us and dying on the cross" to "my toys" to "my nice cozy bread" to "French fries!" Learning myself that we can be thankful for everything. I do melt when the mention their mom in their list.
  
• TIME - slowing down and being together. It's amazing how much easier it is to be a mom when I'm not planning, going, doing, and preparing. It's been an unexpected treat.

If you noticed. Not much of what is listed here costs much if any money. My printer cartridge is running low, but the rest is reusable or intangible. Overall I am much more clear of what I have to be thankful for this year. Silly me to think this was for the kids...

"Be Patient... Be Patient...

... don't be in such a hurry. When you get, impatient, you only start to worry..."

That's a song from my childhood that gets stuck in my head (unfortunately). Patience is not my strongest characteristics. Maybe that's why God keeps me working on it.

In our world right now it feels like hurry up and wait. Andy hurries to get applications in for a job and then waits forever to hear back, and if/when he does it is a 3-6 month interview process. He has interviews scheduled, and Fargo is doing background checks on him - but we won't get any word on those for 2 more weeks.

I have a lead on a position as a substitute teacher at a day care that would be really flexible and allow me to have Ty with me there. Seems like the perfect fit... Can't apply until I get a TB test and I can't get in to get one of those for almost 2 weeks...

So wait we will. There really isn't much choice in the matter is there. Might as well enjoy the ride.

In the meantime I'm having a ton of fun with my boys as we celebrate 3 weeks of Thanksgiving. If we can devote a whole month to Christmas (or more if you are retail), than we can spend a few weeks being thankful. I love to see my boys getting in to it. They are thinking about being thankful, grateful, and giving. Albeit those are brief moments in between sibling rivalry...

I've had lots of "projects" for the boys to work on regarding Thanksgiving - coloring, cutting, gluing, creating... and it's been helping to keep them a bit busier and strife a bit less. Think I may make a focus each month and keep this thing going all winter if that is the result. Either that or I'll beat a dead horse and my kids will have craft nightmares.

I'll leave you with a thankful note.

I'm grateful for the growing and stretching my family has done this year. I'm glad that we've seen what it means to be a family, what matters, how we can work together, ways that God provides, the kindness of family/friends/strangers/church family, and most of all - how much there is to be thankful for. Learning much about the difference between cost and value. They aren't the same. More on that another night.

Tough Day

Long, hard day with the boys. It's like my 3-year-old woke up with a plan on how to make every part of the day difficult, frustrating, and annoying. Have one of those days before? Spills, potty "accidents," picking on his brother, whining, arguing, saying no, disobeying, licking everything, fits, and that was all by 11 AM. The older brother wasn't much better. It's days like this that I remember I have job security and am definitely needed.

Luckily, my mom was coming to watch the boys so Andy and I could sneak out for dinner for my birthday/Andy's graduation (yeah, we are running a bit behind). God knew we would need it today, because not only were the boys a handful today, but Andy got "sorry, not you" letters from 2 PDs and the scope on 1 more that is coming. He's really discouraged and that's hard for me to see. It's hard to not be discouraged myself seeing as one of those departments was one I had high hopes for - you know, the kind where you don't have to move...

I'm really trying to be open to whatever God has. Some days that is easier said than done.

Peace Offering

I've been very busy and very neglectful. But here is my peace offering. I have a 45+ page color notebook (.pdf) that I can send you from my Holiday Hints event. Here's a preview of some of the ideas. Jot me a note with your email and I'll get it out to you.

Candy Centerpiece

Tomato Cage Christmas Tree

Felt Piece Christmas Card

Merry Christmas Garland

Styrofoam Cone Trees

Autumn Arrangement

Country Centerpiece - clove oranges, button filled vase

Frayed Fabric Ornaments

Fighting Disappointment

It's been a very full (but good) weekend. Enjoyed time with family and friends, accomplished much, and actually watched a DVD with my husband. Such a luxury.

However, I'm really fighting disappointment. Part of it is my expectations. Working so hard on projects, events, and life in general... that when others don't see the work, the accomplishment, or the passion (or choose to not care about it)... When tons of applications go out and the waiting game continues... When the only option seems like it might be 16 hours away...

You get the picture. Disappointment happens. But so much of that is a matter of attitude. So what am I going to do? Keep working, do, trying - but holding on to the fact that the outcome is not my responsibility... only the effort and attitude. People can say and do what they want.

Is it time for a momcation yet?

Weekend

It's a beautiful, crisp fall weekend. I have lot of fun things going on this weekend to enjoy the season and can't wait to share it/show it with you. Pumpkins, donuts, etc.

Also, my SIL took pics of my boys and can't wait to share those as well. She' becoming quite talented and has a good eye for the candid and carefree shots. Saw some of her social documentary work she's doing right now and really impressed. With some more experience and mentoring, I really think she could be outstanding.

Hope you are enjoying all that fall has to offer.

Why I Love Fall

Apple Cider
Colorful leaves
Crisp cool weather
Sweaters
Football
Apple picking
Pumpkin everything
Apple everything
Holiday planning
Bonfires
Carving Pumpkins
Jumping in leaf piles
My birthday
Lots of family get-togethers
Hay rides
etc.

Kept My Mouth Shut

So proud of myself today. I chose to keep my mouth shut instead of spouting off. Sometimes this is an issue for me. That need to be right, convince others of what they don't know, and get the last word in... tends to just get me into trouble. Decided that I'll do a better job of picking my battles and moving on.

Worked today, kind of.

Can't Believe

I can hardly fathom that it will be October this week. I LOVE FALL. There is so much to eat and enjoy. To walk in the crunchy leaves, pile them and jump. We live in the woods. There is no shortage of leaves.

Going to try to go apple picking this week. That means applesauce, apple pie, apple crisp, apple slices, apple cider, etc....

Ryan's just getting over a nasty virus so we're home from church today and we are enjoying a lazy morning together. Movies, cinnamon rolls, getting stuff done... Nice to have some one-on-one time with him while Andy and Ty are with family in IN. Sorry that Ryan didn't get to go spend time with all the cousins, but he's taking it remarkably well.

Better go get busy. Need to sort through kids clothing so that they don't keep showing up everywhere in high-waters.

Domestic Day

While my internet has been down, I've been unable to work or play(waste time). Instead I've been domestic and made homemade spaghetti sauce and salsa, and canned both. Time to make the most of my produce, herbs, and peppers. I love farm markets and what I'm getting out of the garden.

Applesauce is coming just as soon as we can make it to the orchard to go apple picking. One of these days...

What I've Been Missing

I've gotten the gift of precious time with my little man lately. With big brother at school, we get lots of time together, one-on-one. We are both enjoying it. He's a completely different boy when there isn't another sibling to antagonize, fight with, and get into trouble with.

He too is enjoying the time. Tonight he asked if his brother could go back to school tomorrow (not a school day). I'm sure the novelty of it will wear off and he'll find me much more boring that big brother... but I'll take it for now.

I've been trying to think back to this stage with Ryan. I'm realizing I missed a lot of this stage with him because I was busy taking care of a new baby. We had good times together, but he spent an awful lot of time with dad then.

Now I need to make sure that I'm getting good time with Ryan. It's so odd to have him gone so much. The time really is starting to slip away.

Silence

Life continues to be good but hard, fun and busy, overwhelming and pressing, and it just is.

I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. With every great opportunity comes great challenges. Here is a few of my currents:

Husband fulfilling life dream of becoming a cop = trying to find a job
Finding a job may = moving
Raising respectful kids = training, discipline, and lots of hard work
Potty training = lots of messes to clean up + remembering to take him there
Kid in school = lunches, masses of paperwork, bus time, tired kid
Holiday Hints coming = getting stuff ready for others to help

Busy, full days. At least I'm never bored. Sorry for my lack of consistency and input. I often read without commenting. Working on better organizing my time to get more out of the day.

Focus

I'm really having a hard time focusing on anything. My mind is wandering faster than I can think of what I originally started in on.

137 projects going on concurrently isn't helping the matter at all. I'm a good starter, but I somehow keep getting side tracked and don't have everything finished. UUGGHH. Someday.


What was I saying again?

Butts Up Brigade

Today I spent 6 hours in the butts up brigade - a.k.a. I weeded gardens at the greenhouse all afternoon. I'm always self conscious about having my butt up in the air as people drive past. Did you ever see those awful lawn ornaments - a wooden cut out of a fat woman's butt, her bloomers sticking out as her dress pulls up from the tension of her mammoth butt size... Tramatized by those in the early 80s. Glad I haven't seen one in a while. Don't want passerbys to think they are seeing a 2009 version of that.

It's therapeutic to get all the weeds out, but I'm sore from the tug-of-war battle and some serious sun. Just on the verge of burning.

Glad tomorrow is friday and a long weekend. However, we are spending much of it helping roof my BIL's house. At least it isn't going to be a scorcher this weekend. Once again, I'll be out on the Butts Up Brigade with my hammer, nail belt, and utility knife. Sure hope they got the big nail gun. They are one of my favorite power tools.

Night ya'll

I Give UP

I'm not going to get to catching up so I'm just starting from now.

Life is good but busy. Surprise, surprise. Never heard me say that before. I'm getting ready to head into Ryan's school to devise our plan for dealing with his peanut allergy at school. Think I'm about to hit reality that this is really happening. He's so ready. I think I am.

However, we do need to find the boy shoes because evidently his feet grew about 2 sizes this summer. I had only anticipated 1 size when I was garage sale shopping and watching clearance racks. Oh well.

Andy is applying for police positions fast and furiously. However, it's the usual government beaurocracy that moves so quickly ;) We decided that he's going to fly out to North Dakota and test/interview for a job there. If God wants me to move there, he's definitely going to need to change my heart. But He's God, that's nothing tough for Him.

We have some great neighbors that are really helping with some odd handyman project work for Andy to bring in a little money. Andy's also been out talking to some of his former customers trying to find some kind of employment while looking for a full-time law enforcement position.

In the meantime I've been trying to put in more hours to help ends come closer to meeting. Andy's not dealing well with being Mr. Mom. I think we are both coming to a greater appreciation for each other's typical roles.

I really need to dig back into a Bible study. All the stress and work eats away at confidence and peace. I do trust that God will provide, but it is easy to let the doubts edge in... School starting next week should help with the routine of life a bit. Looking forward to that, even though I'm not really sure that I'm ready for summer to be over.

Miss ya'll. Leave a note and help me catch up with your lives as well.