"I Love School As Much As I Love the iPad!" said the 5-Year Old Kindergartener

I'm in a new season of life here.  It's called the "Help!" season! I hate not knowing whom to turn to for stuff, but God has sent some wonderful new friends---Linda C., Grace Z., Sue A. and PoPo Grace.  Each of these amazing women have been so helpful in giving me referrals for everything from landscapers, handymen, carpet cleaners to painters and more! I've been up to my eye balls in researching house repair stuff, getting estimates, comparing prices and mapping out a plan for when we can move in.

Consequently, I haven't had the time to blog, read a book or do much other than making my lists, making calls or surfing yelp.com and angieslist.com.  It's exhausting!!! I miss reading! I miss talking on the phone to friends and family for fun! But, I'm grateful because this means we're one step closer to moving in our new house :o)

Krista started 10th grade at her new school and lived to talk about it!!! She's not only surviving transitioning from a smaller private school to a public high school of 2700, but she's thriving---a total God thing! I am excited about this year for her :o)

Michael started Kindergarten on Wednesday, 8/22.  He stood in line wearing his new Ninjago shirt (thank you Uncle Jesu's and Yee Yee!) while holding onto his Thomas & Friends roller backpack.  I couldn't believe he didn't cry! But more hugely, I couldn't believe I didn't cry!!! There was an orientation for parents and their Kindergarteners on Tuesday so they went over the routine of a typical school day.  Everything was going fairly well until it was time for pictures.  Sigh.  He hates cameras.  He is a cute little boy with the best smile (dimples and all!) until you put a camera in front of him.  And then he glowers at the camera.  The picture came out looking like a hostile little boy and I was mortified!

Of course, I had a little chat with him about behaving appropriately when your teacher wants to take your picture so he went to his teacher, Miss Wallis and said, "Would it be alright with you to retake my picture?"  I was so proud of him! And then he made a face that was a cross between his look of pain and a horrific grimace that made us laugh! Jenna and I decided to keep the first picture of him glowering! The other one was just indescribable! Mercy! I will post those pictures when I can retrieve them from Krista's camera! Oh, I can't wait until school picture day...! LOL

Later, I told him that he can always save his sweet smiles for me and I was rewarded with a smile I wish I could capture on film!  We have always joked that he was a director's nightmare (back in the day when we auditioned for commercials) when the cameras turned on!

I love that he had such a wonderful first day! He came to me and exclaimed, "I love school as much as I love the iPad, Mommy! I can't believe it because I love the iPad!" I love that he has a really nice teacher who's young, expressive, pretty and engaging! I know Michael is going to adore her! He told me how he made three friends and we had the sweetest conversation...

Michael: Mommy, I'm surprised I didn't cry because I cried when I went to PromiseLand (Sunday School) by myself, remember? ummm... yes, who could forget those tears?!?  

 Me: Michael, when you first went to PromiseLand, you weren't a Kindergartner yet.  But now you're a big boy Kindergartener and you don't have to cry! See how that works?!?

Michael:  Oh. You're right! Oh, he's our wild card child---you never know what he's going to say or what he's going to think up next!

Usually, both Krista and Michael prefer to stay at home than going out.  I'm thinking it's probably because we do a fair amount of running around on a regular basis anyway! But the one day Krista was interested in school clothes shopping, Michael wasn't a happy camper! He came and begged to stay in his jammies all day.  When I told him he needed to change, he held my face to his and said, "Mommy, you never listen to me because you always listen to Krista.  I want to stay home but we have to go out because Krista wants to go out and I don't! Mommy, you always do what she wants and not what I want and that's mean of you, Mommy!" Gotta love his reasoning skills!!!

It's funny until I think of how often we treat God that way---a Somebody who will grant our wishes and do what we want! It's easy to go "Yeah, God!" when things are going well, but when they start falling apart, well, that's another story, right?

Matthew 5:45 reminds us that "He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike]." 
The Amplified Bible


It's not about feelings.  It's not about what we want.  It's not about what is fair and what isn't.  It's about God, the Eternal Creator of this universe.  He's God and He's just.  And when we surrender to His Will, we'll be able to live our lives in joy, peace and contentment! It's very liberating!!!

Home Sweet Home: It's A GOD Thing!!!

We have a home!!! We have a home!!! We have a home!!! 

Right now I am jumping up and down for joy internally!!! 

As you recall, we put an offer for an amazing house in June and then lost it.  That house was beautiful but needed upgraded bathrooms, new doors and interior and exterior painting done.   Plus, when we put our offer in, I was hoping they would leave me their super cool bar stools :oD

Then in July, we stumbled on another amazing short sale home that was really roomy with the perfect sized yard.  I loved the flow of the rooms but all four bathrooms needed a new face lift, new appliances were needed and definitely repainting was necessary before it was move-in ready.  We were one of three offers and after three weeks of waiting, we were still in the dark as to whether or not our offer was the one they chose.

Meanwhile, a house came back on the market that I had seen in May with a lower price.  It had a pool, spa, BBQ & dry bar, a half-court basketball and fire pit in the backyard.  The house was move-in ready and beautiful---except for one bathroom that had a distinct 90s feel to it and needed a makeover! We loved the house but the location was near a busy road and backed up to an elementary school (only visible when you looked out the bedroom window).  But, we decided to make an offer since the house was great and the location wasn't terrible---it just wasn't ideal compared to the other houses we had put offers on.

Our offer was accepted over the weekend and through the days that followed, I would drive back and forth to get a feel for the area.  The more I drove through the neighborhood (it was a great neighborhood!), the more I starting hating the location (the traffic because of the elementary school had the potential to be a huge nightmare!).  Jacob and I both agreed that we loved the house but hated the location (we prefer to be in a cul-de-sac or somewhere deeper in the neighborhood away from busy roads and schools).  Plus, a friend who lives in the area shared some insider information about a neighborhood around that area that raised some red flags in our minds.  So, on Wednesday, Aug 8, after dinner (and the day before our scheduled inspection), I called the realtor and we withdrew our offer.  

I felt horrible in the pit of my stomach because I could only imagine how the owners felt (and we found out they had tickets to fly out to AZ for house hunting that night) and the frustration our realtor was feeling since we were so close to finding a house (we looked at 50+ houses in 19 days!). We had been praying that God would show us clearly if this was "the one" and we felt He did.  We regretted the impact our decision had on others but we didn't regret the decision we made together.

We decided to broaden our search and look for houses 30 minutes away from Jacob's work.  Then we found out that our offer was chosen for the short sale house.  Our concern was that it took 3 weeks for them to make that decision.  Who knows how long it would take for the short sale process before we could even close?!? Plus, there were bathroom renovations needed before we could move in which would mean more time in temp housing (the lease was expiring on Sept 11).  We decided to look outside of the area to see if anything interesting was available before making the decision about the short sale house.

I was online looking at houses until 1am on Thursday, 8/9.  On Friday, 8/10, I did something very uncharacteristic of me.  I went online to check if anything new had come on the MLS before running errands in the morning.  Normally, my online house hunting is at night so I have unlimited time at my computer with minimal interruptions.  All I can say is that it was a God prompting because a new house came up on the MLS that I had never seen before.  It looked too fabulous, was too new (built in 2006) and the price was within our budget which made me all the more suspicious about the interior and foundation of the house.

My fear was that it was a nightmare underneath that beautiful exterior!

And, the realtor had only posted pictures of the main floor on the MLS which led me to the conclusion that the upper and lower level part of the house were probably a nightmare to update or finish!

I sent a link to Jacob and contacted the realtor.  She already pulled it up that morning and thought we should check it out.  She had a crazy schedule that day so the earliest we could see it was that afternoon at 4pm.  We wanted Jacob to see it, too, but his schedule was usually packed so we didn't expect him to make it.  Surprisingly, he was able to leave early  to join us.  We drove around the neighborhood to get a feel for the location and area and really liked what we saw.  What we found disturbing was how many cars were parked in front of the house---there were a gazillion and one people streaming in and out of the house, too!

We were shocked by the price of this house and the condition of the house. The main floor was as beautiful in person as it was in the pictures! There were upgraded appliances, Pella windows, wood floors throughout, a fireplace in the great room and an upgraded and beautiful kitchen with a little walk in pantry.  The upper level had four bedrooms suites complete with  beautifully upgraded bathrooms (hello, heated floors, granite counter tops and lovely tiling!) and built-in organizers in every closet!!!  You have to understand something---bathrooms and closets are a HUGE deal for me---I like them upgraded and I like them pristine! Plus, Krista has wanted a bedroom with her own bathroom ever since she was 3 years old (she wanted to trade bedrooms with us when she was at that stage...so NOT happening!).  

Seeing a house with a bathroom and closet organizers in every bedroom was beyond what we could even think, imagine or dream about (Eph. 3:20!!!)!!! The lower level was amazing too.  There were three separate rooms (one had a walk-in closet with a door leading to a full bathroom) and a great room with a fireplace! Other than the backyard (I want one with less grass), this house was perfect, empty and move in ready (there had been renters for 2 years).  It was so perfect for ministry opportunities :o)

We made the decision to put in an offer immediately and on seemingly impulse, added that we would take the house "as is" with a 30 day contingency.  And something that our realtor had never done before was putting an expiration date to our offer---midnight on Saturday. We left the house as another realtor and client walked in and quickly went to a nearby school to finish up the contract in the parking lot.  

At 10pm, we found out that the owners verbally accepted our offer but couldn't get the paperwork in because they were at an event.  Plus, they knew their house had generated a ton of traffic and were expecting other offers so we were realistic to the fact that the owners could change their mind.  But by late Saturday afternoon, we got word that the paperwork came through from the owners (Wow! We were thankful for owners with integrity who keep their word!!!). The key to accepting our offer besides the fact that it's all about GOD?  Our willingness to purchase the house in "as is" condition---a total GOD thing and stroke of genius suggestion from our realtor.

The house is still showing (there were already 18 showings by the time we saw it that day!) and there are back-up offers on it.  We just had the inspection today and found that there are no structural issues!!! What a GOD thing!!! Our realtor and the owner's realtor told us how lucky we were to get the house but I told them it was because of God and all our friends and family who were praying for us!!! They were amazed by what happens when God's people pray!!!

When we saw this house, we knew this house was "the one" and it was further confirmed by the inspection today.  It's such a GOD thing!!! I feel like the words in Psalm 89:5-17 and I actually love how The Message captures this passage...

God! Let the cosmos praise your wonderful ways,
      the choir of holy angels sing anthems to your faithful ways!
   Search high and low, scan skies and land,
      you'll find nothing and no one quite like God.
   The holy angels are in awe before him;
      he looms immense and august over everyone around him.
   God-of-the-Angel-Armies, who is like you,
      powerful and faithful from every angle?
   You put the arrogant ocean in its place
      and calm its waves when they turn unruly.
   You gave that old hag Egypt the back of your hand,
      you brushed off your enemies with a flick of your wrist.
   You own the cosmos—you made everything in it,
      everything from atom to archangel.
   You positioned the North and South Poles;
      the mountains Tabor and Hermon sing duets to you.
   With your well-muscled arm and your grip of steel—
      nobody trifles with you!
   The Right and Justice are the roots of your rule;
      Love and Truth are its fruits.
   Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise,
      who shout on parade in the bright presence of God.
   Delighted, they dance all day long; they know
      who you are, what you do—they can't keep it quiet!
   Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us—
      you've been so good to us! We're walking on air! 

And this concludes our House Hunting Adventures in the great Midwest.  Now you can make your plans to come visit Chicago and stay with us... in a few months after we're settled!  I'm open to taking reservations now (and no surprise plans to visit without informing me first...ahem, family!There are 5.5 bathrooms and 50+ windows to clean first!)... :o)

Five Star Books & More by the Reading Mom Newsletter: August 2012

If you're looking for something good to read or for some family-friendly movie fun, check out my latest newsletter here---click on the tab that says "Five Star Books and More Newsletter" and enjoy!!!

Overheard....: "My Heart Has More Love To Share With Mommy Than You!"

I've been slowly reviewing Dr. Mary Manz Simon's new book for children, Little Visits at Bedtime:  105 Devotions and Prayers.  She sent it with an adorable little teddy bear that Michael has been playing with! So far, I'm loving it and it couldn't have come at a better time either!!! Last night I finished Annie Wald's Walk with Me: Pilgrim's Progress for Married Couples.  I loved reading of Peter and Celeste's lifelong journey to the King's City (her story was inspired by the timeless classic, Pilgrim's Progress)! Oh! I better get my post up with all my new reviews for this month's edition of Five Star Books & More by The Reading Mom!!!

I was in my room putting away laundry when I overheard this conversation....

Michael:  Krista, I love Mommy more than you.

Krista:  That's impossible because I'm older than you and you've only loved mommy for 5 years .

Michael:  Oh yeah?  Well, (brief pause) I have more love in my heart to share with mommy than you do!

The "I Love Mommy More" wars have been pretty constant lately.  I had to have a talk with both kids together and individually because they haven't been treating each other with love and with respect.  I sure miss my couch of lovingkindness!  But I'm sure being together 24/7 in such close quarters has been quite the challenge while testing their limits.

I expect things will change once we get into our own home again, but it won't be the house we thought it would be.

Tonight, Jacob and I withdrew our offer from the house I had told you about in my last blog.  While we both really liked the house, we felt the location would be an issue when we needed to resell it in the future.  Today, we found out some information that raised some red flags about the surrounding area and we decided that withdrawing now would be better than regretting our decision later.

I'm feeling a plethora of emotions in my head and heart!  Uncertainty (how long will it take before we find the right house for our family?!? It appeared like we had found the right house God had for us, but...).  Relief (I liked the house but hated the location where we would encounter a lot of traffic everyday in the mornings and in the afternoons because of the school there).  Peace (both Jacob and I have been praying that God would clearly show us His direction and we're both in agreement over our decision to walk away from this house).
 
 So, I choose to trust God and His Word from Psalm 37:4-6.  Here's how The Amplified Bible puts it...

⁴ Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord [roll and repose each care of your load on Him]; trust (lean on, rely on, and be confident) also in Him and He will bring it to pass.

⁶ And He will make your uprightness and right standing with God go forth as the light, and your justice and right as [the shining sun of] the noonday.

And so the house hunting adventures continue on :o)

Thanks for Praying!!!

A few days ago, I revisited a house that I had seen in May.  I wasn't crazy about the size of the master bedroom, bath and closets, but liked everything else.  When comparing it to the "not-so-short-sale" house, this house was definitely hands down much more move-in ready.  It's smaller, but a really great size for our family.  There's a pool, a fire pit, a dry bar with a granite top and grill and a basketball half court on the other side of the pool---perfect elements for ministry opps :o)

Jacob saw it on Friday, liked it and we made an offer. We started the dance again and gave our best offer.  Then we went out and met up with some new friends and had a great time together! We got the call from our agent that we got the house!!!

Thank you for praying!!! We prayed for a house with a nice flow and space for ministry opportunities and God provided!!!  We knew we wanted a nice finished basement for a playroom (hello, pool table!) and for overnight guests and God provided!!!  I was wishing and hoping for a beautiful kitchen with more cabinets (!!!) and God provided!!!  I was wishing and hoping we would be able to move in by sometime in September (preferably before Krista's birthday on 9/26!) and God provided!!! I've always wanted space for a baby grand and God provided in more ways than one!!! I love the look of a classic red brick home and God provided!!!

I'll post some pictures once we get through the attorney's review, inspection and sign everything.  Then, reality will hit... we're going to be up to our eyeballs in moving boxes!!!

I love the prayer of Samuel in 2 Samuel 7:28-29 (I am using the Amplified Bible courtesy of Biblegateway.com)...

²⁸ And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.

²⁹ Therefore now let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let [his] house be blessed forever.

Amen!!!