James Is 2!

I can hardly believe it but James has turned 2. What a wonderful little guy he is. It seems like yesterday he was born and yet so much has happened.

My Kingdom for a Can Opener

So we are moved and I thought hey I'll make dinner for my family. Well deja vu all over again of being a newly wed wanting to make Ryan dinner and what do I need? A can opener.
Nowhere to be found. It's here somewhere but boy is it frustrating to be halfway through making dinner only to realize that the can opener is MIA. Hopefully today we can find it soon. Or we'll all be skinnier.

Swimming

So amidst the chaos of moving we had swimming lessons. In all truth I didn't think that we'd get in because the wait list was so long but it probably a good thing. My friend Marsha was there too so that was something to look forward too. It also gave the kids a break from mom's craziness about the move.

This was the first time Michael went off of the diving board without a flotation device. WOW can he swim! He has always been a little fish but who knows maybe he'll be a little Michael Phelps.


Christi is doing great too. I wish I would have taken video of her going down the slide. She screamed the whole way down. Everybody at the pool knew exactly who was going down.
I asked her if she was scared and she said, "No mom. I was having fun." Maybe I should scream more when having fun and less when not having fun:} Hope you all enjoy these videos. ( The little girl diving after Michael is Marsha's daughter Olivia.)

Tiny Dancer

So back in June was Christi's little dance recital. Boy was she cute. She was older than most of the other girls but that helped her remain as the micromanager that she loves to be.

Enjoy the picture!

Temporary Address

Our new address, for now, is 12671 Leesburg Rd
Parker, CO 80134

We will let you all know when this changes.

Too Much Junk

So, Ryan and I haven't even been married for nine years yet and the amount of junk is insane. With the move we have realized that it is time to let go of most everything that isn't necessary!

Can I just say that between moving and reading the book Little Heathens - a memoir of growing up during the Great depression- I have decided that I am seriously going to cut back! I don't know if it will be as drastic as during the Depression but who seriously needs the amount of junk that I have! I know that I have some wedding gifts that I have NEVER used, why? Why have I hauled them around for nearly 9 years? I don't even know who gave me them anymore. Why do we allow ourselves to hang on to all this JUNK?

I am going to take the montra that just because it is free doesn't mean I NEED it. I have found cupboards full of nick-nacks and just stuff that I haven't used and probably never will use!

I think that I am going to spend money on experiences from now on. You know a really memorable vacation with good pictures and FUN. My kids need these experiences not toys or other stuff that doesn't make any difference.

Maybe I need to come up with a website where you register for a vacation- family or otherwise- and people just contribute to the amount needed for the trip when they want to get you a gift. What do you think? Wouldn't it be great to have a trip ready to go for your family at the end of each year rather than something that is fleeting. I'll work on that idea.

Don't get me wrong I love gifts and expressions of appreciation and love ...BUT as I see mine and Ryan's Grandparents and parents move & pass away and go through their things the more I realize that when I am 70 I don't want to be hauling around an unused wedding gift from 50 years ago. Whoa that's a nightmarish thought, ugh!

So wish me luck as I now plunge in to the mountain of boxes that contain very few IMPORTANT things and let go of it all....Or at least most of it...Ok let's say 50%. Or as Michael said the other day, "We are getting rid of 100% of the junk" Until it's his junk of course.

??????

So we closed on the sale of our home of over 6 1/2 years yesterday. It's a little weird to say the least.
#1 weird thing. They buyers are sort related to me? Yes my Aunt Marsha's nephew and his family are the new owners of our home. Weird, huh?

#2 weird thing. It's just weird to not have that place be our home anymore. The change is good- I think- but still odd.

We are adjusting to driving times and such but we are sleeping better. BUT we now have to de-junk our lives and streamline. ( I'll write more on this in another post.)

So we are renting until we figure out the next step. So much uncertainty right now it's amazing that I'm not completely insane. We have no idea how long we will be here or anything else.

Thanks for all of your prayers on our behalf. Without them who knows how crazy I'd be.

There's no place like Home?

So ..... Well.... Um..... Ok it looks like we may actually sell this house. (We hope)
Maybe the fourth time will work out. After wanting this for so long it is not exactly the best time. Ryan's job situation is unsure, the house we want is still up in the air and now we will be homeless. We may have found a place to rent month to month which is cheaper than storing all our junk or getting a big lease but still-stink!
We have no idea where we will be or what we will be doing in the next month. So as always pray for us. The insanity has to slow down. PLEASE!

Brothers & Sister

 

I am so glad that my kids have each other. I know sometimes they'll hate each other & disagree but if they can be as close as my siblings & I are that would be success for me.

These pictures are from a lifetime ago- well Easter. They just make me smile to look at them because it just shows that sometimes nothing matters more than having fun and watching your kids just BE! I wish that I could do that more. Maybe if/when life ever calms down?
I hope that you smile seeing them too :}

Grandpa Norris

This Tuesday, 24 June 2008, Ryan's Grandpa Norris passed away. He had a long life full of family and many acomplishments.

As I heard of the passing of Grandpa Norris all I could think was how blessed I was to have known him for the past few years. I was not privelaged to have a grandfather who was a member of the church present in my life and to experience that as Ryan's wife has truly helped my life. I remember the first time I met Grandpa & Grandma Norris. The thing I remember most was Grandpa's loving eyes. He looked at me as though he loved me just for being there. He seemed so proud of Ryan and just so pleased to meet me. It was very disarming.

I will always appreciate the opportunities that we had to spend time with Grandpa . I remember early on that Ryan and I had frequent opportunities to be one-on-one with Grandma & Grandpa and how fun it was to simply sit and talk with them. To see how much he loved his (over 30)great-grandchildren will always be a highlight for me.

It is a great blessing for this family to KNOW that their grandfather loved each and every one of them. I know that since the passing of my grandfather this March I wish that I KNEW that my grandfather loved me and was proud of me. I do take solace in knowing that Grandpa Norris loved me, and not just because I married Ryan. I will truly miss this most exceptional man.

Family Pics

Do you realize what it takes to get a decent family picture taken with 4 young kids? This was crazy! Thankfully Ryan's brother & his family were there to help as well as get there own pics done. ALSO, thankfully we have a digital camera- could you imagine what it would be like to get this done on film- ugh :)

I will miss these moments when they grow up. I wish these moments were more frequent but oh well. I hope you all enjoy the walk through our chaos.

Feeling Better

I guess that you can all tell that the last post was written at a time of GREAT frustration. No excuse really but none the less.

I am feeling better although I am still frustrated. I have regained some composure and I am so grateful that these feelings don't seem to be permanent.

Things are still hard and not fun BUT I have a great husband who really tries to help me see that things aren't quite as detrimental as I make them out to be. Who knows what tomorrow holds and that is certainly hard to take. I will hold on though and all will be better soon enough and then there will be other things to worry about. Aren't there always?

If/when we know about the house we will certainly let everybody know.

Life has Vomited on Me

If you have ever been really sick or have had kids you have or will experience the "special" feeling of vomit. Now consider that feeling when thinking about life.

Has life ever just felt- well EW? It's as though no matter how hard you try the yuck factor still remains. You feel like nothing feels good or is good.

So anyway that seems to be what is going on right now. Not just for my family but for all of my friends and acquaitances. Everything from job problems, marriage issues, death, house problems, missions, weddings, health issues, kids, everything!!! I feel extremely guilty when I think about my problems and realize that there are others who have it way more difficult at this time. But does that diminish my problems/issues/trials?

Uncertainty seems to be the most constant companion I have right now & that is SCARY.
There is no definte place we will be in a month. The job situation may change, family may pass away and yet I am supposed to plug away as if it's "NORMAL". Then again I guess that normality is a figment of our imagination and that chaos really is the norm, right?

A Tale of Two Houses

It was the best of times....it was the worst of times.

I think that this line totally sums up 2008 thus far. We have 4 awesome kids who bring us all the joy and happiness we could ask for. Ryan is employed. We have a house-cramped though it may be. After nearly 10 years together Ryan and I still like each other. And for the most part we are all fairly healthy despite my high cholesterol.

HOWEVER....we have been trying to sell our house for nearly 5 1/2 months. We have had 3 deals fall through and we have been waiting since February to get any word back as to whether or not our offer on the other house is accepted by the 2 banks and the owner involved in the whole ordeal.

The juxtaposition of extreme happiness with our little family and the stress of trying to sell, buy and squish into a house that is 2 bedrooms too small is amazing. It is amazing that anyone stays sane through all of this. I know we are not the only one's out there going through this though. Somehow that knowledge makes it all a little bit more bearable.

We have friends who have only had 3 showings in the past 2 months on their home & she is here alone with 4 kiddos. We know others who are financialy strapped, whose kids are sick or who have lost family members. So although I would NEVER choose to go through even this trial- let alone any of the one's my friends are going through- I know it's not really a that important and that hopefully one way or another it will all be ok.

As always I am so grateful that I have so many people who care and are concerned about us. When/if we ever get moved you will all know. We will have a huge BBQ to celebrate- plus we'll need some help to get moved, eh?

Perspective

I find it interesting how when all things are put into perspective the don't seem nearly as bad.
As many of you know we have been trying to sell our home for 5 1/2 months. The process seems endless and trying to get a bigger home is not any easier either. Maybe the Lord is trying to teach me PATIENCE but it seems like that isn't working. I feel like I am losing my mind and the idea that this may drag on for many more months is frustrating/depressing and NO FUN.

Thanks as always for your prayers. I hope to have better news soon.

I just know though that none of this really matters. It may drive me nuts BUT it's still not a big deal. Having the perspective that although mt issues seem difficult their is a bright side :}

John found

Although not good news John Alley has been found. For more information please check: http://www.helpfindjohn.info

John Alley - MISSING

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My dearest friend Julie has had a tragedy hit her family. Her brother John has gone missing!!!
John is a great young man and his wife & family are very distraught. PLEASE watch the above videos. Look at his picture and keep an eye out.

PLEASE help us find John. For more info go to http://www.helpfindjohn.info

I appreciate you taking the time to view this.

SOLD!

Well it looks like our little home of 6 1/2 years is just about sold. We signed a contract today and we will hopefully close on June 11th.

It is so weird to think that by the end of the month we will hopefully be moving into a new home & our little home will be someone elses not too long after that. We moved here with just Michael and have now added 3 more trouble makers to the chaos. We have been truly blessed to have had all the experiences here that we have had. Sure it hasn't been easy to be in a small place with no real yard BUT we are grateful to have had it and now to have sold it....

I thank you all again for your prayers and I want you to know that we owe all this to those prayers.

Too Cute?

Look at this cute kid. How fun is it when these little guys start learning new stuff! Just had to post it for the grandparnets to see how stinkin' cute this kid is!

What a great Mother's Day gift!

We're almost there! Well it looks like we are getting the house. YAY!!!
(10535 Humboldt Peak Way)

We received the word that the letter from the first bank has arrived!!
So now we only need the 2nd bank's approval which should come asap hopefully no later than Monday. So we still need your prayers -especially to sell/rent our place.

We know that it is because you all are praying for us AND because the Lord is merciful that any of this is even possible.

We feel so blessed to have such great family and friends praying for us. It certainly makes all the difference.

So here are some more pics of the house. Not too much will change. We want to plant a bigger garden, paint the kids rooms and do some other stuff but that's just to make it our own. Even if we did nothing it would still be a great house.

As soon as we are settled or before August, whichever comes first, we will have a BBQ for all our freinds and family to come see it.

Again we love you all and we are so grateful to each of you for your support throughout this transition.