Footprints On My Heart

One of the most delightful relationships I have in life is that of being an Aunt. The older I get and the older my children get, the more I realize how precious these new little people are. My brother and sister in law recently had a little boy who just happened to arrive on my husband’s birthday in January. I finally had the opportunity to see him the first time in June – and had fun documenting him in this layout spread.

It has been nice to have some down time to just scrap for the fun of it! Black and white photos were processed using Holly’s action here.  Colored photos processed with Pioneer Woman’s FREE colorized action here.  All elements are from Shabby Princess’ new Summer Cottage Kit – while you are there don’t miss downloading her latest freebie kit -

Journeys…

In our little fourth of July adventure we came across a new friend…

We interrupted his lunch and he was still nice enough to pose for a photo.  He didn’t offer to share his food though.  Maybe next time…

I love huge, furry, bumblebees – they just seem so cute and fluffy, you know?

Although I must admit this close its head looks a little creepy…maybe I need to re-think my bumblebee love…

I actually asked my husband to back up on a dirt road so I could get this shot – nothing spectacular – I just loved the contrast of colors – seriously this is straight out of the camera with only a frame added – it really was this beautiful!

Last but not least – more flowers – if you have been reading this blog for any length of time that shouldn’t surprise you.

It has been a wonderful weekend of getting out and seeing the sites, vegging at home and hanging with the family – it is so nice to relax and enjoy each other.

America The Beautiful

Yesterday as we journeyed around I thought of the song:

“Oh beautiful for spacious skies,

For amber waves of grain (this was as close as I could get as it isn’t harvest season for wheat)

For purple mountains majesty,

Above the fruited plain!

America, America,

God shed his grace on thee,

and crown thy good with brotherhood

from sea to shining sea.”

So grateful to live in this beautiful country where we enjoy so many freedoms.  Hope you have a wonderful 4th.

This Moment…A Powerful Memory Box

After hearing about this site from good friends, I had to take the time to check it out, and I have to say I am so glad that I did.  This Moment is an amazing and easy way to document the moments of your life…

There are time lines, space for photos and video, emotions, etc.  I would venture as far to say that if one were looking for a simplified way to capture their memories and share them with family and friends, this site is perfect.  No page design, just simply photos and memories – the heart of memory keeping.  Some other wonderful features:

1. The ability to differentiate between FRIENDS and FAMILY – meaning you have complete control over who sees what.  You an also record a moment and only include those who were there – this is fabulous!
2. Child and pet accounts which allow you to build the timelines of your children out with photos and memories. (Per Noel in support, “The easiest way to add a kid or pet account is in the Moment Maker when you are adding or editing a moment.  On the People section, click the “Add Friends, Family” link and you’ll be taken through the process of setting it up.”).
3. Page design takes care of itself and you have an interactive photo memory book that your friends and family can not only browse but also add their memories to it from the comfort of their own home!
4. The ability to add articles from news media to your personal timeline, documenting major world events in your life (Momentos™).
5. Link in all your social networking accounts, i.e. Flickr, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Picasa, making it easy to create and share moments with everyone you know.

A few things I would love to see:

1. Index of Momentos™ that included articles going back to the 1900’s – this way when working on family history moments one could document major world events in their timeline – in this day….
2. A more intuitive way to add child/pet accounts
3. A fix for the Facebook photo link – I could link my contacts and share moments with them but not grab my photos – this is probably minor bug

The bugs are minor and it is going to be exciting to see where this site goes – I would love to have you join me at ThisMoment!

Summering…

I have made a decision.  Instead of saying that I am living in a townhome waiting and wondering which home we will eventually purchase, I am going to say, “We are summering in a townhome near the lake.”  Doesn’t that sound so much better?

Although I am not entirely sure if one could call it summering, as I believe it may be required that you have another permanent home to technically be “summering” somewhere else.  Although according to Webster, summering is an intransitive verb which means, “to pass the summer.”  Now I am sounding like my favorite English Grammar blogger – which is odd because those of you who read me often will know I so do not write properly!  Although I did ponder majoring in English for a few weeks in college after a suggestion from an English professor.  Does that count for something?

Anyway, my point is the perspective.  Summering sounds so much better than temporary housing and since I am right on the money for the timing, I am going for it.  This is also making the transition for the children easier.  We have spent many vacations up in Yellowstone at my Uncle’s cabin and we always spend the first few days getting settled and then we spend our time relaxing, enjoying, and discovering.  So as we unpacked and settled into our townhome, Troy and I explained that we would be doing something similar here – except dad still goes to work everyday and eventually we will live permanently close to our current location.  This summer is all about discovering the neat things about this area and making memories.  It was a wonderful relief to see the kids excited about our plans…

Yesterday morning I took my two oldest kids for a walk/hike above a nearby housing development.  We left before sunrise and walked all the way to the top where we continued on a gravel road.  I was thinking exercise so I didn’t bring my camera and I was almost unprepared for this beautiful site…

I was glad I had brought my iPhone for music as I was able to capture the moment…  It was also fun to watch two non-morning adolescents who grumbled the whole way up the hill emerge from this experience with a new perspective and better attitudes…of course they went back to sleep after we got home .

Remember this post?  I am thinking our new town is the place for swallowtail butterflies as the children discovered this in the garden this morning (it was injured and close to dying):

And then today on the way to the grocery store we see three antelope in a farmer’s front yard…I don’t have a photo, as I was trying to drive safely, but this photo is pretty close to what we saw, minus the male on the left:

It isn’t Yellowstone,  but I am thinking that our summering adventures this year will be something the kids will remember for a long time…

Unexpected

 

I have been classified by some as a workaholic.  While I have a hard time just sitting still when there is work that needs to be done, I don’t know that I would say my love of work is a sickness that needs to be cured.

Seriously – I have five kids – that means work.  I have a house that needs to be cleaned, laundry that needs to be done and creative juices that need to be drawn out.  It all involves doing something.  So I do.  

Often my doing can turn into all consuming projects where it seems I am on the edge of a huge volcano, looking down into its core while seeing lava shooting up that I am sure is going to obliterate my being into ashes.  Most of the time I freak out, stress, and then get the project done and move on, amazed that it all works out.  After years of this pattern I am quite convinced that the “working out” part has nothing to do with me.

This move is different.  So many things have fallen into place, the lack of opposition has caused me to think of my whole approach to projects in a completely different light.  I am not freaking out.  This is big because this project is like the biggest thing I have ever taken on and definitely outside of my comfort zone. 

However, there are just too many “coincidences” that make me realize this project is being blessed in more ways than one.  Saturday was just two of many examples…

We were looking at rentals and found three good options.  In the third property we ventured down to the unfinished basement and found this -

He was alive – but just barely.  So weak he could barely hang onto anything – believe me we tried!  I took him with us in the car and tried to feed him a drop of my watered down soft drink in the car – after a few minutes of this he started flapping his wings stronger so dh wouldn’t let me keep him to show the kids, he insisted we let him out.  So I carried him in my hands and placed him on a flower bush…

While I don’t know what happened to the sweet swallowtail, I do know that he was quite a bright moment in a dreary day of details in this long move.  Kind of like Martha.  

We are down to the wire on our cost construction breakdown – and we are finding that locating subs and quotes is a difficult thing to do at a time when everyone wants to be out vacationing with their families.  One quote we are really waiting on and not knowing when we will get back is our lumber quotes.  We have wanted to get a quote from one company and when we have called them, their turnaround time on quotes has put us too close or past our deadline.

Saturday we visited Cabelas to pick up a few things and the guy who helped us out happened to mention that he has a second job at a lumber company.  We asked him if he knew of anyone there we could talk to and he put us in contact with a guy who could meet with dh first thing Monday AM and get a quote back the same day.  A nice “suprise” – who knew we would run into exactly the right person who could put us in contact with THE right person to talk to?

Maybe my problem with past projects is that I always thought everything rested on my shoulders and if I didn’t make it happen it would fall on my plate.  None of us can make it all happen – things happen when the timing is right and the work is done.

Which brings me to my new perspective and practice.  Working like I usually do however, feeling like I have no control over the outcome, I am just along for the journey and education.  I am not 100% sure this whole project will work out, but what I am 100% sure on is that along the way I am going to enjoy the ride and learn a lot.

It all works out – sometimes not according to what I wanted and thought was best.  Yet at the same time I have learned again and again in life that in hindsight, what I thought I so desperately wanted and needed wasn’t always the best thing for me.  

Often by letting go, I get the best things. I have to be patient and eventually it all comes together.  The best things are often different than I would have expected and yet better than I could have ever dreamed. Quite frankly, they are wonderful surprises. 

The catalyst in all this is patience, time and hope.

Down To The Wire

It’s official – unless something happens (like the buyer’s buyers falling through) – everything is done and it looks like we will be out of here in 8 days.  8 DAYS??!!

I have judiciously gathered boxes, started packing certain areas of our home and I have even started giving things away.  When you start packing your home, you begin to question what you REALLY want to hang on to…  

For example, as I was packing our pantry I decided to check expiration dates of all those cereal products I bought on sale.  I had 20 boxes of Rice Krispies that expire two months after our new home will be done.  We will never eat that many boxes in 2 months (well maybe we could – let’s just say I don’t want my kids to eat that many lol).  I also know I am going to be way too busy to make Rice Krispie treats for the whole neighborhood upon moving in, so about 15 of those boxes landed at the food bank on Saturday. 

I am clearing out so much “stuff” that I don’t need – it makes me wonder why I thought I ever needed it at all.  This is not a new revelation – because I spent most of last summer de-junking every area of my house – we have donated so many loads of “stuff” to the local thrift store that they know me.  Well probably not, but it feels like it…

We will be moving into temporary housing for approximately three months while we wait to finish our house and then we will move into our new home – hopefully right around the time school starts.  Which has me thinking of a new resolution – I think I am going to pretend I am moving every year…

Not really, but I AM going to try to keep this perspective of my stuff being stuff and think about all the stuff I have in a situation like moving – do I really need it?  Most of the time the answer will be, “No.”

I better run – I have three meetings with subs today and a mile long list of to-do’s.  Hope you are enjoying your summer.

Puppies

Whoever said that money can’t buy happiness forgot about puppies…

This is my good friend’s newest family member – simply adorable…

He is so tiny everything he does is cute…

Well almost…he loves “picking” flowers which isn’t so good for the garden…

Too cute for words…spending a few moments capturing this guy on film was the best part of my day yesterday.  I would love to have one just like him.  Guess the photos will have to do since I am so allergic!

Life In The Fast Lane

The past few weeks I feel as if I was moving along to the soundtrack of life, in a fast song, anticipating that after our huge remodeling project was done we would have a slow song for summer to regroup and refresh while waiting for our current home to sell.  Surprisingly there were other things in store for us…   It feels like the last few songs of a challenging aerobic workout where you are waiting for the cool-down music…then all of the sudden they blast you with a faster song than before.  You think you couldn’t possibly kick it up a notch and keep moving, and then you do it with some hidden pocket of energy you never knew you had, surprising yourself (and everyone else) in the process…

Quick overview of my last 2.5 weeks:

• May 16th: close enough to end of remodeling project to seriously contemplate whether or not to put our home on the market.
• May 17th:  dh and I agree that it is time and decide to list.
• May 18th: List our home with flat fee realty service completely online – thinking that by the time it is up and we get appointments, it will be the weekend and we will be 100% ready.
• May 19th: The listing goes live on the MLS around 2pm – by 3pm I have calls for people wanting to see it that night.  I put them off until Wednesday evening.
• May 20th: Three families come to view our home.  Two Realtors call for appts Thursday.
• May 21st: Two more showings.  First offer is in at 9am.
• May 22nd: We counter and buyers accept – our move date is set for June 16th.
• May 23-25:  Dh completes new roof on front of home, we look for homes and submit an offer on a bank-owned property.
• May 26:  Inspector for buyers goes through our current home.  We find out the bank liked someone else’s offer on the home we wanted to buy.
• May 27: Finish some repairs for house, spend an exhausting day searching for homes and submit another offer.
• May 29: Offer is accepted – home is still under construction meaning we have to dig deep for the construction history and get bids to finish.
• May 29PM: Visit Apple Genius who re-Installs my OS and I, thinking Time Machine has backups of everything, hope I am on the way to SBOD FREE days…
• May 30 AM: After four hours sleep, pull off a yard sale.  By 11am I am literally giving things away just so I don’t have to think about packing and moving it…
• May 30PM: Restore computer from Time Machine only to learn that my desktop wasn’t backed up and I lost all my applications…spend hours reinstalling everything and today I am still not back to 100%…  The SBOD is still spinning just like it did BEFORE the genius – ARGH!
• May 31: Nice quiet day with the family where I veg and try not to think of moving in 15 days…
• June 1: Feeling like a construction detective, digging up all the city inspections, asking questions and calling people.  Learn a few interesting things about the house, the builder and the windows…Spend a blissful, sanity-saving hour window shopping at Thanksgiving Point with a good friend – halfway remembering what it is like to be a “normal” person…
• June 2: More calls, appts. set, Appraiser visits our home.  Trying to choose kitchen cabinets, paint, carpet.
• June 3: feeling oddly peaceful in the midst of all of this – kids are finishing up school – I am taking this huge move/project/home design thing one step at a time.  Not even stressed if it will work out because we are learning so much in the process.

For the rest of this week:

• June 4: Kids’ end of year school programs – will be putting together teacher gifts, cookies for program, etc.
• June 5: last day of school – big day!  Coincidentally, my time on the LOM boards as Digital Coach ends too!
• June 6-7:  Weekend of serious packing depending on what happens with our buyers’ buyers and our appraisal…

So I guess you could safely say I am a bit distracted…

My Life In Gingerbread…

Gingerbread House at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort - Image courtesy WALT DISNEY COMPANY

Running, running as fast as I can
I feel a little like the Gingerbread Man
School is almost out, our house is somewhat sold,
Everything on my to-do list
Has me feeling tired and old…
As of this week I am closer to 40 than 30 -
my house has been too dirty
I haven’t cooked a wink and yes there are dishes in my sink
But what do you expect when change is happening so fast?
It makes me want to run into a time machine and go back to the past.
Hindsight is always 20/20 – at least that’s what they say.
Right now I’d give just about anything to move forward three months
And then peek back to where I am today.
I would know what to expect – if and when we would find a house.
Whether or not it would require work
And exterminators because of a possible mouse.
I’d see how things end up in this crazy move of mine…
And how all the things I am stressing about will get better with time.
Maybe I should pretend I went into the future today
remind myself it doesn’t matter how much I stress
because technically things will “work out” either way.

Tell myself to slow down and focus on what matters most
Being with my family and not stressing about missing a blog post.

So if you find me missing from my blogs and various hangouts online…

Don’t fret about me – I am just moving along in my crazy life

Trying to forget about the time…

PS -  You can catch me here and very soon you might catch me here.