I think my kids "forget" to eat bananas with a plan in mind - to encourage me to make bread & muffins. Because I'm a waste-not-want-not kind of person, I can't just throw them out. They're still good for something! So this week I made two dozen banana chocolate chip muffins (their favorite) and a large loaf of banana nut bread. See? That was a lot of overripe bananas!
Now that the New Year is here, maybe things will start to happen with the house. It's like a pot of water that grew cold and a new fire is lit under it - things are starting to warm up! Another realtor came by to see if I wanted to switch to him (my contract with the other realtor was up), but after consulting with Ken, we decided to stay with Sandy. She had people come last Sunday to see the house, and I went over Friday to sign a new paper with her. And she had someone else come see the house right after that! She had also spoken to our mortgage company and they are willing to work with us and let someone assume the loan (that means take it over from us). This would be quite appealing to some buyers who had lender trouble. Let's get this show on the road!
Which means...we have to be ready. Of top priority is Jonathan getting his Eagle Project done. While we could move in with my folks for a short while waiting on the doctor if the house sold, we need to be HERE in CORONA in our WARD for Jonathan's project. So we're really pushing him, his leaders and anyone we can talk to into finding something - pronto! A couple of ideas have appeared this week, so Jonathan will be exploring them this week.
He's back at the Fender, as well, for his fifth session of guitar lessons. This will probably be his last, because we really plan to be out of here by April-May. He has enjoyed them so much and made the effort to practice and learn. Trudy Whittaker - our ward & stake music expert - has made me swear to continue to get him lessons in Oklahoma, especially since he enjoys it and shows some talent for it. I just like listening to it and feel the calm in his spirit as he concentrates and plays.
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
New Year, New Opportunities, New Hope
We had Rachel with us since last Thursday. Apparently it hit her hard on Christmas Eve to realize that Analiese would not be around for the next Christmas. She was supposed to spend several days at Grandma's since her parents were going out of town, but I asked to take her instead. She would have been bored at their house, anyway, and Analiese was excited to have a playmate! It also meant that she wouldn't have lessons, either, which I think she did not mourn.
We started off our CA New Year with a NYE dinner with the sister missionaries and Carrie, a new ward member. I completely went against the "rules" and made a new recipe for dinner - we had a crepes buffet! I had all kinds of fillings to go into them - chicken, ham, bacon, broccoli, scallions, mushrooms, cheddar cheese & parmesan as well as a white sauce to add on if they wanted it. Actually, it was really tasty and everyone enjoyed it (except Jonathan, who spent the evening at a friend's). If I was going to do something different, though, I would do the crepes in advance and reheat them just before dinner. That would have been easier than standing in front of the stove cooking the whole time. I made a luscious cranberry cake with brown sugar-pecan topping for dessert and - of course - we had sparkling cider.
Even though we are not late night partiers, Jonathan was out late and I didn't sleep well until he got home. So we slept in and, for the first time in my life, we did not watch the Rose Parade. My friends wanted to go up to Pasadena and see it live (since we never have) but a) I would have had to get up really early - ugh! - b) it would be cold, c) it would be a long drive and d) you see it better on TV anyway. But the parade didn't stream well on the computer or my iPad, so we ended up not bothering.
Rachel went home the next day and the kids and I spent the rest of the week cleaning the house really well. During Christmas, I was so busy with baking and doing things, that the house had only cursory cleaning and needed a deeper cleansing. Worst of all was the fridge - the great procrasinating agent in my mind. I had made jigglers for the family game day in November (yes, I know, gross) and spilled jello in the BACK of my fridge. So this big red stain kept staring me in the face. I can't tell you how relieved I was to rid myself of it. The kids were great to help, too, with Analiese washing drawers in the bathtub (only place big enough for them to fit) and Jonathan scrubbing the fridge.
Oh! And Jonathan got the casts/molds made for his orthotics on Friday. It's the first step in getting them made. Once he has them, the doctor okays him to go, and we get his Eagle Project done, we are pretty much free to go to OK!
Which leaves...the house. Sunday was the first time since the first part of November that we had anyone look at the house. I haven't heard anything back, but maybe things will pick up now that the new year has begun.
We started off our CA New Year with a NYE dinner with the sister missionaries and Carrie, a new ward member. I completely went against the "rules" and made a new recipe for dinner - we had a crepes buffet! I had all kinds of fillings to go into them - chicken, ham, bacon, broccoli, scallions, mushrooms, cheddar cheese & parmesan as well as a white sauce to add on if they wanted it. Actually, it was really tasty and everyone enjoyed it (except Jonathan, who spent the evening at a friend's). If I was going to do something different, though, I would do the crepes in advance and reheat them just before dinner. That would have been easier than standing in front of the stove cooking the whole time. I made a luscious cranberry cake with brown sugar-pecan topping for dessert and - of course - we had sparkling cider.
Even though we are not late night partiers, Jonathan was out late and I didn't sleep well until he got home. So we slept in and, for the first time in my life, we did not watch the Rose Parade. My friends wanted to go up to Pasadena and see it live (since we never have) but a) I would have had to get up really early - ugh! - b) it would be cold, c) it would be a long drive and d) you see it better on TV anyway. But the parade didn't stream well on the computer or my iPad, so we ended up not bothering.
Rachel went home the next day and the kids and I spent the rest of the week cleaning the house really well. During Christmas, I was so busy with baking and doing things, that the house had only cursory cleaning and needed a deeper cleansing. Worst of all was the fridge - the great procrasinating agent in my mind. I had made jigglers for the family game day in November (yes, I know, gross) and spilled jello in the BACK of my fridge. So this big red stain kept staring me in the face. I can't tell you how relieved I was to rid myself of it. The kids were great to help, too, with Analiese washing drawers in the bathtub (only place big enough for them to fit) and Jonathan scrubbing the fridge.
Oh! And Jonathan got the casts/molds made for his orthotics on Friday. It's the first step in getting them made. Once he has them, the doctor okays him to go, and we get his Eagle Project done, we are pretty much free to go to OK!
Which leaves...the house. Sunday was the first time since the first part of November that we had anyone look at the house. I haven't heard anything back, but maybe things will pick up now that the new year has begun.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Are We There Yet?
The answer for that is...no.
Some of us just pick up and go. Others have a journey first through time, but not space. And we are the latter, for reasons unknown to us at this time.
Our journey started way back in the spring. Here's my journal entry around that time:
"We are still waiting on pins and needles here to see if Ken is a) going to get a 2nd interview for the Oklahoma job - they say so, we just haven't been given a date/time yet, b) going to get an offer for the Oklahoma job and c) going to accept the Oklahoma job - yikes! The wait is making him slightly distractedly irritable.
I have yet to feel (Spirit-wise) whether or not the move is a good idea. Personally, I don't want to go - my resources and support group are here. But if it is where we are supposed to go and what we are supposed to do...I will follow. But the waiting is a killer."
At one point we figured it wasn't going to happen:
"No news is good news as far as I'm concerned. We should have heard, but haven't, about OK a long time ago, so I figure they don't want us and have forgotten to tell us."
Talk about yo-yo's:
"Life is CRAZY! This week Ken had two second interviews with two companies - and one was the OK job! Plus, he got an email inquiry about a third one - in Houston!"
And then...the news came:
"So it appears to be Oklahoma. They have sent us an offer and Ken appears to want to take it. I FEEL (in calmer moments) that this is the right thing to do. But right now I need to list my qualms...in order to calm them? Or just to bring them to light.
We are going to rural Oklahoma, earning less than we could live on in California. Ken says we'll be able to make it there. But, as my friend Michele says, we won't make it back easily. It has to work and we'll have to stick out there, like it or not.
I worry about the kids and their opportunities. Things as they are, my kids have still had so many experiences and chances here for growth. Will Oklahoma be able to offer them still more? Will they be able to homeschool there and still succeed? Will they need to go to school, just to be with people? Or just to have the resources they may need to acquire their dreams and goals?
And will we be able to progress and save and plan for our future there? Is there a future there? Ken says there is mobility in the company, but with his Aspergers, will he be able to do it? And if it meant another move, would we be able to move? Would there be enough $?
Also, I am very leery about the housing situation. Will there be places for us to rent or will we be able to get a home right off? Rural areas aren't well known for their apartment complexes. Plus, I don't know how well our mobile home here is going to sell, or if we'll end up giving it away.
And, of course, nearly everyone I know and love are here in California. Mom & Dad aren't getting younger and with so many health issues, I won't be around to help them.
I know there are positive things about taking the job and moving. I've heard them and been rehearsing them. Still, tonight - at nearly midnight - my fears seem very real - and very overwhelming. I will be fasting through the night into tomorrow and will ask Ken to give me a blessing in the morning. It will be as much for him as it is for myself. We need the Lord's consecrating hand on our family if this venture is to succeed."
Obviously, I was uneasy at first about the move:
"I asked Ken for a blessing this morning. I came to it fasting and he readily agreed, looking at yesterday's journal entry so he knew of my concerns. But when he started, he paused for a long time. Then he said he wasn't ready yet and needed to pray and ponder some more.
I went to the livingroom to do some studying and pondering of my own while I waited. Analiese was awake and kept me company. Ken was in our bedroom, behind closed doors. He said there was nothing for the longest time...and then Jonathan got up. The Spirit flooded into him and he knew what to say. He mentioned that the blessing could not be given without the whole family.
We're to go to Oklahoma. There is much growth and service and blessings awaiting us there. My worries were from Satan - to try and stop us. We are going to be blessed beyond measure due to our faith - faithfulness in tithing in particular - and our worthiness. What a blessing to have from the Lord that he thinks us worthy!
Of course, I am an emotional mess right now, full of gratitude that the Lord is right beside us. Even Ken wept some as he felt the Lord's love and blessings.
Things will work out. We just need to keep remembering that!"
So our journey begins with a step of faith:
"Ken leaves tomorrow, so he gave us all husband/father's blessings. Mine was mainly of comfort & safety, but also to know by the Spirit who would be purchasing the home, so that I could greet them warmly and they could feel by the Spirit that this was their new home. No timeline, though, bummer.
Still, it was good to have the peace of knowing things will go according to the Father's plan. Also, I can use this time remaining to comfort my mother and spend time with my friends."
My journals certainly reflected the times and concerns. And, of course, the adventure was only just beginning!
Some of us just pick up and go. Others have a journey first through time, but not space. And we are the latter, for reasons unknown to us at this time.
Our journey started way back in the spring. Here's my journal entry around that time:
"We are still waiting on pins and needles here to see if Ken is a) going to get a 2nd interview for the Oklahoma job - they say so, we just haven't been given a date/time yet, b) going to get an offer for the Oklahoma job and c) going to accept the Oklahoma job - yikes! The wait is making him slightly distractedly irritable.
I have yet to feel (Spirit-wise) whether or not the move is a good idea. Personally, I don't want to go - my resources and support group are here. But if it is where we are supposed to go and what we are supposed to do...I will follow. But the waiting is a killer."
At one point we figured it wasn't going to happen:
"No news is good news as far as I'm concerned. We should have heard, but haven't, about OK a long time ago, so I figure they don't want us and have forgotten to tell us."
Talk about yo-yo's:
"Life is CRAZY! This week Ken had two second interviews with two companies - and one was the OK job! Plus, he got an email inquiry about a third one - in Houston!"
And then...the news came:
"So it appears to be Oklahoma. They have sent us an offer and Ken appears to want to take it. I FEEL (in calmer moments) that this is the right thing to do. But right now I need to list my qualms...in order to calm them? Or just to bring them to light.
We are going to rural Oklahoma, earning less than we could live on in California. Ken says we'll be able to make it there. But, as my friend Michele says, we won't make it back easily. It has to work and we'll have to stick out there, like it or not.
I worry about the kids and their opportunities. Things as they are, my kids have still had so many experiences and chances here for growth. Will Oklahoma be able to offer them still more? Will they be able to homeschool there and still succeed? Will they need to go to school, just to be with people? Or just to have the resources they may need to acquire their dreams and goals?
And will we be able to progress and save and plan for our future there? Is there a future there? Ken says there is mobility in the company, but with his Aspergers, will he be able to do it? And if it meant another move, would we be able to move? Would there be enough $?
Also, I am very leery about the housing situation. Will there be places for us to rent or will we be able to get a home right off? Rural areas aren't well known for their apartment complexes. Plus, I don't know how well our mobile home here is going to sell, or if we'll end up giving it away.
And, of course, nearly everyone I know and love are here in California. Mom & Dad aren't getting younger and with so many health issues, I won't be around to help them.
I know there are positive things about taking the job and moving. I've heard them and been rehearsing them. Still, tonight - at nearly midnight - my fears seem very real - and very overwhelming. I will be fasting through the night into tomorrow and will ask Ken to give me a blessing in the morning. It will be as much for him as it is for myself. We need the Lord's consecrating hand on our family if this venture is to succeed."
Obviously, I was uneasy at first about the move:
"I asked Ken for a blessing this morning. I came to it fasting and he readily agreed, looking at yesterday's journal entry so he knew of my concerns. But when he started, he paused for a long time. Then he said he wasn't ready yet and needed to pray and ponder some more.
I went to the livingroom to do some studying and pondering of my own while I waited. Analiese was awake and kept me company. Ken was in our bedroom, behind closed doors. He said there was nothing for the longest time...and then Jonathan got up. The Spirit flooded into him and he knew what to say. He mentioned that the blessing could not be given without the whole family.
We're to go to Oklahoma. There is much growth and service and blessings awaiting us there. My worries were from Satan - to try and stop us. We are going to be blessed beyond measure due to our faith - faithfulness in tithing in particular - and our worthiness. What a blessing to have from the Lord that he thinks us worthy!
Of course, I am an emotional mess right now, full of gratitude that the Lord is right beside us. Even Ken wept some as he felt the Lord's love and blessings.
Things will work out. We just need to keep remembering that!"
So our journey begins with a step of faith:
"Ken leaves tomorrow, so he gave us all husband/father's blessings. Mine was mainly of comfort & safety, but also to know by the Spirit who would be purchasing the home, so that I could greet them warmly and they could feel by the Spirit that this was their new home. No timeline, though, bummer.
Still, it was good to have the peace of knowing things will go according to the Father's plan. Also, I can use this time remaining to comfort my mother and spend time with my friends."
My journals certainly reflected the times and concerns. And, of course, the adventure was only just beginning!
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