NC Family is Staying Put

Hello family, 

I wanted to share with you a great experience I had this last week in regards to my work/our move situation.  As most, if not all of you know, my position at Suddenlink Communications was eliminated (along with many others) on April 1st.  As you can imagine this has resulted in a myriad of emotions and many conversations about what we should do.  Greenville is quite a small area and does not offer many job opportunities at my level.  We love the town here, our house, living across the street from the church, our ward family, and were also concerned about moving Ryan before his Senior year of high school. Originally we were thinking of trying to stay until he was done, but Ryan has told us he was open to moving and it would be fine, since I needed to get a job.  Since then I have applied at dozens of places all across the US (from Oregon to Nashville to Dallas to Raleigh and more).  I have had some interviews but wasn't moving along to the final interview at any of them.  

During this time we have continued to pray for peace and direction.  We know, based on past experiences and through our faith in God that we would be OK whatever happened.  We prayed that we would be led to where Heavenly Father wanted us to be (for whatever reason that was).  Sunday morning I had an especially long and heartfelt prayer before church about what direction we should take and asking for promptings and inspiration of where to look for a job.  That day I attended my home ward with Melissa and Ryan.  This is somewhat unusual as I am usually at our young Single Adult Branch where i have High Council responsibilities.  

The meeting started off as usual and there were announcements and we sang the opening song.  Then a brother from the ward stood up to pray.  I cannot even remember what he was praying about, but in the middle of the prayer I received a very strong impression that said "You need to stay in Greenville." It was so strong and so clear that I immediately began crying and couldn't really control the strong feelings I was having.  After the prayer ended I leaned over to Melissa, hardly able to even whisper and told her that i had just received the prompting for us to stay here and not move.  For the next few minutes and even throughout the meeting I struggled to control my emotions.  Later as I sat in the young Single Adult sacrament meeting and was thinking about my earlier experience i got an overwhelming feeling of peace.  I felt a burden lifted and felt lighter.

Over the last few days we have thanked our Father in Heaven for his direction and prayed for confirmation of this decision.  Each time we have felt at peace with staying here.  We do not know for sure what that means.  We have been given direction on this, but now need to have faith that further direction or circumstances will make it clear to us what we should do.  Is a job going to come open here in 3 months?  6 months 9 months?  do we need to be here to help someone else?  Will we stay only until Ryan graduates or longer?  These are questions that at this point are not given to us and we must approach in faith relying upon our Heavenly Father's will for us.  It is like stepping into the fog with some direction, but not being able to see all the way. 

I do continued getting paid for six months and we can save some money during that time, and we also have money in savings.  For now, I will continue to look for permanent work in the area, and also as well look for temporary, part-time, or consulting work that can help us to replenish what we may need to spend in order to stay here.  

There are a few videos that have been comforting to me and may help some of you who could be struggling for answers to prayers or to discerning spiritual promptings.  You can look them up on youtube.    One is Elder Bednar (3 parts) on Patterns of Light.  One is Elder Christopherson (3 parts) the Bread of Life.  Each video segment is only 2-3 minutes long. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fycvkAhYz1I&list=PLzmn-qiRN8tkmVARh12cnVqBISBeLzOn3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eMJ6ZDCAp4&list=PLR6zcDAvEr1qYSE4uAHEtrOY2uzwDg7Cx

I have been blessed with such a wonderful family and extended family.  i want all of you to know that  god does guide our lives and we all have a plan to fulfill.  We all have our own individual needs, wants, and direction and if we turn to our Father in prayer and rely on the comfort, blessings and teachings of the atonement of Jesus Christ i know that each of us can be led to circumstances in which god wants us to be.  I challenge all of us to live such that we can know of His will for us.  I heard a quote once that said something like, "If you wonder whether your purpose in life is complete yet.  If you are alive, it isn't."  

I love you all and prayer for blessings and direction in each of your lives. 

Love, 

Mike

One Last FHE

After the pumpkin patch we headed over to my parents house to help my mom with the last few things to load into the truck.  The house was suppose to close the next day after already being post-poned from the September 28, the the 3rd, then the 10th, and now to the 14th.  They are waiting for the money to be wired in and then they close.  It's bitter sweet to me.  I'm happy for my parents to have less to take care of and to be completely debt free! I just wish we could still visit and enjoy my parents property.  It will be so sad to not have my kids growing up running around in the woods and exploring the grounds like I did as a kid.  Rowan won't even have any memories of the place.  Family get togethers will be different too since the kids can't just ride bikes out front by themselves safely but we will all move forward and make the best of everything.

Panoramas of the house and the front of the house

The Garage/Workroom

Barn

Mom and Dad's new house has a lot of work that needs to be done on it.  I hope the Lord has a wonderful plan in store for them since he wanted them to get a two story house that needs a TON of work.  I do LOVE the fact that I can walk to their new house.  The kids are excited to be taking bike rides to their house.  I am too.  It will be so nice to have them close by.  I plan on stopping by often to visit.  It will be nice to have them in more a part of my kids lives and they will have more time to do that too since they won't be trying to tend to 5 acres of land.

I wanted to do one last FHE at the house to build one last memory for my kids.  We use to play kickball for FHE with my family growing up and I wanted to do that with my kids too. Kevin brought a soccer with him so he and the kids played.

I took pics and walked around the house taking pics and crying.  I didn't realize how emotional it would make me. I'm really going to miss that place.  My mom locked up the house on accident and my heart broke thinking I wouldn't be able to get back inside.  Thankfully she forgot the back door so I was able to get back in.  I was so relieved since I hadn't taken pics inside.  It's hard thinking they won't be here and I won't be back in the rooms I grew up in and share with my kids what I use to do (sitting on the windowsills, sleeping on them, parties we had in the basement, dancing on the fire place hearth, playing up in the attic, playing in the barns loft, roller skating in the garage, ice skating for the first time in the field on the ice, panning for gold in the stream, driving the tractor around with a wagon on the back pretending to be pioneers, planting the Christmas tree farm, getting stuck in a tree and needing a brother to come help me get down, getting soaked while walking down the driveway from school, getting proposed to in my room, Kaila's first birthday in the backyard, and so much more).

Inside the House

Hooks for coats in the side room which we use as our food storage room growing up.

The "middle room" that we used as a second family room.  Our piano was in that corner for years with a TV on the top. Greg and Sher used that room as their living room and school room while they lived there with them too.  It was a great set up fro the house with two rooms downstairs and the middle room for them to use for their family.

The downstairs bedroom looking out the front of the house.  Greg built this room after coming back from college/mission and not having a room.  It amazes me that he built it all himself.  I can remember the framing going up even.  As a kid I loved to tell my friends that it use to be a garage and that my brother built that room.  If they didn't believe me then I would show them the closet and inside I would show them the garden faucet in there.  

Inside of the front door walking upstairs

Family Room.  When we first got the house the month after I turned 6 we got 

pizza and took it over to our new house and ate pizza in the family room.

Outside

  Our (Rebecca and Sarah's) Christmas Swing

Dad built it for us when we were kids.  Rebecca used it almost every 

nights she got older listening to music and swinging the end of the day away.

My mom had the most beautiful flowers there! As a kid she had us come sit by her and taught us how to weed correctly.  I'm so glad we got to learn many lessons from living here.

Grew up with the smell of the lilac bush coming through the door and windows.  

Every time I smell that bush in public it takes me right back to home as a child.

One of the three trees right by the Garage that Rebecca and I use to 

play under and around.  Love those wonderful trees! 

Right Side of the Field leading to the back forrest

Inside the fenced area (right side of forest). Where Rebeccan and I panned for gold, made houses out of blackberry vines, "camped"

 

DD been throwing tantrums a lot lately! It's so frustrating. I woke DH up today telling him I was finished with her and shut myself in the office/playroom to sew without her crying and whining. It was nice to get something finished that I've wanted done for awhile. Sadly I couldn't find my other thread though so I could only do the things that needed white thread.

LM is also WAY more dramatic and throwing tempers than DD ever was or is. He's my crazy man. He like to throw himself down on the couch or pillow and even puts himself in the corner and cries. It's insane and hilarious too!

Our dishwasher handle broke not even a week after moving in and the fridge stopped working yesterday. Both thankfully got fixed today. Washing dishes by hand isn't fun! We got our fridge and dishwasher fixed today!! I'm so happy about that.

We also got out of the house and picked up some stuff for DD's birthday and things for the house and treated ourselves to Pad Thai. DD loved it! LM still doesn't like it but loved the grapes and yogurt. That kid LOVES fruit. Some of our friends drove in from Boise so we went over and chatted with them. Their brother (another of DH's friends) is getting sealed (married) tomorrow morning at the Temple so we have an early start tomorrow to be there. Their mother is going in for a heart operation too on Wednesday (DD and LM's "other" grandmother). I'm nervous for her but know it will go well. It's just temporary to get her body better for getting a heart transplant. She will be in the hospital for 14-16 days which is such a long time to me. Extra prayers that day would help.

Today we got more of the house unpacked...well, DH got to some of his boxes that were in our room. I got some little things done and Grandma came over to play with the kids and see the house since she hasn't been here for awhile and we have done a lot since then. I think the house is finally put mostly together. We still have the bookcases and the pictures to put up.

I couldn't sleep this morning and was up really early. I finally got out of bed at 6:30 and decided to exercise. It was nice to get that done (first time this pregnancy) and showered before LM woke up for the day! I was exhausted at 9:30 and laid down for a nap though.

Today we tackled the garage. I had a friend come help with that and it was great to get most of that taken care of. It's better than I thought it was going to be out there. Now to get the office/playroom/preschool room in order. That's for tomorrow though. I started to get another migraine tonight after dinner so I headed up to bed and the kids came to say good night to me. I finally woke up after having a couple of dreams about emptying out boxes (lovely dream!).

Some cute kids with their snacks

DD's started this new thing with fixing peoples hair. It's so cute. She will ask what you want in your hair and go over and pretend to get a bow or clip. It's so cute and she can do it for a long time! She started with a little toy baby brush on Grandma's hair and did her hair for about 45 minutes Grandma told us.

DD playing around with the camera

Long Week

Sorry I've been MIA. Our internet wasn't switched over to the "new house" (as DD likes to call it) like it was suppose to and then they were suppose to do it on Monday and that didn't happen so it was Tuesday before we got Internet service again. The move went well (after we finally got some people to come help us move 45 minutes after our scheduled time). We got most everything over to the house and only had to get a few things on Monday. I had two friends over at the old house cleaning for me while I was directing boxes and furniture at the new house. It was CRAZY!!! There were boxes everywhere. I redid the kitchen three times in 2 days trying to figure out where to put things as I found more boxes. I started just getting rid of so many thing since the kitchen has 4 less cabinets and a full bank of drawers less. The drawers I do have now are also 3-4 inches smaller than what I had before so what all fit in one drawer before won't fit now. It's nice motivation to purge though.

MOVING DAY
(love the post it's to tell people where to put things)

Sunday was a little crazy. The kids didn't like the chaos at the house and were VERY cranky. DH finally go the DVD player hooked up which helped a ton. I was grateful to get to church, though that's exhausting too. I had to take LM out in the foyer about 4 times and DH twice. DH sang with a mens group and I was glad I was able to sneak back in to hear him. Church was relaxing otherwise. It was my first Sunday not teaching since we decided to combine YW classes. I was glad DH finally got a break from LM so he could get something out of church. We ate dinner at DH's parent's house so we could get out of the mess of our house. It was nice! I went with my FIL to a music presentation at church and met my mom there. It was wonderful. The kids were in bed when I got home too which was great also!

Monday we went to the old house and my mom and I dug up some of the plants I had planted to take to the new house and tried saving some daffodils that the back hole dug up the previous Sunday. I forgot to get a few more plants but I think I will just count my losses. DH and my FIL striped the wallpaper that DD tore off and then cleaned the carpets. He was gone all day and with all the stress of the house and being PG on top of it I lost my patience again with the kids. I felt so bad. I was not a good mommy and trying to do it all on my own all day was rough especially since there's not much for the kids yet to play with everywhere being boxed up. I found the toy boxes though and tried to get things out for them. My mom put all the DVD's away for us while my Dad worked on getting the dryer hooked up. I need to do laundry since it's over flowing now!

House of Chaos

Tuesday one parent from Preschool came (didn't get my text that it was canceled) but the kids played and I found the watercolors and let them paint. LM drank the gross water and later DD did too. She told me she drank the "yucky water". Weird child.

We got a lot of the house put in order and my MIL came over and I got a lot of office boxes sorted (5-7 file boxes). My FIL and DH switched the washer and dryer around for me but had to get a longer duct for the vent and then I was finally able to start laundry. DD did AWESOME at her swim class. I haven't seen her swim for a long time. We need to work on her taking a breath to help her float now. She's doing so great on her back, putting her face in the water, gliding, and jumping. We had Chinese food afterward with the in-laws. It was a nice evening. After they left and the kids were in bed I crashed on the couch at 8pm and slept until midnight. I then read a new book for awhile and went back to sleep.

DD's Last Swim Class

Kid's Rooms Mostly Completed

Almost finished...

Well, I hit a wall today. I blew up with DH a couple of times and was snapping at DD even though neither deserved it. I have no more patience and am stressed out about the amount of boxes to empty before my crazy boy destroys the place and then the house still needs more packing and people are coming tomorrow at 9am. It's nuts! I also can't walk well today since my calf muscles feel like they were shredded to pieces. I was hobbling around this morning and DH asked me if I was headed to the bathroom. I said I was. He said he could make it to the bathroom, pee, and still make it back before I could get there. The sad thing was he was probably right. My mom told me to take two Advil and drink a quart of water before she saw me today. I almost got there. I'm doing a little better but still have to go down the stairs backward and walk slower. I pray tomorrow they are better. I need to be able to move more.

Bless my MIL. She took my kids ALL day today! My babysitter fell through (forgot) and she took them from 9:30am to 8:30pm! She's amazing. She walked them over to the new house and they loved running around. It's nice to see them during the day too. She got LM to take TWO naps today!!! How she did that I don't know. I think I want to send them over to her house for nap time because they have been taking 2-3 hour naps everyday for her. So nice!

DD is excited for her white room and keeps saying LM gets the green room. She can't wait to spend the night there tomorrow night. It was really sad getting the kids out of the car tonight. I set LM on the ground and he got a BIG grin on his face. He just loves it here and sadly doesn't realize it's his last night here. I will miss all the country around us since now we are in a neighborhood. Our neighbors are nice though. They have come to say hi to us but I haven't ever been there to meet them yet (my dad and DH were). We still have one more neighbor to meet. They are Cuban and I pray they cook Cuban food. I LOVE Cuban food.

Poor DH is still at the new house trying to put together some pantry closets we bought today for the kitchen (NEED more storage). It's 11pm and I know he's exhausted. I'm heading to bed now even though there is more I should do BUT the kids will get me up early so I know I will have an hour or more tomorrow to get things ready for everyone. Worse case (they take a box and fill it up with the little odds and ends around the house which hopefully won't be too many boxes.

We got another blessing tonight. DH told me he gets to work from home tomorrow and as long as things go smoothly it will just be by phone and he will be able to help a lot more with the move. I was also talking to my friend on the phone (the one who watched the kids and her husband came to paint tonight). She told me to take some Advil for my headache since I am in my 2nd trimester. Her doctor told her she could only in the second trimester since she got headaches all the time with both her previous pregnancies. She said the first trimester you can't because of brain development for the baby and the third because it thins your blood. I seriously went and popped two in my mouth the moment she said I could take some because I didn't want my headache to get worse and all our Tylenol got packed. My headache got so much better and the kids shrieking didn't kill me when I went to pick them up from my in-laws.

I feel so much better about tomorrow and moving on Saturday now. I think we will be able to make it all work! The Lord has been so good to us today.

I have been VERY blessed today. I got two friends to come over to the new house and help unload the cars my mom and I packed up today. (One of my friends called me up and said she just felt she needed to call me to see if she could help out. The Lord was working through her and I'm so glad she listened!) They finished the kitchen and wiped out the drawers and cupboards that the cleaning lady missed and even unloaded boxes of books for me. They didn't know where to put them but at this point I don't care. I got a migraine this afternoon after only getting one box unloaded (started loosing my eye sight) so I had to lay on the bed we had brought over the day before. Tonight the Elder's Quorum Presidency is coming over to the house to help finish up painting DD's room! I don't know how we are so blessed. I just want to cry. My FIL came over to the house and packed up everything he could until he ran out of boxes and loaded them up into his truck too. I now feel like we will make it and have everything ready to go for the move Saturday! I've been so blessed today!

I woke up today and I hurt all over. My body is not like having to do all this work. We got a second coat on the bedroom yesterday but it needs a third and the house here still looks like a bomb blew up and needing a lot more packing done. I put a plea out for help on FB this morning because I just can't do it. Not with DH working and my mom isn't young any more to keep up with the pace we need to finish. I'm sure it will all work out. I'm not sure how but it will. I just pray we will all live through it! I'm lucky to have some wonderful friends taking the kids which is a huge help. Today we are focusing on the house and might go over and paint this afternoon since a friend offered to help during nap time since her husband is home sick today. I hope we can do that and I pray we have enough energy to do that. Time will tell...

Pregnancy wise: everything seems to be going well. I feel like I'm popping out more and am almost 100% in PG clothes but on Sunday I wore an entire outfit that wasn't. She loves to move around and lot and keeps me up at night for a time being until she finally settles down. It's fun though.

Today has been EXHAUSTING!!! We have to do two layers of paint on top of primer on some spots. Thankfully I have my Dad helping and my mom BUT it's still a lot of work. My mom got a lot of the kitchen stuff that made it over to the house unpacked! My FIL put all the shelves in the system we bought on craigslist. It's nice to see things in the house and empty boxes! We still have a lot more to go though. We are also getting a desk this evening too! I'm so happy about that. We have been looking for something for the computer and for scrapbooking and I think this will be perfect. My dad had to go to work and will be back to help paint tonight. The kids have been with my MIL all day and are napping there. I'm going to nap after I post this. I just finished lunch (yes at almost 3pm). I hope my body can hold up for me. We will see how the kids are doing. I might have to wait to do anything more till tomorrow when I have another babysitter for the kids in the morning.

Got the Keys

Today we got so much more packed! We got the keys and I have a TON more painting to do that I never noticed before...UGH! Thankfully my dad is coming to help. The kids LOVED running around the empty house. I think it will be a great move for us. Not looking forward to the stairs especially being 9 months PG and after having the baby BUT it will be great for weight loss, right? I'm really looking forward to the park/school being just around the corner though for the kids! They will love it this summer.



Preschool went really well today. We finished up our bubble flowers and we had music today. It was lots of fun and the kids did great. DD was a little weird but that could be from the move and all. LM has a really hard time with the move with extra people here and all the boxes. DD seems to adjust pretty well and just asks to watch "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". She's obsessed with that move and it's really a weird movie! LM loves all the music and dancing and loves to bob up and down. It's darling. DD loves to spin around the room.

Tomorrow starts the move of boxes and painting! I pray I have enough energy. It's cray how just one day of packing wipes me out for days. Today's the first day I packed two days in a row and I'm TIRED. I have a lot to do tomorrow too and I even got a nap today. I'll have to have faith that God will give me the strength I need to get through this week and next.

We got an answer to prayer today! DH got a job!!!! I'm so happy. He hasn't worked since February. Our money was getting low and we were trying to have faith that things will work out especially with the move and everything and then he got a call today. He starts tomorrow and works through Friday. He always works when we are moving. This time though he doesn't start until till mid day tomorrow and is thankfully working from home so he's able to help move boxes and unload the trailer that we have packed up before working.

A sweet lady from church brought over lemon chicken for us for dinner along with rice, jello, and brownies. She thought the kids would love the jello and they did! I asked her on Sunday for her recipe for the lemon chicken because I've been craving it and she said, "Does Sarah need lemon chicken. I'll make Sarah some lemon chicken." It was so sweet and wonderful to get a meal dropped off. I never feel like cooking at night after packing. I barely have energy left and my feet are usually killing me by that point. It was VERY yummy too. I still need the recipe though.