Journal: Changing Gears

Out my window: Dark and 74.  Humid. Stupid humidity- I just checked and the humidity level is literally 97%.  It has been like this for a few days. Bleh- I am so over it!

Clothing myself in: Actually same navy blue shirt from last post. I've changed since last week, I promise.  Black exercise pants. Fancy.

Around the house: Boxes. I mean, most of the stuff isn't in boxes, but about 20 boxes were packed this weekend and I have some clothes folded in baskets ready to be put in boxes when I get some of appropriate size.  So that is exciting. And overwhelming.

Kiddos: George is doing excellent at potty training.  It's pretty exciting. He still wears a diaper at night because he's a super nighttime wetter, but other than that, it's all good.  We will see how he is with the move and everything, however.

They have been pretty great and helpful, at least this far, in our packing endeavors.  Everyone is gearing up for the start of (virtual) school next week.  That should be interesting!

Bringing me joy: Acceptance of God's will, even if it isn't what I would plan. All five kids playing nicely outside together. Getting to take the time to prepare meals again- or oversee the kids preparing the meals, they love to help.  The knowledge that the mountains aren't too far off.

Thinking about: Well, we decided to put in an offer on a house in Colorado on Friday. Unfortunately, there was a glitch in the paperwork, so the contract had to be rewritten and we were going to submit it today.  And in that time period, another offer was made on the house. So that was that.  Admittedly, it is hard to switch gears.  It was a great house, great location in the mountains and closer to Kansas.  But we have prayed from the beginning that God would lead us to where we needed to go.  And it seems that his answer was pretty firmly No in that regard.  So we trust that there is something better for us.

So we are pursuing a house in Wyoming, which was a very solid second choice.  We will see how it pans out.  Trust!

Also thinking about homeschooling.  I had, of course, lined up what we would do for homeschooling if we were in Colorado.  Or if we were in Idaho.  But I hadn't explored my homeschooling options for Wyoming as much.  So now I am feeling a little overwhelmed and having to scramble to work that out.  Again, trust!

Pictures to share: 

 Liam made this for his aquatic themed birthday party with his friends and cousins.  He's such a fun kid.

Liam and his godparents

Journal: Mountains and joy and choices....

Out my window: 64, severe thunderstorm just ended.  It was a deluge of rain that could rival any Kansas thunderstorm.

Clothing myself in: Skinny jeans, though I've lost some weight so they are kind of baggy skinny jeans.  Feel sorry for me, okay? :P  Navy blue boat neck shirt with 3/4 sleeves.

Around the house: Fur. Oh my, the fur. Honestly, this time of year, it makes me wonder why I let Joe convince me to get these furry little friends.

Kiddos: So, after our house hunting trip for adults/ trip to Kansas for the kids, today was my first day "home" with them. Well, I agreed to train my replacement, so I went in for an hour this morning, but mostly home.  It was weird/ wonderful to be home all day.  I loved working at my job. It was good and necessary for me to do it.  But it is also very good to have all my kids here, with me now. For the mundane, for the ordinary- for tying George's cape around his shoulder while he was playing "super" with Adelle.  For Issy pouring me the coffee I had forgotten I had asked her to make, for Liam stomping at me in frustration about a math placement test and talking him down, for kissing Isaac's cheek as he sat next to me, trying to read over my shoulder. I know it is going to be a challenge in patience and organizational skills, but I am very much at peace to be with them and educating them again.

They all had a great time in Kansas.  Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends. We are very blessed.

Bringing me joy: Sitting on a mountaintop with my love. Watching him take pictures.  Him encouraging me, me encouraging him on our hike. Drinking coffee by a campfire. The joy and awe that filled my heart at being in the mountains again.  Dreaming with him, making plans with him.

When we went to Kansas, the conversations with friends.  Really, I am always taken aback by how easy it is to slip back into that groove when we haven't seen either other for a year.  Real love and friendship doesn't know distance.

The hugs from each of my babies the morning we got to Kansas after our trip.  The looks on their faces.  Just precious.

Thinking about: Well, this one is complicated. Three houses, three different communities, weighty pros and cons to all three. It is a blessing to get to choose, but difficult.

Pictures to share:

   A very sweaty me about halfway through our Monday hike.  The views were awesome. I am already getting amnesia about how hard the hike was.

We took the ski lift to the top of this one. Much easier.

What more is there to say?

Journal: Moving at the end of September!

Out my window: 80, minimal bugs and sunny. A perfect summer day.

Clothing myself in: Navy blue and white striped tank top with a little lace. It was cheap. And pretty.  Jean shorts.

Around the house:  Cleaned like a madwoman on Thursday night to get ready for a showing yesterday morning.  There are already tufts of fur floating around the floor :P

Kiddos: Cute and funny. I am glad to get to hang out with them and hug them again now that I am well.  One more week of work left until I am at home with them again.  We hung out outside together this morning and took a walk.  It was a nice glimpse of what life will be like again soon.

Bringing me joy: George sweetly singing Sanctuary with me at bedtime. Walking down the street with the five kids, all of us holding hands. The excitement of reuniting with Joe after spending a few days apart. Planning our camping/house hunting trip. Adelle asking me to snuggle.

Thinking about: Another whirlwind week.  Thursday, while at his tradeshow, Joe called to tell me that there was a showing scheduled for Friday morning at 9. Which meant that I had to get the house ready by myself and I did.  Yesterday morning, I loaded up the kids and took them to the babysitter's house.  The dogs had to be out of the house as well, so we sat in the parking lot of the park and they got the car very, very, very furry.  I dropped them off after the showing was over and went to work.

Joe talked to the realtor a little while later.  They loved the house and made an offer yesterday afternoon.
****Continued on Sunday****
The second offer has no contingency. If the people who made the first offer are able to remove the contingency, the house will go to them, otherwise it will go to the people who made the second offer.  So basically, we are moving at the end of September, either way.

This is my last week at Catholic Word.  On Saturday, we are going to leave the kids with family and go on ahead to Idaho/ Wyoming to check out some properties we have found online.  Joe and I thought it would be easier and faster to do it by ourselves.  It'll hopefully also be a nice little getaway before we get back here and have to pack and move.

Ah, packing and moving. I don't really like moving, but it is exciting to move back to a place we love.  Ah, I can't believe it is actually happening. I really thought it would take months, if not years to sell our house.  And at this rate, we are going to be back in the mountains by the time the leaves are changing.  Craziness!

One of my favorite pictures of the four older kids that we took in Yellowstone a couple weeks before we moved.  I can't wait to go back there!