Thursday, April 22, 2010

We've been busy...

To be fair, we did warn you in advance that posts would be few and far between during this transitional period in our little family's life. Just a quick update. During the past week, we:

~Moved everything out of our apartment into storage
~Cleaned our apartment until it shined
~Moved out of our apartment (somewhat tearfully), knowing we will dearly miss many friends we made there!
~Looked at houses, houses, and more houses in Maine, and finally decided we got the best deal in the state on a house (my wife loves to shop around to be sure....no one can ever pull something over on her, that's for sure!)
~Drove 12 hours to Oregon (where we are now)
~Cleaned up Grins' dinner which he shared with us twice while he had the stomach flu
~I flew to and from Maine to look at our new house (details to come)
~The females of the family somehow managed to get CHICKEN POX and ERYTHEMA NODOSUM - a very painful autoimmune disease which has precipitated multiple doctor visits and is preventing my wife from even walking.

Picture of Erythema Nodosum Divider line
Picture of Erythema Nodosum on the leg Picture of Erythema Nodosum on the leg in a female
Picture of Erythema Nodosum on the leg Picture of Erythema Nodosum on the leg in a female
Picture of Erythema Nodosum on the leg in a female Picture of Erythema Nodosum

So, we are just a little tired, and now on Quarantine due to this bizarre illness. Not quite the vacation we had hoped for, but it's giving us a much-needed break!

Friday, April 09, 2010

LAST DAY!!!!!

Today is the Mr.'s LAST DAY of MEDICAL SCHOOL! WOO-HOO! If this doesn't seem like a big deal to you, keep in mind that the Mr. has been IN SCHOOL since he was 5 years old! So, in his life, he has attended:

Kindergarten
1st grade
2nd grade
3rd grade
4th grade
5th grade
6th grade
7th grade
8th grade
9th grade
10th grade
11th grade
12th grade

Then college:
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior

Then MBA school:
Year 1
Year 2

Then Medical School:
MS1
MS2
MS3
MS4

That's 23 years of school! AND NOW HE IS DONE!!!! We are just a little proud of him! And now we're off to find someplace to party! :)

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Together

Today has been full of frustration and disappointment on the "home front". We began the day by accepting the homeowner's offer and signing papers to 'seal' the contract. Assuming we were under contract, we began looking through the pictures we had taken, measuring out where we planned to place furniture, etc. Shortly thereafter, our realtor called with the bad news; the seller had retracted her offer. We made two additional counter offers, the final one offering the amount she had originally asked for, but she refused and has now withdrawn her home from the market.

We had loved the home and it's location and had easily imagined our family there from the first time we walked through it. So this news was somewhat discouraging. But we had seen several other houses we had also really liked, so we decided to put an offer on our second choice. Moments later we received the call: our second choice was already under contract (after 3 offers!). Not to be discouraged, we moved on to our third....also under contract after 3 offers. Apparently we know a good deal when we see one! Our fourth choice was - you guessed it - under contract. (Interestingly, three of these four had been on the market for several weeks - some even months - before we saw them last weekend! So we hadn't felt much pressure to make any immediate offers, and didn't realize they were such hot properties!)

At this point, I broke down in despair. We had returned home from Maine feeling blessed that we'd been able to view so many great options, all of which were in our price range, and all of which we felt would be great places for our family to live (and we are fairly particular, so this is saying something!) We have really felt impressed that buying a home rather than renting would be a wise investment, as we were able to get an outstanding interest rate, some great prices on homes (cheaper than rent!), and we were hoping to cash in on the $8000 first time homebuyer tax credit.

My patient and loving husband held me as I sobbed and, as we stood there in the kitchen in one another's arms, I suddenly realized: Wherever we are together, that is home. If we didn't find the perfect home - or any home at all, for that matter, as long as we have each other, we will be happy wherever we are. We have spent the last several years in old and crowded apartments, but these have been some of the best days of our lives. Our children don't notice the cinderblock walls or the tacky carpet; they remember the time we spend together and love we share. Perhaps we aren't building equity or itemizing deductions....but we are making memories which are more precious and will last far longer than anything money can buy.
(Match Day, March 18th, 2010)

Our search for homes is far from over. We still have several more properties on our list which, though slightly less desirable than our first four, would suit our family just fine for a few years. And I am sure we will be happy wherever we end up. But fortunately, I am learning to let go of the stress and disappointment and, instead, expend my energy on "being together" as a family.

(Post edit: This song has been running through my head since I wrote this. If you aren't familiar with it, click the link below to listen; it's a beautiful song!)


"Home can be a heav’n on earth

When we are filled with love, Bringing happiness and joy, Rich blessings from above— Warmth and kindness, charity, Safety and security— Making home a part of heaven, Where we want to be.

Drawing fam’ly near each week, We’ll keep love burning bright. Serving Him with cheerful hearts, We’ll grow in truth and light. Parents teach and lead the way, Children honor and obey, Reaching for our home in heaven, Where we want to stay.

Praying daily in our home, We’ll feel His love divine; Searching scriptures faithfully, We’ll nourish heart and mind. Singing hymns of thanks, we’ll say, “Father, help us find the way Leading to our home in heaven, Where we long to stay.”

Text: Carolyn Hamilton Klopfer, b. 1936. © 1985 IRI

Music: W. Herbert Klopfer, b. 1936. © 1985 IRI


Sunday, April 04, 2010

Maine


Forgive my recent (and coming) lack of posts. The Mr. and I just took a trip (sans kids!!! THANK YOU MOM & DAD B!) to Maine to feel out the area and find a home for our family. We worked hard and were so blessed to find some beautiful options and put an offer on a home (in the #1 School District in the State) in just 2 days! It is not a done deal yet, of course, but here is the home we are looking at (it may not look like much from the outside but it's on .8 of an acre with a stream, and is beautiful inside!). More details to come when we have a moment. :)