Long Awaited Pictures of Our Home For JONI

Our new home. . .

Is that a back porch and backyard??

Why, yes it is. . .

Living room-complete with tile, corner

fireplace, new flat screen TV, small

vaulted ceiling.

Master bedroom-

Master bedroom-that's the big screen
in the corner!

More Pictures of Our New Home

"Alea's" room-they use this as a playroom.

We're going to paint it pink with a princess castle!

Nice NEW CARPET!!

"Benton's" room-actually they share

bunk beds in this room.

Kid's bathroom-the curtain blocks

the beautiful tile work in the tub.

Dinning area-the table has a leaf in it

and we can still walk around it!

My beautiful, giant kitchen-with new appliances!


The End. . .

Oh Childhood is Bliss

While all the packing was going on, Benton had fun with the simple:

Yes, I Have no Bananas (Or Do I?)

Just thought I'd share this with who ever is interested:

Before we left Des Moines, I got some quite green bananas just sure that they would ripen up and we'd have fresh bananas, just like they always do. Well, a week and a half later, they were still too "unripe" to eat. I love bananas and I had to go buy some ripe ones just sure the green ones would be ready soon-nope. Days ticked by and still green. Seriously, they were Shreck colored. Every morning I'd check on the bananas and they were SO green.

With the packers en route, way to embarrassed to offer green bananas-of which had been green almost TWO WEEKS-to any friends and knowing they wouldn't make the trip to Amarillo, I had to do something quickly. I decided the best choice was to chunk (or chuck, depending on where you're from-Amanda) them in the trash. So, I just thought it was strange and wondered how unripe they were when they were picked . . .

Closing. . . at last?

As of right now, this minute, this second, we are suppose to be closing on our house Friday! This could change, but for NOW it's only two days away. We want new carpet, the ducts cleaned and fireplace swept so we'll get that done Monday. The moving company is moving our things into the home on Tuesday. This is what the plan is for NOW, we'll see how it goes!?!?!?

It's been a great two weeks here with mom and dad and we are so blessed with the opportunity to stay somewhere so comfortable and with people that love us. It will be wonderful to get back to our routine and into our own home but the interim has been relaxing and fun.

We Are Texans-Again

Just a quick update on our family/moving/living/surviving situation.

We officially and tearfully left Des Moines on Friday-sniff, sniff. We stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!) in Kansas City, and had so much fun! Pictures will follow once I get my own computer up and running again. We made the L-O-N-G drive on into Amarillo Saturday-for the last time for a long time! We're staying with my gracious parents and were hoping to close on our house this Thursday, but the owner of the home is in China. Why am I surprised? We may have to wait to close for another week, but we're in the final stages and we're all together, what could be more important!?

*Side story: I have obviously been a little distracted with the move and everything involved. One afternoon, I was making the kids lunch and Benton was right at my legs whining and even crying around a little. I finally stopped making lunch, looked down at him and asked, "Benton, what do you want?", he tearfully looked into my eyes and said "YOU!". I chuckled as the realization of his honesty knocked a hole in my heart. Of course I sat down and held him until HE was ready to move on. Lunch can wait, Packing can wait, Laundry can wait, Everything can wait when my kids need ME! I had to think that our Heavenly Father must feel like doing that to us sometimes. Saying, "I just need YOU!". Remember to give your time to what matters most!

Is it the Perfect Fit?

It is the perfect house, but the driveway could double as a ski slope (In Amarillo, what??). Wonderful layout but the backyard is the size of a dog run. Great backyard but the add on is a little scary. The bedrooms would be cramped with a toddler bed in them. Does the word 'update' mean anything to you? Who wallpapers the ceiling? Carpet in the dining, really? If we could only knock out this wall . . . My concerns went on and on, house after house. I began to question if there was a house that would meet our needs/wants. Our list of what we preferred weren't extravagant but apparently the combination was not happening. We've all been there, right? We were suppose to go down to Texas and find that perfect house, place a contract, the contract be accepted, visit with friends and family and return home boasting about how wonderful life is and how we walk in such favor. NOPE!

After looking at 67 homes (yes, I physically went into 67 homes), two contracts that fell through, driving to Oklahoma City just to turn around and go back to Amarillo, cry, pray, regroup and continue looking, I found one that actually got better the further into it we tread. I got excited when I looked in the giant kitchen, the bedrooms were great for the kids, two full bath-including bath tubs in both (a rare find), sky lights, tile, fire place, storage, right price, YES, this could definitely WORK! Skidddd. . . will my husband even fit in that shower? If he couldn't comfortably shower in "our new home" I'd have to continue looking and possibly be in Amarillo yet another week. Well, only one way to find out, I called up my 6ft 7in brother-in-law and excitedly told him that we may have found "the one", politely asked him if he wanted to see it, and timidly included a quick "Will you see if YOU can fit into the shower for me?". He was so understanding of a tall man's needs he met us there-twelve people in all-to look it over and see if it might just be the right "fit".

As you can see, Lance fits nicely in the shower, shew. Our contract was accepted last night, shew. We are going to try to close on the house in two weeks, shew!! Thanks for any and all prayers made on our behalf, the battle is half won and we're still in for some rough times, but at least WE HAVE A HOUSE, and yes we walk in favor and grace everyday-still!