Rockwall, TX

Well, we are here....I think :) We are settling in, we have a new number, internet is working and the boxes are down to a minimum. I am still parking in the front, but eventually the garage and attic will be cleaned, sorted and arranged so there will be more room behind the garage (we have back drive ways). The only room we haven't done much with is the office. So sorry, no pictures yet. Soon...

Sydnie is missing her friends and school greatly. She has given me the charge of finding a new school for her, which I am doing. It is hard to find preschools, since they tend to be church schools and do not do a lot of advertising. We did find a MOPS group, so she did have a little playtime last week, which she loved.

In time, we will have a good routine. I am hoping sooner rather than later. We still haven't been to storytime at the library, a once weekly or twice-weekly event. Although I haven't heard wonderful things about the storytime, Tim said the library looks fantastic. Now that we are getting mail actually addressed to us, we can go get a library card.

I am looking for Goodwill, yes, again! We threw away and donated so many things before we moved, but I have 5 more boxes of things that we have discovered and need to pass on to someone who can use the items, not to mention that our bulk trash pick up is tomorrow and very full! Oh, well, you don't want to hear about trash. Hopefully, next time there will be something exciting, in a positive way, to report.

Blessings

Packing Day 1

Well, this morning before 8:00 the packers came and started to pack things into boxes. Wow, are they fast! I was not fully prepared for their speed and organization and have found a few things packed that I really didn't want to be packed yet, but nothing too important. Does a 4-year-old really need to wear socks with shoes anyway??? I did have to ask for some paperwork they had packed, but Steven was able to pull it right out and didn't lose a beat packing another room. Sydnie was fine this morning during the process, she played outside, until something bit her, and then watched tv. Yes, I am sorry to say she has watched a little more tv in the whole relocation process than I would like, but sometimes it just is what it is and she hasn't complained one bit...haha. Anyway, the difficulty came when she walked into her room and saw boxes stacked on one another and an empty toy box, you get the picture. "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy"! came ringing through the house. The initial shock didn't last too long when she understood everything in a box was moving to her new room and if it wasn't packed it meant it was staying. Of course, then it was well pack these too, they have to go, referring to the things she wanted to keep out while we are without a house and stuff. I don't have any pictures because I don't want to get in the way and the camera in another spot. Just picture our house with furniture and boxes for decorations. It won't be long and I'll post pictures of our move to Rockwall, Lord willing.

I did have a very nice lunch today with a good friend, Kayren, who was so nice to bring us lunch. My friends will be missed so much, but I can't say goodbye. They are too important and so it is talk to you later, see you later, don't forget us!

Our furniture is moving out Friday so I don't know I'll be posting again until after the move. So, God Bless and we'll see you in Rockwall!

We're Up and Running Again

We are hooked back up to the internet after a 4 day lay-off...yeah! I think there were only 60+ messages to go through. One very good email we did receive during that technology free period was an offer on the house from a prospective buyer! Tim received it at work and now we are waiting for the next part of the process. The inspection is Monday and we move Friday; how's that for God's timing. I pray God will continue to be in control of this process and the sale will go through without any hitches or unforeseen problems. Let me reword that: I am thankful God is in control of this process so I do not have to worry about any problems that may arise and truly put it and leave it in God's hands.

This and That!

There are a lot of little things that come up in the week that makes it difficult to put everything in a blog, and still make sense, so I will just share some snip-its for today.

Halloween is coming soon, as everyone knows, and Sydnie has finally decided on a costume. Last week the waffling ended and she decided to be.....( and the drum roll please)....a clown. It actually fits her as she is developing a sense of humor and telling jokes ALL the time. She also told me, "Mom, since you are an expert knitter, you can make it for me." I tried to explain the difference in knitting and sewing, but she didn't quite grab it, so I surrendered that teaching moment and just agreed to try to make it. She picked out the colors and fabrics. What a crazy, colorful clown she will be...if I am successful. I'll post the finished product, if it is wearable. If you don't see it, you'll know it went away, never to be seen by human eyes.

We voted Tuesday, another wonderful teaching moment. I explained the process and what she would see and how votes were cast, all that good information in a way that would make sense to a 4-year-old. She was not too sure about it all, but she was very attuned to happenings around her, even pointing out that I could not take my cell phone in with me. It actually just had to be turned off, but she was "reading" all the signs as we were waiting in line. After we finished, she asked if "your person won?" Oh, how I wish it was that easy!

Tuesday on the way to preschool, Sydnie and I were talking and she started asking me about school: school past preschool. As we chatted she asked me about college and I explained I went to college to learn how to teach. This is a little bit of the conversation:

"What did Daddy do ( in college)"?

"He learned about communications and social work."

A puzzled stare..."So he didn't go to class"?

"Yes he did, just different classes to learn different things."

"I don't want to be a teacher. I'll have to think about what I want to be."

"You don't have to be a teacher, you have many choices." And I named several. And then a few more. Finally, she decided she wanted to be a painter.

"I'll be a painter! I like to paint." I mentioned a few other things, I don't know why.

"No, I'm going to be a painter, just a painter!"

OK with me. a future artist :)

This and That

Blessings of Friends

Today began as an ordinary Thursday, nothing very exciting: I woke up a little earlier to get some things accomplished before Sydnie woke up; I woke her up, actually at 7:30 gave her oatmeal pancakes, that is a blog in and of itself , "Where are the good wheat-free pancakes?", and then rushed around the house as quickly as possible to get her bathed and ready for school so we would not be late. It doesn't matter how prepared I am for the morning, we always end up with a rush the last 10 minutes :( Anyway, after dropping her off at preschool I decided to take advantage of the cool fall morning and go for a run. It was a nice interval run and the cool breeze was perfect. After my run I popped in to say "HI" to Laurin, my customary pop-in during the week. After a short visit I may Kayren for lunch before picking up Sydnie at preschool. As I said, it was not an extraordinary day of events, but one that truly made an impact on the blessings of friends. God has blessed us in San Antonio with friends who are as close as family and I am sorry I have not let them know often enough how special each one is to us. I know I am preparing to move to Rockwall and the life God has prepared for us, but it is becoming very difficult not to focus on leaving the treasures he has given us. I must remember, as should our friends, we are only 4-5 hours away. If we don't see them, there might be wrath to pay!! I may not get angry very often, I don't want to start now, so just know the interstate, whichever one it is, travels both ways and we are expecting guests, as you should expect us to visit as well.

Blessings to all.

Outdoor fun!

Last month Sydnie and I went to a near by playground for a picnic lunch. It was a picture perfect autumn day, so I took my camera :) It was a great! We had a nice lunch, peant butter and jelly of course, and Syd played on the structures while I snapped pictures. My favorite were the sequence of climbing trees. She has been very intrigued by trees and wanting to climb all that she sees lately, and what do you know...the perfect tree for a beginning climber. I love the final shot! You can see the joy and pride of accomplishing a task in her little smiling face. I am thankful for the day and the reminder that joy is ever present in our lives, we must only be open to finding it.