Date Night - ‘fail’

Well, last night was the first night in years we were without any kiddos.  We had planned to take advantage of it and have a well deserved ‘date night.’  The kids were all excited about their camping trip with the youth group and Jay & I were excited about dinner and a movie (Potter, finally!!)

We got the kids off and we headed into Pickerington.  In the distance we could see some rain, a potential summer storm. We even caught a glimpse of a full rainbow.  While we sat enjoying our dinner, the torrential down pours came with the severe lightning followed by instantaneous thunder. The sky was dark and it was scary. 

I was trying to locate the storm to were the kids were camping.  Of course, Jay tried to explain to me that the storm we were in was no where near the kids, who were approximately 45 miles southwest of where we were.  But my only thought was – we were 20 – 25 minutes from our home and the kids were still another 30-35 minutes southwest of that.  What if we were in the movie and someone wanted to come home or they all needed to come home.  It would take us a long time to get where we needed to be. 

Jay obviously could tell I was uneasy about going to the movie so, he used the excuse that we needed to go home and be with our other child, who is more afraid of the storms than the human children.  So, we drove back home and the lightning was so intense I was getting more nervous and anxious about the kids being outdoors in tents.  But as we got closer to our house, still in the thick of the storm, Jay pointed off to the west of us where the kids were camping and sure enough the sun was shining.  He assured me they were safe.  When we arrived home we were greeted by Chloe who was panting and pacing because of the storm. 

Kassi & I were keeping tabs on each other.  Finally a little before midnight, I received a text that they were having fun, but they were finally going to bed.  Today they were suppose to go boating & skiing, and then tonight they are having a camp fire – Jay is there, doing his pastor thing. 

I am so glad they are having a great time and really getting to know the youth of the church!  I guess we will all catch Potter later – the kids will be happy we didn’t get to see it before them. 

Meshing very well . . .

What a wonderful transition.  We are loving our new home - and what a great church family.  It has been awesome!!

Our second week here the kids & Jay went to King’s Island with the youth.  It was a great way for the kids to meet some of the teens, and it was an awesome way for the teens to get to know the new pastor. 

The youth here have been wonderful!  They have been very accepting of our kids, and at times it seems like they’ve all known each other forever.  It has been a true blessing!! The kids (and Mom, too) are excited about having so many youth – especially sooooo many their ages!

This past week was another great week, in our transition, for the kids to get to know their peers at the church.  It was VBS week – PANDAMANIA!!!

Isn’t that back drop GREAT!?!  All the decorating took place the Sunday before VBS week – for us, that concept was crazy, especially for me the organizing, planning, need to have an abundance of time to allow for mishaps to be figured out.  But oh my gosh, the decorations, the people – the whole thing fell together in about six hours.  Yes, in 6 hours, that back drop was painted by one very talented individual and the church was transformed and ready for a week of PANDAMANIACS!!!

It was also another week for the younger members to get to know their new pastor.  Jay is absolutely wonderful with people of ALL ages.  There is just something about him – he can relate to the young and the old, oh and everyone in between.

Another awesome thing  . . .  they had a class for 6th-12th. There were thirteen of them through out the whole week.  I don’t think there was a night that they were all there, but they came when they could and participated.

It is so hard to put into words how well this new call fits.  Not just for Jay’s ministry, but for the kids.  There seems to be so much going on here for the youth and I am so thankful for that because during Jay’s seminary years we were so disconnected. 

Fortunately, his internship site had several youth Kassi’s age so she was tied into some things, but the kids missed out on a lot the last 6+ years.  And now it looks like they will be a part of a very active youth group!!  Matter of fact, they are going camping – yes, outdoor in tents – this weekend with the youth. How crazy is that?  I mean especially since we are not the outdoorzy type of people, but hey they feel so comfortable with the youth and the parents they have met that they are all looking forward to a fun-filled weekend.   Even Kassi is looking forward to it, but only because there is a bath house! 

I just have to say we have meshed very well so far with our new church family and this feels very right.  We have the luxury of the country life and yet we are close enough to the big city to do some of the things we enjoy doing.  We are also close enough for me to maintain my mid-week & weekend paper delivering to help supplement the household income as this is only a three-quarter time call for Jay. 

I guess I did put it into some words.  It is just a great feeling!!

Old dogs learn new tricks

The other day we ran out to run an errand, and to see how far Chillicothe is and what they have there.  Of course while we were out a storm brewed.  Not thinking anything of it until upon our return home, but we wondered what or more like where Chloe hid during the storm. 

She is like most dogs and gets very anxious during storms.  Lots of pacing, panting, and whining.  She typically will find the smallest spot – now remember she is a St. Bernard – and curl up there.  We have been amazed at how she gets into places. 

Well, the other day when we arrived home, of course, we went looking for her first.  Thinking she would be somewhere on the main level of the house, we went room to room and couldn’t find her!    All the sudden Zack spotted her at the TOP of the stairs!

What?!  She went up the steps.  She is over six years old.  She is a BIG dog.  She doesn’t go up and down steps.  Matter of fact, the first few nights in the new house, Zack sleep on the couch in the living room with her to help her adjust.  Then the next few nights she sat at the bottom of the steps and whined like a puppy because we were all upstairs and she was down. 

Now was the hard part.  Getting her down the steps.  Some of us were very nervous/anxious and feared the worst.  If she were to fall down the steps and hurt herself what would we do?  With a little coaxing & opening the front door so she could jump out the door, she made it safely down.  So, the last couple of nights she has made her way up to sleep with Zack and she is getting better & quicker at coming down the steps. 

She is so big and just looks awkward coming down head first.  The kids are excited she goes up now because she can sleep with them at night and not be alone downstairs. 

Slowly but surely . . .

It’s getting there.  We’ve been in the house for two weeks now and it is looking pretty good.  Thanks to my hubby.  It’s amazing how time flies.  Even though we have moved our normal daily events/jobs haven’t stopped. 

The trucks were unloaded on a Saturday – which I was present to help decide where things would go.  Once the trucks were unloaded then Kassi & I went and delivered for 5+ hours.   That’s why we didn’t stay in the house the first night – because we were tired and didn’t feel like unpacking.  Plus, you couldn’t really walk through any of the rooms.

Without a garage or a useable basement, each box went to its designated room leaving very minimal space to move around.  It was very overwhelming!!  I knew – thought – we had to get it all unpacked by that Tuesday because Wed. thru Sat. we would be consumed with papers. 

Needless to say it didn’t get all unpacked by that Tues. nor this past one either.  However, while the kids & I worked for hours stacking and bagging, Jay worked at unpacking and decorating the main level of the house.  So at least the main areas and the bathroom are unpacked, uncluttered, and decorated.

The living room . . .

There’s that $5 chair.

 

The kitchen . . . 

 

The downstairs half bath & laundry area . . .

We installed a rod to hang the panels from to divide the laundry area from the bathroom.  So visually the laundry area is out of sight when company or guests come over – even though we all know you will look behind the curtain when you use the bathroom.

 

The dining room . . . 

 

The gateway to the dungeon – I mean the basement . . .

I don’t like going into the basement.  It’s C.R.E.E.P.Y.!!  What do you expect of a house built in 1856.  The steps are narrow and steep.  What you can’t see at the bottom of the steps is the basement floor to the right is brick. Must have been laid directly on/in the dirt when built so it is always wet.  Can’t store anything in that area.  Plus you can’t even stand up straight in that area. 

Okay.

I can’t give a creepy enough description to the basement.  So, with my husband’s presence I ventured down to the basement to get some photos.  You can decide for yourself if it’s creepy or not.

Okay, this door leads to the outside cellar doors, and anytime it rains water comes in to the basement area.

The basement definitely gives the house character.  You won’t see me go down there very often.

Well, Jay did a wonderful job displaying our many knick knacks, trinkets, photos, and personal belongings.  The main level actually looks like we’ve been here for quite some time. 

Now, the upstairs still has some work.  Especially the girls’ room.  Kassi is slowly going through her boxes and deciding if she really needs it all.  Hopefully, everything will have a home shortly because we still have to collect a few remaining things at the in-laws’ house.  But most of that is school stuff, scrapbook stuff, craft stuff, and seasonal stuff.  We still have some clothes and a few other things to collect also. 

I am looking forward to when it is all here and put away.

Our multi-purpose room

We have a room that we are trying to figure out what to call it.  It has been used in the past as a den or a study, but for us it will have many uses. 

School room.

Craft area.

Scrapbooking area.

Paper area (where the kids will bag our mid-week paper & weekend shoppers)

Gaming room.

It is the only room on the main floor with carpet, and right now book cases and Gorilla Racks line the walls.  Our John Deer dresser stores many craft and art supplies.  One Gorilla Rack has been designated for all the scrapbook albums, pages, page protectors, etc.  The other rack contains the many references & resources we use for our schooling.  The book cases – well, I’m pretty you can figure out what’s on them.

So, we have figured out how to set up the table so the kids can bag papers and watch a movie – since it takes several hours. 

Here they are working hard so they can convert the room.

Well, first they have time for a quick goofy photo op.

Awww . . . papers are done and the room has been converted to the gaming room.  Check out the ‘couch’ the kids made out of dining room chairs, pillows/cushions, and blankets. 

Now we just need to come up with a cool name for the room.  Kassi suggested ‘the carpeted room’ while Jay voted for the PAWS (papers, activities, Wii, & school) room.  I don’t know.  Maybe something will pop one of these days.

Our New Home . . .

One of the nice things about Jay’s new call is the fact we didn’t have to find a place to live.  We really enjoyed the parsonage at his two-year internship site and we were so welcoming to the idea of a parsonage.  Sure a parsonage has its limits, but with a parsonage there isn’t the worry or hassle of having to look for a house to make a home. 

We are still trying to get settled into our new home so I thought I would share what it looks like on the outside and what is surrounding us. 

In this picture you can see the front doors of the church and the side porch door of the parsonage.  It was really cool Sunday because we walked out the side door to go to church.

It is such a cute quaint house.  We figure it is at least a hundred years old.  They did an awesome job on the inside getting it ready for a new pastor.  

This is the side yard which is really a gravel grassy driveway.  Zack’s back there being a typical boy digging in the yard – a good thing he can’t hurt it.  Gotta love boys and their toys.

Here is a view of the back of the house – not really sure why it is half brick and half siding.?  See that sidewalk.  Well, that is Jay’s path to work.  It leads straight from our back door to a side door of the church that leads to his office.  Forget carpooling!

We have cornfields! Lots of cornfields.  There is one on the east side of the house and one on the north side too.  We are definitely in the country.  It is a nice feeling being out where we can enjoy this beautiful scenery, yet we’re close enough to Columbus & its surrounding suburbs we can use & enjoy other things as needed!

This is a great grassy area for the kids to RUN, PLAY, and have FUN!!  I love the trees that line the back corner.  We are also training our dog, Chloe, that this is the only area for her to wander around in.  We don’t want her to go in the front yard since it is very shallow and extremely close to a main road. 

Here is the view from the backdoor.  You can see the side door of the church (where Jay’s office is).  This is facing the north and back there . . . more corn and a little further north of that field is a pasture full of cows.

Yes, we have a tree swing.  How fun is that!  The kids love the swing! 

It is comforting to be together and to be settling in to our new home.

Sunday worship

Jay’s first service was July 3rd.  It was a wonderful feeling to be together and worshiping.  The congregation was very welcoming and there were 128 in attendance. 

The best part was walking from the house/parsonage to church and then back.  lol

Moving In

Where o’ where have I been.  Well, let’s just say I have been I have been here but just preparing for a much anticipated and long over due relocation.  It has been a long time since our whole family has been living in the same house – 9 1/2 months to be exact.  We are all so excited to be in the same place - state, town, house.

A wonderful group of individuals – The Fab Four - flew out to Bismarck, helped finish packing & loaded all our belongings on two U-Hauls, and spent two days on the road driving back to Ohio. 

It was a welcoming sight to see these trucks!!  When they unloaded the trucks, it had to be decided if the boxes went into the house, to the church’s basement for long term storage, or Jay’s office.  What took hours to load and days to drive only took three hours to unload as so many members from our new church family came to help.

I wish unpacking only took hours! Here is what each room/area looked like after both trucks were unloaded.

The kitchen . . .

The laundry/half bath . . .

The dining room . . .

The living room . . .

The school/craft/game/scrapbook room . . .

Me & Jay’s room . . .

The girls’ room . . .

The main bathroom became an overflow room for the girls’ (mostly Kassi’s) boxes . . .

Zack’s room . . .

The back porch/outdoor storage . . .

We had hoped to spend that first night in our new home, but the boxes got the best of all of us.  They were so overwhelming that we actually didn’t stay at the house until the third night. 

Thank goodness Jay has been willing to work so hard.  Unfortunately, with my lower back problem I haven’t been much help with unpacking or moving boxes.  I have been able to assist in deciding what can stay, what can go to storage, and what needs to be donated. 

We still have boxes in every room, and Kassi and Mackenzie are still trying to get all theirs unpacked too.  I believe Zack is the only one who has all his boxes unpacked – matter of fact, they were unpacked & his room was organized before the trucks were even unloaded.  It’s been challenging as we only have three closets – one in the master bedroom, one in the hallway, and a small linen one in the bathroom. 

There is a Jack n’ Jill space between the girls’ room & Zack’s room that has an area to hang clothes and shelves for storage, but it has a huge window facing the front of the house so it limits storage opportunities.  The kids had hoped to use it as a lounge are, but now they realize it’s going to be used for belongings.

As I sit here and blog this, Jay and the kids are at King’s Island for a much needed break!  The church’s youth had a trip planned and what better way to get to know some of the youth.  I have spent the day running errands, having some quiet me time, and did some cooking.  The house is coming together slowly but surely.  It definitely is starting to look like a home.  Tomorrow more unpacking.