The Very Next Day

This past winter I bragged about how beautiful it is in Arizona.  I have come to appreciate being able to eat outside on Thanksgiving, and ride your new bike on Christmas morning.  The sunset and sunrise is un-like any other.  Shopping is available on every single corner.  Good food is at your finger tips.  Friends come from all walks of life.  Arizona has made it's mark on me.

Dan and I moved here 5.5 years ago and were adamant we would be here only 2.  But after Dan graduated and had a job here, the move didn't happen as planned.  My hopes were high that our move back to family would happen sooner than later.

Not last weekend but the weekend before, I gave up my controlling issues about where we were going to live to someone greater than myself.  I cleaned out our storage unit and finally threw away the last of the moving boxes and 2 huge boxes of moving blankets.  Dan questioned why I was throwing them away.  My reply was simple, "We are stuck here!  We've held on to these things for 5 1/2yrs anticipating a move, we aren't moving anytime soon."  And to be perfectly honest, I was ok with that for probably the first time in a LONG time.

That very evening of my cleaning escapade, Dan had a phone interview with a company in Idaho. Out of disappointment I have learned to train myself not to get my hopes up about any job interview he has.  So clearly I didn't think anything of this interview until they called and offered him the position the very next day.

THE. VERY. NEXT. DAY.

We had a couple days to iron out details and get all of the information from this company.  After much prayer we made our decision.  He accepted the job and we will be moving.  We found out this week he is to start the middle of April.

Several doctors appointments, an assignment to speak in church, a graduation to attend, farewells to be made, a week without Dan, tests to be taken, finances to be figured, a place to live, and lots of packing, are just a few of the things we hope to accomplish before we leave.

This opportunity may not have happened exactly how we had envisioned.  But it is one were are definitely grateful for and one that gives us hope for a brighter future.

Oops!

Things are brewing around these parts.  We celebrated with sparklers!

Maybe my kids will forgive me for completely forgetting about St. Patrick's day tomorrow because we played with fire.

Here's to hoping they won't get pinched ALL day tomorrow because my mind is elsewhere and they won't have a fun St. Patty's day shirt.

Grateful

I'm not quite sure if it's the age of my kids right now, or the power of positive thinking, or maybe a little bit of both.  But I am quite sure that I have been completely smitten by these two boys.

They have been playing so well together.  Lately I find myself grinning from ear to ear while sitting back watching them interact.  They love each other.  They have a special bond.  They melt my heart.

We have been staying in our jammies a little longer to enjoy each other at our best hours.  We have been playing lots of trucks, taking lots of pictures, inventing things, imagining places, and loving on each other a little more.

I have noticed a big difference in my kids behavior.  Funny how things have come full circle for me.  I have more patience, they have more patience, I'm happier, they are happier.  Things have been running rather smooth.  Yes we have our melt downs, and tantrums, and full on boxing matches, but life wouldn't be complete without those.

Today I'm grateful for these two boys and the love that fills our home because of them!

My Cure

I always get a case of the homesickness blues after being around my family.  I knew they were bound to hit after my sisters left and I needed a cure quickly.  Seeing how Dan was heading off to Mexico for his annual golf trip I knew I would have plenty of alone time, and I needed to make it good.

Something that reminds me of home is fabric.  It calls to me, it always has.  I spent days looking online at every different color, texture, and craft having to do with fabric.  I knew I needed to make a quilt as soon as I saw this bayou quilt online.

I grabbed my kids, made a quick trip to the fabric store(that was an accomplishment in and of itself) and I was ready for 3 days of nothing but quilting.

This was my very first attempt at machine quilting an entire blanket.  Let me just tell you it is mind numbing, and way more difficult to make straight lines then I ever imagined.  But the end product is priceless to me.  My lines are more wavy than straight, my binding has seen better days, but this was just what the doctor ordered. 

3 days during naps and after my boys were in bed.  187 safety pins, 2 spools of thread, very sore shoulders(I really need to get a lower table when I sew), too much math and measuring, and one bright and cheerful quilt!

I was so proud when I finished last night I had to show it off to Dan right away.  Of course the first thing he said was, "some of those lines are crooked", and threw it over his legs to enjoy it's imperfections. 

I have had it out all day today and can't stop smiling.  I have been the recipient of many handmade quilts, and I'm positive you can never fully appreciate the love that is put into one until you have done it yourself.

"Our Friends"

Before leaving to pick up Aunt Kristi and Aunt Charlie we stopped at the store.  Camden took it upon himself to let the cashier know we were on our way to the airport to pick up "our sisters". 

They spoiled all of us the second they walked in the door.  We stayed up late, talked each others ears off, and laughed until our insides fell out. 

After they went home yesterday Camden asked me when "our friends" were coming back.  We miss you guys!

Favorite Things

I'm not the party throwing type, but this one I couldn't pass up.  I had seen this idea of a "favorite things" party floating around and had to try it while my sisters were in town(just in case nobody showed up I wouldn't be alone).  A couple hours before the party I started to get nervous and have flashbacks of junior high.  What if people didn't show?  What if my party was lame?  Did I need to have a back up plan in case of awkward silence?

But I calmed myself down knowing I invited my favorite people, to come eat our favorite foods, and share our favorite things.  How could it go wrong?

Everyone was asked to pick their favorite item(under $6) and bring 5 of them.  After explaining our favorite item we then drew names and gave them to those people.  There were some fun favorites and I think everyone walked away with good stuff.

I'm kicking myself for not taking more picture of the night, but I was a little preoccupied. 

This is definitely something I wanna do again, that is if people will show up?!?!

Feeling Guilty

My word for this year is POSITIVE.  Let me make up for that last post before the guilt rips into me anymore.  Because really, life is good and I have much to be grateful for.

1. My Dr. Pepper tasted de.licious(the half bag of cinnamon bears were pretty good too).  Yum.
2. Jace has made a turn around and is off pain medication.  He is sleeping through the night and eating again.
3. My sisters are coming to visit and I'm throwing a "favorite things party".
4. Thanks to a talented mother and grandmother we have lots of handmade quilts to keep us warm.
5. My husband loves what he does for a living.
6. Dinner for tonight is already made thanks to my freezer full of meals.
7. Some cute free slippers for my boys showed up in the mail.
8. Jace finally said thank you using words, not sign language.
9. My Christmas dishes are all put away.
10. My gray hair is hidden behind a beautiful new brown color.