Painting, Cleaning and Lots o’ Fun

We were able to close on our house in MS this past Friday despite the several inches of snow on the ground.  Our resident meteorologists (Poppy and Emma) tell us that there was between five and six inches.  We built snowmen, made snow ice cream and kept mom busy washing the layers and layers of clothes they got wet and dirty in the snow.  What a first day back in Clinton! 

We then went to work picking out paint colors.  I am so challenged in this area.  I know what I like, but I have no idea how to go from paint swatch to what it’s actually going to look like on a wall.  Our good friend Kristy came to our rescue with her paint samples and touch-up paint, and we have successfully painted the living room, one of the girls’ rooms and our bedroom.  I say successfully only because we’ve decided that we’re not trying to fix anything else.  I don’t know if it’s the eggshell finish, or if we’re just stinky painters, but we could NOT get rid of some of our roller lines.  Ugh.  We’re hoping that when furniture arrives and things are hung on walls that we won’t notice them so much. 

After finishing up our painting this afternoon we shifted gears to cleaning up before the truck arrives.  We have basically worked until we’re both pooped!  But, we have had so much fun getting our house ready to be a home and have not had so much “alone time” in FOREVER!  We even got to have a date Friday night.  Yahoo!  Thanks to Nan and Pops and to the Kysers who have made it possible for us to get this much done in such a little time.

We are so thankful to stand around and truly count our many blessings and are in awe of all that God has done for us.

Good News!

We got our appraisal back a day early, and we’re all set!  Yahoo!  Thanks so much for praying for this step.  So, I have new life breathed into my packing efforts which were a little slow today, to say the least.  Ugh.  So hate packing.  My goal for this evening is to have the office junk sorted through and packed away. 

Thanks so much for the office ideas so far… definitely thinking the closet may be an option.  And, a cute basket or two might help with some of our other office clutter that needs to stay handy.  I could really use my stackable drawers for homeschooling/crafty stuff which seems unending but is much more organized!

Mer, I was wondering if the book you recommended, Confessions of an Organized Homemaker, had any suggestions about office space.  I don’t think the box it’s in has been taped up…may have to take a peek this evening.

A Little Advice for a Big Mess

So, our appraisal is supposed to happen tomorrow, and I will try to remember to let you know how it goes.  Praying for God’s plan to unfold.

In the mean time, we are packing as if everything is going forward which brings me to my need for advice. Our office-type stuff is such a huge mess!   We are so hodgepodge in this area, and it’s about to drive me crazy. 

We need space for the following:

income tax records

past bills

insurance claims records

vehicle info – registration and titles

tape, staplers, calculators, envelopes, rulers, paper clips, stamps, notepads, computer paper

USB cords for cameras

software

blank CDs and DVDs  

I really want to turn over a new leaf when we move and somehow pull together a cohesive way of storing all our stuff.  So, where/how do you store your “office” type stuff?  Also, how long do you keep bills/medical records, etc.?  I tend to be a little bit of a packrat so I need some advice in this area, too.  I realize I could probably go online for this sort of advice, but I don’t have the time right now.  Maybe later.

All of our stuff is contained in a two-drawer filing cabinet, a plastic filing box, stackable drawers and a tray set I used when I taught school a million years ago.  It all looks very dorm-room somehow (not to mention messy), and for someone who has been out of college for a VERY long time, this just seems so unacceptable.  Oh, and I forgot to mention that all this junk is in our bedroom which is just a disaster.  We used to have an office nook so it wasn’t really an issue because we could easily hide it all.  We’re not sure yet where it’s going to end up in the new house, but I think I need to get my brain going on some creative solutions.  I would LOVE your suggestions because we obviously need serious help.

This Week’s Snapshot

Well, we passed inspection last week. Yeah! So, that means that we get to move on to appraisal this week. Sometime. It would really be nice to know when this is going to take place since I have a long list of things that need to get done if this part happens the way we hope it will. Change of address, utilities, etc.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are pack-it-up days, and Thursday the girls and I head to Grand Prairie to take care of some stuff with my dad. Friday night is our last homegroup – lots of tissue going to be needed here, and Saturday we drive to San Antonio for Judah's first birthday party. Sunday, of course is our last service at RVCF and the Super Bowl with friends.

Sorry for the list-like post, but I want to keep folks, who are interested, in the loop. I will try to update about the appraisal as soon as I know something. Thanks for praying for us!

On the Go?

Thinking maybe I should change the blog name.  Just thinkin’. 

Anyway, our trip to MS went really well, and we were able to find a couple of houses that would work for the fam.  We were able to put a contract on a house just down the street from Jill which makes all of us very excited.  (I’m sorry if any of this information is a repeat for you, but I find that I’m leaving people out of the loop so this is an effort to avoid that!)  We have our inspection on Monday and will just need to get through the appraisal after that.  If those things happen to cross your mind, sure would appreciate your prayers for us.  All hoops jumped through, and we’ll close February 12 – that’s not that far away!  Scary.

I am finally able to think about the move without tears.  This last trip did wonders for my excitement level about the move.  I still can’t “talk” about the move with my friends here w/o some emotion, but I figure that may just be something I have to live with. 

Tomorrow is “re-pack the garage day.”  Let me say, that I am looking forward to this with much trepidation.  Since we thought we were going to be renting for a short while, we didn’t unpack all our boxes, and in some cases just unpacked part of a box.  We’re going to try to go through all that stuff and get the boxes move-ready.  I’m hoping to find lots that I can part with since I haven’t needed much of it for the last year.   One would think that we travel lightly since we’ve had so many moves, but I am hopelessly attached to way too many things!  I’m going to try to be a little less sentimental – I can still remember where most of our wedding presents came from, and I just feel guilty letting those things go.  Sad, I know.

Moving… Again.

If you’ve known our family for any length of time, you know that we have been really mobile.  Sorry for those of you who try to keep us on your Christmas card list!  We are headed back east to Mississippi, and I’m not sure where to begin the tale, but I’m going to do my best!

The economy.  The cost of living here is much higher than MS, and with the economy really messing things up, the “promotion” to come to TX ended up being a lateral move.  Had we our crystal ball in hand, we would not have uprooted our family for that. 

The mission.  Also, we’ve been asking ourselves what the purpose of our little family is.  This has helped us in making this very difficult decision.  One of our main goals is keeping me at home.  We feel that this is much more doable in MS than here.  Our dollar stretches further there for housing which is probably the biggest consideration.  Also, there are other factors about Todd’s job in MS which allow for a richer family and professional life.  This was a big deal for us.

The unknown.  So, why did God move us to TX only to move us back to MS a year later?  I have no idea!  But, I do know that the experiences and friends we have had here have enriched our lives beyond our craziest imaginings.  It has been a true season of blessing for us.  Will the Williams clan ever go to Africa?  I’m sure it’s a question that many are afraid to ask, and for those who have asked, they have gotten no clear answer.  Again, I have no idea! 

As We Go.  When Todd was at DBU taking Greek, “we” learned that the little word “go” means, “as you go.”  As you go to the grocery store, as you get your oil changed, as you train up your children, as you go to another country, perhaps.  I have no clue what the future holds for us.  I do know that we plan to be apart of God’s work wherever we may be.

The hard part.  Saying good-bye to all our wonderful friends and to our church.  I plan on bringing tissue with me to every service we’re able to attend from here on out.  As a matter of fact, I may just carry it with me all the time.  You would think after so many moves, this would be a snap by now, but I still have a really hard time with this part.  Your prayers are very much needed and appreciated!

A Life Lesson

I think I’m always conflicted this particular week of the Christmas season because we talk so much to our kids about focusing on the birth of Jesus and what that means in our lives and then run around like crazy people trying to get everything done.

Since we just got back from Mississippi last night, today is a day of re-grouping. There will be grocery lists made, laundry washed and , hopefully, an assortment of other things accomplished. What I’m hoping for most is that my behavior will reflect what we’ve been trying to teach the girls - that Christmas is not about gifts, food, or even family. It’s about Christ. And, if the other things weren’t around, it would still be one of the best times of the year.

So, what would a Christmas life lesson look like? Peace. Joy. True joy in all of my to-dos. I love making lists of things to do, not because I’m incredibly organized, but because if I don’t write things down, I don’t seem to have the mental capacity to remember anything, and this is incredibly annoying. But like the typical list-maker, I get a little caught up in my list. My goal this week is to let the list go. Oh, I will still make my lists, my friend, but I’m going to try and remind my little type-A self that the list is not the end goal.

I so want my life to not be sending a double message, especially to my sweet family. I think I’ve come to grips that it is impossible to escape hypocrisy entirely while we’re on this side of heaven, but I do want to constantly examine my actions and words to see if they line up with what I say I believe and tweak “as I go.” Sounds kind of like “working out our salvation in fear in trembling,” now that I think of it.