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!