First World Problems

Moving is hard.  And not fun.  And it's all I'm writing about, so I must like focusing on hard, not fun things.  But it's hard to get too worked up about the inconveniences when my missionary boys now live in circumstances far below what I am complaining about.  It really makes me grateful for things I wouldn't have even thought about.  Like flush toilets.  But I have to complain, just a little bit...

Our VoIP phone is not yet hooked up. Somewhat annoying.

I have only 16 inches on either side of my bed.  Tiny little living space!

The downstairs bathroom still does not have a working door, so we have one bathroom to share with 8 people. Only bad when we all gotta go at the same time, or before church.

There is not room for us all to sit at the table for dinner (the table hits against the stools at the island if we try to pull the table away from the wall).  This one is a sticking point.  Eating dinner together is A BIG DEAL to me.

On the other hand, we still have access to a phone. We have internet again, we have indoor plumbing, and we have enough food to eat. I love my bed, and am grateful it fits in my new room.  Seeing pictures of open sewers where Ben is in Madagascar gives me pause. I need to be more grateful for all the nice things we do have.

Random thoughts:

It is easier to clean up if you have less garbage. Staying clean is even easier.

Don't hide your junk in prickly bushes. You just lose the desire to clean up.

A smaller house means we interact more. I like that.

Divesting ourselves of so much stuff means we are becoming more attached to our people. That's a good thing.

When I feel like I have too many burdens on my shoulders, I should try getting out of the way and letting the Lord do His work through me.  His plan seems to work better.

Moving...

We moved this week.  That's right, we now live back in the good old neighborhood.  We will call our new/old ward the Re-Ward.  Ha!  Trent and I are in my dad's old study that he reluctantly gave up.  The old train room downstairs has a partition down the middle to separate Chris's room from David and Eddie's room, and all three little people are in a new room we just built in the half of the downstairs family room that is under the kitchen.  We (actually my older brother and his buddy) also built a small storage room around the old washer and dryer closet.  We've been really busy moving things and cleaning and painting anything that doesn't move - and sometimes things that do move, too.  We have kept the twins out of the paint for the most part, which is a miracle.  It looks really nice.

Saturday night we packed our beds into a box truck from Trent's work and brought them over.  We are hardly moved in, but at least we have five people sleeping in beds, and we are here for my dad.  I worried that he would be going a bit crazy with all the hubbub, but he has been doing great!  Maybe even enjoying watching the process.  Maybe we are more interesting than really old television reruns.

The older boys will be moving off the family room couches and into their room Tuesday.  We pulled the pink carpet out of the old train room and we are getting new grey speckled carpet to match the light grey walls.  The trim is light, light grey, nearly white.  They only got one wall done, but we are painting everything.  Nice to have it all fresh.  The carpet guy will be here Tuesday morning.

And my old house?  My big, beautiful, spacious house that was feeling too big for us? My older brother and his family are moving in.  As this was all unfolding, I wondered whether to sell or rent, and how quickly we could have it show-worthy.  Oh man, there were so many things that needed fixing!  And then my brother called and said they wanted it.  I can't believe how smoothly this is all going.  Like it was orchestrated from above, really.  It's crazy how the pieces are falling together.  I hope they love the home and our neighborhood like we did.

"The small things are what are going to get us back to Heaven someday."  I loved this quote from Alec's letter last week.  He is so right.  When we do our little things, it makes a huge difference.  And He is right there helping us.  I have noticed the Lord in all the details of this past week.  It has been crazy and stressful, but somehow it is all working out when we follow His plan.  He really loves us and wants us to grow and be happy.  I know it, and it helps me keep moving.

Change is in the Air

There was an awesome storm the other day.  We were out in it with our umbrellas - or not.  David and Eddie saw the colliding of the clouds first, and we were all watching the thunderheads crash into the existing air mass.  It was amazing to see the clouds swirl right over our heads, and then the storm started.  We were protected from the high winds on the back porch, but it was funny to see things whipping around and stuff go zipping down the street.  Look, another cardboard box is airborne!  And then the rain.  Wow.  The gutters were completely overwhelmed and water just pounded everywhere.  Love it.  We celebrate when there is water in the desert!

We've had some drama about my dad this past few weeks.  Two weeks ago, he spent 6 days at our house while my brother and his wife were on Trek.  At the end of it, we jokingly asked him if we were driving him crazy yet.  Good natured-ly, he responded that we weren't, but if he had to stay another week then it would be a different story.

And then, my brother went on vacation - two days after Opa went home from our house.  He asked us to take my dad again.  The problem was that my dad did not want to leave home.  It took me about 2 hours before he would come with me.  He was not happy with me for quite a while before he lightened up a bit.  So he did have to spend a good chunk of the next week with us, as well.  Fortunately, we all survived.  :-)

So herein lies the bigger challenge.  My brother and his wonderful little family have been living with my dad, caring for him and his Parkinson's for the past few years.  Now they are moving out.  So what do we do with my dad?  He simply cannot live alone at this point.  His condition has been deteriorating some over the past few months.  He's not eating well.  He's lost so much weight his pants fall down when he stands up (luckily for him and for all of us, he got a pair of suspenders!).  He's not very happy.  He hasn't been sleeping well.  I'd like for him to live with a family who will love him and include him in their everyday, but he does not want to leave his house.

What to do, what to do?  So glad I have four amazing brothers (and their equally amazing wives) to navigate through this together!

Sad Chicken Day

We had my dad this weekend while my brother and sister-in-law went on Trek, a recreation of the experience of pioneers coming across the plains in a handcart.  My sweet sister-in-law is quite pregnant, and my dad told her not to start anything... meaning having the baby, of course.  No one could believe that she would actually do Trek when she only has a few weeks left until baby day, but they were so excited to go.  Honestly, I would have gone, too.  It sounds like they had a great time and many memorable experiences. I'm jealous.

Our big news today is that the neighbor's dog got out and went on a rampage in our yard.  Feathers everywhere.  He killed Ebony and we can't find Amber.  It was pretty traumatic for the kids to come running down the hill and see that scary-looking dog with a limp chicken in its mouth.  Even Chris was mad about it, and held him in a corner with a big stick.  I'm not sure what to do about it now - the dog has the taste of blood, and I'm sure he'll be back any chance he gets.

Next up, loads of apricots to process.  The joys of summertime!

Taekwon Do

What a week!  We started off with Matthew and Timothy getting their gis (karate uniform thingie) for taekwondo.  They are so excited about having them!  Matthew has been excited about learning a martial art, but less than excited to have practice three times a week at 7 am.  To be honest, his mother is not fond of the early morning, either.  But something finally clicked for him, and he has been loving it. I'm even liking doing the forms (never thought I'd say I liked taekwondo), which are choregraphed turns, punches, and kicks.  Not fond of the sparring, though.  You know me.  Not a fighter.

Oh, and I gave haircuts yesterday.  Shaved the twins and lopped off Angel's hair.  It's very cute short.  She begged for a long time for a shorter hairstyle, but Ben begged equally hard to keep it long.  So as soon as he left, we pulled out the scissors.  It will grown back in the next two years, I'm sure.    She loves it short, and that's an understatement.  She especially loves that there aren't as many knots.

Backyard Fun

We have a few pyromaniacs in our house.  I haven't met many boys who aren't.  Well, and I like to burn things, too.  There is just something about fire that is awesome.  So we collect branches and old cabinets and twigs and old homework papers and just burn it all up occasionally.

S'mores are optional, but just barely.  Marshmallows are mandatory.  We are all stocked up, and keep a big cupboard full of them for the summer.  Yum!

In the Backyard

I forgot to put this picture up a few weeks ago.  I found this interesting scene in my backyard just a few days before the boys went to scout camp.

Why?  Dunno.  Why do boys do funny things sometimes?  I really have no idea what the appeal is.  I shave my legs because I have to.  But to shave them just for fun?  I don't think it's fun, but what do I know?  I do know the technique, and I was asked to share the secrets of how to shave a knobby knee without nicks.  And advise about the liberal post-shaving application of lotion.  I was useful.

I guess there is a tradition for the boys to part with their leg hair on the last campout.  Fine.  Whatevah makes you happy!  All I know is that Trent shaved his legs in his younger days.  And Jay did his on mission - in a barber-shop pole stripe.  I guess it's fun when you don't have to?

I chuckled as they winced when rinsing with cold hose water.  I grin that they are such good sports to let me take this picture.  And now they are leaving - two to Madagascar and the other to Germany.

Good boys.  So glad we have such great neighbors and friends!