Working Our Tails Off

Glenn and I have been knee deep in work...trying to prepare to sell my home, moving all of my stuff into his house, and trying to find some place to put all of it. 

We have pressure washed my house, patched nail holes in it, and touched up those painted areas.  The last thing to do, is put the house on the market and have a moving sale, which will be this coming Saturday.

We have been caring for two places for three months now.  This past week the belt on my riding lawn mower tore in two, so I had another opportunity to push mow the front lawn while Glenn repaired it. 

It has been bittersweet seeing all of my flowers blooming, and knowing that will be the last time I be will seeing them.  I worked out a lot of frustration and tears, after Mike's diagnosis; as well as enjoying the space and privacy of a big yard.  I pray God will choose the perfect family to share the joys of this home and land, as we did the last 10 years.

My heart is going to tear apart leaving this home.  There are so many visual reminders there, of one of the happiest time in my life, but...mowing a regular house plot of land, versus an acre, will certainly be a blessing as I continue to grow older.

So.. the fun has begun using the pool!  The weather is warming up the water.  Now we're beginning to work on repairing the back yard after the pool installation.   We have re-installed fencing,  the pool company took down, and then laid down 2 pallets of sod.


We're having a Pool house built on location, by a Mennonite family in a week or two, that will also provide storage for things we can't figure out where to put.  We had considered selling the game tables, but we've decided to build this and keep them, figuring the kiddos may have fun using them as they continue to grow older.

Today, Zac gave Glenn an extra hand, and my back a break.  I have been overdoing things and paying a little for it.  So Amber, Ethan and Emma hung out with me and swam today.  We had such fun!  Amber and I are sunburned, but it was worth every bit of it!

The joy to share this with my kids is such a blessing to me.  We grilled out hamburgers and hot dogs and had a blast!

This new home is slowly beginning to feel like home now, but change has beeb hard on me, and I'm so thankful God has gently pried my fingers off the home I've had, and helping me bloom where He has planted me now!

Emma and the Christening Gown

This is just too precious not to post.

This gown was made by someone very special, with the intention that all my grandchildren would be dedicated in it...only it was a little too large and a little too frilly for the boys.  The slip was designed that all the kids names would be embroidered on it.  I still may have their names added even though they didn't actually wear it, just to have a little something of history to pass down.  It was made with so much love. Amber had Emma put it on to take a picture of her in it.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Jill will do the same with Alyssa, before I put it away safely for family down the road that might choose to wear it.

"Show me that my tears have made my rainbow."

We Have a Concrete Pond!

We're back from our adventure with Glenn's daughter and family, and we're back to work making sense of all of this chaos....of combining our houses together.  We have found it tricky putting our hands on things since we've moved them, and it has also been an adventure just trying to figure out how to use a new stove, locating light switches, if a door is locked, etc.! 

Put that together with four aging dogs; two of which have been recently diagnosised with Cushing's Disease...making it necessary to measure EVERY drop of water they intake.....and you have 2, crazy, confused, aging, newlywed adults spinning in circles. 

And because we can't utilize the fenced in back yard to let the dogs out, because of the installation of the pool...it has been necessary for us to use the front yard, with my two Cocker Spaniels trying to behave like plow horses whenever they spot a car in motion, a bird, or heaven forsake...an individual.  They have me flying around in circles like a helicopter.  It's a sight!  Believe me!

But....the good thing is that we're surviving...adjusting...and we can almost see light at the end of the tunnel.  God is good!

This past Sunday my little granddaughters were dedicated.  They were both so adorable.  Such sweet family's.  God has loaned them to two wonderful moms, daddy's, and grandparent's.  It's a blessing knowing they are all seeking to raise them for God's glory. 

Drew and Ethan are just precious all in themselves.  We have wonderful conversations with them, when we're watching them.  Matt & Jill and Amber & Zac are doing such a beautiful job teaching them about the Lord, about life, and where their Papaw is, and how they will be reunited with him again, one day soon.  The comfort I see on their faces when they say this, makes the aching of my own heart lessen a little. "One Day Soon....I'm Going to See Him....One Day Soon!"

Lastly, the pool is coming along.  It shouldn't be too long before we can enjoy it.  But knowing Glenn and I,  ....we'll feel it important to put the landscape back in shape first,  since we lost every blade of grass back there.  So the work list never ends!  :-)