Posts Tagged ‘Moving’
All Quite on the Western Front
Posted on: April 4, 2011
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
Actually, our house is anything but quite right now. We are still in the throws of unpacking and organizing the new house. But we don’t have Internet until Wednesday. I’m currently writing this from Jonathan’s iPad. Which is harder than I expected, since the app isn’t letting see as I type. {So let’s hope I get this right the first time ;)}
I promise I really do have some fabulous posts coming. Ranging from new adventures to an update on my 30 before 30.
Stay tuned!
Please Pardon the Silence
Posted on: March 30, 2011
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
I wish my house looked this tidy*
We sign on our house tomorrow afternoon.
The movers will be here Friday morning.
And I’ve been in crazy packing mode for the last several days.
I will have a post tomorrow to debut my feather hair extensions, but will quite back down for a few days.
So please pardon the silence this week.
One Week Before We Move
Posted on: March 24, 2011
- In: Life
- 12 Comments
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how we found a house, put in an offer and had the offer accepted in less than 48 hours. As with a lot of other life things, housing buying can be tricky. Between finances, paperwork, inspections, schedules, etc., anything can go wrong at any time. So, in an effort to not put my hope in the wrong place, or to hype anything up, I haven’t written about our move.
But it’s happening.
While we haven’t signed the closing paperwork, everything is set {finances approved, money in the bank} and ready to go for next week. We are having a few scheduling issues arise, but we think they should be smoothed over {for those of you who want the boring info – the short of it is – we are set to close on the 31st, but our locked in interest rate ends on the 30th, so we need to figure out which day to close}.
Here are just a few pictures of my favorite things in the house:
Look at that beautiful {big} kitchen! It overlooks the living room and backyard. Sigh.
The girls' room. Already painted girly pink and everything!
A playscape! Heart be still, the playscape stays! I am one happy mama {with two happy little girls}.
While we still don’t own the house, we are pretty certain everything is going to go through as expected. Which means, come this time next week, we will be in our new home, starting some wonderful new adventures! I cannot wait!
Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures Thursday.
Visit Jill at Diaper Diaries for more Things I Love Thursday.
*If you’d like to see the rest of the house, let me know and I can email you a link to the tour {it has our address and I don’t want that on my blog}.
Our New House? Hope so!
Posted on: March 1, 2011
- In: Life
- 23 Comments
When we bought our last house, it dawned on us that we had inadvertently gotten into real estate – as that was our third property. It made sense, then, to buy again once we moved to Texas. However, there are a lot more options in Austin and narrowing down what/where we wanted proved to be a challenging task. So we made a list:
1. Good community
2. Good school district
3. Nearby park/pool
4. Close to downtown
5. Close to Jonathan’s work
6. Affordable – Turns out the houses closest to Jon’s work are not within our price range {by 300K’s+}.
7. Master bedroom on same level with kids’ room – Not something terribly common in homes here in Texas
8. Four bedrooms
9. Separate dining room
10. Decent size yard
It seemed that the more houses we looked at, the less we liked. Something was always off. Too much. Not enough. Needs repair. Too far away. The list went on. Then, last week, out of no where, Jon got an email from our realtor about a house. They set up a showing for the next day. Turns out, the house was in the neighborhood we wanted – but get this – down the street from two families we knew from our missional community! We looked back at our top ten list and realized that this house met every single need/want we had listed – plus some! The next day we put in an offer and the accepted it the next morning.
So…. if all goes as we are praying, come March 31st, this will be our new home:
Visit Amanda at Oh Amanda for more Top Ten Tuesday.
Taking Your Kids To an NBA Game
Posted on: December 30, 2010
- In: Life
- 9 Comments
As I mentioned yesterday, we took an impromptu trip to San Antonio this week. As we were heading out of town, Jonathan turns to me and says “Do you want to swing by the AT&T Center?” Now, my friends, that might mean nothing to you. But the AT&T Center is where our beloved Spurs play. I laughed and said “Sure, why not.” Jonathan’s face lit up with shock and excitement. He then asked “Would you want to watch the game if I could get tickets?” Of course! We found parking, discussed what we thought to be a reasonable price for tickets {since we’d already missed the first half}, and Jon went off in search of tickets.
After about 5-10 minutes, Jonathan comes back to the car with these:
I’m not sure what to point out first. The fact that it was a LAKERS game or that we are only TWELVE rows from the court!? I had no idea that we were playing the Lakers. In my little basketball world, the Lakers are my arch nemesis. And to only be 12 rows from the court? Seriously does it get any better?
Actually, it does.
Did you see the price of the tickets? Look really close. $175.35. Not for the pair. Just for one.
I’m sure you’re saying, “Sarah, um, that’s not better.”
But wait for it….
We got the tickets for free.
Free.
This family was coming out of the game and Jonathan asked them where he could buy tickets. They said he could have theirs, since they were leaving for the night.
So, on Tuesday, December 28th, our family went to our first Spurs v. Lakers home game. I hope there are many more to come.
Visit Alicia at Alicia’s Homemaking for more Try New Adventures Thursday and Jill at Diaper Diaries for more Things I Love Thursday.
I Want to Go Home Now
Posted on: December 13, 2010
- In: Life
- 7 Comments
Our apartment is mostly unpacked, our Christmas decorations are up and life is moving forward. Yet all I can think is “I want to go home now.”
The last three weeks have been a whirlwind to say the least. And now, now things are slowing down and reality has hit. Reality that I am a thousand miles from “home”. Reality that I can’t go down the street to visit friends. Reality that my daughter keeps asking to play with her friends and she just can’t. Reality that this move is harder than I thought it would be.
I don’t doubt that our family is exactly where God wants us to be. God has shown us time and time again that He is leading us in this new direction. But I can’t help but miss the life we left behind – the friends, the family, we had to say goodbye to. That, that is the hardest part.
Yet, like every lesson, every trial, God proves His faithfulness. God proves that His family isn’t limited to one state or one community. He is bigger than that. Last night we had a chance to meet with a group of families within our new church, Austin Stone. And it was good. So very, very good. I left telling Jonathan that God really met me where I was, in need of feeling His presence in a community, and my heart was full.
I dearly miss our “family” in Iowa, but I am overwhelmed by God’s goodness to show me that wherever He is, wherever His heart is, there my family is also.
My Last Minute Family “Picture”
Posted on: November 30, 2010
- In: Life
- 4 Comments
At some point late Saturday night, I announced to Jonathan “I’ve forgotten to take our family picture, let’s make sure to do it tomorrow before you leave.” Then at some point late Sunday night {well after Jon left} I announced to my SIL “I forgot to take our family picture before Jon left.” I soon came up with what I think was a brilliant idea. I asked my 7-year old niece to draw a family picture:
Grandma, Jonathan, Sarah, Julia, Hannah, Jack
November has been a crazy, crazy month. The second week of the month, Jonathan accepted an offer at a company in Austin, Texas. This new job is an amazing opportunity for Jon and we are thrilled to see how God will be using his talents while there. He started the job Monday and is spending this week on a company scavenger hunt – a way the company gets new employees to learn all about company history and their fellow co-workers. Pretty cool idea, huh?
Julia turned 3-years old on the 23rd. Wow. I can’t even fathom that three years have passed. On one hand it’s flown by, but at the same time I can’t remember life without my precious little girl. I’d love for you to read my birthday letter to her: Happy Birthday, Julia Mabel.
Hannah has really started talking more and more. She’s added “Katie {her cousin}”, “guys {as in “hey guys”}, “yes”, “Julia {which sounds more like Ju}” and “grandma”. Hannah is really claiming her own and making me see that she is a force to be reckoned with. She is showing some stubbornness and making herself known far more than I expected at this age. And topping it off with a fearlessness that puts Julia’s antics to shame. She is keeping us on our toes, there is no doubt about that.
As for me, I’m feeling like I’m just trying to keep up with it all. Aside from packing and moving, not much has happened for me this month. I had started the 30 Day Shred, but couldn’t keep up with it the last few days in Iowa and certainly haven’t been able to while we’re in this holding pattern {Jonathan is in Austin, while the girls and I are in Ft. Worth}. It’s been a trying month at times, dealing with a lot of emotions and changes, but God has really been good to show me His continues faithfulness and love. I will say though, I’m so looking forward to setting up all my Christmas decorations. And don’t be surprised if I leave them up a little longer this year.
Texas, The Lone Star State
Posted on: November 24, 2010
- In: Life
- 3 Comments
Our family is leaving today for Texas. The movers are arriving around 9 or 10 to load up our moving van. Then Jonathan will take off with Grandma and Jack {the dog}, while the girls and I will be flying down to Dallas later this afternoon. I’m taking off a few days from blogging to spend time with family and get settled in Austin. I thought I’d leave you with a few fun facts about the great state of Texas:
1. Texas was an independent nation from 1836 to 1845.
2. Texas is the only state to enter the United States by treaty instead of territorial annexation.
3. Austin is considered the live music capital of the world.
4. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885.
5. El Paso is closer to Needles, California than it is to Dallas.
Everybody Panic!
Posted on: November 22, 2010
- In: Life
- 5 Comments
{photo credit}
The girls have been watching a lot of tv lately. And while I am not one to use tv as a babysitter {as a general rule} it has come in very handy while packing. They have watched and re-watched the same Word World episodes several times. In one episode the animals keep coming across situations that are out of their control. They immediately say “Everybody panic!” and run around like crazy. Then one animal says “Let’s just stay calm and think things through.”
Julia has been saying “Everybody panic!” for the last couple of days. Each time I have to laugh, because she is saying exactly what I am thinking. As our move date is rapidly approaching I can’t help but think things are not going to come together as we need. Our movers are coming on the last day {instead of today}, we still have several last minute things to organize, making sure that we celebrate Julia’s birthday {which is tomorrow}, along with keeping my heart in check about our family’s future. Every day God is reminding me of His truths, that He is in control. It is a comfort to cling to when I just want to yell “Everybody panic!” I’ve realized, this move has really stretched my faith and forced me to rely on God when so many things are out of my hands.
Here are the latest verses I’ve been holding onto:
“They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.” Psalm 112:7
“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” Psalm 103:4
- In: Life
- 11 Comments
We only have five more days in Iowa. Yesterday was the first day that everyone was health {or relatively enough to have outside contact}, so we did a lot. And in the craziness of everything, two amazing things happened:
1. We found renters for our house! Praise God! After several postings on Craigslist, with no response, we finally had a couple contact us for a showing. They are moving into the area for work and just fell in love with the house {who could blame them?!?}. They signed the lease yesterday – the same day we gave them a tour. It all happened in four hours! Whew. Talk about a whirlwind.
2. My sweet and dear friend, Leah, gave me this:
"Would you look at that? Would you look at THAT? Holy smokes. Do... Do you know what this is? This is... A lamp!"
While my version is a night light, it is perhaps the coolest Christmas gift I have ever received. I love it. And owning it now allows me to cross off #27 of my 30 Before 30 – Own a Leg Lamp. Thanks again, Leah!
A Wife Loved Like The Church 
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