We have been basically homeless since April, and I am so proud of our family for getting through it all. We moved from Nashville area to Arizona in April, with some of our items and our dog. Then, we stayed for 3 weeks and house shopped. We found a house we loved that needed a lot of remodeling. We bought it and met with a remodeling team, then we flew back to Tennessee to pack up the rest of our house. We made it back to Arizona in June and moved into a rental right by our new neighborhood. The rental had a pool, thank goodness, but the house and yard were very small. It took 5 months til we got into our house, this weekend! The house looks beautiful and we are loving it so far.
We love our neighborhood but we are also finding things we do not like, which is too bad. I always wish life is 100% good, 0% bad. But life is always 50/50. Oh, well.
My parents have been in town for almost 2 weeks now, and we are loving it. We always get too used to having them around and miss them so much when they are away. We are still curious about where they will be serving as mission leaders for the next 3 years. I keep thinking Mexico. Sometimes we think the Congo, Montreal, or Argentina. Sometimes Lyon France or the French island in the Pacific. We will see! My parents are not 100% excited about their mission. Some days they seem excited, other days they seem to dread the idea. I know they don't want to miss us for 3 years. That is a lot of time to miss your grandkids growing up. But, I feel confident that we will get to see them even as they serve as mission leaders. I'd love to see them multiple times a year. Maybe we could go out for Christmas break and summer break every year. We will see!
The last week has been funny. I have had two different teenagers tell me they thought I was 20. I love the compliment and was surprised by it! Especially when it happened a 2nd time!
Today I took safety pins and shortened the straps on Gweny's dance leotard, so that it didn't come down in the front. After I did it, she said, "Where are my nickles?" And I laughed so hard.
We went to Spaghetti Factory tonight for dinner. It was so special. I grew up going to Spaghetti Factory almost every weekend with my family. My parents are such great examples of living a routine life. Every week they go on a date. Every week they attend the temple. Every day they exercise. Every weekend growing up we would go out as a family. Every day after school was piano practice and homework, and putting away laundry. Clockwork. I'd love to live more from their examples.
Our kids are tough at bedtime still, especially the middle three. I put them to bed and say goodnight and kiss them and close the door, and they do not go to sleep. It makes me sad and Blake gets really frustrated. I hope that this can go better soon. I'll pray for some help.
Last week I completed a Seminary teaching practicum. It was really special to spend time with the kids in the class that I taught. I loved it so much.
Blake and I went for 4 days to Newport Beach to have some time the two of us. It was so special and so needed. It has been too long and I cannot wait to do another trip with just Blake. We ate lots of good food, went to Disneyland, rode bikes along the beach, ran on the beach path, swam in the ocean, and had lots of time to relax.
