Good News Friday

It's another good Friday here at Wee Killys. Yesterday the inspection was completed on our barn. I am thankful indeed. I wasn't expecting it to be done until next week. The report should be available today or Monday for the bank. At that point I expect to hear a closing date on our home there and my expectation is to close within 2 weeks of that. 'Course expectations have left my heart wide open for disappointment over the course of the last year or so but I just keep on with my expecting anyhow.

This development has made me feel I'm ready to start packing boxes again. In fact, I have (overnight) officially switched from, "there's plenty of time to pack" to "we better pack like crazy, I have so much to do! Is that the moving truck pulling in?!" I'm a bit extreme, huh? But it does seem the right next thing to do in this journey and I like gut feelings so break out the packing tape and newspaper, paper plates and plastic cups, clear the shelves, pump up the tires on the dolly and let's get going already.

Scott may not be having such a good Friday now that I think about it. He injured his back on Tuesday. He is in misery with lower back pain. Pray for him. It has lessened since the original injury but he is still limited in many movements and plagued with pain when he moves wrong. He has been doing exercises as well as walking and getting a massage from yours truly once or twice.

Hope your Friday is the GOOD kind and your lower back doesn't let you down!

Will the Killys EVER move to Illinois?

The Barn in the Flood Plain and two boys

Are you wondering when we're moving? Maybe you think we've already moved? Let me loopify you (keep you in the loop). I've been lacking any goodies to tell you but I suppose even that is news worthy.

It's just quiet 'round these parts. Here's what has happened: We have our end of things all shored up here in Toledo-the new dwellers are eager to take over the reigns here in this lovely place we've called home for 5 years. We are waiting on the bank in Watseka so we can get out of their way. The bank in Watseka is waiting on someone to do an elevation certification for the barn that is part of the property we are purchasing. The house is not in a flood plain but a survey or some other crucial piece of paperwork the bank uses showed that the barn was in the flood plain. (Watseka has lots of two things: railroad tracks and rivers.) The barn is not far from the house so we are hopeful it will prove to not be in a flood plain this time around. The elevation certification man had a 2 week wait as of the middle of last week. *sigh* 

Waiting on the Lord is the theme of our lives this past year. It is a good place to be and I remind myself of that daily. I started packing boxes a few weeks ago but now I just find myself rifling through boxes for things I've already packed so I've put that on hold for now, but give me a closing date and the box packing is ON like Donkey-Kong!

Normal Results (Or: A Short Update on Scott's Exam Today)

Just a quickie to let you all know Scott passed his exam today and is officially a member of the Presbytery of Northern Illinois. I believe that means Amazing Grace Church is a mission church of the Presbyterian Church in America (I will correct that if I'm wrong.) Thank you for praying for him! Have a wonderful night and a great Sunday!

Congratulations You!

A Saturday in Holmes County and Normal, Illinois

My grandparent's home and barns.

A quickie update here. I am in Holmes county, visiting my family and recovering after the estate sale of my grandparent's property. This is a task that has proved sadder and harder than I at one time imagined. I think saying goodbye in this direction and preparing to say good-bye in Toledo and move further from my hometown is all coming to a head that is a bit overwhelming for me. I appreciate those of you who have been praying for me and sending me comments letting me know of your prayers. I think today will be a good day. It is warm (close to 70!) and sunny and the 5 youngest kids and I plan to help my uncle clean up the mess at my grandparent's place. I had a wonderful lunch with my cousins yesterday at Breitenbach Winery. The view is spectacular there although I'm not sure if you could replicate the fantastic company I had. We were in stitches. My kids played at the park behind my mom's house and if the amount of dirt they carried home on their clothes and bodies is any indication it would seem they had a rip-roaring grand time too.

Scott on the other hand went the opposite direction. He is in Normal, Illinois this morning for a called meeting of the Presbytery of Northern Illinois for Scott to take his oral transfer exams for entrance into that Presbytery. This will be at 11:00 Illinois time which is 1 hour behind those of us on Ohio time. It would be good for us to pray for him to have an encouraging time with the men there. He is driving as I write this. Our oldest, Anthony, is with him.

For our house situation, we are just waiting on the bank in Watseka to finalize everything. Our papers are with the underwriter. We hope to hear a closing date next week. The house out there is empty so we will get possession at close. We don't have a calendar date yet but we hope to be there the beginning of May. I have managed to pack so much that I'm missing things and needed to slow down my packing.

Must scoot, Saturday is slipping away quickly. I think my uncle is out there doing all the work himself!

The view from my grandparent's property.

Auction Day For the Best Property in the World.

Today is a sweet and sad day. My grandparents estate and contents are being auctioned off. I got up and wandered through all the rows of precious things this morning. I could grab every other item and hold it to my chest and sigh about its significance in my childhood. There are so many super-special memories tied to the things and since I really can't keep it all (in case you haven't heard, we are packing and moving AND our new house is smaller than our current one and of course what would I do with the things even if I did have the space?) I decided to take pictures to help make the good-bye of all the things easier. Want to see what is so special to me?

A lot of breezy afternoons were spent in shelter from the sun under "The shade tree." We would move our blanket to keep in the shade. I haven't found another tree that offered as refreshing a shade as this one.

My bed out in the country. I remember sleeping with my mom here when I was a little little girl.

See that star? It wants to come home with me.

Thoroughbred Hats boxes. My mom worked at Spector's Store in Mt. Eaton. She would bring these empty boxes home.

Grandpa was my original guitar man. Play it again, play it again!

In this picture, there are 2 special things: the view AND my FAVORITE aunt (she's not for sale but she does live nearby if you buy the house).

The yellow and green cases holding old 45s. I probably shouldn't get any closer or they might jump in my hand.

This grapevine is for sale. It comes with a house and a few acres. About 15 to 20 years ago or so my grandfather made a stop at his childhood hood home nearby and retrieved a start of this vine that he remembered from childhood. It will have grapes in a few months.  I will have to mimic his efforts and get a bit for my own house.

Grandma's fancy drinking glasses with the swirls at the bottom.

Grandma's popcorn popper. I remember grandma adding red hots to the popcorn and sometimes carmel or some other fun things. I've been making my own popcorn on the stove lately in a regular pan and have been remembering this pot and her experiments. I thought it was long gone. It too wants to come home with me.

These long round things are the screens grandpa had for viewing slides and movies. Grandpa used to set up the slide projector in the living room and grandma would pop popcorn (see the above pic of the popper) and we would watch old home movies. Such sweet memories!

Their scale. Those cups. *sigh* These WILL NOT come home with me. I'm telling myself that more than you all.

My grandma's sewing machine and that light that always sat on top of the sewing machine stand.
I know that silly old light will end up in my trunk.

This dresser used to sit against the wall in my grandparent's bedroom. As a little girl I thought if I went out into the hall I would find a magical entrance to get to a make believe world behind this mirror. Silly-ness.
 

 So this was my morning's examination of the site. I will soon wander back down and I may have to share more things with you later on. You'll just have to humor me. I will have an update on our other life of moving to Watseka soon but today is for saying goodbye in Holmes county. My cousin is on her way and I hope she hurries up. It will be fun to wander through all these things with her and my other cousins when they come. Thanks for listening. I think today is going to be sunny, warm, beautiful.

Things that are Packed, And That's the News!

A few updates on Amazing Grace Church and our family.

• Amazing Grace Church was packed this past Sunday: 32 people!

• We continue to just wait on the house selling/buying. I figure no news is good news and just keep praying the first house sale is completed soon so the second (our Toledo home) and third (our Watseka home) can be completed. The Watseka house is empty.

• I have started tackling the packing dilemma. I was so encouraged at ladies Bible study last week as they prayed for me and my "packers block" seems to be lifted. Packer's block is when you need to pack your house up but are paralyzed by the seemingly overwhelming task. You simply can't reign in your mind to figure out where to start. Well, after my friend prayed about it for me I came home and was able to pack two boxes. I have done so almost every day since. It seems I've been able to get my packer's groove (where you grab a box, some newspaper, pick a spot to clear and start packing) on.

• I'm so thankful that God cares about the small stuff like packer's block and I'm so in awe when he answers prayer. I am kind of embarrassed that I'm in awe of Him answering prayer. I KNOW He answers prayer but it still just takes my breath away.

• I've been able to make time for working on my nursing license, packing my brain with nursing knowledge. I'm praying more specifically for a nursing job in Watseka.

• We have been blessed to see a little support starting to roll in for Amazing Grace. We are very appreciative of those who give and trust the Lord for the increase for them and the increase for Amazing Grace Church. That is a packed full of faith heart!

• Finally, our kids are on Spring Break this week. Scott was able to be home yesterday and today and we are enjoying beautiful weather together. We have not had a family vacation in a couple years and we forgot how lovely it is to spend our days together and explore the outdoors. We are packing in the fun: Yesterday we visited the zoo, saw the cousins, a grandma, and the neighbor kids and today we plan to have a picnic at one of the parks, visit with friends and other fundries (like sundries: too many small -but FUN- things to mention.) Aren't you glad you have me to teach you a bunch of made up words?!

Well, I must go grab a cup of coffee and get on with my day. I have so many things I want to tackle and the kids will be up before I know it. I hope you have a gorgeous day. I hear the birds chirping and squawking outside as dawn blooms. It's going to be a good one!

This owl was looking at us. The kids explained the owl looks away when he doesn't like you. My sis-in-law walked up and this is what he did. The kids rolled with laughter. We had a Hoot at the Zoo! Love you, Erin!

House News and Nail Biting

Lots of updating should be happening this week on this blog. Where is that blog writer?!? She's on vacation, sipping iced tea and working on her tan. No, not really she's been drilling her crazy kids on how to add money and spell words that start with silent letters. Today she made her own soap. Mostly,  she's been making phone calls and tracking down paperwork and figuring out how to scan it all to the bank.

Why would she do that? Because we found 2 houses we fell for last Saturday in Watseka. After our big disappointment last week we made a decision to pull the trigger on our favorite of the new 2 and put in a bid that day so we wouldn't miss out on this new love. After 24 hours of quick negotiations we were able to get the house for about $25,000 less than the listed price. It has a huge huge huge yard, still in town close to the small town buzz of people and schools with big living spaces and big bathrooms and visiting grandmas won't have to brave the stairs at night as the bedrooms are on the main floor and a fireplace (woot!) We were going to miss our fireplace as the previous house pick did not have one of those babies. The house reminds us a lot of our current home. A bit of a seventies vibe. I'll have to look for some macrame and a big wooden fork and spoon. It is a beautiful home and we will definitely be blessed to have it. We are praying that the loan would go through smoothly, I'd love it if you prayed for us too.

I am starting to think PACKING and then I want to cry. I'm sure I will not be ready when the truck pulls up. I feel woozy when I think of where to start. My mother in law has been dropping off boxes and newspapers like its snow in January in Toledo, OH 2014. (Thank you mama Sally.) I see so much stuff to pack! What to throw, keep, trash? Way too many decisions for my skills. That is my plan for next week: PACK. pack. PaCk. til my fingers bleed then get out the band aids and pack some more.

I would like to give you a date for our move but we do not know. Originally we were hoping to be there by Easter but now that we're rounding out March we are not convinced we'll make that date but you never know. Our new house is empty which would mean we could get possession at close. We continue to do the next thing, making plans, walking through open doors, backing up when we run into a door that swings shut. All in all it's pretty exciting around here.

The Killy van is Watseka bound at 5:15am (really 5:30 but I tell myself earlier because I tend to be ready about 10 minutes after the "go" time. Now I just have to figure out a way to forget we really don't need to leave until 5:30.) We have to be in W-town by 9:00 because we have our inspection of the new house then. More excitement. Life for us now? Well, you can see it's a nail biter. You buy the whole seat but you only need the edge. Thanks for coming out to "watch" the show!