Have I mentioned Im moving?

The last few hours of 2007 are here as are the last hours I will spend in this house. Its a fresh start all the way around.

Although fresh starts are wonderful, there are a few things I will miss about this house.

I had found the perfect spot in the living room for my favorite big chair. It was in a corner near the very large livng room window where I could look out into the Sunshine of the front yard and see the activity in the neighborhood and the birds on the grass. From the same spot, I could also look across the room through the dining room window at my dog in the back yard and the roses on the fence. I loved that spot. I hope the new owners discover how special that spot is.

I will also miss the patio- it was a long narrow patio that was similar to a New Orleans style courtyard, with the brick wall of the house as one of the patio walls. I regret that I did not take advantage of the space more- I was always looking for just the perfect piece of iron work to hang on the brick wall and just the perfect flowers to plant at the end where the grass began. Instead, that brick wall stood empty and the flowers were not planted. But it made me happy to see the courtyard patio every time I came in or left by the kitchen door. I hope it makes the lady who lives here next just as happy.

I am surprised that I am a little sad to be leaving this house, I am also excited to discover what favorite spots I will find in my new home.

After all, it really was not that large living room window or the brick patio wall that made me so happy. I loved this house so much because it was this house where I returned to from my honeymoon, and it was the place where I returned each night, where my husband greeted me warmly as I came through the door at the end of the day, and where he would sweetly bring me breakfast and coffee in bed on the weekends. This house was opened to friends and family, sheltered loved ones, and was filled with love and acceptance, sharing and generosity.

Those things- the only important things in life- will be moving with us to the new house.

Moving is hard work

I am in the midst of moving and It is a lot of work.

But it has become clear that there are some things I have done right like, doing business with my friends as my real estate agent, mortgage broker, insurance agent, closing attorney, etc..... and I highly recommend it. No one will take care of you and work to make this stressful process a little easier (and return your call at 5:00pm on Friday afternoon) than someone who already knows you and loves you and wants only the best for you.

I also highly recommend getting a POD, and perhaps some medication.

There are also some things that I have not done so right, and realize the error of my ways, but its too late for me. I should have started packing two months earlier. I should have emptied out the attic. I should have had that yard sale I kept saying I was going to have six months ago. I should not have gone to so many yard sales myself and brought so much stuff home.

I should not have gone back to Weight Watchers a week before this move, since all this stress makes me want some chocolate cake. and ice cream. and a cookie.

Thankful Thursday

To say that 2007 was an eventful year in my life, more so than any other, would be an understatement.

I cant begin to recount all that has happened to me and my household, but every major trauma visited us this year, sickness, surgery, unemployment, death.

But I am thankful that God brought my family through it all, he has healed me physically, and he has personally taught me the meaning of His GRACE.

I am so thankful that he has brought us through it all and he has blessed me and my household in every way, so much more than I deserve.

Merry Christmas 2007

It was a great Christmas- full of family, friends and fried turkey.

My favorite chocolate cake I am not making

I am not cooking for Christmas this year- since I can hardly even see the oven amidst the boxes and bags, and it would take a search committee to find something to actually cook in....

but if I were to bake something today, I would bake my favorite chocolate cake.

Preheat oven to 350. Spray bundt pan with Pam.

Mix together:
1 box devil food cake mix
1 small box jello fat free sugar free instant chocolate pudding
1 small box jello fat free sugar free instant white chocolate pudding
1 cup chocolate chips

add

1 cup water
1 cup applesauce
1 cup egg beaters

mix well
pour into bundt pan
bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes.

I don't know who to credit for this recipe- its a weight watcher recipe I have been making- or not making as the case may be- for a couple of years.

Don't let the applesauce and egg beater fool you. No one will know this is a weight watcher recipe, and people will argue with you when you keep saying that it is.

MY NEW HOUSE!!!!

I am so excited I can hardly think of anything else!

This is my first home.

There is a live Oak Tree in the back yard that you cannot see in the picture- the branches are so big, they almost touch the ground. And there are deer! I saw some deer poop in the back yard- so deer have been there.

I am looking forward to standing in my kitchen- looking out the bay window into the back yard, past the tree line where our yard ends and into the beautiful pasture that is behind us.

And! because the house is in such bad shape-the inside of the house is rough- we get to pull up all the floors and I get to pick the new floors! And re-paint all rooms, and pick new appliances and cabinets/counter tops! Its all the fun of building your own house without all the work of actually building your own house.

This house is an answered prayer.

I won the husband lottery

My sweet husband came home tonight with a gallon of milk and a box of chocolate cupcakes.

I LOVE that man.

Thankful Thursday

1. I am thankful for the Real Estate Agent, Closing Attorney and Mortgage Broker who are all my friends and working hard on our behalf to get us into a new home.
2. I am thankful that God has given me such a great husband.
3. I am thankful for the friends and family that have helped me move in big ways and in small ways.


Want more Thankful Thursday? Look here: http://unequalmarriage.typepad.com/

Live Well wednesday

I joined Weight Watchers before I got married 2 1/2 years ago and went from a size 16 to a size 10. I lost almost 30 pounds. It may not work for everyone but it worked really well for me. The day I made my goal weight- everyone cheered.

and I almost cried I was so happy and proud. And they gave me some darn key chain that I have to look at each day and remember...

Then the night before my wedding at the rehearsal dinner I shared some apple cobbler with ice cream with a friend and that was pretty much that. Then I am pretty sure I went home and ate some oreos as fast I could get my hands on them.

Then I went on a cruise and ate everything else.

I have since gained and then lost and then gained again the same 10 pounds.

Of course, 2 1/2 years ago I had the added pressure of knowing that 100 people were going to stare at me while I was wearing a strapless dress. You don't have that kind of motivation everyday.

I don't have that motivation today. I just want to feel better and look better, and stop being embarrassed for gaining the 10 pounds back again and again and...get that happy/proud feeling back, and keep that feeling longer than it takes me to leave the meetings and drive to McDonald's.

I think its going to take me going back to Weight Watchers for the third time...

no, wait.... its the FOURTH time.

Welcome Mr. Winter

Its finally here!
Its 30 degrees this morning. The yards and roof tops are white with frost, the plants are protected (thank you husband), the dog is inside, the car is warming up before I drive to work.
I finally get to wear a turtleneck and heavy coat, and I'm warming my hands with a mug of hot coffee, just as I should be in the middle of December.

I just love winter.

Prayer Request

Please add to your prayer list a group of 23 people from my church going to Mexico this week. Every Christmas, a group goes to the same orphanage in Mexico with toys and candy and spends a week telling the people there about Jesus. They say that these children are the happiest children they have ever met, and they are so grateful and thankful for the toys/gifts and candy they receive.

House shopping is so stressful

Just to update you.... because I know you are sitting on the edge of your seat anxiously waiting word- we are NOT getting that house we have spent the last week and a half bidding on.

We made three different offers- pratically BEGGED the owner to let me buy your house- and he has not reduced his price, except to offer to throw in $1,500 worth of travertine tile sitting in the garage (which, frankly, I thought would come with the house anyway).

I have come to the conclusion that he loves his house and really did not want to sell it after all.

Since we have to be out of our house by Jan 2, and already killed a week and a half on the other house, we made an offer on a different house in the same neighborhood- a 2 story house that had been foreclosed on. It has been empty for over a year and the inside is NASTY- and needs a great deal of work... BUT.... its quite a bit less than the other house. It looks like this will be the house. But, I have to wait until MONDAY to hear from the bank (who now owns it).

This house shopping is so stressful! Its a roller coaster of emotions. One minute I am planning the house in my mind, and the next minute, I am bidding on an entirely different house!

I know God has a house with our name written all over it, and I am ready to know which one it is!

Thankful Thursday

There are so many things to be thankful for...

1. My Church home
2. My wonderful husband and his family
3. My house sold in one month for more than expected
4. A good job to go to each day that I like

Want more Thankful Thursday? Visit: Laurel Wreath’s Reflections

In other news

This was the headline in the paper today:

Frosty the No-Show.

The article went onto say that the Christmas tree farm just wasn't the hub of activity that it usually is and that no one is sipping mugs of hot chocolate while browsing for their tree. Instead, the tree farm now has a cooler where they offer cold bottled water, which has been much more popular since it was 83 degrees, today!

God has blessed my house

I know that people are having a great deal of trouble selling their homes. I know the housing market has not been what it once was. I know that we waitedabout 6 months too late to put our house on the market. I know that other houses in our neighborhood have sat with for-sale signs in the yard for 6 months or more.

But not our house.

After being on the market for 1 month, we now have 2 contracts on our house and must be out by January 2nd.

God is just showing off.

It was 114 degrees today. . . .

No. I exaggerate.

It was only 97 degrees.

There is just something wrong about running the air conditioner in the car on your way to work on December 11, while listening to Christmas music that has been playing on the radio since June.

Im exaggeratting again.

The Christmas music started in July.

My Favorite Winter Recipe

Yes, I know its 83 degrees outside, but the calendar says it is winter-
thus it is time for my favorite winter soup and I forced my sweet husband to play along.

TACO SOUP

Brown 1 pound lean hamburger meat, drain and add taco seasoning
Put in crock pot
Add 64oz can of diced tomatoes and 1/2 can of water
Add 1 64oz can of red kidney beans
Add 1 smaller can of corn
Add 1 smaller can of Black Beans
Add 1 envelope of dry ranch dressing mix

Stir and cook on low for 4 hours or so

Add to each individual bowl of soup: grated cheese, tortilla chips and sour cream.

Its very filling and very low fat. Its perfect for the cold winter night I am dreaming that it will one day be.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas?

No... Its really not.

Its hard to get into the spirit of Christmas when it is 80 degrees outside, and I have not even replaced the fall wreath on the front door with the Christmas wreath.

The weather man says that next week it will be 30 degrees when we wake up, and it will stay cold for two weeks.

I am hopeful that the Christmas wreath will make it up by then.

Dear Santa Part 2

Dear Santa.

Usually I am not one to tattle on others.... but last night when Husband read that I wanted a "dancing with the stars" workout video he laughed for a good 20 minutes. I mean he laughed, and laughed, then thought of it a little more and laughed again.

Which makes me want the darn thing even more. Who'll be laughing when I am 10 pounds lighter?

Thanks again.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa.... or Husband... or anyone else reading this blog who might want to buy me gifts.....

This Christmas, I would like to have the following:

1. "Dancing with the stars" workout DVD
2. "Made from Scratch" autobiography of Sandra Lee of Food Network fame
3. Paula Deen Book, "It aint all about the cooking" (which is what I will be giving my 2 sister in laws, mother in law and neice this year)
4. Electric blanket

Do you see a theme here? I need the workout video to balance the cooking and eatting I plan to do.


Thank you.