Truth is, I've been MIA in BlogWorld because husband and I have been working like dogs to get our house and belongings ready for a big move. We've taken tons of stuff to Goodwill, given other stuff to friends, and our children, and put a variety of antiques and other collectibles up for sale. We have packed and cleaned and fixed things until we dropped exhausted into bed at night after a multitude of 18 hour days. When you get into your 60's you find your strength and stamina somehow diminished! Who would have thunk it?
And then there's all the emotions that you put on hold because you know leaving the home you raised your children in and so many, many dear friends and memories. Sunday, yesterday, opened the floodgates. Words of love and sadness were expressed over and over and tears flowed and overwhelmed me.
By this coming Saturday all of our household goods should be packed and loaded ready for pickup on Monday. Then the finite cleaning will commence, the car and truck will be loaded with what we'll be using to live on/with for the week or two those household goods will be in storage/transit.
At the conclusion of the move we will be much closer to one daughter and three of our grandchildren and a majority of my brothers/sisters and their families. It will take some readjusting after having lived in Louisiana for nearly 30 years to be back in the mountains of Utah! When we get settled I'll try to be more diligent(?) in keeping something on this post.
Showing posts with label moving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moving. Show all posts
Monday, May 28, 2012
Sunday, July 24, 2011
I've Been a Little Busy . . . But Who Hasen't?
I keep thinking I'm going to find an extra minute or three to post something or other, and then it's midnight and I'm exhausted and I haven't posted anything.
So, I'm going to try to post something now. My #2 daughter and her three children (who have lived with us for the past two years) are now out west. I drove them out (in daughter's van); my husband and our son drove out a few days later and we had a nice visit with several of my siblings and their various children/children's spouses, etc. including a super surprise visit from one niece-in-law back home for a brief visit from Germany (where nephew is serving in the USAF).
Since we got back home, it's been B U S Y!!!! Crazy busy. Youngest, or #3, daughter (expecting her second child) has been with us since we got back, so we could get re-connected with her little Doll, our youngest--for now--granddaughter, before our second trip out west--scheduled for this week--with a truck load of household goods (including 30 boxes of books. 30 very heavy boxes of books, I might add) for # 2 daughter who is working to graduate in three weeks with her Bachelor of Science degree at BYU, and on getting settled in a new home, new job (we're praying for), and all the things that go with all that with her three very special, delightful, busy, intelligent children!
Not-so-good news: Two weeks ago my mother fell and broke her femur while getting out the car to go into Church. Several members of the Church who are medical professionals were on the scene and came running to assist as soon as they saw what happened. Surgery was successfully performed the following day to secure the break so it could heal properly. She's okay, thankfully, but not progressing with therapy, because she, unfortunately, doesn't like to do any kind of exercising. We're all concerned for her current/future well-being under the circumstances. She's stubbornly and avidly avoided almost any and every form of healthful, minimum exercise for at least the past 20 years, so that mind-set is really difficult to overcome in her present circumstances. My brother and his wife--where Mom's been staying since March of this year--are looking after her along with my nieces and their families.
Also, since returning in early/mid-June, this Grandma, ME, has been dividing her time between getting caught up
on paying bills
taking care of #1 daughter after gallbladder-ectomy surgery/recovery
taking care of Little Baby Cakes during the mornings (while her expectant Mom--#3 daughter-struggles
with the effects of her new pregnancy)
trying to stay on top of all the new changes in medical insurance stuff that goes along with someone
(read: my husband) retiring
working to rearrange our two storage units so that we can divest ourselves of a bunch of stuff by taking it
to #2 daughter and her three children
with Church callings
and breathing and enjoying the summer (WHAT? Do I get to do that when it's 100+ outside and the
humidity is 75% or more? Occasionally, yes. When it's a little cooler)
and packing.
I know, waa, waa, waa and double waa. But such it is/was. And then we load the U-Haul--(Yes. We are trying our luck with U-Haul once more . . . PLEASE PRAY FOR US!!! The other options are slim to none. **Sigh.**)--on Wednesday and pray that everything packed (and yet to be packed), along with the pieces of furniture we're planning to take, will all fit therein and in my husband's truck, which I will be driving so we have a way back home--and I imagine . . . you get the picture. Buying the gasoline for the gas-hog U-Haul for 1500 miles will be bad enough, but then we're talking 3000 miles round trip for the much smaller truck that's ours, as well. (Guess that's partly why someone who recently retired is going to be going back to work. But then they do want him back and were a little loath to let him go, so they said multiple times. It will be a new job to him, so I think he'll enjoy it.)
So, with all that, the yard is showing the great effects of Husband's labors. The garden is making tomatoes and peppers for us to enjoy along with a volunteer "pie pumpkin", as well as with the various flowers and herbs planted here and there in the yard and in pots likewise. And Baby Cakes has become excessively attached to said Grandpa for various and sundry TLC she's received at his hands. (We are all so grateful for Good Grandpa's and their TLC!!)
I'm not sure how we'll survive once we get back home in August and all the children and grandchildren will be far, far away. Well, the children who have children will be far, far away. The other two are, fortunately, not so very far away. I'm getting a little misty eyed even as I type, just thinking of it. We've missed the three older grandchildren so much since we left them in Utah in early June, and now the youngest will be leaving (about the time we leave to go west) to go back to Georgia and I don't know how I'll survive!
It will be far too quiet and still around here! There will be no pudgy little cheeks to snuggle and kiss. No thrilling giggles to hear from tickles being administered, or various games of peek-a-boo being played. No multiple readings of various books along with the pointing out by tiny fingers of this and that picture, or character, or color, or alphabet letter and the little voice calling out the proper names of all those listed things found in the various books that accompanies the pointing tiny finger . No spontaneous tiny voice singing her own songs or dancing to music on the TV to the delight of her mother and grandparents who applaud and clap with joy at the precious moments. But, there will be other days for future joys. It will just be so very quiet here till then.
So, I might get caught up on my cleaning. I might actually get the smaller storage unit emptied and its remaining contents moved into the large one. I might be able to remember things I need to be doing a little better. I might be able to sit down to read a book or two. And I might just sit down and cry in the quiet house that will be filled with sweet memories of when little, precious children graced us with their presence on a daily basis and cluttered the living room with their toys and books, and smiles, and giggles and hugs and kisses.
I've got to be more positive! I'm planning to go to Georgia for the birth of Baby Cake's sibling when that time comes. That will certainly be a welcome experience and that thought brings a new smile to my face, as we speak. God is certainly good to me, and us, day by day and week by week. Challenges abound for us and everyone else we know, but with challenges come new opportunities to grow in so many ways, particularly as we recognize that God's always near and willing to help us on our path as we rely on His loving care and keep moving forward.
Here is little Baby Cakes.
 |
| She was pulling faces like this BEFORE the camera came out. Finally got ONE after the camera came out! She's teething and enjoys a Popsicle to ease the discomfort. |
We were dancing and having a great time together--after she danced and entertained her Mom and Grandpa and me first.
(I don't know why I can't figure out how to flip pictures up 90 degrees to the right when I need to!)
This child has quite a repertoire of expressions to entertain us with! I can't tell you how much we've enjoyed having her and her Mom with us the past few weeks. I'm just trying to figure out how we can get her and her cousins in Utah back together again sometime soon! They would have so much fun together again!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Craaaaaaaaaaaazy Friday
I've got to tell you about last Friday. We were moving lots of furniture from my in-laws, rather husband's and his brother's house--since they closed the deal (sale to a young couple) on Tuesday--to a storage unit closer to where we actually live. I'd called (on several occasions trying to work out all the details for this move) and talked with a guy that's in the business (apparently on the side of his towing business) of renting U-Haul trucks and trailers, etc.. We had to line up some muscle (i.e., strong young lads) to load the truck on the front end of the journey and similar help to un-load on the final end.
I think I could write a book about it all. The experience was "colorful" and like reading a book--for some reason I felt rather detached from the incredibly improbable circumstances involved that may be, more typical that I realize of how some things just are in this life. Anyway, since I do write books--I haven't braved trying to get them published yet, I kept thinking I should take notes so I could get the multitude of details imprinted in my brain. It was wonderful fodder for future writing.
Remind me, if I forget, or lose track of time, to tell you the story. I really didn't get as uptight as I normally would in a situation like it was because I kept thinking how great the "scene" would be in a story. My son and I actually chuckled through a lot of the hour and a half experience (my husband did not)--and believe me--it was an experience.
Somehow I'm just now thinking of Seinfeld, the TV show (did I misspell his name?) and some of the ridiculous sets of circumstances some of those episodes contained. That Friday, I just kept watching and listening--and interacting from time to time--thinking it was rich and needed to be recorded.
Remind me to sit down and write it one day. . . Hopefully my life won't be so crazy and loaded with stuff as it has been for the past couple of months--or longer. Anyway, I need to do it before I forget all the details, right?
I think I could write a book about it all. The experience was "colorful" and like reading a book--for some reason I felt rather detached from the incredibly improbable circumstances involved that may be, more typical that I realize of how some things just are in this life. Anyway, since I do write books--I haven't braved trying to get them published yet, I kept thinking I should take notes so I could get the multitude of details imprinted in my brain. It was wonderful fodder for future writing.
Remind me, if I forget, or lose track of time, to tell you the story. I really didn't get as uptight as I normally would in a situation like it was because I kept thinking how great the "scene" would be in a story. My son and I actually chuckled through a lot of the hour and a half experience (my husband did not)--and believe me--it was an experience.
Somehow I'm just now thinking of Seinfeld, the TV show (did I misspell his name?) and some of the ridiculous sets of circumstances some of those episodes contained. That Friday, I just kept watching and listening--and interacting from time to time--thinking it was rich and needed to be recorded.
Remind me to sit down and write it one day. . . Hopefully my life won't be so crazy and loaded with stuff as it has been for the past couple of months--or longer. Anyway, I need to do it before I forget all the details, right?
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Lessons in Life
Okay. I didn't get the pictures up yet. I'm sorry. Took a lot, but I've been so busy elsewhere. #3 daughter's moving back home from school till she locates a real, full-time job. Yay! We're very pleased that she's finally graduated.
We settled on a date to drive the four hours to her apartment, retrieve her stuff, and bring it home. I called around to locate a moving truck to rent, settled on one and made a reservation for "the" date, 5/23/08. A Saturday. It was about two weeks prior to the moving date. Good planning, right? Everyone in town (where she lives) was finished with school at least for the summer and moving. So far so good.
As the moving day approached, I began imagining said rented truck breaking down--and on a weekend, 200 miles from home that might not be such a good idea. So, I started praying that whatever truck we got wouldn't break down. Nothing wrong with that, right?
Husband decided to take off the Friday prior to the move so we could go down, enjoy a celebratory dinner out with #3 daughter, etc. Then #1 daughter had an activity in the same city as #3 daughter lives and asked if she could spend Friday night as well. This apartment is tiny. The whole thing could probably fit in our living room here. And our living room isn't huge. It's large, but not excessively so.
So we worked out the details. Friday came. Husband and I left to wend our way south with happy thoughts of getting the job done quickly--not effortlessly. (She inherited a hide-a-bed couch from her grandparents and it's no picnic to move that sucker, let me tell you!) She doesn't have much furniture to speak of, but she has lots of STUFF--clothes, in particular.
Ten minutes into the drive south on Friday we get a call on the cell phone. "Mom," #1 and only son said, "The truck rental people just called. You might want to call them." Fear and dread filled my previously happy countenance. "Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?" I carefully asked.
#1 son explained that THE 10' truck we reserved had broken down and there were NO OTHER 10' trucks available. However, they had a 26' truck we could have for the same price. In my mind I saw this picture: We'd already discussed, my husband and I, the fact that our daughter's belongings would not even fill the 10 footer, so why in the world would we want a 26' truck where nothing could be secured, not to mention the potential for excessive gasoline usage, difficulty in manuverability, etc.? So, what to do.
I called the very nice truck rental folks who told me they also had two other trucks broken down and since it was Memorial Day Weekend, they had no mechanics to repair said breakdowns or future breakdowns that might occur over that 3 day period. What fun. Why plan ahead?, you may ask.
With little faith of finding a replacement among the other brands of rental trucks, I dutifully called and checked. The resounding response: "We're booked solid for the next two-and-a-half weeks." So, after much aggravation, several phone calls, discussion and all, we decided to call my husband's brother who has a pick-up with a slightly longer bed than our own. He wasn't keen on the adventure, but he's ALWAYS most kind and generous with helping us when he can. He and my husband have no other siblings, and their parents are no longer living. He lives about 3 hours drive from us, but also about 4 hours drive from our daughter's place.
He met us Saturday morning at her place. 4 husky, young, male church friends of #3 girls' also showed up about the same time to help load the heavy stuff--meaning primarily the couch. They were great and helped get another piece of furniture and some boxes loaded as well. My husband, his brother and I all managed to get to our house and unload--with some help from a couple of other young, husky, male church friends here.
Well, Monday this week, #1 son and I drove back down, spent the night and THOUGHT/HOPED--we could load the rest of the furniture and boxes left, except for daughter's things she needed while she finished up her commitment at work and the cleaning of her apartment that she'd bring when she drives home later this week.
Well, the plan was good, but didn't quite work out. Again. Bed frame and headboard didn't fit. We loaded all we could manage and came home once more. I'll go back--sans the truck bed lid--and make a final, final trip down and back later this week. Oh, the gas prices! Not to mention, I'm getting tired! I don't think I have one foot in the grave just yet, but I'm just not used to working this hard. (Maybe if I continue . . . I'll get better at it? Hmmmmm. Exercise. Yes. That's probably what I need. Ooooh. Ouch. Snap. Crackle. Pop. Yeah, that's the ticket!)
We settled on a date to drive the four hours to her apartment, retrieve her stuff, and bring it home. I called around to locate a moving truck to rent, settled on one and made a reservation for "the" date, 5/23/08. A Saturday. It was about two weeks prior to the moving date. Good planning, right? Everyone in town (where she lives) was finished with school at least for the summer and moving. So far so good.
As the moving day approached, I began imagining said rented truck breaking down--and on a weekend, 200 miles from home that might not be such a good idea. So, I started praying that whatever truck we got wouldn't break down. Nothing wrong with that, right?
Husband decided to take off the Friday prior to the move so we could go down, enjoy a celebratory dinner out with #3 daughter, etc. Then #1 daughter had an activity in the same city as #3 daughter lives and asked if she could spend Friday night as well. This apartment is tiny. The whole thing could probably fit in our living room here. And our living room isn't huge. It's large, but not excessively so.
So we worked out the details. Friday came. Husband and I left to wend our way south with happy thoughts of getting the job done quickly--not effortlessly. (She inherited a hide-a-bed couch from her grandparents and it's no picnic to move that sucker, let me tell you!) She doesn't have much furniture to speak of, but she has lots of STUFF--clothes, in particular.
Ten minutes into the drive south on Friday we get a call on the cell phone. "Mom," #1 and only son said, "The truck rental people just called. You might want to call them." Fear and dread filled my previously happy countenance. "Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?" I carefully asked.
#1 son explained that THE 10' truck we reserved had broken down and there were NO OTHER 10' trucks available. However, they had a 26' truck we could have for the same price. In my mind I saw this picture: We'd already discussed, my husband and I, the fact that our daughter's belongings would not even fill the 10 footer, so why in the world would we want a 26' truck where nothing could be secured, not to mention the potential for excessive gasoline usage, difficulty in manuverability, etc.? So, what to do.
I called the very nice truck rental folks who told me they also had two other trucks broken down and since it was Memorial Day Weekend, they had no mechanics to repair said breakdowns or future breakdowns that might occur over that 3 day period. What fun. Why plan ahead?, you may ask.
With little faith of finding a replacement among the other brands of rental trucks, I dutifully called and checked. The resounding response: "We're booked solid for the next two-and-a-half weeks." So, after much aggravation, several phone calls, discussion and all, we decided to call my husband's brother who has a pick-up with a slightly longer bed than our own. He wasn't keen on the adventure, but he's ALWAYS most kind and generous with helping us when he can. He and my husband have no other siblings, and their parents are no longer living. He lives about 3 hours drive from us, but also about 4 hours drive from our daughter's place.
He met us Saturday morning at her place. 4 husky, young, male church friends of #3 girls' also showed up about the same time to help load the heavy stuff--meaning primarily the couch. They were great and helped get another piece of furniture and some boxes loaded as well. My husband, his brother and I all managed to get to our house and unload--with some help from a couple of other young, husky, male church friends here.
Well, Monday this week, #1 son and I drove back down, spent the night and THOUGHT/HOPED--we could load the rest of the furniture and boxes left, except for daughter's things she needed while she finished up her commitment at work and the cleaning of her apartment that she'd bring when she drives home later this week.
Well, the plan was good, but didn't quite work out. Again. Bed frame and headboard didn't fit. We loaded all we could manage and came home once more. I'll go back--sans the truck bed lid--and make a final, final trip down and back later this week. Oh, the gas prices! Not to mention, I'm getting tired! I don't think I have one foot in the grave just yet, but I'm just not used to working this hard. (Maybe if I continue . . . I'll get better at it? Hmmmmm. Exercise. Yes. That's probably what I need. Ooooh. Ouch. Snap. Crackle. Pop. Yeah, that's the ticket!)
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Good Intentions
I've been planning to post for nearly two weeks now. So, yes, now you see proof of how slooooooooooow I am at getting around to things. I saw some pretty cool things--like a momma mocking bird and her three little hungry, demanding babies. Did I have a camera to record my view? Heck no! The camera was with my husband 200 miles away. Great, right? Well, after all, it is HIS camera. Darn. Why can't we afford 2? Well, life is!
So, IF I get really lucky, and industrious, I'll see if the little feathered babes are still housed in the nest in the fig tree. I watched Momma resting on the wire outside my kitchen window with bugs in her mouth and knew she'd been endlessly busy feeding her brood, but I never caught her at it again. Sob. :( We'll see how things go later today. My "to do" list is ever so long.
Plus I have pictures to take and post of all the flowers and other plants my sweetheart bought in honor of Mother's Day--on the day prior to--which we set out in pots, etc. I was surprised and very pleased for his thoughtful kindness. (He's like that sometimes just to keep me on my toes, I think. Surprising me with stuff like that.) How can one NOT enjoy lots of flowers? (Okay--alergy suffering people may have issues--including me with SOME flowering plants--but the beauty kind of outclasses the misery--for the most part. Right?)
Till I get the pictures, then? Have a lovely weekend--soon. Right. Today is only Thursday. So, OKAY, have a fun weekend ON the weekend. Or is that, DURING the weekend?
We'll actually be helping move our youngest daughter from college--she just GRADUATED! HURRAY! She's moving back home till she locates a job. Wish her luck. Then, we'll have to help her move out--again. Like I mentioned before, LIFE IS!
HAVE A GREAT ONE!
So, IF I get really lucky, and industrious, I'll see if the little feathered babes are still housed in the nest in the fig tree. I watched Momma resting on the wire outside my kitchen window with bugs in her mouth and knew she'd been endlessly busy feeding her brood, but I never caught her at it again. Sob. :( We'll see how things go later today. My "to do" list is ever so long.
Plus I have pictures to take and post of all the flowers and other plants my sweetheart bought in honor of Mother's Day--on the day prior to--which we set out in pots, etc. I was surprised and very pleased for his thoughtful kindness. (He's like that sometimes just to keep me on my toes, I think. Surprising me with stuff like that.) How can one NOT enjoy lots of flowers? (Okay--alergy suffering people may have issues--including me with SOME flowering plants--but the beauty kind of outclasses the misery--for the most part. Right?)
Till I get the pictures, then? Have a lovely weekend--soon. Right. Today is only Thursday. So, OKAY, have a fun weekend ON the weekend. Or is that, DURING the weekend?
We'll actually be helping move our youngest daughter from college--she just GRADUATED! HURRAY! She's moving back home till she locates a job. Wish her luck. Then, we'll have to help her move out--again. Like I mentioned before, LIFE IS!
HAVE A GREAT ONE!
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