Central Florida, We Have a Winner!

So, we have a contract on the ranch house I told you about way back then!

Searching through the online tax records, I found this before picture:

See the date?

Here she is today:

Much cuter, don'tcha think?

We are scheduled to close on the 20th of this month, and we can't wait to get started on our renovations.

Here's a list:

• Add a little peak over the front door to break up the roof line
• Add a pergola/trellis over the garage door
• Add window boxes
• New flooring (except kitchen and bathrooms)
• New interior doors
• Add bathroom and closet to bonus room to make a new master suite

We're hoping we can get the flooring and doors done first, so we can get moved in. We'll likely live in the current master while the rest of the renovations are being done. The bonus room is on the other side of the house, so hopefully that plan will work out. Once the renovations are done, we'll have the original master suite ready for guests!

I was feeling a little hesitant about this BIG purchase, but as time goes by, I'm feeling more and more like we've made the right decision. We even know one of our neighbors already! One of The Daddy's co-workers lives just down the street, and I've heard his wife would love to have a walking partner! Yea!

Yes, we have found a home.

Head over to Our Suburban Cottage to see how AnNicole and a whole bunch of other folks met their houses!

EDITED TO ADD: Come and see our current renovation project HERE!

See all the houses we DIDN'T pick!

Moving Day

So we loaded up a trailer in true "Clampett" style...

Hey guys, you forgot something!!!

Saying goodbye to The Crazy Dog

Goodbye, goodbye, good friends, goodbye!

See you later, traffic and rain!

The Daddy drove the whole way!

We made it safely to our "temporary" house in Florida. Because our house sold so quickly in Atlanta, we're staying in a two-bedroom apartment until we can find our new "home." We're looking for a HOME NOT a house, and we want to do it right. The right schools, the right space, the right feel...etc. Gonna take our time.

The Crazy Dog stayed in Atlanta with The Daddy's parents until we can find the right home. An apartment is no home for a crazy dog his size! I will now have to clean up the floor after mealtime...

SIDE NOTE: Nothing can make you feel older than moving into an apartment with kids. Especially in a downtown "loft-like" urban area. It's a little more hip than me!

Today I took the girls to The Daddy's new office to meet all his new co-workers, and then we set off to our new church to get the girls registered for Preschool and MDO. They are both excited to make new friends and be at the same school now. Well, AE wasn't too keen on HJ coming to HER school, but it will be a LOT easier on Mama!

Think we're heading out on Friday to take a look at some homes for sale. I drove around today to do some "window shopping." Lots of lakes. Lots of parks. Lots of brick-lined streets=slow driving! Love the feeling, though. The large oaks dripping with Spanish moss are to die for and so charming. Can't wait to see what God has in store for The Phillips here!

In God's fashion, we arrived in our new town yesterday with the promise of something new and special. He sent us several rainbows overhead (literally) and we can't wait to share with you all the fun and cool new things in our lives!

Moving Tip #8267

Before you put a certain 4-year-old down for a nap, tell her NOT to touch ANY of the stickers on the packed boxes in her room. Tell her NOT to take ANY of them off the boxes. Tell her NOT to stick them all over the carpet. 

Bonus: she didn't take a nap.

Moving Tip #4589

Run dishwasher the night before packers come. You don't want a full load of dirty dishes packed. 

Not that I know this from experience. Really. Blah.

Four Minutes, Thirteen Seconds

Dancing by Myself- Chris Monette Appleton from fineartamerica.com

Everyone likes to say they're busy. Everyone thinks, "No one is really as busy as me/I've been."

NO ONE likes to hear about how busy YOU are, so...

I took four minutes and thirteen seconds today to dance. 

In the midst of moving madness (next Tuesday), I took a measly 4:13 to shake my booty, jump up and down, raise my hands, wave my arms, smile wildly, wiggle my hips, close my eyes, and shuffle-step all over our master bedroom. 

And it helped. 

Making Room

Moving means cleaning out time. I've been sitting in our former nursery tonight where HJ's clothes still reside. It is time to clean out her closet and move some of AE's clothes over to the 2-year-old's closet.

I'm moved to tears.

I'm putting away clothes that are size 12 months. News flash: she's 30 months old. OK. No problem.

I'm putting away clothes that are size 18 months. Hmmmm, couldn't she wear these a little longer?

I'm putting away clothes that are size 18-24 months. Oh, dear. Let the crying begin.

My baby is getting older and I don't want to move on yet.

Back when she turned two, I took some time to ponder her growth over the previous year. I even thought, "This isn't too bad; we'll just have another baby soon."

Fast forward four months, when she moved on up to the big girl bed, I marveled at how such a tiny, tiny being stayed in that big, big bed.

NOW...I feel like she is running at a pace where I can't keep up. She's growing out of clothes faster than I can pull them out of the closet.

And I'm left with this:

Is this all that will be left when she's gone?

Then I turned and opened up a dresser drawer finally ready to clean it out.

But wait... these clothes are big. These clothes are the next ones to come. These clothes have been hiding in a drawer which I was too afraid to open.

I didn't want to have to put anything else away. I was afraid to find more evidence of my baby gone.

These new clothes are a gift, and I just had to put the others away to be ready to receive the new ones.

How often do we hold on to what is dear to us when God has something bigger waiting for us in the wings? Do we have to let go before we can receive a bigger gift?

Sometimes we just have to put it away to find out what is next. What fits.

Pondering this verse tonight:

"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;

May the name of the Lord be praised."

Moving Tips 101

(The proverbial~or not so proverbial~ pile of boxes under which I sit.)

Y'all! Blogland is so cool! 

I've made many "friends" out there and this one, Mrs. Yellow Hat, has taken the cake. She's a military wife who has LOTS of experience in moving and she sent me her list of tips on how to pack and get ready for the movers! Enjoy!

• I prefer to do a lot of prepping on my own.  I have found that this has helped decrease damage; this last move, I think I had one or two things that were broken and they were minor- I didn't even claim them.  The majority of damage (if there will be any) will be to your furniture.  So the first thing you need to know is that they'll come through and tag everything.  Next to that number on the inventory, they'll put a bunch of numbers or letters or a combination of both.  The code is at the top or bottom of the inventory page.  BEFORE you sign it or let them put anything on the truck, you need to have them show you what they've marked- it's in regards to any existing scratches, gouges, etc. on your furniture.  We were in such a rush this last time that we didn't even think about this- the guy loaded it on the truck and then handed us the sheet; we had damage done to the bed which I KNOW was not there and we couldn't get repair funds on our claim because he had noted something on the bed.  So let them know that they will be pulling everything off the truck if they don't let you go over the list before then.  You can note on the inventory that you do not agree.  Take photos if you must.

• I like to put all my flatware in big bags.  Then I don't have to wash it on the other end.  If you can nest plastic ware inside something larger and put a lid on it, then that's less to wash when you unpack (at the least, I run everything through the dishwasher on a rinse cycle after unpacking).

• Packers are instructed to move as they find it.  So if you have a drawer that you just throw odds and ends in, they'll scoop it out and put it in a big sheet of paper and wrap it up.  I go through and put everything in baggies or some type of sealed container- all pencils and pens together, small kitchen gadgets, puzzle pieces from the kids' puzzles, small toys, etc.

• I also group like things together from around the house.  For example, I take all of the books from all over the house and they all go in the office (except the kids' books) so that they all go in book boxes together.  Again, they'll pack a room  and just put whatever they see in a box to fill it up- sometimes it makes no sense at all, but they're trying to conserve boxes because it costs them less.  I've had a drill put in a box with a lamp (unwrapped) and a decorative plate- the drill came through the move marvelously, but the others were broken.  

• I take all of the artwork off the walls and put it together in a laundry basket or against one wall where I can see them pack it right.

• Don't be afraid to tell them you want something packed a certain way.  For that matter, you can tell them not to cross-pack which means they should not go across the hall to another room to find something to fill up a box in another room.  Tell them no unless they ask you- you'd have to tell them all this before they start packing.  Don't be doing something else when they're packing- watch them, go from room to room and see what they're doing.  Typically, they'll have someone who is really experienced and then a younger person that hasn't done this so much.  Because it's during the school year, you may not have that scenario.

• I wash all my linens and put them in one area.

• I also have them give me a box that I can pack.  I include towels, the things needed to make the beds, a new shower liner and rings, paper towels, and toilet paper.  I label the box with some stickers or something bright and ask them to load it last so I can have that box right away and get beds set up- you'll be in boxes for days, so it's nice to know where that stuff is.

• You can request hanging wardrobe boxes.  You need to call the moving company and tell them you want them.

• Collect all light bulbs from your lamps and wrap them up inside a Rubbermaid tub.  Then use twist ties to wrap up the cord. Put all your shades together, nested, if possible.  They'll write "top load only" or something like that so it doesn't go on the bottom of the stack.

• Have all serial numbers off your electronics; take photos.  Any cords that can be detached should be done by you as prep work and bagged and labeled.  Hand carry them.

• Same with any hardware for furniture.  Tell them at the beginning that they may not take apart any piece of furniture unless you're watching.  Take the hardware and bag it, label it, and hand carry it with you. You can give it to the movers on the other end.  Otherwise, it's either lost or put into a box and you can't find it forever.

• If you have any original boxes for items, put the item in the box and leave it open.  Sometimes they add extra paper but they'll close it, and technically, they've packed it and are responsible for damage.

• If you store things in large plastic tubs, make sure everything is well wrapped.  They will move the tub as is.  Sometimes they put paper around them so they get credit for it being a box, but usually they just tape them.  Make sure they tape them at the least.

• If you have nick-knacks that are breakable but don't have boxes, I would find a box and bubble wrap it.  Put it with your china because they'll pack it in a  dish pack which is a much thicker cardboard box used for breakable dishes.

• Be aware that they will wrap small items in about 15 pieces of paper.  When you unpack, go through EVERY single piece of paper so you don't inadvertently throw something away.  That's why you need to wrap cords and hardware and small things in bags.

• It has been known to happen that occasionally they will pack your trash.  My friend's full diaper genie was packed and sat in storage for 6 weeks in the South (summer).  The best way to beat that is to wash out all your trash cans and group them together.  Just use bags hanging from the door or sitting in an old box.  

• Have soap and paper towels and extra toilet paper in the baths for them to use.  It's a good move to offer cold drinks and a snack. We sometimes buy a pizza or subways for the packers.  It is also a nice gesture to tip the ones loading or unloading.

• If you want curtain rods to go with you, you need to take them down yourself.

• They do not pack liquids.  Or matches.  Often times not candles- you may want to take those with you.

• For transition times, I like to take a supply of my stand-by recipes, some small kitchen gadgets that "furnished" places never seem to have or have complete sets of (measuring cups, spoons,sharp knives), movies, some favorite small toys (depending on the type of move we're making- this one coming up is going to tax my creativity!!), some type of portable laundry hamper, your cleaning supplies, spices, etc.  If you'll be in an apartment over the holidays, you may want to pull a few things out of your holiday box- stockings, for one.  We have an advent calendar from Desiring God ministries that rolls up and fits in the suitcase.  The kids love it and it makes them feel like it's a little piece of "normal."

• One of the neat things about being in transition is that you have less to keep up with- you can explore the new area- the library's story time, other free activities, etc.and you'll find that you can really live on less.  

• You may want to have a special box of toys labeled so the girls can have that opened ASAP while they're unloading.  It would keep them busy while you deal with the movers (or send them to a relatives house if you can!).  

• When they unload, they'll read off a number and you can tell them which room to put it in- you'll check off that spot on the inventory as the box or piece of furniture comes in the house.  It helps to have the rooms labeled, but it's not necessary.  Also, have paper towels, soap, and toilet paper in the baths. 

• If you have a filing cabinet, buy the file folder boxes and load those yourself.  They'll either tape it up and label it or drop it in a larger box.

So do with it what you will, but I'm bookmarking this one. 

For when I move again in 40 years. 

To the retirement home. 

Or the mental home. 

Whichever comes first. 

A Whole Lot of Something

Not a lot of blogging going on here, but here's what's been going on:

• I consented to letting the moving company pack for me. Just can't do it by myself. Tough. Very tough to give away that control for me. Whew. 
  
• It has rained. A lot.
• We had a birthday party for a certain 4-year-old. I neglected to take any pictures of the food, the cake, the games, the favors, our family of four humans, etc. Yea! A birthday to remember!
• I got to hang out with my dad for several days. He entertained the girls while it rained and rained and rained. 
• The girls missed preschool/MMO two days this week because of the flooding in Atlanta. Thankfully, we had no problems with flooding in our immediate area, but just down the road in Austell, there has been devastation. 
• I've been sorting, organizing, making piles and tossing stuff out in preparation for the packers. Thus, I found this brilliant picture, forcing me to take a break from the pits of the picture pile-up that never got organized in the last two years since we last moved-

The Daddy and I on our first date!

I will leave you to ponder a few questions:

1. Am I really that short?
2. Why wasn't I wearing heals?
3. Or am I?
4. Is The Daddy really that tall?
5. Do I look good in leather?
6. Just how long and curly WAS my hair?
7. How skinny were we?
8. Why did The Daddy just last month finally get rid of that there fleece?
9. Where do you think we went for a romantic dinner that night?
10. How cool was The Daddy to point out at the restaurant that I had lipstick on my teeth?
11. Isn't it amazing to think that this is the evening when The Daddy shared his testimony with me and led me to this realization?

Send me some love. Leave me a comment. You don't have to have a blog to say something!

Good byes

I know I just told you we are moving, but more exciting news:

WE HAVE A CONTRACT ON OUR HOUSE!

God truly, truly answers prayers. I know this to be true. 

Do you know how many people prayed this for us? 

Countless.

More than one nation. More than one time. We are BLESSED.

Did I mention that our house has been on the market for LESS THAN 30 DAYS???

Beautiful!

Did I mention that we had ONE buyer come to look? And now they are going to buy our house?

Tremendous and beyond expectation!

Now we have to find a house in Florida. So fun, right?

So, we're moving in 19 days. Not as much fun, right? 

We've got a little, furnished 2-bedroom apartment all set up and can't wait to let the search begin!

God is good to those who are pure in heart. Lord, may my heart remain pure and focused on you! Let all the GLORY go to you, Father. This is no accident. This is not luck. This is YOUR plan! Glory to you!