New Ward

I am going to miss our Adobe Ward SOOOOOO much- more than I imagined a week ago. We went to our new ward (church) today. I totally forgot how small the Apache Junction wards are compared to the Mesa wards. It was so small!!! The Primary is all one- there are no Junior or Senior primary groups. The bishop told us that our moving into the ward increased their Primary by half- I thought he was exaggerating. He wasn't. There really were barely any kids there. Luckily, there are some kids and boys around Daniel's and Noah's ages. The ward is getting smaller and smaller as well because all the Snowbirds are going back to their summer homes. We really are needed in this small part of the church. We are really eager to serve and to build friendships with our new neighbors-

Speaking of new neighbors. We went to the Adult session of the Mountain View Stake Conference- our last time participating with our old ward and friends. The message came through loud and clear about loving one another and extending the hand of friendship to our nonmember neighbors. It was the perfect theme for Dustin and I as we are beginning again. We will have the opportunity right from the start to be brave and meet the people around us. The Stake meeting was probably the very best meeting I have been to- including General Conference. The message of Love struck me to the center of my soul and I felt the need to be so much more than what I am. I felt the need to put aside my selfishness and really stretch forth my hand in love to those I meet and know. I am excited to get this move going. I am excited to meet our new neighbors.

As Dustin and I looked for a home, we prayed often that we would find a place where our family was needed, as well as a place for our children to play with the kids in the neighborhood. We discovered today that our street has a few LDS families on it- 2 right across the street from us! That will be so awesome for our children. They need that socialization so badly- especially our Daniel. He is so special to me and I have felt that he has gotten the short end of the stick lately. We pulled him out of preschool a month ago because we thought we were moving earlier. He REALLY misses school and friends. I am excited to get to know these neighbors so our children can play together over the summer.

The one thing I will miss so very much are my wonderful Visiting Teachers, Jenni Caddy and Debbie Douglas. They have become such wonderful friends and a support to me over the last 3 years. They have been so diligent in visiting me. I am one of those ladies that just really need the monthly sit-down-together visit. They have been friends that I could call when my fibro flared so bad that I couldn't move. They were always willing to put aside their lives to care for my children when I was literally unable to do so. I love these 2 women so very much and will really miss them. The Relief Society in our new ward is very small. It is harder to find really good visiting teachers in smaller wards- the activity level of ward members is never as strong or as numerous. I also know that given time, I will come to love our new ward family as much as we love the Adobe Ward family.

Timeline

We heard today from our loan guy. Here is our moving timeline- for any who care.

April 18- church in our new ward.
April 21 (or 22) Dustin and I sign the papers!!
April 26- we get the keys to our new HOUSE!!! We are going to "camp out" in our home after moving in what we can fit in the van that day.
May 1- Moving day- all our big stuff will be moved!

I can not believe how fast it is coming. I am packing up all my bookshelves and under the beds this week, as well as the non-essential kitchen stuff. I have been very good at keeping things well organized and contained already for the last 4 years. It won't take much to pack it all up.

2 weeks. Amazing! 14 days left until we can have a blissfully quiet ceiling forever more!!!

Slowly, But Surely

I don't have much to report except that everything is working out so well. I am very grateful that we founf a home that is owner-owned instead of bank-owned. The list price for the home was $117,000. We offered $120,000 knowing we could come up with a little extra id the appraisal wasn't nearly as high. The appraisal came in right at $100,000. If we were working with a bank we would have to withdraw our contract and start all over again. Since we are working with an owner, he dropped the accepting price to the appraisal price- so we get a very nice home after all. We sure have been riding the housing market well. We bought our first AJ home at the slump about 6 years ago. We sold at the height of the boom 4 years ago and made enough to pay back parents, buy 2 cars- almost new, and to live on one income while Dustin went to school. Now, 4 years later, we are getting a smoking deal once again. We are getting this new house for less than we bought our 1st home. I am amazed every day at how blessed our family has been, thanks to the Lord. There is no way any of this could come about without His help. We also owe so much to Dustin's mom, Joan, who at her passing left Dustin and his brothers just a little inheritance- enough for our home. We miss Joan terribly, but are very grateful for what she did for her boys.

The kids are getting really excited to move. We only have the month of April left. We will be moving the first week of May, most likely. Only one month of driving to Mesa to take Noah to school. Only 20 some days of noisy neighbors above our heads!! Oh how we can not wait!!!!