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!!!!

Another House??

Our offer was accepted by the owner for this house in Apacher Junction. We are actually dealing with a real owner, not a bank. He thinks the appraisal will come in low as well, but just wants to dump the house. He is willing to drop the offer price and to work with us as we work with him. This process seems to be going so much smoother than with the previous house. The location is off of Ironwood Road, just south of the US60- which is just south of where our old house in AJ was located. In a year Dustin will try to start working part time at the new MountainVista Medical Center that was just built in near AJ. If he likes it, he can transfer and be working so much closer to home. We really like this home and are excited once again to possibly be moving. The downside- we locked in with a 3 month lease again and will have the apartment through June. We are supposed to close on the house at the end of April. We will move all of our storage unit stuff in May, stay in the apartment so Noah can finish school and then move officially in June. Hopefully everything will work out with this home.

Back to Square One

I am learning an invaluable lesson at the moment- PATIENCE.

We have backed out of the contract for the house we were hoping to buy. The inspection showed a lot of things that needed fixed- which we were really ok with. The appraisal showed a different story. Mold, termites, and a new roof are needed BEFORE we can get the loan. The sellers agreed to lower the price of the home to the appraisal price, but they would not fix anything, and we have until the 31st to close. We are not going to fix up a roof on a home we don't own yet, the work couldn't be completed in 2 weeks, and we still couldn't get a loan anyway without the repairs. So, we are hoping to get our earnest money back and we are starting the looking process all over again. To say we are frustrated and sad is an understatement. We haven't told the kids yet- that will happen tonight over dinner- but I know they are going to be crushed. They were so excited. I am glad I never started packing. The apartment complex said no problem on a 3 month lease. I am thankful that I know that we still have a place to live! I know things will work out. I'm not sure yet what the reason for this experience was. We know what we are looking for and hope we can find it. We are in no rush since we have 3 months to look- although we begin again tomorrow- but no rush!!

Waiting, but in the mean time...

We are still waiting for the appraisal on the house. Apparently we are on a long list of homes that need appraised and all we can do is sit back and have faith that everything will work out just fine. But in the mean time, some fun things ahve happened in our home:

I held a tarantula today. I was braver than Dustin!!! All he could do was sit back and watch. he just couldn't bring himself to hold it. We dropped our kids off at the Douglass family home today so I could go to the doctor about my medicines for the fibro. They have a pet tarantula. I never would have touched one or even thought of touching one if I hadn't seen Debbie do it. She is a very gentle woman and I would have thought she would be the type to totally freak out over a huge aracnid. She showed me a very cool side of her and I felt brave becasue of her. I love inspiring women and she unkowingly pushed me. It actually was really cool holding the tarantula. I may even think about giving one to the kids down the road. Although, they have their hearts completely set on a puppy!

Noah told Dustin the other day that "Mom only does boring stuff with him and Dad does all the fun stuff with him. All Mom does is read..." I'm not sure how to take that comment. It certainly made me laugh.

Noah and I have come up with a deal. I made a New Year's resolution to practice the piano more. I want to be able to play so much better than what I can right now. So, Noah said he will practice a lot if I practice a lot too. He will give me a lesson on Wednesday- tell me if I am good enough to move on or if I have to repeat the song. I think it will be good for both of us. It will get me playing a lot more and it will help Noah see how to practice correctly. I am excited to see how this will work out.

We have had a great last coule of weeks in our home. We spent some time talking to the kids about all of the fighting and yelling. We are putting pennies in the good jar (serving Heavenly Father) for when we help each other, speak kindly to each other and play nice with each other. We also put pennies in the bad jar for when we fight and thence serve Satan. We look at the levels at the end of each week. When we fill the good jar all the way we will take the kids to Makudo's Island- an indoor play park. It has really made a huge difference with everyone, but especially with Daniel. He is so much more loving and giving and the wonderful side of my boy is coming out from hiding!!!

It's Really Happening!!

After much search, many prayers, and lots of stress it is official. We are closing on our house on April 9!! Only 1 more month in the apartment! The house is huge (2088 square feet) with an ENORMOUS backyard. That was the first thing I saw and I knew I needed this house for Daniel. This, in essence, is a gift for Daniel. He has outgrown the apartment and desperately needed a place where he could be himself. The yard is so big he can ride his bike in it!! It is in a nice quiet neighborhood in Apache Junction. It is an older built home and needs a bathroom redone and carpets professionally cleaned before we can move in. We can't wait to get started!! Dustin is itching to get his hands working. Enjoy the pics and more will come!







We are taking our camera with us on to the inspection and will take as many pictures as we can to help us in decorating ideas. If the inspection happens on a weekday, we are going to pull Noah out of school to come with us. He wasn't there when we found this house. I am having fun looking at home decorating books and paint chips. Buying a new house and dreaming is so fun. The best part of the house- it is only $75 more for a monthly payment than our current rent. I am thinking "No way". We have been so blessed. I am so grateful for with all that my Heavenly Father has blessed me. My heart is constantly poured out in thanksgiving daily- if not hourly!!