Shortly after moving in, our living room looked like this.
Three years later, we seem to be revisiting the chaos.
Not only is Christmas undecorating taking a lot of extra time and space, we also have the attractive addition of Steve’s tools that he is using to replace the rotten front porch pillars. It makes more sense for him to leave the stuff just inside the front door rather than drag it all down to the basement. Who knows? We may start a whole new trend in decorating.
Here are the pillars Steve and Nathan took down last week. They’re just about as old as I am so I think they deserve a rest after decades of holding up a porch roof. Good job, guys!
Our house is looking a bit bare-bones at the moment. Winter-brown grass, bare shrub area, and no pillars. It will all come back to life soon.
This is what it looked like when Ken and Vernie were here. I miss summer and I miss green grass.
we are gaining some new housemates.
Sarah and Gage are moving apartments, and they have found themselves in that unfun zone where they have to vacate one apartment by a certain day, but can’t move into the other apartment until another day. So for the next week or two, they will stay with us while all of their belongings lounge between our basement and a friend’s garage.
If you’ve ever found yourself in this situation, you know that handling all your stuff twice is not fun. But they are keeping a good attitude and are excited about moving from a one-bedroom apartment with 650 square feet of space to a two-bedroom apartment with 883 square feet of space. They’re especially looking forward to having the extra bedroom for an office and creative projects.
Of course, once I knew they’d be moving in, I had to do some serious cleaning. During the holidays, we’d been throwing all the miscellaneous stuff into one of the guest bedrooms during the holidays, knowing we’d have more time to go through everything later.
I hesitate to share such an untidy photo, but you all are my tribe, so I’ll let you see the state of the bedroom where Sarah and Gage are going to be sleeping. (The bins are for Christmas decor.)
You’ll be glad to know that after less than an hour of work, it was transformed into this. I even managed to clean out four dresser drawers for their belongings.
The bad news is that some of the stuff from that room ended up in the other guest room, which I will work on in the days to come. But at least I know our kids have a place to lay their heads that’s not covered in stuff.
Before I move on to a new subject, I wanted to show you the lovely presents Steve wrapped for me. The photo doesn’t really tie in with anything, but I wanted to thank him for the way he always works to make gift-giving special.
my plans for the afternoon consist of having needles poked into my muscles, followed by electricity being run through the needles. Anyone care to join me for a fun time?
My doctor and physical therapist confirmed what I had already suspected: my left foot and leg are quite a bit weaker than my right. This test is for the purpose of taking a closer look at what’s going on.
I’m a little apprehensive about it (I’ve had one before and have been with Sarah through two), but I will try to concentrate on the fact that I am fortunate to have access to excellent medical care and the wherewithal to figure out what is going on in my body.
To add to our medical roster, Steve is having a colonoscopy on Thursday which means that Sarah and Gage are moving in just in time for that whole delightsome process. We don’t let just anyone live with us through colonoscopy prep; I know they are honored.
At some point, everything will be back to normal, but in the meantime, I’ll embrace the chaos and be glad for the activity and fullness of this life I’ve been blessed with.
What about you?
Are your decorations still up? Do you have a certain day when you usually take them down?
Have you ever had a medical test you dreaded? Was it better or worse than you anticipated?
Do you make your gifts a work of art (like Steve) or are you more haphazard about them? (Like me.)
Have you had friends or family who lived with you for a period of time?
What are you looking forward to this week?
First of all, happy 44th anniversary!! Yay!!
I have done the colonoscopy prep 4 times, dreaded it all 4 times and it was terrible all 4 times. YUCK!!! And I get to do it again in 2 more years. Good luck with your tests, both of you!
We always take our Christmas decorations down on the weekend after New Year’s day. It was easy this year since we didn’t have much to take down.
I just love to make my gifts a work of art! I think it is so much fun!! Jeff had to help me wrap them this year due to the sling on my arm, and he got quite the lesson! LOL
After we moved into our current house, our son and his two kids lived with us on two different occasions; 6 months and then 4 months. Was THAT ever and adjustment! It really is amazing what you do for your children!
This week (Friday) we are getting a new bed and we can hardly wait!! Ours is way too old so we are looking forward to much better sleep!!
LeeAnne,
Well, once you get to Steve’s age, you won’t have to do them anymore. This is his last one, according to his doctor.
I don’t mind colonoscopies too much; my favorite part is drifting off and going to sleep.
I’ll bet you and Jeff were quite the gift-wrapping pair–you with all your gift-wrapping knowledge and one working arm, and him with less knowledge but two working arms. Good job in working as a team.
A new bed is wonderful–enjoy your restful sleep!
I so relate to the stacks of stuff in the spare room. In my case it is in 2 spare rooms. I tell my sister I need a weeks notice before she comes to visit. I am amazed you got it done in an hour.
Took 3 days, but the Christmas decore is all packed and stored. (very grateful that we have a large storage room)
I have had nerve tests before and know that they are no fun. Prayers that you will get some good answers. I had to have a swallow study with radioactive food and they watched as it went thru my system. I was told it would be a 90 min scan. I knew I couldn’t lay still for that long or not go to the bathroom that long. Turns out they take several 1 min scans where I stood between two panels, and then I got to go to the waiting room for 20 min to an hour wait. It really had me worried, but it was a simple test really.
I think Steve does a great job at wrapping. I used to try to make them fancy, but now usually just use a gift bag, mostly one that I recycled from another gift.
I had a new youth minister live with us for a couple weeks as they looked for an apartment. It went ok, but was a lot of moving stuff around to get them into the house.
This week I am looking forward to an empty calendar for 5 days.
Patti,
An empty calendar for five days? And your Christmas all put away? Hooray for you. Enjoy!
It was actually a good impetus to have Sarah and Gage come to stay because it gave me a goal for cleaning their room. And last night I spent 30 minutes cleaning the other guestroom, and it looks so much better.
A friend of mine just had a very similar swallow study; I know it was helpful for her to know what to expect ahead of time. It would have eased your anxiety if someone had told you. At least you know not to dread it if you ever need it again!
How nice of you to let that youth pastor and family stay with you. I know they were very appreciative of your hospitality.
I pray that you get needed answers from your tests. I have Neuropathy in my feet and hands and those tests are necessary to figure out “things” going on. Your lives are so busy. Our days mostly consist of hanging around the house and playing games on the computer and napping and reading or working puzzles….and eating. Sometimes we go out just to get out of the house. I am such a homebody. We are leaving Thursday from Mt. Airy to go to Boone for a couple of nights to see some comedian my hubby likes. It may snow and I don’t drive in snow, so not looking forward to this trip. He wants to go so bad that I am trying to be nice and cheerful about it…. I just rather stay home. Enjoy having Sarah and Gage there for awhile. I miss being with our daughter and her family. They stay so busy we don’t see them much.
Praying for yours and Steves upcoming funness… ugh. My daughter is having a colonoscopy in two weeks and has to go to W. Virginia to get it done. She lives next door to us in Mt. Airy. Insurance pays for it all if she goes there. They are going to stay all night the night before so she can do the prep and be near the place to have the colonoscopy done. I hate those things!
Be safe and stay healthy and warm!
Kaye,
I get what you mean about being a homebody. I love to stay at home too, but sometimes I know it’s just good to get out and do something. Bless you for keeping a good attitude about driving to Boone for the comedian. I hoipe end up BOTH having a good time!
Sounds like you know what a nerve test is all about. Fun, right? Sorry to hear about the neuropathy in your hands and feet. Blessings to you today.
With Thanksgiving so late in the month I did not manage to get all of my Christmas decorations out, so take down was easier than usual (I was also concerned about the dog and how 75 pounds of playful dog would react to said decorations). I usually wait until at least January 1st to take things down, but I gave in this year and took things down earlier.
I always dread colonoscopy prep, but have learned a good book helps greatly! I also dread root canals/crowns, espicially since they are SO expensive. Talk about adding insult to injury!
Although I would like to wrap presents that look magazine worthy (like Steve’s) I have yet to find the time to do so. Maybe next year….
We’ve had children move back in for periods of time. Moving stuff once is stressful enough; I’m sorry Sarah & Gage have to move everything twice, but how exciting to be upsizing to a 2-bedroom!!
This week I’m looking forward to having next Monday off. (does that count?)
I had to snicker at your comment about “letting” Sarah & Gage move in in the midst of colonoscopy prep. I’ve never been zapped, so I don’t know how that feels, but if any “sound” is involved I don’t know how you would keep from flinching. I hope your procedure is painless and leads to good answers!
Have a wonderful week!!
Sue Ellen,
I’d do a colonoscopy over a root canal or crown any ol’ day! And adding insult to injury is so true, as you said. Lots of money involved!
Yes, having a day off counts a LOT. I love waking up in the middle of the night before a day off and thinking, “Oh, I don’t have to get up early tomorrow.” Such a luxury.
I do hope Sarah and Gage are honored to be a part of the general colonoscopy prep experience. Fun times! 🙂
Becky
I can so relate to the chaos. We leave in a 3 bedroom house . One of our bedrooms is an office for my sweet hubby He teaches a men’s Sunday School class and needs a quiet private place to study I just leave it alone The second bedroom is called by my grandchildren the no entrance “Christmas room” It is where I “hide” Christmas. By the time Christmas gets here you cannot see the bed and it has a very small walkway and prayer for safety before I enter YIKES! I am in the process of clearing off the bed again YIKES! Inn addition to this mess I am working through my clothes I had some serious surgery a year ago in August and have lost 60 pounds It was surgery on my stomach due to having a hole in my esophagus my PCP assures me I won’t be gaining the weight back Soooooooo currently on my bed is the contents of my closet for sorting. I paused in my efforts of sending the larger clothes to go to Goodwill to read Smithellaneous since it is Monday and I always read the blog on Monday. My bed currently looks like the before picture of Sarah and Gage’s room.
Consequently Becky “I FEEL YOUR PAIN” i will let you know next Monday if we can sleep in our bed tonight or if we are on the floor tonight Again YIKES Till next time the story continues.
I know you are happy to have Sarah and Gage even for a little while. We moms always like having our chicks around us. I know they will be happy to have a little more space.
I will be praying for the test you are having for good news As Ruth says Jesus goes with you.
God Bless
Gail
Gail,
Well, I’m glad Smithellaneous was able to give you a break from your cleaning efforts! What amazes me is how quickly things pile up in our spaces. You’re not even aware of it and one minute you turn around and say, “Where did that all come from?”
I can only imagine the sorting your wardrobe requires after losing 60 pounds. That is signifcant! Sorry you had to through such a traumatic medical season; hope you are feeling stronger by the day.
Tell your husband thank you from a former pastor’s wife for taking his teaching duties so seriously. Pastors always have a hard time finding volunteers and especially those who put their whole hearts into it. So kudos to your hubby!
Good luck in your sorting. 🙂
You did a wonderful and rewarding job on getting that bedroom in order!! You are so good at doing that sort of thing–organizing–kinda fun to put your tatent into high gear. Looks so good and inviting–truly soothing when one is in the midst of moving–a place of quiet calm is a huge gift.
3 years there now–much has happened!
Prayers for your Dr. app. Keep your mind stayed on Jesus thru it.
The song- There is a Balm in Gilead–
has ministerd to me recently–sing a song of praise to yourself while going thru the process-it really helps me. Ruth
Ruth,
Thanks for your encouragement about my organizing talents; I do enjoy doing it. I just need to keep on being ruthless in getting rid of things.
Also, I appreciate your helpful words about my appointment; I made it through without too much trauma, thankfully. Balm in Gilead is so beautiful; thanks for the link you sent. Always good to hear the story behind the song.