Sarah and Gage found an apartment and we are helping them move in today.
Since their budget is limited they were starting to lose hope that they would ever find anything that would work. Sarah spent 50+ hours doing apartment research over the past four months, communicating with properties, tracking rent prices and availability, scheduling tours, and sifting through a myriad of unencouraging negative reviews. Many affordable apartments would not have availability until March or April, but this one wondrously opened up on Tuesday of last week and they snagged it with a Valentine’s Day discount!
And the big news is that they have fifty more feet of space than they had in Manteo– for a grand total of 650 feet! They were willing to live in as little as 400 square feet so they’re happy with the extra space. Also, it’s only ten minutes from Gage’s job instead of thirty so that’s a big bonus.
There are so many things I will miss about them being here. They were our built-in friends during a difficult transition to a new city when we were in need of emotional support on many levels. Sarah and I took turns making dinner and it was lovely to wake up a few mornings a week and think, “I don’t have to worry about dinner tonight.” She has turned into a wonderful cook.
On the nights Gage was working, Sarah and I would often sit for an extra hour after dinner and talk, sometimes laughing and sometimes crying, depending on what was going on in our day. She is a dear daughter and friend.
Gage has been a delight to share a house with. He is unfailingly cheerful, encouraging, and enthusiastic. He was a huge help to Steve when things had to be loaded in or loaded out or brought up from the basement or taken down to the basement. The best thing though was seeing firsthand how well he loves our daughter–affirming her, listening to her, laughing with her, praying with her, crying with her, cherishing her. We are grateful for him always.
So this chapter has ended and a new one begins. We are so excited for you, Sarah and Gage; thanks for being such great housemates these past four months. We will miss your giggles in the mornings.
it didn’t take long for Steve to change his career path from pastor to safe-cracker.
Ken and Vernie had bolted their safe into the top of their filing cabinet and after many years of the key being right where it should be, I managed to lose it in one of my cleaning-stuff-out sprees. Hence, the arrival of the drill and the newly credentialed safe-cracker. Steve has added yet another skill to his impressive lineup.
we met with the whole Long clan for breakfast to celebrate Gage’s birthday (today) and his brother’s birthday last week.
I got this brotherly photo before everyone arrived; I love the sweet joy between them.
I asked our server if the pancakes were fluffy or more cakelike and before I knew it, she had put this sample in front of me. It’s so heart-lifting when someone goes out of their way to be thoughtful. She scored big points for Bob Evans.
We had Gage’s birthday celebration yesterday since they will be moving today. (Note: I turned a couple of closets inside out but could not find the birthday hat. It’s probably in the same place as the key to the safe.)
Happy 28th birthday, dear Gage!
when I happened to pass Scaleybark Rd., a street name that was familiar. I turned onto the street to see if I could locate a certain building from my past. And sure enough, there it was! (It looked a lot better in 1980.)
This is the church parking lot where Steve and I first met. We were both getting on a chartered bus to attend a large faith-based rally in Washington, D.C. (I was 17; he was 22.)
Two days later, we got off the bus and said our goodbyes in this same parking lot. I got into a car with my parents and he got in his car and we both drove away. The only problem? For some unfathomable reason, we had not exchanged phone numbers and had no way of contacting each other again.
There is a whole big story about that but not much suspense involved because we obviously did find a way to find each other again.
Anyway, it was fun to see where it all started and especially meaningful to think that Steve was living in this very house when he left to go to the church that long ago morning. Full circle!
And another full circle thing: as I was helping Sarah pack their bedroom last night, we were commenting on the wicker chair in the corner where she napped as a newborn. Now she’s in the very same room packing up her and her husband’s belongings. Another full circle moment.
with an unusual photo album that you might find amusing. I downloaded a free trial of an app called FaceTune. During the trial period, you can pay around three dollars and have a hundred photos made off yourself. (After you upload 10-20 photos.)
It is great fun to see what they come up with.
Was that not so fun? You’ll have to give it a try!
What about you?
If you were going to post a photo of where you met your spouse or significant other, what would that photo show?
Is there a move you made as a young adult or newleywed that stands out to you in some way? What made that move memorable?
Did you ever temporarily share living quarters with someone else as an adult? Was it a positive experience? Or not so much?
Becky, how DID you and Steve find each other after you met and didn’t exchange phone numbers?
Fred,
I was wondering if anyone was going to ask! 🙂
As it turns out, the only clue I had to go on was that I remembered that he had mentioned the church his parents attended. (Paw Creek Presbyterian where we eventually got married.) I called the church office to get his number which they wouldn’t give to me. They said they would call him and give him my number. After about two weeks, he finally called! It was a long wait. We had 6 dates in two years and got married.
My husband and I met in high school chemistry (I was a junior and he was a senior). We made sure to invite the Chemistry teacher to our wedding and HE CAME!
Congratulations to Gage and Sarah on the new apartment! I know you will miss them though! What a treasure it has been to have these months with them. We never lived with anyone after we were married. I stayed with my folks when he was on night shift as a cop sometimes but that wasn’t too often either.
I love the variety of pictures of you and Steve.
Happy birthday, Gage! Next year you’ll have to have the hat for sure!
Suzanne,
So. I guess there was a lot of “chemistry” happening between you and your husband-to-be. 🙂
I love that your chemistry teacher attended your wedding. He probably doesn’t get a whole lot of invitations to students’ weddings so I’m sure he was honored.
I think you four will always cherish that time together! It’s good for S and G to be on their own again, but what lovely memories you have created—it seems that God knew you’d need them during this challenging move. How far is their apartment from you and Steve?
Your question about meeting made me smile. We were at the University of Michigan—me in my second year of nursing school and he in first year of med school. We went to the same church and had seen each other but had different friends the year before so didn’t really interact much. We had kind of caught each other’s eye, but nothing had happened yet. One day I got on the city bus (not the university bus)—something I did only a handful of times my whole college life. I was going to see a client at a senior citizen’s residence for an interview. I got on the bus and looked up and there Tim was as well. He was going to the dentist. He rarely rode the city bus either! I told him what I was doing. After he was done at the dentist he waited at the bus stop until I came back (I had no idea he was going to do that) and asked if he could take me out to dinner. 🙂 We married a little less than two years after that fateful bus ride! 🙂 We will celebrate 40 years this summer!
DeLynn,
How romantic is that? A guy waiting at the bus stop for you after his dentist appointment! I love that story.
And it’s amazing how you both were on buses (at the same time) that you rarely rode. Forty years can’t be wrong!
I met Bill while on a cruise with my Aunt, he was the ship’s photographer on our Jolly Roger Pirate ship. We hit it off right away and kept in contact once I departed. Once his assignment was over he flew out to CA and stayed with me for two months. He ended up moving to Florida landing a job repairing photography equipment. Neither of us were willing to relocate so we broke up. Years later he found me on Facebook and we reconnected with both of us traveling between California and Minnesota. Until I moved here, and I have never looked back. I still miss him a lot, but I have great friends and love it here. Well except for winter and snow.
Cindy,
I had no idea that’s how you met Bill! How amazing that you struck up a connection on board and then it continued after you went back home.
And even more amazing that he found you on Facebook and reconnected. I’m so sorry he passed away; I know you truly miss him.
So happy that Gage and Sarah found an apartment. Scratch that off the prayer list. Loved those pictures. Missed seeing the birthday hat, but it must be around somewhere – for the next birthday. How nice of your server to do that for you. Another reason why we enjoy Bob Evans. Wish we had one up here.
Sharyn,
I am looking forward to discovering where the birthday hat actually is since I remember putting it in a “place where I could be sure to find it.” Ha!
When I was 25, I moved to Kansas City for the first time. Prior to that, I had lived in a small town, population around 3,500; other than when I went to school in Springfield. Then when I was 42 (not young anymore), I moved to Louisville, KY – the first time I had ever lived outside the state of Missouri.
I stayed with my aunt and uncle in Springfield for about 7 months when I had left one job and started another. My house in KC hadn’t sold so I was still paying a mortgage on it. For the most part, it worked out okay. My aunt had cellulitis and was diagnosed with diabetes while I was there so I was a big help in cooking while she was “laid up” with the cellulitis. I was glad to sell my house and be able to move into my own place and I imagine they were happy to see me go too. 🙂
When I moved back to KC from Tampa, I stayed with a long-time friend for about 5 weeks. She had lost her husband about 2 years prior. She spoiled me in that she had dinner ready each night and breakfast each morning. The only problem I had was her spare bedroom had twin beds! I hadn’t slept in a twin bed in years and this one had a spring that poked me in the back sometimes. Then one morning, she had fixed my diet coke as she always did. That day I had a headache all afternoon and into the evening. I was closing on my house here and thought it was probably just stress related. The next morning, she fixed my diet coke. When I looked at the can, I realized it was caffeine free! No wonder I had had a headache the day before. We still laugh about that.
Congratulations to Gage and Sarah on finding an apartment. I think my niece and her husband who got married about two months after the Longs have an apartment about that size in Houston.
The pictures are pretty funny! Especially the ones where you and Steve are astronauts. I think it’s number 11 that you look like Donna Mills. She was in Knots Landing, a spin-off of Dallas.
Phyllis,
I loved the caffeine-free story. Pretty simple fix for your headache!
What good timing for you to be living with your aunt and uncle during the time she was sick. I can’t imagine how much she must have appreciated all your help.
Good to know that I look like Donna Mills. 🙂
Wow!! Photo 6 looks just like Sarah!! How wonderful that they are back to being independent newlyweds once again. I know the blessings were yours while they shared a home with you, but I’m sure they and you are ready to be back to normal. I’m glad that Charlotte is treating you well. Now onward to Nathan and Megan and their big move north! I know you must be so very excited.
Lisa,
Yes, very excited about Nathan and his family headed this way in a few weeks. Never dreamed that I would live in the same city as my kids and grands; such a wonderful surprise.
That photo app was really interesting! It was fun to see you both in so many different ways. Kind of like a glimpse into how you’d have looked had you been born at a different time or taken other career paths.
Hooray for Gage’s birthday and an apartment found! While it’s wonderful to be together, I know you’ll all be glad to have your own spaces. We lived with Randy’s mom for three months once between jobs and it was good to come and good to go. (And she probably locked the door carefully after us when we finally moved out! 😁) Actually, Caleb was just a baby at the time and many precious memories were made with lots of grandma and grandbaby snuggle times.
The breakfast with the Longs looked like a lot of fun! I love that the waitress brought you the pancake sample. So were they cakey or fluffy? 🤔
Love to you all!
Deb
Deb,
I guess I’d never realize you guys lived with Violet for a while. I know she hugely enjoyed all her extra hours of snuggling with that darling grandson of hers. Sweet memories.
The pancakes were sort of in between cakey and fluffy and not as good as Cracker Barrels. But still, very tasty!
One thing when Gage was adding a candle to his birthday brownie Steve’s picture was reflecting through the mirror in a snicker laugh. Glad you are gradually coming to a normal life again. You did enough with your singing tours.
Jim,
You have a good idea to have noticed that in the picture. That’s funny!
Yes, a little bit of normalcy is definitely welcome right now. Those road days were definitely a long way from normal.
Congratulations to Sarah and Gage! I am impressed with their willingness to downsize to 400 sq feet. My sister and her husband lived in 350 sq feet for many years, and I still don’t know how they did it!
My photo of where we met would show a hospital hallway. My (future) husband and I were next door neighbors in the hospital for about 8 weeks and spent many hours chatting. I had flow across the country to be at that hospital, and after I flew back home to California, we stayed in touch. A year later, he moved to California, and now 5 years later, we will get married this April 🙂
Robin,
Ok. This is too interesting. I have to know the details. 🙂
Were you both working at the hospital? Were you patients? And if so, were you in the same room?
It definitely is out of the ordinary! We were patients, with his room next to mine. Both of us were suffering from a severe episode of major depressive disorder. As I’m sure you’ve experienced, months nextdoor to the same person leads to a unique bond, even if it’s just little conversations here and there. I didn’t expect it to extend out of the hospital walls, but we exchanged phone numbers when he was discharged, and I gave him a call once I was discharged. The rest is history. Honestly, it sounds like a bad Hallmark movie to me! 😆
Robin,
What an amazing story and definitely one of the most interesting “how did you meet?” tales I’ve ever heard.
So thankful that a very difficult chapter in both of your lives led you to celebrating the joy of a life together. Thanks for replying.
Glad to hear that Sarah and Gage found an apt. Hope it is great for them.
We lost our safe key but had a spare in a safety deposit box. But our safety deposit key was in the safe…We had to pay over $100 to get it opened.
I met my spouse at church and he first asked me out in the church parking lot.
I only moved twice in my life. Once to my husbands home (parsonage) when we married and once to our retirement home. I did live with my parents until I got married at 50, but I always said I couldn’t live with anyone else as a married couple. It just wasn’t for me. It is the old way though where families stayed in the same farm house together. I pray you adjust to not having Sarah and Gage there all the time, and know you will stay in close touch with them. I know I miss talking to my mom and she has been gone 12 years now.
Patti,
You’re right that back in the day, several generations of families lived together, especially on farms. (The Waltons uses to be one of my favorite TV shows.) I know there were advantages to that lifestyle but at this point in my life, I’m glad it’s just Steve and me together. We will definitely stay in close touch with Sarah and Gage; Gage just brought over some soup she made because I am not feeling well.
Glad you got your safe open–isn’t it so frustrating to lose the key?
So happy that Sarah and Gage have found a place! I lived with my friend and her husband when I was new to Nebraska and had not found a place of my own yet. It was a great place but directly across from a very busy train track and intersection. When the trains would come through, they would blow their horns. Oh my gosh it was SOOOO loud! If I was on the phone, I’d just have to hang up until it passed. Lol. Fortunately, I found a place pretty quickly.
My photo would show the Colorado rocky mountains. We met when Jeff came along to Colorado to help me move to Nebraska. We were engaged 3 weeks later and married 8 months after that. You just know when it’s right. 🙂
LeeAnne,
Three weeks? Wow. It’s amazing that you both knew that quickly. True love, for sure. And how great that it started out in such a gorgeous place.
I’m not sure that my nerves or my psyche could handle living by a train track. Glad you found a place to move to quickly.
That photo app is fabulous! 🙂
Congrats to Sara & Gage for finding a place to live (and happy birthday to Gage!). I’ve only ever temporarily shared living quarters with someone else, as an adult. It was not the best situation, but it worked out – my dad required a humongous surgical procedure, and needed to stay near rehab for 3 months, so he (and his cats) moved in with us. He was unable to do much for himself, so the caregiving part was exhausting – he finally got better enough (in HIS mind) to go home. He lived about 3 more years after that, on his own (my mother died in 2014). (MAN – I use a lot of parentheses!)
If I had a pic of where Mike and I met, it would be of Kansas City International Airport – in person, after a year of online chatting, way back in 1999! We got married five weeks later!! A year of getting to know someone virtually was pretty special, because we already knew it was right. 🙂
We lived in my small hometown in Arkansas for about a year after we married, then on a leap of faith, we up-and-moved to STL. 🙂 Now we live in an exurb of St. Louis and absolutely love it.
Stefanie,
Hmmm. Another reader with a short courtship/engagement! You guys just know when you know, don’t you?
I can’t imagine how nervous you both were meeting after a year of online chatting. And yet, if you felt like you clicked well enough to set up an in-person meeting, you probably had a calm assurance under those nerves.
Caring for a post-surgical dad and cats would definitely be a stretch. I know he appreciated you and Mike helping him through that rough patch.
Parentheses can be useful! (Can’t they?)
Yes – we were both SO nervous to meet in person! Photos and phone calls and instant messages and emails aside, it was still all “new” to us! 🙂
Stefanie,
Yeah, it’s an entirely different thing to move a relationship from virtual to in-person. Because if the connection and chemistry aren’t there for both of you, it’s kind of a lost cause.