Almost There!

A cottage small is all I'm after,

Not one that's spacious and wide.

A house that's filled with joy and laughter,

With the ones that you love inside.

You take the high road, I'll take the low road,

Free from all cares and strife.

Sounds corny and seedy, oh yes indeedy,

Give me the simple life!

Okay, so our house is not really a small cottage, but we are a few rooms short of what we used to have, so that's gotta be a little simpler, right? And of course no matter the size of your house, this life's never gonna be free from all care and strife, but I do like the lyrics to this song from the movie "Meet the Robinsons" and I also really like our new house, which, in case I didn't mention, is mere days from being finished!

That's right, people, we've got carpet coming tomorrow, the final paint the next day, and then...and boy am I excited about this...we've got (drumroll, please) the closet shelves! Yes, I am very excited about the shelf part, not only because it's one of the very last steps among what seems like a myriad of last steps, but because I just love a good shelf. There is not much in the stuff category that I like better than storage solutions for my stuff...whatever that says about me! So, yes, we are at the end of this house building process and will be moving eminently...right before or right after (definitely not during!) Thanksgiving. Hooray!

While I have a few brain cells and a couple of minutes, I want to go ahead and commence with the thank you's.

First, we aren't moved out just yet, but huge thanks to Matt's parents for letting us live with them for a couple--which has turned into 5--months. I know we haven't always been the ideal house guests and it wasn't easy to take your neat, quiet party of 2 and become a noisy, messy, energetic household of 7! Thanks for your generosity, patience, and endurance--oh, and many, many breakfasts, dinners, and baked goods:). And I promise we are really moving out...and taking all our junk with us!

And again to Barnette, thank you so so so much for all your hard work in getting this house built. Your time, advice, phone calls, meetings, and much physical labor is very much appreciated. We would be in your house for much longer trying to get this thing built without your help, which is probably a lot of your motivation in helping us, but we also know you love us and are thankful for your kindness!

A little picture break: Matt and Barnette spent many hours putting down this beautiful hardwood floor over the past week. It's a little (okay, a lot!) dusty in the picture, but I really love it and they did such a good job!

Now back to the thank you's. Much thanks to Mama and Daddy for keeping the 6th member of our family down at their house. I know Pogo has really bonded with y'all and I appreciate you letting him invade for so long. Thanks, Daddy, for taking time to make him feel loved and for taking such good care of him. Thanks also to you both for letting us keep a lot of stuff at your house and visit you even in the midst of trying to sell your own house!

And finally, I must say thanks to my hard-working husband! Matt has not only worked long hours managing his business, but has then put pretty much all his spare time into building the house. And what a house it is...it's attractive, well-built, energy-efficient, and a great size for us. And besides all that, it puts us one huge step closer to our financial goals, which right now is mostly about surviving, but one day will hopefully be about thriving and being able to give to those in need.

So much mental and physical effort has rested on Matt this past half a year and he has not only done a great job with it, but has had a little bit leftover to give me and the kids his love and attention. Thanks, Matt, for all your work and for caring so well for our family!

Now the roller coaster begins! Between Thanksgiving, moving, and Christmas, the next month or two is going to be a bit of a blur. But I'm going to try so hard to stay calm and take time to enjoy our life too, rather than go into must-not-rest-until-settled mode, so hopefully I'll be back with updates and pictures. If you don't hear from me, I'm probably buried under a pile of boxes somewhere. Here goes move #7...I think.