ad~JUST~ments

I thought "Liberating" would be spelled "Relief" but right now if feels more like "Loss".

We have worked at getting rid of stuff for eighteen days now and there is still, too much for this small space. We have a storage unit stuffed full also so it's not that we are nearly finished. I mentioned what we are trying to do, to get rid of stuff, to our Bishop and he was amazed to think I would not understand people here need stuff. He took an outdoor table and chairs somewhere and seemed happy to have them. So that is the emotional part of it. I have known people to have their things sold at auctioned in their front yards to pay debts. I have heard of a guy that just called the Salvation Army to come and get all he didn't want to move "one more time". I heard of a family that had a large truck backed into their garage and the thieves took everything. A neighbor lost everything in a fire, not to mention the DeHarts fiasco with their fire..... I think we have the best of all worlds with giving it away, thanks Stephanie and Micah, but I guess this adjustment is just what I need to let go of all my "precious lovelys".

Our next move will not be 14,500 lbs and take a semi. That's a good thing right? I tried in Fallon to be surrounded by only the things "we loved" well that is now a step farther, giving even the loved things away. M&S said they are only storing these things for us and we could have then back anytime, that is a nice way to think about it.
I have loaded these pictures backwards. Well starting from the hallway, it looks like a nice hotel hall but people have personalized their doors with wreaths, door mats and some decorations that is kind of fun.

Our Bishop/Real Estate agent and LaVar
View from the front windows. The fountain runs all the time making a peaceful sound. LaVar woke up one morning thinking it was really raining hard to realize he was hearing the fountain. A most pleasant place.
These are very small but HORIZONTAL spin ( my favorite!) washer and drier. The washer takes only 10 articles, or it will not spin. Huh, they are like toys, but do the job.
Just to get an idea of the size of the living room. Kitchen has granite counter tops also our favorite. All wood floors except for the bedrooms are carpeted, and bathrooms are tiled.


The papers are our attempt to get the movers to place furniture where we had planned. In the end we were just glad to get it in at all where ever. Without a plan though maybe that wouldn't have been possible.

This is what was worked out.

Jim Dodd sat at one trailer watching the loading, we hired two guys from the ward to help. Stephanie was the director and LaVar loaded the Penske truck for the storage unit. That stuff never needed to touch the ground they took it from one truck to another. Guess they have done things like this before.
Our friend Sandy Dodd helped unpack the kitchen which looks horrible now but without that head start we wouldn't have found anything and would have not been able to move around, not an exaggeration really.

However, in all this chaos the Lord still was able to work a miracle. One of the movers saw an article I had set out for Sandy to read if she had time, "Lessons from the Liberty Jail" by Elder Holland ( a wonderful article by the way!). Nothing about "Mormon" or Joseph Smith on the cover, so how did he know?? Anyway he asked Sandy if we were Mormon or Jewish? She answered him and he told her that he had been dating a member and he had been trying to get someone to come and talk with him about the church and couldn't find anyway to do that. So the Lord helped him. By the end of the day we had given him a Book of Mormon and I got his information to give to the missionaries. Missionary opportunities come at the most unexpected times. We knew where the Book of Mormon was because Micah had asked for one I had to give a co-worker and Stephanie had it in the truck. Just a series of orchestrated miracles that leads us to see a bigger picture.
Pictures of our beautiful foyers, they have heavy potporri (that's close to the spelling). That can be good and bad, but I am saying they work at trying to keep it nice.

Our doorway with a call box something like Seinfeld's only you scroll to find the number it calls me and I push 9 on my cell phone to let them in. Actually I could be in some place else and still let someone into the building.
Grand front of the building I don't know if anyone uses this entrance. I think it is beautiful.
This is a school that is right out of the garage and we see it as we go out and think of our precious grandsons. Hey, Sam and Tucker this is for you!

So all in all we are adjusting and making strides with arranging things. LaVar really likes his 10-15 minute commute to work.

I see that I have to make a catch up blog with the last visits in Norfolk and some fun pictures from Corpus, Fredericksburg and Michigan.

Until then, still looking for the liberating feeling............. maybe its just ME needing an adjustment.

Our NEW adventure!!

Finally we were able to decide on a place to live!! It has been a long 2 1/2 months. The beach house was great, that wasn't the bug. It was the feeling of not belonging anywhere. Not having plans for the future and absolutely no roots. Not to mention the 3 1/2 hour trip or longer, you know DC and the Hampton tunnels can clog anytime and a 6 mile back-up is not uncommon, several times. AAAAAaaah, our new Bishop a RealEstate agent, helped us find a place to call home. The journey took us through a Craig's List scam with Nigerians, many trips around to see homes that wouldn't do for whatever reason, we made an offer on one that was undercut by another agent, :0) and so forth, but finally we decided. We went for the "liberating feeling" of getting a Condo, thanks Tyler for the suggestion and Stephanie for helping figure out just how one would move from a seven room, four bedroom, double car garage into 1,103 sq ft. This condo has a big room, kitchen, living, diningroom, whatever, and two bedrooms each with their own bathroom. It is on the 3rd floor, so the elevator phobia has to go ( well phobia is a little strong, worry, concern?) If it gets too bad I can walk up 3 floors right?? Right. It looks over a little courtyard with a fountain. We will get a storage unit for the gardening things and other things that we can't give away.
So yup that is the plan. There is an exercise room, a mail room, a pool in the summer and an underground parking garage for our car and truck (didn't see any other of those in the garage). It is a multi-use community, ie. condos, townhouses, single family homes, businesses and a day care center. Dogs, almost everyone has a dog, so I may be able to "borrow" a few of those. Our ward has mostly young families and many singles. After church a lady came up to me and after asking my name and telling me hers ask how old I was? I haven't gotten that question for many years..... so what was she driving at anyway? if I said the wrong thing she wouldn't become my friend, Huh?? She ended up quite friendly and said she was glad someone else their age move in.... whatever.
So on the 8th of October we will be sorting our belongings on the street. We are praying for no rain that day. We have had quite the downpours if it does that it will be a miserable day.
Just so you'll know I did desperately try to get rid of a lot of things while we were still in our home, but it just didn't seem to get done!
I will tell you about the "LIBERATING FEELING" when it happens okay?
Pictures later.

Feet, Feet and more FEATS

Mr. Greg with his darling new daughter, Naomi Avalie.
New mama and the fruit of her labor.
What she did best! Completely comfortable.
Then on to Corpus Christi Texas and a visit with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa they only live 2 hours away. They have visited two times. They love having family close.

On to Austin for Anna's gymnastic meet. Aynsley had a cross country meet here and we split the audience between them. We were in Austin for the official end of their drought. It was the worst rain storm I have ever been in severe flooding and we were glad to get home.
Feet, Feet and more FEATS
We went on a drive along the coast we caught a ferry back and saw this name on another ferry.
Here we are in the mosquito restaurant we were the meal. One of the draw backs to the end of the drought.
All smiles

I forgot that the videos load last but this is Anna on the beam, she did a floor routine, and the vault and bars. She got her best score on the vault.

What we have been UP to!

We moved out of the house and into a friends "beach house" for a week, because they had it promised we moved out for a week and now we are back in it. So glad to be back it is a very fun place, these pictures don't do it justice, you'll just have to visit us.
Here are a few pictures of what we have been doing....

My favorite room in this beach house is the little sun porch.

I thought this sign was funny!
Two Scandinavian ladies at the Chrysler Museum. Thought about you Tyler all the way through it, you would have really enjoyed it.
Have you heard of pillow talk? Thought this was funny too.
Here is a humble little home LaVar found on Craig's list. It is in Warrenton, so LaVar would have quite a commute but Micah and Stephanie would be so much closer. It has a pool and a 3 car garage separate living areas and a wonderful kitchen....
What are people thinking when they show a home like this? Just need to see through it all, it was a beautiful home, it would keep me busy just to get it cleaned up, but then .... it would be wonderful and ready to keep on the market to sell. We didn't get this one.... but it is still on our minds.
Stephanie and I got a pedicure. My first ever, I know a bit behind the times, but with a little help maybe I could catch up???
Speaking of nails, I know its so simple minded, but these are the longest nails I have ever had all at once. The doctor gave me some pills and encouraged more calcium taking and it has really worked. Not doing remodeling, gardening, child care probably contributes a lot.... but hey. I cut them all off before the move because I thought that was better than ripping one off.

Here is the beginning of our search for a new home, it was an "interesting" start. Two living areas, built as servants quarters to a big house in the 1800's and "remodeled". The toilets all were up on pedestals maybe a foot high, no kidding and everything in the bath was carpeted. Shower was up on the same raised, thing. Yard was nice and quite private, not any chance of gardening though.

Madison Crescent. Micah's find for them. It is a bit much to commit to right now but it is lovely in every way except they need a new sales person.


My find LaVar could almost walk to work. After 20 plus years of a 2-4 hour commute everyday. It was more money than we want to spend. I was nice EXCEPT for the bathrooms that were just amazingly old. The kitchen was great! go figure.
Somerville Mansion. Need we say more? A quiet little place with 10,000 square feet. The most amazing kitchen ever, a great yard, Living space for 4 and a small dog, no problem..... not for rent! It was advertised as such..... too close to foreclosure. We couldn't have really wanted it anyway but it was great to look at and think about. It is on sale for more than half of what the guy bought it for..... such a risk.



Still enjoying that pedicure. Thanks Steph!

Norfolk Botanical Gardens! GReat treat.




Grant and Taryn this one is for you! It finally bloomed. The AGAVE plant. Well, that is all of my time at the library, the beach house doesn't have internet, I thank you for yours.