"What I Learned Over Summer Break"

     I am not the one in control.  Unfortunately, that is a lesson that doesn't seem to sink in for the long-term and I get to revisit it frequently, even daily sometimes.  Now this doesn't mean that I lack self-control (although it is hard-pressed when faced with cheesecake, sleeping in, or a good book).  What I mean is that I don't have control over everything that happens in my life.  Thankfully, I have a heavenly Father who is and He is good in all things.

 
 Our first big "not in control of everything" episode occurred during our bathroom remodel in June 2013.  The bathtub that was installed in the bathroom was not easiest tub to use with three, little kiddos.  I also prefer darker colors over pastels so we decided to change everything.

We pulled out all the tiles and paneling.  (Actually, after our first house, I'm very sick of paneling.}  We decided to stick with blue and so we test painted a few swatches.

                                                                

      The demolition and paint choosing went fairly smoothly and according to plan.  The next big hurdle was removal of the walk-in, jetted tub.  That too went fairly smoothly. (As did the selling of it, thankfully.)

  Then we hit a bump in the road (or rather the reminder that we weren't in control).  We were waiting on the delivery of our new tub and surround.  Also, we were actually having rain fall from the heavens during this time so the outside options as outings for the children were limited.  My mother-in-law, Julene, and I were going to disappear with the kiddos so as no distractions would get in the way of the new tub install.   We decided to go check out the antique shops and consignment store downtown.  We stayed away for a good long time, but the tub did not arrive on schedule.  Nor did it really arrive in a timely manner that day.  Then when it did arrive and everything was unpacked, we discovered a crack.

Everybody was thrilled.
We called the store, which was in Lubbock, and finally had them agree to deliver a non-cracked tub to our house the next day and to remove this one.  Again, Julene and I distracted children.  And again everyone waited and waited....and waited some more.  Finally, we find out that our tub was never put on the truck for delivery.  "Thrilled" was not the word choice for the day.
      Now, realize that plans for actual fun had been delayed quite a bit for Chris and his dad, Steve.  Also, realize that they had been stuck in mid-job having to wait for the next piece to install. Julene and I had also been stretched a bit trying to find places to go outside of our house so as to not be in the way.  There aren't that many options in Plainview, especially when we were having rainy weather.  Finally, two days after the original arrival and install date, we got a non-cracked tub.

     Chris and Steve went to work getting it installed and ready for use.  They had some minor bumps along the way. By the time Steve and Julene left though, we had a fully functional tub and shower.  It was wonderful.  (Chris and Steve also got to play golf together during a hail storm.  Yeah, they had fun that weekend.) 

 

      Then after our brief loopty-loo around the Midwest, Chris finished the floor and painting (and texturizing) the walls.  It's now a bathroom that works much better for our family.

It only looks this clean on Saturday mornings.

        This "not in control of everything experience" wasn't really that outrageous and actually everyone stayed pretty chill throughout.  However, it was a reminder that despite our plans, life doesn't always go by our plans. Fortunately, this experience provided more hilarity than anything else.
       Our second "not in control of everything" experience involves our first camping trip in Texas. Wait for it...

Plainview Statuary Photo-Ops

Before we left Bloomington, brain statues had been installed around town at various locations.  I didn't get my act together before moving to take the pictures that I wanted.  I envisioned turning my children into zombies and letting them attack the brains.  In my mind, it was a great photo-op idea and a way to remember the Brains of Bloomington.  Unfortunately, I missed my opportunity.
However, my photo-op ideas are not dead because Plainview has cattle statues all around town.  They are each decorated in a different manner and celebrate/advertise different things.  It's taken me almost a year to actually remember to take my camera out with me as we take care of errands, but I finally did it.  Actually, everybody can thank my mother-in-law for the opportunity to get to see these pictures.  We were running around town together with the kiddos while Chris and his dad worked/waited on the tub for our bathroom remodel. Enjoy the views of Plainview.

#1.  Dairy Queen.

They were disappointed that we didn't get ice cream that day.

This place is all about location, location, location.  It is across the road from one of the prettier parks in town.  I've spotted green grass, trees, and a ditch/creek with water in it at this park. (See picture below.  It also has a merry-go-round not pictured.) 

This was after a rainstorm.  It is a rare and large spot of green in our town.  We were all excited about it.  In fact, it was the topic for every conversation in every store and place we visited that day.

Anyway back to DQ. This has been an occasional treat spot just because of the park.

#2.  Prosperity Bank (formerly known as American State Bank or vice-versa).

It was very sunny and bright.

This is our bank.  You would think I would know which is the current name. This longhorn is decorated with farmer boys and a horse-drawn wagon.  It's one of those historical depictions, which is good considering the bank just changed names and cow with the wrong name on it would just be confusing.  I'm confused about the name of the bank enough as it is.

#3.  Walmart. 

Sunglasses for everybody!!

This is considered the cultural center of the town.  Needless to say, this is not one of my favorite stores, but it is convenient sometimes.

#4.  College Hill Elementary. 

Eowyn attended kindergarten here.  A friend of mine noted it as the "golden calf" on one of my pictures of it on  FB.  Other cows in town might qualify more than this one that is in front of a school.

#5.  The "Mooey Decimal Cow."

This library cow is at Unger Memorial library.  Daniel loves to pet the cow when we visit the library.  We get to do a lot of practice of how to shout, "COOOOOWWWW" with our indoor voices as well as the phrase, "COOOOWWS say MOOOOOOO." 



There are about 43 more cows around town and in the course of our time living here, I intend to get pictures of my kids near these statues.  The ones on the roofs will be a challenge.  However, there is always Photoshop.

Kitchen Update

Let's try this blogging thing again. : )

Our kitchen and dining room are basically remodeled except for the flooring and the yellow built-in bookshelf.  However, the yellow bookshelf should be repainted and retrimmed by the end of this month.  The flooring may have to wait until next summer because the bathroom remodel takes precedence this year.  (I've been documenting our demolition and such of the bathroom so far. You'll see more of that later.)  Anyway, back to the kitchen.

I really like the cabinets and countertops in the kitchen.  



I'm not a fan of wall-paper at all so our first priority was to take it down and figure out a color for the kitchen.

Difficult wallpaper removal project

 We experimented with different blues and greens before deciding on the green.  Plainview has had a drought the past two and now moving into three summers, and there is no lake nearby.  It's a very brown place so my first choices are blue and green for everything.

  

Removing the border wallpaper was not that difficult.  The flowered wall paper that surrounded the yellow shelf was extremely difficult.  I removed the difficult paper while watching/listening to home improvement shows.  I find them very motivational.  

The yellow built-in was a surprise for us because the previous owners had a china cabinet/hutch/or something in front of it.  It was a nice surprise (as opposed the scary wall that we discovered in our previous house).

The sort-of-finished project.  You can see the trim around the top and bottom and you can see the walls are completely painted at this point in the pictures below.  The big empty spot is going to be filled after we pick up our painting that we commissioned from one of our friends in Bloomington.

 Ta-da!

The Living Room Fix-up.

Poor little pink toys they always get left behind....

  Chris and I didn't want to wait for three (or five) years before we started painting and changing things this time around. (We were slow in painting and decorating the Indiana house.)  


We also didn't really want to keep the fleeing refugee look.











We "experimented" with different paint tones and our first pick was the one we liked best.  We did discuss the options of just leaving the random, rectanglish shapes up on the white wall, but we decided we weren't artsy/cool enough to pull that off.

Modern art on the wall.

   






We added trim...or rather Chris added trim while being assisted by Daniel.

 This part of the room actually does still look like this except that the table in the next picture is in the place of that little brown chair.   

Actually, the room only looks like this late at night (or early in the morning and maaaaaaybeeee during naptime) otherwise just insert those lost pink toys and other random kid paraphernalia all around and then you have what it looks like.  You could also just look at my facebook pictures and see the chaos that erupts sometimes.

We now have a piano back by the bookshelf instead of that table.  It looks very nice, but I've lost the little thingamagig that lets me transfer my pictures from my camera to the computer so you just have to use your imagination.

This room wasn't too difficult to put together.  I'd like to have more blue color in here so I'm looking for something blue to put on that wall above the table(piano) spot. Please share any ideas or pictures.  (I'm on pinterest so you could just pin it there if anyone wanted to help a girl out.)

Confession and request

Well, it's been about three months since we've moved in and I've posted anything.  It didn't take that long to unpack or paint or fix up things.  I just had a long period of discontentment and/or pity party for myself.   It wasn't the full three months, but it was a goodly portion of that time.  It was wrong.  Actually, it was sinful.  

Thankfully, God is loving and forgiving, and He enabled Chris to be that way too.  God also provided Christian women (here and elsewhere) for me to confess my sin and temptation to and ask for prayer and help.   He also provided preaching and teaching that dealt specifically with discontentment, thanksgiving, and joy.  Being discontent (aka disdaining what God has given to me at this time and place/rejecting God's plan) is a sin that will continue to be a struggle for me.  However, it is one that I must not give in to, not just for myself, but also for the souls of my children since I do not want to teach or lead them to reject God.  Please pray for me.

Basically, I just want to say that I need to be content in all things and be thankful for all that God has given to me.  No complaining or whining from me, and I encourage you to not complain or whine or wallow in discontentment (aka SIN) either.  

And  I really will post more pictures of our house, town, and surrounding areas soon. :)

The Move-in

          On Tuesday morning we woke and had our Texas-shaped waffles for our complimentary breakfast before picking up our keys and going to the water company to have the water switched to us.  I was feeling slightly pessimistic about how smoothly this day was going to go after how not smooth the previous day was at times.  I didn't feel much better when I (and the kids) drove to the house, and I found a truck in our driveway.  In fact, I kept driving past the house because I then thought that I wasn't remembering the correct house number or what it actually looked like.   Nope, it was MY house and somebody was parked in MY driveway. (Now imagine saying that in your favorite bear voice. I prefer a loud, angry Mama bear voice.)

This is MY car in MY driveway

     I got out of the car and left the kids buckled into their carseats. (They were thrilled.) I rang MY doorbell, knocked on MY door, and tried to peek in MY front window.  Nobody answered so I went ahead and unlocked the door and called out, "Hello!"  Nobody was in the house so I released my tiny but vocal horde from their seats and let them run through the house.  Chris had shown up with the U-Haul by this time and was not thrilled about the truck either.  At this point a neighbor from across the street came outside and introduced herself and told us that the truck belonged to our neighbors to the left of us.  We went over and asked them to move it.  The gladly did and everything was fine.  They thought we weren't moving in for another week, but now we ask them to park in our driveway when we are gone for several days and to keep an eye on the house for us.  They are very friendly neighbors.     

Welcome to my home.  Have a seat...

 While that part of the day ended well, it did put me behind schedule.  Math and Science professors and some of their family members where arriving, and I wasn't really ready.  I didn't have the kids in an out-of-the-way spot.  I didn't have labels on the doors or in rooms for what rooms were what.  I didn't have drinks or snacks or ice for our cooler (and don't forget that we didn't have a fridge yet in the house).  I had no idea where my box with toilet paper, hand towels, soap, paper towels and trashbags ended up. (I'm still not sure.)  

Would you like something to drink..or to eat...or...

  

Let's go to the den and chat...

or relax...oh nevermind....

            

     However, the moving in went smoothly. Everything pretty much ended up in the rooms where they belonged.  One couple went out and picked up ice, soda, toilet paper, paper towels, and snacks.  We were going to get lunch for everybody, but they treated us instead.  A couple of them closed off the water line that would have gone to an ice-maker/water thing in a fridge, but we weren't getting a fridge with that type of feature. Another professor stopped by later with a basket of fruit, snacks, and lollipops for the kids as well as some more water bottles and soda.  They were wonderful and made our first day here a very good day.

Westward we go.

Our travels actually started on Sunday after church.  This first leg only took us about six-and-a-half hours.  Granted, if we were only driving our car then that would be a bit longer than normal, but with having a U-haul truck as well, we actually made pretty good time.  The kids and I were in the car, and Chris was all alone in the U-haul. (Yeah, I felt so bad for him all alone in there.)  The kids know this drive to Mamaw and Papaw's pretty well so they were anticipating crossing over state lines.  We yelled goodbye to each state as we left and hello to the new one that we were entering.

Welcome to Illinois

Welcome to Missouri

You know, it's slightly difficult to take pictures, drive, and try to maintain a sane level of chaos in a car with a backseat that is fully loaded with children.

We made it to Missouri just fine, spent the night, and then set out for our very long day of driving the next morning.

Content for now.

This is a pre-stockyard stop photo.

We started out just fine making our way through Missouri.  However, my always oh-so-cheerful three-year-old (The one with the trademark crying/howling face.) decided that she should attempt to shatter the car windows with her screams while also trying to kick through the back of my seat.  This little experiment led to us stopping at the Joplin Stockyard for a brief disciplinary restart.

It seemed to take forrrrrreeeevvvvverrrr to get out of Missouri but finally we made it to Oklahoma where we (or rather I because I didn't turn the walkie talkie on for the entire episode) experienced another screaming fit while driving through roadwork that stuck us in one lane at reduced speed without anywhere to pull over.  However, we did see some lovely wind farms later on.  :)

Welcome to Oklahoma

 See the lovely windfarms.

Chris and I each messed up at one toll a piece along the toll roads in Oklahoma and had to pull over and go back to pay.  Yeah, that was great fun. 

 Welcome to Texas

Finally we made it to the Texas state line as the sun was starting to set.  The picture above actually grasps my end of the day mental state quite well. Dark and shaky.  We continued on to drive in the darkness to where Chris and I found visual proof that not everything is bigger in Texas.  :)  

 This is the cross in Illinois.  It is very large.

This is a similar cross in Texas.  It is not very large, comparatively

We made a stop for gas for the U-haul before we reached Amarillo. We didn't have enough gas in the U-haul to make it to Amarillo.  We were very happy to see this gas station and then we were very sad. Apparently, we were mistaken in thinking that this gas station actually wanted to conduct any business at 10 almost 11pm at night.  The pump refused our credit card (It did accept another lady's debit card while we were there.). The owners were inside the store, but they had the door closed and locked and did not want to open up so we could get some gas.  They gave us directions to another gas station down the road into whatever little town we stopped at.   All of the slasher/horror movies involving desolate areas and wrong directions flashed through my mind as we drove into this run-down little town. (Unfortunately, I have seen quite a few.)  

Obviously nothing of horror movie value happened since you are reading this blog, and the gas was actually slightly cheaper at the second gas station.  We made it back to the Interstate and continued on our way.  We finally made it into Plainview (We were on the road from 8:30am Monday morning until 1:17am Tuesday morning.) and found a hotel room for us to sleep in before moving in to our house the next morning.

That's our trip in a nutshell.  I'll share house photos and our painting projects in upcoming posts.