All This In A Week?: Part 5-Inside Boxes Done!!!

Oct 5, 2011-Wed

I finally got the last box opened in the kitchen.  I conquered the pantry yesterday.  I was really dreading that.  I must say, it looks great.  Then, this past Mon I conquered the kitchen.  Today was the nick knacks.  I told myself, if I don't have a place for it, it will go in a garage sale very shortly.  All of these boxes for these three jobs were all placed in the kitchen.  Unbelievable.  

These are 1/2 of the boxes.  Last weekend, Ben (our son) 

& a friend broke down at least this many boxes.

Dreading the garage!!!

Oct 14-Friday (9 days later)
We got the office rearranged last Sat.  That was my official day of completing the boxes in the house.  Yeah!!!  It took me 10 days to finish the inside of the house, but it was the first 3 days that most of the work was done.  I was tired & sore all over.

Dave has been commenting since he got here concerning the garage that it won't be touched for another month or so.  I figured that was a true statement because I would have to wait on him.  Yesterday, I had to make a path through the garage to get to a screwdriver.  I then realized that there were boxes within my reach that I could take apart.  My eyes were glistening & my mouth was drooling.  All I need now was a knife in hand.  Guess what I will be doing on Sat?  It isn't ironing, like I planned.

Garage-Part of a side view.

                                               Garage-Front view

I did write within this 5 Part Series that I had a point.  It is:

Acts 17:24-27

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

²⁴ The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;
                                ²⁵ nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;
                                                       ²⁶ and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,
                                                                          ²⁷ that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;

POINT-This is our determined appointed time (beginning Sept 28, 2011 to whenever) & our boundaries are Maumelle, Ar.  My prayer is that we would seek God, & hopefully perhaps we might grope for Him & find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.

Thanks for reading.

                        ann :) 

All This In A Week?: Part 4-Thur. Tradition

Do y'all have a favorite place in your home to take pictures.  For us it has always been the fire place.  I thought I better get a picture of our new traditional spot before the movers came.  Notice on the mantel the sign, flowers, etc that Jenny gave me.

Before boxes

Lauren & Jenny

When Amy moved to town over a year ago, the kids got together almost every Thur. pm.  Well, we joined the tradition last week.  It is a great time to catch up & just have some fun together.  

Last Thur was the first meal in our home as a family.  I fixed my famous lasagna.  I must say that it is better than what you get in Italy.  I know; I've been there.  We didn't get the family photo in front of the fireplace last week.  I thought I would aim for it this week.

This week we ate over here again even though sweet Jenny volunteered to fix dinner at their place.  I surprised everyone with Happy Fall Day.  I wrote about the Fall Box in my blog: Highlands "Mitford"-not a series Part 2.  Please check there if you need a refresher course.  Anyway, they were all excited to see that I hadn't forgotten it with the move.  I must say that the box was a little skimpy this year, but I don't think they cared.

I made popcorn balls, which Jenny loves.  Her eyes just lite up when she saw them.  The acrostic was  ARKANSAS.  You are suppose to try to put a word about Oct or Nov. with each letter.  The verse this year is Ps. 95:2-Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.  The verse is something to think about through-out the month.  You are suppose to unwrap only one gift or envelope a day.  Ben opened almost his complete box.

Lauren (w/Mom helping) & her first popcorn ball.

Dinner: Acorn Squash; Asparagus; Homemade mashed potatoes; thick grilled pork chops w/ homemade apple sauce; apple pie w/ice cream.  Yum!  Yum!  Yum!

Opening Fall Box














Well, I still didn't get that traditional family fireplace picture, again.  Maybe I will at Thanksgiving or Christmas.  But, I think I got some great memories tonight anyway.  What do you think?  Love these traditional Thur. pm dinners.
                                                   ann :)  

All This In A Week?: Part 3-Make Yourself At Home

Don't you love the word home-not house-but home.  A house becomes a home because it is where you & your loved ones live.  I also love calling other peoples' homes your home.  Like, where I was raised will always be my home because my parents live there.  When I go there, I don't have to knock at the door & wait; I just go in; say "Hi"; & give & receive kisses & hugs.  Have a great meal, rest on the couch & visit.  That's home.  You're comfortable there.

Well, I'm hoping that is how it is going to be for my children at our home.  The first day I was in my new house (w/o furniture), was a good beginning to my hopes starting to become a reality.

It was the end of a long day driving from Highlands.  Ben came over after work to see me & the place.  He really hadn't seen it since July.  After he helped me unloaded heavy boxes from the car, we began taking the tour through the house.  He spotted my special cookies that Jenny got me as a welcome home gift, & was about to tear into them.  I told him that I wanted Dad to see what Jenny did.  His reply, "He doesn't care about this!"  And immediately ripped open the bag.  All I could do was chuckle.  I then went outside to get Truffle from the back yard.  I came in & saw my homemade muffins, taken from the refrigerator & the bag was open on the counter.  Mind you, these muffins I ground the flour myself.  Ben calls them my birdseed muffins.  All I could do was laugh.  I loved it.  It warmed my heart!

Amy came over Sunday, not only to see us but to have some lunch, wash clothes & use the computer.  Love, love, love it!

Lauren has her own bedroom, shelf in the pantry & kitchen to play with where our kitchen table & chairs will go when we get the set.  It took me all afternoon putting that some assemble acquired toy together.  I was so sore when I finished.  Dave & Ben said she has more stuff around here than they do.

Sweet Jenny called and asked about taking her to get groceries since her car was in the shop.  I needed some too.

Yes, it is feeling like home.

                        ann :)

All This In A Week?: Part 2-Here They Come

Rollin, rollin, rollin

here those doggies rollin

Raw-hide

Three vans coming!

Boxes everywhere, in every room

Where do I begin!!!

I had full intention to begin in the kitchen.  

Hey, that rhymed :) 

I thought I just had to get this kitchen & pantry in order to function.  Then it dawned on me, I much rather have a bed to sleep in, so I started on the bedrooms.  Besides, let's get real.  Was I really going to cook?  You've got to be kidding!  McDonald's coffee & oatmeal was just fine.  Plus, I was still sleeping over at LaVern's & eating with the kids some.

I couldn't even get to the tub to take a bath due to all the boxes.  So on Thur. I spent the entire day going through all those boxes.  It was nice to finally get my closet in order & to take a bath in my own tub.

Dave, finally got in town around 4:00 pm Sat (Oct 1).  I must say I was a little nervous since he had never seen the house that we bought.   After a tour of our adobe-brown walls with white trim-home, we all went to Zaxbys.  It was so good to be together.  Jenny (daughter-in-luv) said, "Our family is now complete."  It really didn't seem real yet.  I felt like we were there for a long weekend.

While we were eating, I finally heard Lauren (grand baby) say my daughter's name-Amy.  She pronounced it with a little a, & the accent on may.  I loved it.  Then she started saying "No, Nanna; No, Nanna."  That charmed me no doubt.  I didn't know what the no was for, but I didn't care.  I clapped & clapped.  The more I clapped, the more she said it.  That child can do no wrong in my book.

I do have a point to this series, but you will have to wait until you get to the end-Part 5.

More tomorrow,

                      ann :)

All This In A Week?: Part 1-I'm Off

It is hard for me to believe that a week ago I was completing my move from Highlands, NC to Maumelle, AR.  I week ago yesterday (Sept 26), the movers loaded all our household belongings & delivered them at our new home on Wed (Sept 28).

I am grateful to so many friends & family members who helped us at the beginning of this adventure.  Thanks to John & Penelope for a great home-cooked meal & bed for a good nights rest after a very long day of moving.  Thanks to my dear sweet daughter-in-luv, Jenny, who met me at our new home with our grand baby-Lauren.  I had a small melt down when I saw how tiny the first "bedroom" was.  It is now a perfect office.  The house sure looked different than it did when I bought it in July & without furniture.  Jenny also made a great "Welcome Home Ann" sign with purple mums, special tea & cookies waiting for me on the kitchen counter.  Yum!!!  Later I went to my dear friend & mentor's home to unload for a couple of days.  LaVern kept Truffle for me while the movers moved me in.  Also, loved that spa tub at the end of moving & unpacking.  Ahhh  :)

Here are some of my first pictures taken from the drivers seat I might add, as I entered my new state-
                        ARKANSAS
  [and my husband doesn't think I can drive &
                           multi-task]

Going from TN to AR across the Mississippi River

I'm now a Arkansan-is that correct?!

As I was going under the sign I yelled out Sooiiee!!   Trying to get in the spirit of things.  I got tickled anyway.  Later I learned that the yell goes like this---Woooo Pig Sooiieee!!  Oh well.   We are now automatically a Razor Back Fan unless were are playing the Georgia Bull Dogs.  Go Dogs!!!

More tomorrow. 

                      ann :)