The End

I wanted to pop in and just say hello to everyone. It's been a hectic week. As you know we had to move out of our home. We started moving loads to storage last Wednesday and took over a load or two everyday and did the major move on Saturday.  Sunday we went back and moved yet another small load. I thought my storage was more than big enough until we had to pack it and boy is it packed! Monday and Tuesday I spent most of the day cleaning up the house good and touching up the paint. I had no idea just how big my house was until it was empty. Today I closed the door on Austin Road for the last time. They say when one door shuts another one opens. I hope the next door will be attached to as nice of a home as Austin Road. I will miss the place I called home for seven years.

Donna

7 YEARS...

We have moved a few boxes into storage and will try to move as many as possible before Saturday. Hopefully all we will have to move on Saturday is our furniture. Then I will need to go through and tidy up the place. We will be staying with my Mom for awhile until we can get back on our feet or until school let's out. Se lives in the same school district so we won't have to change Eleni's school. 

If I had to sum up the last 7 years I would say they have been a blast. Like all families we have had our ups and downs but the good memories will always out weigh the bad. When I close that door for the last time I will be sad but in my heart I will always remember the happy times.

I have spent a lot of time thinking and reminiscing this week. I can't help but think back to the day we moved in it was 4th of July 2002. This house was twice the size of the little rancher we  just moved out. I thought will I ever be able to fill this huge house. We not only filled 1520 with stuff but also a lot of laughs, fun, and memories. As I sit and look around at our lives all boxed up I wonder where we will call home next.

I want to thank all of you who have commented on  my blog. You will never know how much your kind words have meant to me. You have been there all the way and I hope you will continue to stop by as I begin a new journey. 

Donna

Faithful Fridays with Joy

This has been a very difficult week for me. I have been packing next week we will be moving out of our rental home of 7 years. It's been 5 months and I am still unemployed. I had no idea just how hard it was going to be to get another job. I have applied everywhere and no luck so far, but I do have faith that my job will come in due time. Ray is working a little more but there are no guarantees how much or how long. At this time we have decided to move in with my Mom until we can get back on our feet. It will not be easy for any of us but it's something we need to do. I am hoping that we can save a little money and maybe find a smaller house. Yes, I said smaller something most people don't say. :) I'm hoping the rent may be a little cheaper and the bills a lot cheaper. 

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I wanted to write about someone I am thankful to know. That would be my friend Kim. Today is Kim's birthday and I wanted to let her know I am thankful for our long long friendship. I posted pictures of Kim and I scrap booking awhile back.

  

I thought it would be funny to post an older picture of us. WOW! We have changed a lot in 16 years. 

This was taken at my baby shower when I was pregnant with Eleni. This is also before my hair turned gray :) Kim has always been a good friend and I wish her the very Happiest Birthday! 

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I will try to post as much as I can. I will definitely be popping in and reading your blogs.

Donna

Dirt, Dirt, and more Dirt!

Well, I can officially say I am exhausted. Remember the hole where the pool used to be? It's finally filled with dirt. It took about 9 yards of dirt and a lot of shoveling! We were doing it by the truck loads but it would have taken us forever so my brother in-law borrowed a dump truck and brought me a load of dirt. Since the deck had to stay it wasn't possible to get the truck close enough to the hole so it had to be moved by hand.

I was so happy when Jessica got home from work. I had been shoveling for over 3 hours and was so happy to have help. It sure doesn't look like a lot but it was a lot of dirt! After a few more hours of shoveling my neighbor Chris came to help me out and he brought his big brother Jacob and friend Blake. Here is Chris giving me a helping hand which was more than appreciated.

  

  

  

We were all exhausted especially me. I shoveled from noon that day until after 7pm. I was thankful for all the help and for Abby's help supervising. I wasn't able to work on what was left until today. Eleni is back from SC so she and I with the help of her friend Katie finally got it all shoveled.

  

Abby supervised until the pile was gone. It only took us about 3 hours today to spread the rest of the dirt. I have never been so happy to have a project done!

Here is a before picture!

AND AFTER!

I threw down some grass seed so hopefully it will rain. My luck it won't since that's all it has done for the past month. We just have to put the sides back onto the deck and everything will be as good as new. Now to start packing. I'm still holding out hope that things will work out for us. :)

Thanks for all the wonderful comments about my Aunt Helen and Uncle Lewis. The picture I posted was of them on their Alaska cruise next month they are going on another cruise but this time to Bermuda. What a great way to celebrate 50 years of marriage.

Donna

~** Special Post **~

 I know I have some people who read my blog and don't blog themselves. I am thankful for anyone who reads. Well, today is a special post for me. Today I wanted to post about someone who is very special to me. That would be my Aunt Helen. She will be celebrating her 50th Anniversary tomorrow. It doesn't seem like she and my Uncle Lewis are even old enough to be married that long. Most of my favorite childhood memories were spent at their house. My Aunt Helen still looks the same as when I was a child and I can't remember her ever being mad and she always always smiles.

When I think about them I remember always eating Frosted Flakes out of a tupperware bowl, but when you were done you had to put your bowl in the sink. My Uncle Lewis I gave the nick name Grape Ape when I was younger. He just reminded me of Grape Ape that big purple ape in the cartoons. My Uncle Lewis always had lemon heads in a candy dish. I used to love his candy and sometimes I got caught sneaking a piece. :) I could share so many funny stories but I would be posting all day but two are very familiar in my mind. Once when I was over visiting my cousin Sonny told me that if you talked during a thunder storm lighting would strike your teeth. Just one way to get me to shut up because I was and still am a talker. It worked. :) Once I wrote a love letter while I was over their house to my cousin's friend. I think his first or last name was Ward. He came to visit and I couldn't find my note. I remember being so devastated because he would never know how I felt. Oh did I mention he was probably 18 and I was probably around 10. Oh and one last memory when we were younger we always exchanged gifts with them on Christmas. I don't remember any of the gifts I ever got but one! Thanks Helen for my first training bra. Another devastating moment but great memory. Their home was my second home growing up and you can't erase good memories.

So here is a big HAPPY 50th ANNIVERSARY to two of my favorite people! I love you and wish you 50 more years of joy, laughter, and happiness!

Thanks to modern technology someone emailed me this picture for my post. This is my Aunt and Uncle when they went on a cruise to Alaska. Hmmm my hair is all gray and look at my Aunt Helen's she still has her dark hair!

Donna

Just Popping In To Say Hello

I just wanted to pop in and say hello to everyone. I haven't had anything to share so I haven't been posting a lot lately. We did manage to get a load of dirt today for the pool hole. It didn't even put a dent in the hole. We are supposed to get more tomorrow. I think we will need 3 or 4 more loads. I didn't realize just how much dirt they dug up to level the yard. 

I can't believe Easter is Sunday. The older you get the faster time seems to fly. I think I am going to change it up a little this year. Instead of Ham we are going to do a BBQ. I will put it in the crock pot and hopefully it will be close to done when we get home from Church Sunday. I am going to make Ray a pineapple upside down cake and me some chocolate bars. I got the recipe off of Linda's blog behindmyreddoor they looked easy and so yummy. 

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions on my cross stitching issue. I am going to look into that magnifying lamp. That may be just what I need. I really would like to finish it.

I hope to have something exciting to post soon. I definitely hope to have some pictures of something. :) Thanks for stopping by and sticking with me even though I don't have a lot to share.

Donna

Monday Again Already?

I hope everyone had a great weekend. The weather here in VA was perfect. Actually Saturday Ray and I drove to NC to meet Ray's brother David. They live in SC and he and his wife Donna met us half way and they took Eleni back with them to SC for her spring break. We all ate lunch and then we came back home. It was a beautiful day to just ride. Eleni loves to go visit them. She gets to spend time with her cousins and do all sorts of fun things like fish, 4 wheel, and just hang out. She is definately my outdoorsy child. Jessica on the other hand prefers to be in the house laptop in hand. So funny how different they are to be sisters.

I have some things I need to be working on so I hope to maybe have some pictures next time. It's possible we may have to go pick Eleni up in SC. My sister in-law loves going to TS so I may ride along and see if I can find me something. :) I feel the need to try a redo. Also does anyone know if there is some type of magnifying glass you can use to cross stitch? I have some glasses I use for reading the computer but they were not working for me when I tried to cross stitch. I got the worst headache from straining my eyes. I really wanted to finish this up. I'm open to any suggestions. :)

I wanted to take the time to thank everyone who has been including me ion their prayers. I am so thankful and greatful. Things are tough and I keep trying to be optimistic and upbeat. I do have my really bad days and I try to remind myself it could be worse. So thanks again for thinking of me and my family. 

Donna

Faithful Fridays

I wanted to say I am so thankful for all that I have been blessed with since I have lost my job. My husband was able to get his medicine even though I lost my insurance. My rent is paid up to date even though we have not had a steady income in months. We have managed to keep food in the freezer, gas in the truck, and a little something to put in the offering plate every Sunday. 

I am thankful that on my bad days when I post and whine you leave me kind comments and that you still come back. I am so thankful I started this blog it has been a band aid on those days I need a lift. 

Donna

Misery Loves Company

Ok so it's true misery likes company. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any. I have been in a terrible mood for the past few days. I sat on my computer yesterday and checked constantly for new posts and emails. I was looking for someone anyone to join me. I am happy to say everyone was too busy. Today I am feeling much better. I guess we all have our days. I seem to be having way too many for me. :)

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The other day we stopped by my Mom's house. She once lived in a really nice neighborhood. Some new families have moved in and it's going down. Her next door neighbor has so much junk in the yard you can't even tell it's a yard. Then in one bedroom they don't have up curtains and you can see the clothes piled up to the ceiling. I can not understand how people can buy a home and just not take care of it. I am a renter and I treat this home as if it were mine. I don't have a green thumb but my yard is kept up. It's so unfair that so many people are homeless or losing their homes and there are people out there who don't love their homes. I think that's what addicted me to blogging seeing the love everyone has for their homes.

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Eleni took this picture of Pepper. I wonder what he was thinking. The look on his little face cracks me up. :) Thanks for dropping by and letting me vent yet again. I am so hoping that things turn around here for us and very soon. 

Donna