6.22.2012

Mustang Island

A couple of days at the beach courtesy of Ryan's family? Just what the doctor ordered! It was heavenly!

6.04.2012

Change is a'coming!

I warn you, this is going to be a wordy post. My mind is racing so much that I can't sleep, so perhaps typing it all out will help? Let's see.

Today we were granted permission to move into a little A-Frame house that my hubby's grandparents used to rent out. There will soon be four generations of Foxes living on the same acre of land! Ryan's parent's live at the back of the property, his grandparents' house is in the middle, and the A-Frame is up at the front of the land.

A while back Ryan's hours were cut at work, and since then we've had to rely on help from family to pay rent each month. My mother and Ryan's parents have been so very generous, and we've been able to live comfortably all this time. (Our tax refund helped a lot too!) We have been waiting and praying for Ryan to be promoted to full-time, but so far our situation has not changed. We've had letdown after letdown concerning other job opportunities as well, but never stopped trusting that God was in control.

We were still approaching the end of our rope however, what with our credit card creeping up to the limit, and no extra cash inflow in sight. We already drive only one vehicle, live in a one bedroom apartment (Sean's crib is in the dining room) and try to only rarely splurge on eating out or going to the movies. (Plus when any of us need, or erm want, clothes I only shop in the clearance section!) My point? Something had to change.

So while brainstorming the other day I happened to think of the unassuming little triangular building we pass every time we drive up the lane to my in-law's place. I remembered that Ryan had mentioned that a family used to rent it from his grandparents several years ago, and figured there was no harm in asking if we could do the same.
See what I mean by unassuming? It really doesn't look like much at all. I've passed it a million times and never gave it a second thought until God put the idea in my head yesterday. Fast forward a day and we're told we could live there for FREE. For as long as we need to. God is good, and so is family.

It's all very bittersweet however. We'll be leaving the place I was a newlywed in, the home we brought our little Sean back to. I'll be trading my beautiful garden tub for a tiny shower with no light, my walk-in-closet for the smallest closet I've seen, and lovely, modern fixtures and finishes for shag carpet, faded linoleum and appliances from the 70's. And yes, I had a good cry when I came to bed tonight about everything I'll miss. The pool! The gym! A washer and dryer!! Ah that felt good to rant a bit! I complained about my first world problems and I'm done with my moment of weakness. I know I can make this little teepee feel like a home, and I resolve to look on the bright side. Did I mention no rent? :)
The next month is going to be ridiculously busy. My cousin is getting married this weekend and it's going to be a big reunion with plenty of out of town family members coming in for it. The next week I have been drafted into babysitting Ryan's coworker's 9 year old and 7 month old for several days, and then that weekend we're going to the beach for a few days compliments of Ryan's relatives. The following week is my birthday and Father's day, and somewhere in between all of that we need to get the A-Frame fumigated, painted, cleaned from top to bottom, and repaired before we can move in. Not to mention all the packing, dismantling of furniture and cleaning here at the apartment we have to do! I actually love the hustle and bustle of moving, and I'm SUPER excited to pare down our belongings and organize everything just so, but I really wish it wasn't during the 110 degree weather we have to look forward to!

Oh oh, I just remembered I forgot to mention that there is a huge possibility that we won't be able to get internet out there. If that turns out to be so, I do believe I'll have a nice cry for no facebook, no netflix, and no blogging! How spoiled am I?! I will keep you all posted.



6.01.2012

Yellow, White and Blue

  (Dress and shirt from Old Navy, shoes from Express, watch from Fossil, earrings from Kohl's)
Date nights are good for the soul. Preferably ones starting with delicious treats and ending with new trains for your little one. Fresh soft pretzels eaten too quickly to be photographed are highly recommended also, as is enjoying all of the above with your handsome better half. Throwing all rainbows and unicorns out the window...if you and your better half MUST get a stomach bug on the last day of your three day weekend, it is very convenient if you wait to catch it until after the other recovers! Miraculously that was what happened on Monday. Ryan spent the first half of the day throwing up and feeling miserable, and then as soon as he got better I came down with the bug for the rest of the day.  I was able to watch Sean and run to the store for Pedialyte and Sprite in the morning, and then in the evening he was able to take care of me! I hope all future date nights and sick days can be so serendipitous!
(Linking up to Friday Fancies, as always!) (My Polyvore)