It's Official!!

We are financially free to be better stewards of God's blessings!

Lord, You are Trustworthy. You answered our prayers as we trusted in Your plan for our lives (1 Chron 5:20). You are merciful. In you our souls takes refuge in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 57:1). You are Gracious, abounding in Love and faithfulness (Exodus 34:6). You mold us in the character of Jesus. Thank You, Lord for delivering Pete and myself. Thank You Lord, for creating an open door, for us to be better stewards with what You have blessed us with. Thank You for Your mercy and Your grace.

Welcoming in the next chapter of our lives...

Here are the boys' and I. We are taking the "goodbye" pictures to the poway home.

The happy dance:
"Lord, You never let go through every high and every low"

These pictures were taken the day that the home actually closed escrow. It was supposed to close on monday June 15, pushed back by the lender another week, then pushed to Thursday June 25th, then to friday june 26th.

These final days were an exercise in letting go and letting God. We had found a place we'd like to live next, yet would not sign a lease until it was clear that the home's title would transfer to the next owners name. Praise the Lord that the place we hoped to live was "held" for us through the weekend, without a deposit.

finally monday june 29th came. At 11:30AM, the transaction coordinator let me know that the lender's funds were received. By about 3PM, the title transferred and the buyers' realtor dropped by to pick up the keys. We were able to fill 4 car loads to move the remaining stuff from the house, and be gone by 6:30pm. The next day at 9am, the storage units arrived to the next place we'd live and moving began! Thank the Lord, for His perfect plan and His timing.

A little work and a little play

On the Friday prior to the estimated closing date (June 15), we found out that the lender hadn't reviewed the completed paperwork they'd received, and we wouldn't be closing. The decision was made to move forward with storing our stuff, since the guess (based on the bank's status) was that escrow would close by Wednesday the 17th or so.
The youngest of our boys, really REALLY enjoyed watching the loading and unloading of the storage units. Our older son told the delivery technician, he wanted to do that when he grew up.

The storage units arrived around 10AM. Then we headed back for the All-school BBQ

last few times on the playground for Aidon and his pals

A picture with their teacher. I clearly did not have the kids' attention for a picture :)

No news...

is sometimes not the news I'd like to hear. yet that is the news. No news on the close of escrow is today's update. The escrow documents listed June 15 as the close date. This is an FHA loan, which often takes longer than our 30 day escrow, and has yet to close. Rather than nothing-ness, the past weeks since my last blog update, have been full of blessings and God's loving providence. There is much to be thankful for:

• dear friends treated Josh, Aidon and I to a legoland day with them, in celebration of Josh's birthday.
• it was a wonderful break from all the packing
  physical help with moving the heavy furniture
• those who prayed for peace to replace my anxiousness (about moving everything even though escrow wasn't closing).
• whence all was packed up and stowed away from home (maybe i should have kept the can opener!),
• friends & family sharing of abundance by providing meals.
• those who shared the comfort of their home at mealtime, provided a sweet fellowship and loving encouragement that lasts for days
• God's direction on the next place we may call home
• a chance to clean and prepare for the next homeowners at a leisurely pace
• a friend's side by side packing with me that tripled the number of boxes filled
• and more that is unwritten and unsaid, yet stamped on our hearts
• an opportunity to play newly imagined games in a home that is full of space, no toys, and lots of imaginative play. this one is "avoid the landmines":
  

Pete is not sleeping...

...with his Star Wars sleeping bag any longer. (Only his college roommates are likely interested, yet this is a big deal,right? not!). Pete had been sleeping with it since he was around 10 years old, through college, and early married life.
When we moved to the poway home, the sleeping bag found a new home in a comforter bag in the garage.
I was surprised that the sleeping bag did not make this last move with us. I tried to convince Pete that we can make a quilt out of it. Ah, but he was ready to let it go. I begged him to take a picture with it at least.

This little red lettered rectangle popped up today....

S O L D

Today is 17 days since the start of escrow. The day that all contingencies on the purchase agreement contract are removed....

josh disney bday

Aunt Sammie met us for Birthday Beignets in Downtown disney

he still talks about Astro blasters

watching the fireworks, cookie in hand, on mom's shoulders

heading back to disneyland, zooming on the Monorail

ready to head home

"posing" just before we ride Dumbo

Josh's expression as Dumbo lifts off

Horsie ride on the carousel

Catch up time on blog posts

Phew...i'm taking a break from preparing the home for appraisal tomorrow. The advice is that the property be "impeccable". well, that'd be easier if I hadn't have been boxing things up for the past 5 days. you know how things get more chaotic, as they are pulled apart to be organized...AAhhhh....
Here is the end result of the "staging". These photos are more for the kids to remember the first detached home they lived in. Aidon was 21 months old when we moved in and we lived here when Josh was born. Here's the entry & "arch" view of the dining area.

The kitchen. When house shopping, Pete's kitchen criteria was a smooth countertop (no grout) and a pull-out faucet for dishes.
Dining area & breakfast table. Many a family meal here.

the fireplace mantle with the kids infant pictures

family room

kids-eye view of their room when napping

the "playroom" staged with a bed

kids' bathroom

kids bedroom (that's the quilt we've had since aidon's nursery. )

Train Day

Today the four of us celebrated the youngest one's birthday. He is such a seemingly easy to please boy. He seems to shy away from attention, especially relating to his birthday. He's been saying, "I no want birthday" in response to all of the talk of him turning the big THREE. We spent the day doing something he really enjoys - riding trains. It was extra special cuz it was the first time to visit these places as a family.

Train Cake

For this soon to be 3 year old, it's all about making a train cake. Here's the train cake that the celebrant designed, with his helper brother. He was particular about the color of each car, and that the wheels had "circle" designs.

When asked if he'd like to party for his day, he said "yes" and to invite "old people". What? "Aidon is older". "Nico is older". Mommy is old, Daddy is old....and the list went on. When his Lola heard this story, we were blessed that she chose to host this little one, his older cousin -who shares a June birthday- and their parents for a meal. All we did was bring cupcakes. How we are blessed!

Here's the train cupcake I liked...

Blowing out 3 candles

He also asked for a pinata, and so it was obliged.

This was super-simple, and in the soon-to-be birthday boy's words: "super fun"

Opening DAY is Fiiiiinallly here!!!

Boy oh Boy!! 60 days and counting was T.H.E. countdown. Once we found out about this exhibit coming, SOMEone has been so excited - asking daily "How many more days til .....

So, of course...we will be there on Opening day!

Here we go...sporting the stamped passports:
On Day 6.....dinosaurs!
A favorite conversation topic later was the newborn dinosaurs rustling in the nest

Lola was sweet to trek the hiking trail just to relish the boys' expression as they watched the robotic dinosaurs move, hiss, spit poisonous venom, growl and rOAR. Loyal Lolo rested his weary feet during this hike.

Resting spot after we did the loop again - once was not enough this time.

It's worth the trip and the extra dough to see this exhibit. It'll be around til labor day..