We have a home!! As of February 27th, my family will be living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina! It has been a long and bumpy ride--and it isn't over yet!--but we are so grateful for the people who have made this possible for us.
After the first house we had lined up fell through, I filled out a rental application through a realtor, whom I called and explained our situation. My sister-in-law drove me and my husband to the realtor's office yesterday, where we learned that FIVE other people filled out applications for the same property that morning! We needed to kick it into high gear.
Our realtor, Kellie, needed to speak with our current landlord to confirm our information, and the home would be ours. The only problem was, she couldn't get in touch with either of the landlords; brothers who also own a restaurant and a landscaping company, and are usually too busy to answer their phones right away.
If any of the five applicants were approved to rent the property, it would be promised to whomever delivered the security deposit to the realtor first. The clock was ticking.
My husband, Kevin, called both brothers and was successful at getting in touch with one of them! Kellie spoke to him, but unfortunately, he was unable to confirm our information at the time, as his business manager takes care of everything. He said he'd call Kellie first thing in the morning with our information. Needless to say, I was stressing. We needed this place and we were running on empty.
At 9am today, Kellie called Kevin. She had yet to hear from our landlord. So, I went right to the source. I called the business manager, explained our predicament, and she ensured us that she would call Kellie right away. Thankfully, she did. At 10:30am, our application was approved! But, we still had to deliver the security deposit before any other applicants had the chance to do so.
I was ready to go, but Kevin "needed" to wash his grandfather's van. So I waited... and waited.
We finally arrived at the realty office two hours later to pay our deposit. It turns out, another application had just been approved, but Kellie hadn't informed them yet because she was busy with other phone calls and paperwork. The house was ours!
I firmly belive that everything happens for a reason. Things didn't work out with the first property because it wasn't meant to be. It was frustrating and disappointing, but in the end, everything worked out, and we'll be moving into a cute little home on Monday.
Check back in the coming days to continue following us on this exciting journey!
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Aint Nobody Got Time Fo' Dat!
So our journey to North Carolina is beginning! And what kind of journey would it be without starting off with a huge road block?
Kevin and I found a house, close to his grandparents' home and just a half an hour from his new job. My sister-in-law, Tina, gave us a tour of the home via FB Messenger on Monday and we spoke to the owner afterward, who said the house was ours! All we had to do was send the security deposit to Tina on Friday, who would then have a paper signed by the owner stating the deposit was received and we would move in on Monday, February 28th.
Friday came and Kevin called the owner, who proceeded to tell him that the home had been rented to someone else, "but I have plenty of mobile homes available for rent."
Are you kidding me?! Needles to say we are nothing short of outraged. A mobile home will not suffice for our family of five, but even if it would, there is no way I would ever rent a home from this poor excuse for a man.
So here we are, a week before our moving date, without a house. Over the course of this next week, we must finish packing, make a quick two-day trip to North Carolina to hopefully find and secure a home, obtain a salvaged title for Kevin's truck so we're able to drive it to NC, host our going-away get-together on Saturday night, pack the moving truck on Sunday, and leave for NC on Monday morning. Is this even possible?!
So here I am, so stressed out and worried that I'm not even sure where to begin. All I really want to do is sip a glass of wine while soaking in a bubble bath. Unfortunately, "Ain't nobody got time fo' dat!"
Follow our journey to NC here at 56 Sarah Street, and hopefully the next post will be full of good news rather than additional road blocks and detours! And if any of you are so inclined to help us pack and load the moving truck, you will not have to ask us twice! ;)
Kevin and I found a house, close to his grandparents' home and just a half an hour from his new job. My sister-in-law, Tina, gave us a tour of the home via FB Messenger on Monday and we spoke to the owner afterward, who said the house was ours! All we had to do was send the security deposit to Tina on Friday, who would then have a paper signed by the owner stating the deposit was received and we would move in on Monday, February 28th.
Friday came and Kevin called the owner, who proceeded to tell him that the home had been rented to someone else, "but I have plenty of mobile homes available for rent."
Are you kidding me?! Needles to say we are nothing short of outraged. A mobile home will not suffice for our family of five, but even if it would, there is no way I would ever rent a home from this poor excuse for a man.
So here we are, a week before our moving date, without a house. Over the course of this next week, we must finish packing, make a quick two-day trip to North Carolina to hopefully find and secure a home, obtain a salvaged title for Kevin's truck so we're able to drive it to NC, host our going-away get-together on Saturday night, pack the moving truck on Sunday, and leave for NC on Monday morning. Is this even possible?!
So here I am, so stressed out and worried that I'm not even sure where to begin. All I really want to do is sip a glass of wine while soaking in a bubble bath. Unfortunately, "Ain't nobody got time fo' dat!"
Follow our journey to NC here at 56 Sarah Street, and hopefully the next post will be full of good news rather than additional road blocks and detours! And if any of you are so inclined to help us pack and load the moving truck, you will not have to ask us twice! ;)
Saturday, January 28, 2017
I Want My Mama
I'm moving away from the only place I've ever known. Five hundred miles away. While I must admit that I am so excited to start a new life in a new home in a new town, I am also completely terrified. I'm moving 500 miles away from my birthplace, my hometown, my very first everything. And I'm moving away from so many people I love... my eight-year-old neice, my brother and sister, my grandparents, best friend, aunts and uncles. I'm moving 500 miles away from my mom, and I'm taking her grandchildren with me.
My heart has been breaking since my husband and I discussed the possibility of moving after he was offered a better job in North Carolina. There are so many things to be grateful for that come along with this move. Not only will we get to enjoy a lower cost of living, but we'll also be closer to my in-laws, who moved to NC more than 10 years ago. I truly am excited for this new journey on which our family is about to embark. But I need my mama.
My parents come over for dinner every Tuesday night. Together my mom and I go grocery shopping, we visit my brother, help Sebastian with his homework, cook dinner, bake cookies. My parents go to the zoo with my family every Mother's Day. We spend every holiday together. Sure, they can come visit. But how am I going to get by without my mom being a short 20-minute drive away?
I know I'll survive. My parents will visit us, we'll visit them, and I can call my mom every day. But this is one of the biggest changes I have ever had to face and I am so overwhelmed. There are so many things to do in a month's time (the shortest month of the year, nonetheless) and I just don't wanna! I know, I'm being a big baby. And I know that my next post (maybe less than a year and a half from now!) will describe how much we're enjoying the warmer weather, the lower housing costs, and most importantly, the memories we'll be making with my husband's father, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I truly am excited and a part of me can not wait to be decorating our new home in a town where WE are the ones with an accent! But that little girl inside of me just needs her mommy. ❤
My heart has been breaking since my husband and I discussed the possibility of moving after he was offered a better job in North Carolina. There are so many things to be grateful for that come along with this move. Not only will we get to enjoy a lower cost of living, but we'll also be closer to my in-laws, who moved to NC more than 10 years ago. I truly am excited for this new journey on which our family is about to embark. But I need my mama.
My parents come over for dinner every Tuesday night. Together my mom and I go grocery shopping, we visit my brother, help Sebastian with his homework, cook dinner, bake cookies. My parents go to the zoo with my family every Mother's Day. We spend every holiday together. Sure, they can come visit. But how am I going to get by without my mom being a short 20-minute drive away?
I know I'll survive. My parents will visit us, we'll visit them, and I can call my mom every day. But this is one of the biggest changes I have ever had to face and I am so overwhelmed. There are so many things to do in a month's time (the shortest month of the year, nonetheless) and I just don't wanna! I know, I'm being a big baby. And I know that my next post (maybe less than a year and a half from now!) will describe how much we're enjoying the warmer weather, the lower housing costs, and most importantly, the memories we'll be making with my husband's father, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I truly am excited and a part of me can not wait to be decorating our new home in a town where WE are the ones with an accent! But that little girl inside of me just needs her mommy. ❤
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
A Mommy's Unforgettable Beginning of Kindergarten
I created email accounts for both of my sons where I send photos of special occasions or random moments. When they're older, I'll give them the passwords to the accounts and we'll look back at all the memories together (I wonder if there will be enough storage space...).
Well, my oldest son started kindergarten yesterday and I have been a basket case of emotions (I know, I know: you're all shocked). I sat down tonight and decided to email him a letter, all about his first two days of school and all about the roller coaster of emotions that a mommy feels upon her baby's first day of kindergarten. Yes, I cried. Again.
Dear Sebastian,
Yesterday was your first day of Kindergarten! I snuck into your room the night before (and fought the overwhelming urge to crawl into bed with you) and saw you fast asleep with your monkeys snuggled against you underneath your Ninja Turtles tshirt and all I could do was cry. My baby boy is growing up so fast, yet there you are, asleep with the monkey that you haven't been without since you were six months old.
We drove you to school because we thought the bus driver missed your stop (turns out he picks you up on his way back) and after a quick hug and kiss, you were off, smiling with the teacher who walked you inside. I watched you all the way through the doors and you never looked back once. At work, I thought of you constantly and worried about things that only mommys worry about... Would you be able to open your snack by yourself? Would you be included in the conversation at lunch time? Would you have someone to sit with on the bus the next day since you only take the bus in the morning and not the afternoon? Would you know to raise your hand right away if you need to use the bathroom? Would you have fun?
But at the end of the day, I waited for you in the parking lot while daddy went inside to pick you up and when you came out smiling, everything was okay. You gave me an apple "cause parents are teachers, too!" and told me that you had Oreos after school. Your teacher is nice and a boy named Ben got yelled at already for telling the teacher no, but you wouldn't misbehave like he did because "I don't want to find out where the principal's office is!" You had art class with Mrs. D and you drew a picture of yourself as a red ninja.
In the cafeteria, there was food that you could buy and they had pizza, so you'd like to buy lunch there, too (you're starting tomorrow, which I'm sure I'll worry about!).
This morning you took the bus to school after another quick hug and kiss. You hopped on and took the first seat and then Codi slid in next to you. You blew me a kiss and the bus pulled away, leaving mommy behind to shed a few tears before heading to work to once again think of all the things you would be doing today.
When I got home you told me all about the cafeteria and how they had pizza, again! You went to the library and you had to be quiet there, but you got to pick out a book all by yourself. You chose "Owen" and we read it tonight before bed with Noah (who was trying to bite your chin!).
You have gym class tomorrow and you think you'll go to the basketball courts. You chose an orange tangerine juice box and pretzel sticks with cheese dip for your afternoon snack (you eat lunch at 10:35!), and you'd like to have pizza for lunch (surprise!).
And mommy cries. Because I feel like my baby boy is growing up too fast. I can't even blink without missing the little moments that are so important. I remember the first moment I held you and even before that, the first time I heard your heart beat.
So how did you get to be a big boy, riding the school bus and buying your own lunch? How did five years pass by so quickly? And why can't it just. slow. down?
Tomorrow is your third day already and before I know it, it will be your last day of kindergarten, your first day of high school, your last day of college, your wedding day... Because time just keeps on passing us by.
And THAT is why mommy cries. Not because I worry about you. I DO worry about you, but that's not why I cry, because I know that you'll be just fine. I cry because my baby isn't a baby anymore. I cry because you're getting older so quickly and I don't want to miss a moment. I cry because I DO miss things, things I can't get back.
And I cry because I'm pregnant and hormonal, but we'll save that story for another time (which I'm sure we'll be able to laugh about later. I hope so anyway. I can be pretty... crazy these days.).
Anyway, I love you so much and no matter if you're in kindergarten or high school, college or a retirement home, you will always be my baby boy and I will never stop thinking about you when we're a part.
And hopefully one day you'll understand why it hurt me so much to send you to your room or put you in a timeout, to leave the carnival without allowing you to go on the rides or make you watch your friends at karate do the balloon toss while you sat out. It hurts me because I hate to see you hurt. It breaks my heart because those are moments that neither you nor I are ever going to get back to enjoy.
But! This isn't a sad story! I am proud of you and your confidence! I'm proud of your feelings for others and the way you want to make sure all the kids at school have a "partner" to do things with like you have Codi (because you ride the same bus and you're in the same class). I'm proud of the young man you are becoming, even though sometimes I have to repeat myself or send you to your room.
I'm excited for all that this year will have to offer you and I can't wait for all the ways I know we'll be able to spend time together; like open house next week! I can't wait for you to show me your classroom and introduce me to your teacher!
Okay! Okay! Enough! I love you so much, always and forever!
Love, Mama xoxo
Well, my oldest son started kindergarten yesterday and I have been a basket case of emotions (I know, I know: you're all shocked). I sat down tonight and decided to email him a letter, all about his first two days of school and all about the roller coaster of emotions that a mommy feels upon her baby's first day of kindergarten. Yes, I cried. Again.
Dear Sebastian,
Yesterday was your first day of Kindergarten! I snuck into your room the night before (and fought the overwhelming urge to crawl into bed with you) and saw you fast asleep with your monkeys snuggled against you underneath your Ninja Turtles tshirt and all I could do was cry. My baby boy is growing up so fast, yet there you are, asleep with the monkey that you haven't been without since you were six months old.
We drove you to school because we thought the bus driver missed your stop (turns out he picks you up on his way back) and after a quick hug and kiss, you were off, smiling with the teacher who walked you inside. I watched you all the way through the doors and you never looked back once. At work, I thought of you constantly and worried about things that only mommys worry about... Would you be able to open your snack by yourself? Would you be included in the conversation at lunch time? Would you have someone to sit with on the bus the next day since you only take the bus in the morning and not the afternoon? Would you know to raise your hand right away if you need to use the bathroom? Would you have fun?
But at the end of the day, I waited for you in the parking lot while daddy went inside to pick you up and when you came out smiling, everything was okay. You gave me an apple "cause parents are teachers, too!" and told me that you had Oreos after school. Your teacher is nice and a boy named Ben got yelled at already for telling the teacher no, but you wouldn't misbehave like he did because "I don't want to find out where the principal's office is!" You had art class with Mrs. D and you drew a picture of yourself as a red ninja.
In the cafeteria, there was food that you could buy and they had pizza, so you'd like to buy lunch there, too (you're starting tomorrow, which I'm sure I'll worry about!).
This morning you took the bus to school after another quick hug and kiss. You hopped on and took the first seat and then Codi slid in next to you. You blew me a kiss and the bus pulled away, leaving mommy behind to shed a few tears before heading to work to once again think of all the things you would be doing today.
When I got home you told me all about the cafeteria and how they had pizza, again! You went to the library and you had to be quiet there, but you got to pick out a book all by yourself. You chose "Owen" and we read it tonight before bed with Noah (who was trying to bite your chin!).
You have gym class tomorrow and you think you'll go to the basketball courts. You chose an orange tangerine juice box and pretzel sticks with cheese dip for your afternoon snack (you eat lunch at 10:35!), and you'd like to have pizza for lunch (surprise!).
And mommy cries. Because I feel like my baby boy is growing up too fast. I can't even blink without missing the little moments that are so important. I remember the first moment I held you and even before that, the first time I heard your heart beat.
So how did you get to be a big boy, riding the school bus and buying your own lunch? How did five years pass by so quickly? And why can't it just. slow. down?
Tomorrow is your third day already and before I know it, it will be your last day of kindergarten, your first day of high school, your last day of college, your wedding day... Because time just keeps on passing us by.
And THAT is why mommy cries. Not because I worry about you. I DO worry about you, but that's not why I cry, because I know that you'll be just fine. I cry because my baby isn't a baby anymore. I cry because you're getting older so quickly and I don't want to miss a moment. I cry because I DO miss things, things I can't get back.
And I cry because I'm pregnant and hormonal, but we'll save that story for another time (which I'm sure we'll be able to laugh about later. I hope so anyway. I can be pretty... crazy these days.).
Anyway, I love you so much and no matter if you're in kindergarten or high school, college or a retirement home, you will always be my baby boy and I will never stop thinking about you when we're a part.
And hopefully one day you'll understand why it hurt me so much to send you to your room or put you in a timeout, to leave the carnival without allowing you to go on the rides or make you watch your friends at karate do the balloon toss while you sat out. It hurts me because I hate to see you hurt. It breaks my heart because those are moments that neither you nor I are ever going to get back to enjoy.
But! This isn't a sad story! I am proud of you and your confidence! I'm proud of your feelings for others and the way you want to make sure all the kids at school have a "partner" to do things with like you have Codi (because you ride the same bus and you're in the same class). I'm proud of the young man you are becoming, even though sometimes I have to repeat myself or send you to your room.
I'm excited for all that this year will have to offer you and I can't wait for all the ways I know we'll be able to spend time together; like open house next week! I can't wait for you to show me your classroom and introduce me to your teacher!
Okay! Okay! Enough! I love you so much, always and forever!
Love, Mama xoxo
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Ten Things I'm Thankful For
Excuse my language, but I must admit, I bitch a lot. Lately my rants have been all about how people feel the need to create problems where there are none; toys and gender, women walking around topless because men do, a Catholic priest refusing to perform a marriage ceremony for a gay couple... The list goes on.
My point has nothing to do with any of these topics, as I'd like to save my rants for another day. Today, I'd like to stop my bitching and list just 10 things that I am thankful for...
1. This moment. Right now, I am cuddling with my nine-month-old baby boy, who is snoring so perfectly in my ear, as my unborn daughter kicks and stretches in my belly.
2. Sebastian, my five-year-old, who makes me laugh every single day, even though he sometimes drives me crazy.
3. AC! A luxury that I am so grateful for, especially during thsee dog days of August when I am waddling around, pregnant and uncomfortable.
4. Clean water. Warm water. Cool water. Whichever I desire, I have clean, running water to drink, to bathe in.
5. A safe place to raise my children. Tragic things can happen anywhere, at any time. But my neighborhood isn't the scene of drive-by shootings or suicide bombings. Thanks be to God that I have been given this blessing that so many others are denied.
6. My job. I am not a millionaire and I am not able to stay home with my children like I'd love to do. But I have a job when so many others do not. My husband and I may struggle sometimes to make ends meet, but we do it by the grace of God, because we both have the opportunity to work.
7. Healthy food for my family to eat. It may not always be the most nutritious, but it's healthy and store-bought. I don't have to dig in a dumpster for my next meal and I can't even begin to imagine if I had to.
8. I'm able to make other people smile. I'm sure sometimes people want to tell me to shutup. But when I'm not being a huge PITA by ranting or being a hormonal pregnant woman, I make people laugh. And that makes me feel like I'm doing something right.
9. My husband is a morning person! I am not a morning person and I struggle every day to get out of bed on time. He, on the other hand, jumps up when his alarm sounds and begins his day. Because he knows I have a hard time getting a move on, he makes my coffee and brings it to me in bed; puts together lunch for me; takes the kids lunches, bags, etc. out to my car so I only have to carry the baby and my purse; wakes Sebastian and gets his breakfast ready while he dresses; and gets himself ready for work. He does all of this in an hour and it makes my day so much easier. Today he had to he to work a few hours earlier and, what do you know, I was late to work because I had to do it all on my own!
10. The amazing people in my life. My true friends, my family, my clients who are some of the kindest and most generous people I have ever met. I certainly couldn't get through each day without them.
God has truly blessed me and I have so much to be thankful for, but I'll leave it at this for now. What are you thankful for?
My point has nothing to do with any of these topics, as I'd like to save my rants for another day. Today, I'd like to stop my bitching and list just 10 things that I am thankful for...
1. This moment. Right now, I am cuddling with my nine-month-old baby boy, who is snoring so perfectly in my ear, as my unborn daughter kicks and stretches in my belly.
2. Sebastian, my five-year-old, who makes me laugh every single day, even though he sometimes drives me crazy.
3. AC! A luxury that I am so grateful for, especially during thsee dog days of August when I am waddling around, pregnant and uncomfortable.
4. Clean water. Warm water. Cool water. Whichever I desire, I have clean, running water to drink, to bathe in.
5. A safe place to raise my children. Tragic things can happen anywhere, at any time. But my neighborhood isn't the scene of drive-by shootings or suicide bombings. Thanks be to God that I have been given this blessing that so many others are denied.
6. My job. I am not a millionaire and I am not able to stay home with my children like I'd love to do. But I have a job when so many others do not. My husband and I may struggle sometimes to make ends meet, but we do it by the grace of God, because we both have the opportunity to work.
7. Healthy food for my family to eat. It may not always be the most nutritious, but it's healthy and store-bought. I don't have to dig in a dumpster for my next meal and I can't even begin to imagine if I had to.
8. I'm able to make other people smile. I'm sure sometimes people want to tell me to shutup. But when I'm not being a huge PITA by ranting or being a hormonal pregnant woman, I make people laugh. And that makes me feel like I'm doing something right.
9. My husband is a morning person! I am not a morning person and I struggle every day to get out of bed on time. He, on the other hand, jumps up when his alarm sounds and begins his day. Because he knows I have a hard time getting a move on, he makes my coffee and brings it to me in bed; puts together lunch for me; takes the kids lunches, bags, etc. out to my car so I only have to carry the baby and my purse; wakes Sebastian and gets his breakfast ready while he dresses; and gets himself ready for work. He does all of this in an hour and it makes my day so much easier. Today he had to he to work a few hours earlier and, what do you know, I was late to work because I had to do it all on my own!
10. The amazing people in my life. My true friends, my family, my clients who are some of the kindest and most generous people I have ever met. I certainly couldn't get through each day without them.
God has truly blessed me and I have so much to be thankful for, but I'll leave it at this for now. What are you thankful for?
Friday, August 14, 2015
Describe the Light...
Writing prompt: Describe the light.
The light in my bedroom every night is cast by our video monitor, which is a truly awesome thing to have for our kids. Yet the light, for me, is a distraction. It doesn't bother my husband, who can fall asleep on command and just snores away, but I believe it's one of the reasons I can't stay asleep at night--add in the discomforts of being in the my third trimester of pregnancy and I barely sleep at all. Hence, it's almost 3am as I write this.
Now, I know I'm going to be crazy tired when my alarm goes off in a few hours and I'm going to have to force myself out of bed (my husband can also wake up and immediately get out of bed on command). But, what else can you do when you can't fall back asleep?
So, back to the light. Can I get some reader involvement with this one? I see my Facebook friends answering random questions all the time and I've had many of you tell me that you miss reading my blog when I'm not actively writing. However, I rarely see any comments, likes, etc. So, I ask you to simply, "describe the light." Interpret that as you will.
The light in my bedroom every night is cast by our video monitor, which is a truly awesome thing to have for our kids. Yet the light, for me, is a distraction. It doesn't bother my husband, who can fall asleep on command and just snores away, but I believe it's one of the reasons I can't stay asleep at night--add in the discomforts of being in the my third trimester of pregnancy and I barely sleep at all. Hence, it's almost 3am as I write this.
Now, I know I'm going to be crazy tired when my alarm goes off in a few hours and I'm going to have to force myself out of bed (my husband can also wake up and immediately get out of bed on command). But, what else can you do when you can't fall back asleep?
So, back to the light. Can I get some reader involvement with this one? I see my Facebook friends answering random questions all the time and I've had many of you tell me that you miss reading my blog when I'm not actively writing. However, I rarely see any comments, likes, etc. So, I ask you to simply, "describe the light." Interpret that as you will.
Saturday, August 8, 2015
What's in a Dream?
Kevin and I are driving down the highway on a crisp fall day, the sun shining brightly, not a cloud in the sky. We pass a hospital as a helicopter is getting ready to land on the roof. I point it out to Kevin, who's focused on the road. Another hospital is ahead. This one, too, will be having a helicopter land on its roof within minutes.
We continue driving down the long highway and an airplane is falling quickly from the sky, not in a nose dive, but in a roll, wing over wing. Smoke begins pouring from the engines.
Something is very wrong. I have a gut wrenching feeling that the world is about to be thrown into chaos.
The road we're driving on is no longer made of black top, but an electronic screen that now looks like the ocean, except for the glitches that cause the screen to go blank. There are animated sharks and schools of fish. But unlike the pavement, the screen isn't flat. It is rising and falling like waves, throwing vehicles in every direction as drivers fail to keep control.
All the vehicles are now afloat as the screen turns to water and we are tossed upon the raging waves.
And then I wake up.
We continue driving down the long highway and an airplane is falling quickly from the sky, not in a nose dive, but in a roll, wing over wing. Smoke begins pouring from the engines.
Something is very wrong. I have a gut wrenching feeling that the world is about to be thrown into chaos.
The road we're driving on is no longer made of black top, but an electronic screen that now looks like the ocean, except for the glitches that cause the screen to go blank. There are animated sharks and schools of fish. But unlike the pavement, the screen isn't flat. It is rising and falling like waves, throwing vehicles in every direction as drivers fail to keep control.
All the vehicles are now afloat as the screen turns to water and we are tossed upon the raging waves.
And then I wake up.
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