A Miracle or At Least New Hope!

Today was Sunday. It was Fast Sunday and Matt and I along with many others that we love were fasting that our house would sell soon so that we can all go together as a family to Arizona. As we went to church today, I really wanted to be in the right mind for this fast. I arrived at nursery as usual knowing that the friend that I serve with would not be there. I had help and thank goodness I did because we had
13 children there today and they were all wound up.

When it was time for sacrament meeting I was convinced that we would have to leave early like usual because Ivan was being his normal evil Sunday self. As the meeting started the kids began to settle in and so did the spirit. It was fast and testimony meeting and after the opening hymn it was obvious to me that I needed to bare my testimony. That is something that is very hard for me. I stood to bare my testimony of the power of fasting and praying. I testified that the Lord has listened to our prayers and although Matt would have to leave us early, the Lord would continue to lead us in this new adventure in our lives. After sitting down, I cried for the rest of the meeting. I was crying partly because the spirit was very strong but mostly because I am very sad that Matt will be leaving and we can't go with him. Well, we actually made it to the end of the meeting with Matt out in the foyer restraining Ivan and Nora asleep in my arms. The closing hym started and I knew that the Lord was sending me some comfort. As the song started, I could not even sing because I was crying too hard. The hymn was "How Firm A Foundation." The words of the last verse let me know that the Lord would not leave me comfortless as my husband left us here.

"Fear not I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, upheld by my righteous,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand."

Although I am still nervous for my husband to leave I know now that fear is a feeling that is not sent from God. It may be natural but I do not have to fear. The Lord will strengthen me and my children while my husband is away. This is an opportunity that I have to find out just how strong I can be. It is something that I will do for my husband, my children and myself.

After feeling all of this, there is hope from several sources and perhaps even a miracle. Tonight as we were coming home from Matt's dad's house at 8:30pm our realtor called. She asked where we were and if we were home. I told her we were just walking in the door. Her exact words were "get out. Don't do a thing but someone wants to come through the house." Of course the house was a mess as it always is on Sunday but she insisted that it would be okay because this particular buyer was only interested in the structure of the house. I insisted on having 10 minutes to tidy up and then ran through the house like a mad woman screaming at Matt to get the kids back in the car. She would not tell me who was coming through but she said that it was important that we let them come tonight. She said she would call us when they were through. She was the one bringing them through the house. An hour later we got a call. She said that it is a big possibility. She told me who it was but swore me to secracy. It will take the people a day or so to decide and she said try not to get our hopes up but that it may be happening. If this goes through, it would truly be a miracle. To me it was a small miracle that they wanted to go through today as we had been fasting and praying so hard about this very thing. As I talked with Sandra (our realtor) she told me that she had no doubt that our house would sell because she said I have so much faith. I thought that was funny because I have never thought of myself as a person of great faith. I am just doing my best to follow the spirit on this one. All I know is that today was a learning experience for me. I was reminded that the Lord hears and answers our prayers. I have an appreciation for fasting that I never had before. And even if we don't get an offer from this particular buyer, it was a miracle to me.

Major Shocker!

So we got the news last Friday that Matt is expected to be starting work on October first in Arizona. This means that he is leaving on the 26th of September to get down there and get settled. This is scarry for us because our house is not under contract and so for now the plan is for the kids and I to stay here in Tooele and wait for the house to sell. Matt is not too excited about going down alone either. We were planning on going as a family and taking this big leap together. All in all we really are taking it together, just staggering it all a bit. We are fasting on Sunday that our house will go under contract soon and that we will be able to close in time for all of us to go together. If not then it will all work out regardless. It is all happening so fast but it will be okay. We are just glad to be going through this together. Both Matt and I agree that if we have to be going through this, we are glad that we are not going through it with anyone else than each other. It is bringing us all closer. While we can tell that the ongoing stress has been so hard on the children, we have high hopes that once we are there and things settle down a bit, they will adjust well. So for those of you that we have not been able to see before now or will not be able to see before we go, we love you and will miss you. Our phone number will be the same so please stay in touch.

An Offer

Well, while most people spent their Labor Days relaxing and playing with their families, Matt and I were in a frenzy of cleaning so that we could show our house. After 2 weeks of nothing, we had two showings yesterday. The first one wants to write up an offer on the house but they want us to pay 6%! (3% for a downpayment and 3% for closing costs) I wish that we could afford to do that just so the madness will end and we won't have to show the house anymore. We told them they could write it up at 3% and we could accept but we havn't heard anything from our realtor yet. It would be so nice if this would work out so I could stop killing myself. This will be the hardest part of the actual physical move for me because I have movers coming to pack and move our things. I will just be glad when this part of it is over with.

Sunday Afternoon Treat

This last Sunday, Claire and I decided to make Peanutbutter Popcorn. This is a treat that our good friend Michelle taught us how to make and we have been loving it ever since. Claire was amazed that you could make popcorn on the stove. She was so funny that I decided we had to take pictures. She would bring her stool up to the stove but as soon as the popcorn started poping she would jump down and back her stool up as fast as she could. When it came time to put the peanutbutter and almond bark on the popcorn, she was HANDS and MOUTH on. It was fun for us to do together, we don't often get to spend time alone.

Today Just Kicked My Behind!

Today was one of those work from sun up to sun down days. I am trying so hard to get the house ready for us to move but as each day goes by I am more and more scared that it won't sell. I have been doing everything that everyone tells me to do so that we can increase our chances of having our house stand out from the rest but the problem is not that, the problem is that no one is comng to see the improvments that I've made! Today alone, I cleaned out the entire basement and moved all of the furniture to the garage. I took a huge load to the DI and then completely emptied the backyard and the house of garbage because the curb pickup is tomorrow. I also cleaned up a flood that Ivan created in my kitchen and vacuumed the remnants of a "Kix" cereal storm that hit my living room. It was insane but here at the end of the day, I have a ton to show for what I did. Matt didn't seem as enthused as I was but I think that is because he is really having a hard time with moving away from Utah. I am having a hard time too but I know it is what the Lord want's for us. The thing that I am having a hard time with is that we are running out of time to sell the house. That used to make me think that maybe it wasn't the right thing for us but now there is no doubt in my mind that we are supposed to go. I am so thankful for the power of prayer because without it I would be lost when it came to these kinds of decisions. I just wish that I could make it easier on my husband. I pray that the Lord will give him the comfort that I have found.

Our Baby "Fergie Ferg"

I caught this video of Nora in the kitchen the other day. We all thought it was hilarious. We have music on our new Verizon phone and Claire is always asking to listen to it. Of course they are not kids songs, they are all my favorites but I have found that they have quickly become Claire's favorites as well. So here is Nora dancing to "Fergalicious". So now we call her our baby "Fergie Ferg". I should win mother of the year for letting my kids listen to this song but at least it is the clean and edited version. Claire can sing all of the lyrics and she too can really break it down! We have a lot of fun together with our music!

I Can't Believe It's Only 9am!

So I don't know about everyone out there but the phrase "Thank goodness it's Friday" does not apply to me and mine. I don't know what it is about this day but it seems to be the hardest one of the week. The kids are out of control (more than usual) and by Friday I am just too tired to deal with it! So already this morning even though it's only 9am, Ivan has emptied a shelf in the hall closet, wasted a whole box of band aids, pulled hot dogs out of the fridge and has been throwing them at the wall! Most people would be able to laugh at this kind of thing but because it is so usual at my house, it is just not funny.



NO IVAN!!!

(Ivan reminds me very much of a character from one of our favorite books by David Shannon called "NO DAVID!")



The dog pooped on the carpet downstairs which is usual when we leave her here when we go out of town. For several days after we get back she must just be pissed at us.


Nora is already down for her first nap of the day because all she has done since she woke up is cry.
Where am I during all of this you may ask? Well, I have been busy trying to help Claire find the tithing money that she took from me and lost. She insists that someone stole it. Nothing here is safe. All of this has happened in the hour that I have been out of bed. I cringe at the thought of what else might happen during the rest of the day. So as others are glad that it is Friday, I am wishing that the day were over already. I swear that Ivan is out to sabotage my efforts to keep this house clean for showing. Everyday I have to rush around cleaning like a mad woman!


My little family means the world to me, it's just so hard to keep it all together!