Day 8 - Closets Are In

This morning, when my alarm went off, I decided to lay down just a bit longer and see if I could wake up Scott to catch the sun rise.  Scott had left open the blinds last night so I knew there was no chance I'd fall asleep with the bright sun shining in.  Or so I thought... I woke up again at 8:30 am!!!  Shoot - but hey, I guess we all needed it.  

I expedited our morning and woke up the kids for cereal.  We were planning to start school right away so shortly after 9:30 am classes began.  We finished up everything just after 12:30 pm. 

Steve and Melissa spent the day installing the closet organizers.  I cannot wait for them to be finished because right now, we have piles EVERYWHERE plus we have piles of closet organizers that fill every open spot on the floor.  I feel like the whole place is inaccessible and chaotic. 

Scott took the time today to mount and install all the TVs.  Also, the blind company returned to finish setting the limits of our shades and take care of some issues we found after installation.

The kids and I took Coco to run a few errands.  We got home just in time for our groceries to be delivered (Thank you Shipt).  I had a roast in the crockpot for supper but needed a little time to prep the gravy so the kids asked if they could take a walk on the beach - alone.  Well of course!

I know its hard to see from the pics... but they walked together in the surf, picking up shells for about 1 mile before turning around and coming back.  They were gone just over 40 minutes.  Its crazy to think they are old enough to do this... especially when my mind is flooded with so many earlier memories of them in this place.

After supper, Scott and I got busy wiping down the closets, cleaning the floors, moving stuff into the closets.  It took most of the evening and our backs are killing us but everything looks great.  The kids just enjoyed the time playing together, first in the play room and later watching a movie in the living room.  I'm so blessed by how much they enjoy each other.

For some reason I only took pictures of the North bedroom... but here it is!  Starting to look like a pretty comfortable space!

By filling our closets with our own stuff, we needed to find a new location for the construction materials.  So after reorganizing and sorting, we have a much smaller pile in the living room!  Looking forward to it dwindling down even more these next few days!  Off to bed, or I might sleep in again.

Day 7 - Back to School!

This morning, I woke up at the usual time and as I walked out on the balcony with Coco, I realized the sun was close to coming up.  Outside of hunting, I've never watched the sun rise so I grabbed a blanket and Coco and I snuggled in on the couch.  I started some praise music as I did my morning prayer time and watched as sky changed colors and the sun burst up from the ocean... Gorgeous!

Once I finished, I headed in to start my day and as I climbed into the shower, couldn't help but snap this pic... the view from my shower continued to impress!

After breakfast, the kids and I sat out on the balcony for our school time.  We only had time for Bible, before Tyler and I had a FaceTime meeting with Dr Rozendaal to discuss his therapy.  During our conversation, she asked Tyler how it was going and just hearing his response gave me some ideas.  So after lunch, Tyler and I ran downstairs for the vending machines and bought M&Ms.  When he was ready to start, we made a new rule... for every answer he got right, he ate 1 M&M, for every one he got wrong, he ate 2.  I know it sounds backwards, but we were trying to help him accept the "failures" and retrain himself to think positively.  Plus, if he completed his exercises in 45 mins instead of 1 hr 15, he would earn an extra 30 mins of screen time.  It worked like a charm.  He was motivated and had a great attitude.  I think we found the key to success!

Next we went back outside for History and Science.  For History, we ended up moving onto the couches and lounging.  It was pretty great!

I got a call to come down for a delivery.  We get them several times each day so the call itself wasn't a surprise, but the delivery certainly was!  A very sweet floral arrangement from the Adema brothers who stayed at our house this last week.  I cannot tell you how great it is to see/smell fresh flowers and how much they brighten the dining room!

After dinner, Scott and I ran out to Lowe's and gave the kids some free time.  On our way, back we decided to surprise them with a special treat.  We didn't give details but told them to meet us downstairs and we took them to Steak-N-Shake for shakes.  They were pretty happy!

We got home and quick changed into our suits so we could relax in the hot tub for a bit.  Then it was off to bed!  It was a great day.

Day 6 - Back At It!

Today was busy around here!  The plumber came to fix the shower, the electrician was working most of the day, Melissa filled holes and touched up paint, Steve installed the closet organizers in the play room while Scott and Tyler unpacked all the closet pieces and sorted by room.  We again have a trailer load of cardboard to get rid of... but this time, no trailer.  (Its parked 30 mins away).

Phew!  Anyway, it was a very productive day.  We LOVE the new light in the living room and it looks fantastic.  The kids finally convinced me to let them swim in the ocean so Coco and I enjoyed the warmth of the sun while they jumped the waves.

After everyone cleared out for the day, I moved stuff into the new closet in the play room and oversaw the kids project of opening every bag of screws / parts for the closets, hoping to keep Steve working as efficiently as possible.  They both actually enjoyed it!

We decided to run out for dinner at Pizza Chef but not before Sammy got us all out on the balcony to see the sunset.

After dinner, we headed home to work on a few projects and do Tyler's homework.  About 9:00 pm, Scott and I ran to WalMart to grab a few things.  We got home a bit after 10:00 pm, but decided to let the kids stay up for just a few more minutes.... I'm so glad we did!

We grabbed blankets and coffee / chai and headed out to snuggle on the couch and look at the stars.  It was beautiful.  At one point, Sammy whispered, "This is my favorite South Carolina memory".  Its true... it was just perfect!  Not even a few minutes after settling in, I pointed out a large red shape in the sky just over the horizon.  We honestly couldn't tell what it was for a number of minutes until finally it rose into full view... a beautiful HUGE red moon.  I've never seen it like that before... and I don't recall ever watching it rise either.  We were all in awe.  We tried to take pics but none turned out... apparently it was just a special moment God gave for us to share together.  Perfect way to end the day!

Day 5 - Rest Day

The kids were so excited to realize today was Sunday, the day of rest.  We started off with a relaxing morning with snuggles outside and devotions on the balcony as well.

After breakfast, we took a walk with coco on the beach and then came back for church on the balcony.

We completed the kids next lesson in Bible about when Samson was born.  Next we played a few games on the Nintendo since Tyler has waited so patiently and I prepped lunch.  We enjoyed our meal out on the balcony and soaked up the sun and blue skies!  It was perfect!

Soon it was time to say goodbye to the Ademas.  Sammy ran after them to get one more hug... she sure loves them!

We finished up a few things and then headed out to Lowe’s and Office Max.  Tyler earned a prize from his homework so he chose to eat out at Olive Garden.  It was nearing 7 when we arrived so we decided to eat at the bar... the kids’ favorite!

Then it was back home for showers and some Fails.  They climbed into bed around 10 and Scott and I finished sorting through the remaining items in the storage room.  Things are coming together!

Day 4 - Its the Weekend!

So this morning, we were supposed to head over to the homeowner’s Annual Meeting that just so happened to fall during our visit.  However, shortly after waking up we decided to skip the meeting because Best Buy might be installing the missing appliances today.  (Fingers crossed)

Jen and Gretchen were headed back to NC for a scholarship presentation and left shortly after 9.  

Scott and I spent most of the morning unpacking and trying to organize our piles of boxes and totes.  And would you believe it... Best Buy DID show up with our appliances.  It didn’t take them long to get the dishwasher and range installed and my kitchen felt complete.  It wasn’t yet... but it looked great and I had a perma-grin for most of the day.

The kids had spent most of the morning hanging out and watching TV so we decided to walk down to the hotel restaurant for lunch.  This was our first time on the sand and it was great to be close to the ocean again... even if we were all freezing from the cooler temps.

After lunch I cleaned off the cupboard shelves and finished washing all my dishes to put things away.  Scott finished installing handles in the master bathroom and the beverage center.  The condo is really starting to come together... and it feels great!  

Gretchen and Jenny got home shortly before supper time.  We had tacos for dinner (our first home cooked meal in the new place) and then split again.  Jenny and Sammy went back to the Disney Store to make a purchase.  Scott, Tyler and Gretchen took a walk on the beach in hopes of finding crabs and I stayed back to place a grocery order and organize my bathroom.

Apparently Jenny and Sammy had shared with the employee at Disney that she was spending her own money but wasn’t sure if she’d have enough for the puppets she wanted.  The employee didn’t miss a beat but gave her a sprinkle of pixie dust and a 10% discount and she was all set!  How sweet! Sammy was so proud when she came in the door to show us her purchase.

Next we all headed down to the hot tub.  It was the first time we all got a chance to just do something fun and it felt good!

Pretty much we all headed to bed right afterwards.  Scott and I (and Coco) spent a few minutes on the balcony to enjoy the moon reflecting off the water.  It was such a clear night and we could see very far up the coast.  Just beautiful!

Day 3 - Progress

I still cannot find the underwear... and the bowls for a quick cereal breakfast are still packed and not yet washed, so Aunt Gretchen and I ran to the store to buy some plastic dinner ware and undergarments.  After a quick breakfast, we were determined to make some headway today.

The plumber came late this morning and had the sink leak fixed in no time. Phew!

Scott prepped materials so we’d be ready for the builder when they arrived.  Aunt Gretchen and I unpacked and washed the kitchen stuff.  If it wasn’t setting on the island in the process of being cleaned, it was put in the pantry temporarily.  Jenny again kept the kids busy most of the day... including a trip to the indoor pool.

Steve and Melissa arrived around 12:00 noon to start on the cabinet/drawer handles.  The cabinets are set so close that its nearly impossible to open them without he handle so we are eager to get those installed and be able to put away our things.

All us girls plus the kids grabbed take out from Steak and Shake for a late lunch.

Steve and Melissa left a bit before 5:00 pm and by then we had most of the pulls on the kitchen.  The island was piled with dishes that we had washed by hand but the cabinets still needed to be clean and the shelves put in.

While I finished homework with Tyler, the rest flattened all of our cardboard boxes and we hauled them out to the trailer on our way to dinner at Logan’s.  Because we had to move the trailer off site, Aunt Gretchen had contacted the church where we donated a bunch of furnishings from the previous owners and they were happy to let us park there.  So we divided up.  Scott and Aunt Gretchen dropped off the trailer and stopped at a hardware store for some supplies.  Jen, the kids and I ran to Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Dillards for a few items.  We all arrived back at the condo close to the same time and decided on watching a TV show before bed.

Day 2 - We Have Arrived!

I’d love to say we slept wonderfully, but it just isn’t true.  I was awake at 4:20 am but waited til 5:45 to take the dog out.  Then started my shower and the rest of the family rolled out of bed as the bathroom became available.  We were at breakfast right at 6:30 when it opened and on the road just before 7:00 am.

Everyone was excited to arrive and the smiles continued most of the morning.  Only one stop for gas / bathrooms about 45 minutes out and then finally we had arrived.

When we got off the elevator, Aunt Gretchen and Jen were already waiting and we all proceeded down the hall to our condo.  Melissa, the builder’s wife was scurrying around with cleaning supplies and a screwdriver installing the switch covers.  And three movers were hauling in our furniture and assembling it.  First the condo is beautiful!  I can picture it finished and it is just the way we hoped.  However, its not quite ready for us.

What we found was a bit of a mess.  Much of the dust and dirt from construction was still on the floors and caked the windows / cabinets.  Several lights had not been installed yet.  Piles of closet organizers were on the floor and a few other noteable projects unfinished.

After a few short minutes and feeling in the way and overwhelmed on how to help, we decided to grab some lunch and make a plan so we all headed to Red Robin.

So, the condition of the renovations wasn’t what we had hoped for but it wasn’t the end of the world either.  We decided that we would just spend a little extra time working with the builder to complete the work and getting it the way we had hoped.

So once we got back, Aunt Gretchen went right to work on scrubbing those floors, hoping to get as much up BEFORE the furniture went in.  I tried to help the furniture men by quickly letting them know where items go as they brought them in.  The builder went to pick up our mattresses so we’d have something to sleep on tonight and Scott began work on some of the more pressing projects.

Jen brought the kids to the pool.  Yup, she was bundled up on the side but those crazy kids from Michigan were loving the heated water in the unseasonably cold temperatures.  Later Jen brought Sammy to the Disney store and played the Switch with Tyler... what a blessing that we knew they were happy and staying busy so we could focus on the work at hand.

At 5:00 pm, the furniture was in and the subcontractors have to leave the building so it was just us again.  We grabbed some Outback for dinner and enjoyed our new dining set (even if half of the chairs are blocked by shelving for the closets (eye roll).

Then we were reminded by security that we only had 24 hours for the trailer to be on site and only today before it had to be moved away from the building so we decided to unload the trailer... it only took 4 trips with 2 carts but we got it done.  Stacks of our housewares, clothing, and Scott’s additional construction supplies now piled in the living room helped to offset the already present closet organizers.

A huge load of groceries arrived which was good cause we needed toilet paper and a few other things!

It was getting later and we were all exhausted after the drive and stressful, physical afternoon.  He had just started to crack open a few boxes when Aunt Gretchen found almost an inch of water in the cabinet under our kitchen sink... Oh my word!  (By the way, we had upgraded to a plastic basin for that cabinet so there was no damage - PTL). So now we were down a main sink and soaking up the mess knowing we had no washer / drawer to handle the dirty towels.  Ugh...

There were a few other surprises / disappointments today:  The room where Sammy was going to sleep had no lights and no windows so we decided to have the kids share a room for now.  I cannot find the kids or my underwear but am certain its here somewhere, the stove and dishwasher didn’t arrive again.

So we got the sink taken care of and the groceries put away and decided to call it a night.  Scott and I finally crawled into bed and were just nodding off when his cell phone rang... it was the front desk checking when we were going to move our trailer.  How could we have forgotten?  Of course, we’ll be right down.  I didn’t even bother to put on my clothes... robe and pajama pants would have to work.  We ran out and moved that trailer with an escort from security.  They really are pretty uptight around here but its “for our own protection” as one of the gentlemen reminded me.  I really am ok with it... it was just a big day and we were tired.  At this point we are just trying to keep a good attitude and enjoy the space, knowing that we will have some sweat equity and funny stories to remember for years to come.

Day 1 - Here We Go!

We are on the way!  So excited to FINALLY be on the road.  The plan is to get as far as North Carolina tonight and then find a dog-friendly hotel.  We needed to arrive at the condo in the morning so that we’d have enough time to unpack the trailer, pick up the mattresses, and find a place to park for the night.  Since our goal for today is right around 800 miles (10-11 hrs with the trailer), we decided to let the kids sleep until their usual wake up times and then get started.

We left the house just after 8:00 am.  Scott woke up with some sinus pressure so the kids are doing their best to stay nice and quiet for the morning hours.  Coco seem to get it too as she has kept pretty quiet as well... just some nervous panting until she settled in.  Sammy is drawing illustrations for her book on her ipad and Tyler’s watching a movie on his.  Its been a smooth ride - no construction or traffic.

Its about 1:00 and we just got back on the road after a lunch/fuel stop in Findalay, OH.  We’re making good time so far and just started an audio book to pass the time.  Scott took some extra meds at our last stop... fingers crossed he gets some relief soon.  

At one point, we stopped in traffic and saw a Pickup truck loaded down with 1980’s living room furniture... think dark brown with olive flowers.  “Hey kids look, its a load of our new furniture!”  I’d like to tell you they immediately knew we were fibbing... but it isn’t so.  We had a good laugh as we waited.

At supper, we got a call that Best Buy has located our Range and DIshwasher (they’ve been missing since last Friday when they were scheduled to be installed but didn’t show).  The plan is for them to be delivered tomorrow and then installed on Friday... so at least we can eat a home cooked meal before the weekend ;)

The trip is a little slower when you have a trailer in tow. Well that AND multiple stops for food, fuel and bathroom breaks.  For some reason we just cannot get the kids and the dog on the same schedule.  Geez!

Throughout the day, Sammy has asked several times about what it means to be “a girl after God’s own heart”.  Several Times.  Its sweet and we explain how David was described that way in the Bible and its a great goal to strive for.  And then a few hours later, she’d bring it up again.  Well just now, she pulled her headphones off (they are watching The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe) and said, “Mom, I think maybe you are a girl after God’s own heart...” she proceeded to share her many reasons why I would qualify and then wrapped up with a reassuring tap on my shoulder and a “I’m sorry I didn’t want to make you cry”.  For the record... I hadn’t started yet.  Although I think I’m a far cry from David’s example, it was such an encouragement to hear her share her reasoning.  What matters most is she understands what it mean to be a follower of God and she notices some of those traits in her mama.  My heart is full tonight.

Its almost 8:30 pm and we just reached Virginia.  We are hoping to make it to Winston-Salem, NC for the night which is probably another hour and 40 mins.  That will set us up well for the morning.

When I called the hotel we hoped to stop at, they were completely booked, so we looked online for another pet-friendly option and came up with one that looked promising.  When I called to book it, it was HALF the price of the first and 30 minutes closer. 

We pulled off just into North Carolina, near Mount Airy.  Filled up the gas tank and then got checked in and settled.  Everyone is tucked in and its 10:30 pm.  We have another 4.5 hours to go tomorrow so the alarm is set for 6:00 am.  Here’s hoping for a good nights sleep for us all!

We’re Ready...

We bought our condo back in April and spent two weeks down at the beach in late May / June for closing.  

Its been difficult waiting all summer as the renovations continued and we can hardly wait to get back down there now that its almost complete.  

Scott has put so many hours into planning and coordinating with the builder, suppliers, etc.  I call it an act of love... because I know he’s sacrificed much and does it for our family to have this place to make memories in a place that we love.  So the last few months we’ve been buying, unboxing, returning, repackaging and packing the trailer.. all in hopes that our new place will feel like home.  

So here’s the plan... Thursday the movers will arrive around 10:00 am to deliver and assemble the furniture which should take most of the day.  Gretchen and Jenny Adema plan to meet us around lunch time to help us unload our trailer and then we’ll take the trailer to pick up our mattresses which are currently stored at the builder’s home.  Then we have to figure out a place to park the trailer for the month.  

While we’re gone, Uncle Roger, Mart and George Adema will be visiting Grand Rapids so they’ll be staying at our home while we’re gone.  So as we finalize our packing, we are also getting things ready for their visit.

It’s going to be a busy couple of days... I’m not sure anything will go as planned so we are striving to remain grateful and flexible.  The trailer is loaded and locked; we’ve said our good-byes and when morning comes, we’ll start our trip south.