I have had a lot of things get my hopes up in the last few days, the first came on Sunday when I heard for the first time that one of my all time favorite shows 'Arrested Development' is coming back for a fourth season as a prequel to a movie that will be released in 2013.
Today Sarah and I get to put an offer in on a house that we hope will be our home for a very long time. Yesterday we went to our broker and got pre-qualified for what we are willing to pay for this home and now, we start the wonderfully terrifying journey of purchasing a home.
Today Apple will introduce their iPhone 5.
All of these things have me more excited than the Dodger players getting news that they would still get paid regardless of filing for bankruptcy. Two of these things I know will go the way I want them to.
Apple will deliver, they always do and I just checked for when I am due for an upgrade, (not
until April unfortunately). I am pretty sure the new iPhone will do all my work for me, including working out. Awesome.
Arrested Development will meet my expectations for the simple fact that it has been gone for five years, I have watched the series four times and at this point anything new from the Bluth family is welcome.
The one I am not sure of is this whole house purchasing thing. The most important financial decision Sarah and I will make in our entire lives is coming to a head in the coming weeks. This is somethign Sarah and I have soaked in prayer to the best of our ability, God has closed doors on our faces over the past 8 months, we sold a house to buy a specific one only to find out an offer had been accepted the day before we could put an offer in. We lived with my in-laws, my grandfather-in-law, and now we rent a house waiting and waiting and waiting.
We want our home to be a place of refuge for people when they come over, we want our home to be a way to bless God with what he has given us, we want to make sure we are being good stewards of what we have been entrusted with.
This home could be the home our kids grow up in, get their license in, leave from when they go to college.
Terrifying.
But our home is where we are. It doesn't matter where we are, we are the Anderson's and where we lay our head at night doesn't change that.
If you have read this far do me a favor and pray for us today, if this isn't where we are supposed to be pray that God would slam the door (gently) and make it evident where he does indeed want us. Have a good Tuesday waiting expectantly for what God has for you.
Showing posts with label Household. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Household. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
This is Enough
Yesterday, Sarah and I noticed a sizable leak coming from the toilet in our master bedroom, it proceeded in the wall and into a storage closet in our bedroom. We we lifted things off the floor in the closest they were wet and moldy. It was a disaster, and by was I mean is, we are sleeping in the guest bedroom until it gets fixed. On the bright side it is kind of cute watching Cooper and Micah walk around in little toddler sized gas masks.
We have been renting this house for the past few months waiting until we are qualified to buy another home to do just that. The original intention was to buy the house we are renting, truth be told, between the leaking sewage incident and the fact that I don't think us and the owners are going to get to a price we are both happy with we have been looking elsewhere. I mean, Sarah has been searching online, but when you are looking in a small town like Kingsburg for a home, you will probably drive by a new home for sale before you see it online. Needless to say, we are on the hunt and have a beaut in our sights.
I won't tell you where it is because I don't want you to stalk me, actually you can stalk me, just don't put an offer in on the house we want.
It never seizes to amaze me how God reminds you that he is in control, and in ways that a lot of times frustrate teh heck out of me. After seeing and drooling over the home we saw, Sarah came home and listened to a sermon by Brad Bell. She felt convicted about giving something more attention than her relationship with God, I merely told her to stop listening to Brad. She remained adamant though and has forced us to slow down and count the blessing God has given us already.
I have been thinking about the phrase, "This is enough."
As in, "God, this is enough. You have blessed me immensely and now you are just showing off. I have two healthy kids, a job, a wife with a job, a car that runs smoothly (most days) and an incredible base of friends and family. This is enough.
And every time I get anxious and worry about financials or try to tell other buyers that their are ghosts in the house, I remember that this is enough.
What blessing do you have that you forget about? Maybe they are staring you in the face and you are looking right passed them. How about the ability to have a kid? What about having a job, even if you hate it? What about having enough money to food on the table every night? What blessings are you forgetting about?
As you recount them, remember, "This is enough."
We have been renting this house for the past few months waiting until we are qualified to buy another home to do just that. The original intention was to buy the house we are renting, truth be told, between the leaking sewage incident and the fact that I don't think us and the owners are going to get to a price we are both happy with we have been looking elsewhere. I mean, Sarah has been searching online, but when you are looking in a small town like Kingsburg for a home, you will probably drive by a new home for sale before you see it online. Needless to say, we are on the hunt and have a beaut in our sights.
I won't tell you where it is because I don't want you to stalk me, actually you can stalk me, just don't put an offer in on the house we want.
It never seizes to amaze me how God reminds you that he is in control, and in ways that a lot of times frustrate teh heck out of me. After seeing and drooling over the home we saw, Sarah came home and listened to a sermon by Brad Bell. She felt convicted about giving something more attention than her relationship with God, I merely told her to stop listening to Brad. She remained adamant though and has forced us to slow down and count the blessing God has given us already.
I have been thinking about the phrase, "This is enough."
As in, "God, this is enough. You have blessed me immensely and now you are just showing off. I have two healthy kids, a job, a wife with a job, a car that runs smoothly (most days) and an incredible base of friends and family. This is enough.
And every time I get anxious and worry about financials or try to tell other buyers that their are ghosts in the house, I remember that this is enough.
What blessing do you have that you forget about? Maybe they are staring you in the face and you are looking right passed them. How about the ability to have a kid? What about having a job, even if you hate it? What about having enough money to food on the table every night? What blessings are you forgetting about?
As you recount them, remember, "This is enough."
Thursday, September 22, 2011
The Couch
When we got a new couch two years ago we paid an extra fifty bucks to get it insured. Not insured like the Lord of the Dance's legs, but insured like if my youngest son vomits all over it and me at the same time people would come to our house and clean it, for free (or for fifty bucks, I'm not really sure how it works). I'm not sure how it works because we have never used it. The thought of calling some dude to drive 30 minutes to my house to shampoo my couch and clean off boogers doesn't appeal to me. By the time I clean up my entire house so it's presentable for the tatted up college-aged shampoo guy I could have scratched to snot off the sofa myself, plus I wouldn't have to clean my house.
You are asking yourself two things right now:
1. Why would you clean your house for a guy to come clean your house?
Good question, ask my mom the same thing about our house cleaner who came every Wednesday when I was 10.
2. Why did you pay fifty bucks and not take advantage of what you payed for?
Again, good question, but this time don't ask my mom, she will be embarrassed that I wasted my money, also, don't judge me.
In a fairytale the 50 dollars for a cleaning any time you want sounds great, but in reality, with two boys, spilled milk, snot, blood (at times), and poop, lots of poop, things get dirty everyday, new spots get a home everyday. And everyday, or every other, they get cleaned up.
Right now we are renting a home in Kingsburg, CA, we like it, but I never noticed how much damage two kids and two active dogs could do. I hope my landlord isn't reading this, but the week we moved in, the old cat door to the garage was snapped in half, not by my dogs, by Micah. Who doesn't want to play with broken plastic and at the same time make a hole into the garage?
On the Fourth of July our dogs flipped out and tore off two screen doors, one of which I am pretty sure survived the great depression without being turned into firewood, but couldn't stand up to our loveably hyper animals.
Our couches double as jungle gyms, our beds as trampolines, and our lawn as bathrooms (for the dogs, mostly).
Rarely is there a day when there is more sitting on our couch than there is jumping. And for us, that is okay for now. When Cooper and Micah start to weigh in at 50-60 lbs, our couch won't be able to handle the stress of body slams and tackling drills anymore.
Our house doubles as a jungle gym, what does yours double as? Office? Gym? Media Center? Church? After school hangout?
You are asking yourself two things right now:
1. Why would you clean your house for a guy to come clean your house?
Good question, ask my mom the same thing about our house cleaner who came every Wednesday when I was 10.
2. Why did you pay fifty bucks and not take advantage of what you payed for?
Again, good question, but this time don't ask my mom, she will be embarrassed that I wasted my money, also, don't judge me.
In a fairytale the 50 dollars for a cleaning any time you want sounds great, but in reality, with two boys, spilled milk, snot, blood (at times), and poop, lots of poop, things get dirty everyday, new spots get a home everyday. And everyday, or every other, they get cleaned up.
Right now we are renting a home in Kingsburg, CA, we like it, but I never noticed how much damage two kids and two active dogs could do. I hope my landlord isn't reading this, but the week we moved in, the old cat door to the garage was snapped in half, not by my dogs, by Micah. Who doesn't want to play with broken plastic and at the same time make a hole into the garage?
On the Fourth of July our dogs flipped out and tore off two screen doors, one of which I am pretty sure survived the great depression without being turned into firewood, but couldn't stand up to our loveably hyper animals.
Our couches double as jungle gyms, our beds as trampolines, and our lawn as bathrooms (for the dogs, mostly).
Rarely is there a day when there is more sitting on our couch than there is jumping. And for us, that is okay for now. When Cooper and Micah start to weigh in at 50-60 lbs, our couch won't be able to handle the stress of body slams and tackling drills anymore.
Our house doubles as a jungle gym, what does yours double as? Office? Gym? Media Center? Church? After school hangout?
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Boxes
When I was about 12 or 13 I remember watching TV with my Dad and he turned on a show that featured some dude pulling a string out of his stomach and twenty minutes later he was gravitating in the middle of the street and all the boys on the stoop were blown away. It was David Blaine before he started doing things like trying to set world records for publicity. At one point I remember one of my Junior High Friends asking me is I thought Blaine was the Anti-Christ, I was concerned at the time, then I realized the Anti-Christ would probably have better things to do than impress girl scouts with his ability to find their card.
One of the dumbest things Blaine every did was try to live in a box suspended over England's River Thames for 44 days surviving on merely 4.5 liters of water per day. Incredible? Yes. Stupid? Yes.
Since Sarah and I switched to a single income we sold my truck since we weren't going to be able to afford to have two cars. It was an easy decision for us, and truthfully it hasn't been too difficult, we just have to plan our day better.
But because we have one car, Sarah takes the car to work during the week which leaves me and the boys at home. At times it makes me feel like I am suspended in a box over England. The furthest I can go is immediately related to the maximum distance the boys can travel without melting down or about 300 feet.
Obviously I love our house and where we live but not having the ability to do something as simple as run errands wears on the psychy. So here we sit on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays playing in the back yard, cooking food all day, coloring at the table, and trying to get my oldest son to stay in bed during nap time.
Is it the same as living in a box? No, it is smarter. But there are times it absolutely feels isolating, especially when our roles feel like they have been flip flopped. Sarah was made to be a mom, to love and nurture and care for those that used to live inside of her. I feel like I was meant to make money for our family and support us in that capacity.
Needless to say we are still trying to figure out how this year is going to work. We will do it to the best of our capacity and eventually I am sure we will get back to where we are most comfortable but until then it is walks to the corner and back for the boys and me.
Is there anything about your daily life that makes you feel like you are an illusionist trying to stay in the spotlight a bit longer by being locked in a box?
Monday, September 19, 2011
I'm a Student of My Work
I have been a part time stay at home dad now for about a month and I decided that it is time to let you all know about some of the best things I have learned since staying at home.
1. My wife is way better at staying home than me- I needed to get that out of the way because since being at home I can finally appreciate the work she has put in with our boys by staying at home. I am more tired at the end of a stay at home day than I am after work.
2. You have to feed your kids 3 meals a day- Granted I knew that, but I am pretty sure I am cooking for 16 hours a day right now. And it isn't just cooking one meal that the boys and I can sit down and eat together, it is differentiating meals for my 1 year old, 2 year old, and myself and frankly... I'm a picky eater.
3. Tangled is the best thing on Netflix- I am pretty sure I have seen different parts of this movie about 100 times, my kids still aren't tired of it, nor am I. Flynn Rider is my hero, mostly because his facial hair mimics my own, a patch on the chin and nothing else. It is about time we get rid of this idea that manliness comes with a full beard, I am starting to equate manhood with a smallish patch of hair on the bottom of people's faces, right now.
4. Cooper loves his brother to the point of pain- 99% of the crying that happens in this house is due to Cooper trying to hug his brother, or move his brother, or tackle his brother. Trying to explain to a two year old that he can dominate his little brother and he needs to be careful is like explaining to a horse that I am terrified to get on his back. It doesn't register, and now matter how much I talk someone is still going to get hurt.
5. White floors are not conducive to raising children- Really? Who installs white laminate anywhere? Thanks landlords for making me clean my floors hourly.
6. Deadbolts are non-negotiable- Coop has a desire to sneak outside any chance he gets, he is like David Copperfield without the terrible wardrobe, bad hair, and womanizing ways. He can reach the knobs now but the deadbolt is still out of reach, gotta keep 'em locked, always.
Yup, six things I have learned since staying at home, mostly common sense, but to a man who has to live it to appreciate it, some of these have blown my mind.
Stay at home moms and dads, what is the funniest thing you have learned since being at home?
1. My wife is way better at staying home than me- I needed to get that out of the way because since being at home I can finally appreciate the work she has put in with our boys by staying at home. I am more tired at the end of a stay at home day than I am after work.
2. You have to feed your kids 3 meals a day- Granted I knew that, but I am pretty sure I am cooking for 16 hours a day right now. And it isn't just cooking one meal that the boys and I can sit down and eat together, it is differentiating meals for my 1 year old, 2 year old, and myself and frankly... I'm a picky eater.
3. Tangled is the best thing on Netflix- I am pretty sure I have seen different parts of this movie about 100 times, my kids still aren't tired of it, nor am I. Flynn Rider is my hero, mostly because his facial hair mimics my own, a patch on the chin and nothing else. It is about time we get rid of this idea that manliness comes with a full beard, I am starting to equate manhood with a smallish patch of hair on the bottom of people's faces, right now.
4. Cooper loves his brother to the point of pain- 99% of the crying that happens in this house is due to Cooper trying to hug his brother, or move his brother, or tackle his brother. Trying to explain to a two year old that he can dominate his little brother and he needs to be careful is like explaining to a horse that I am terrified to get on his back. It doesn't register, and now matter how much I talk someone is still going to get hurt.
5. White floors are not conducive to raising children- Really? Who installs white laminate anywhere? Thanks landlords for making me clean my floors hourly.
6. Deadbolts are non-negotiable- Coop has a desire to sneak outside any chance he gets, he is like David Copperfield without the terrible wardrobe, bad hair, and womanizing ways. He can reach the knobs now but the deadbolt is still out of reach, gotta keep 'em locked, always.
Yup, six things I have learned since staying at home, mostly common sense, but to a man who has to live it to appreciate it, some of these have blown my mind.
Stay at home moms and dads, what is the funniest thing you have learned since being at home?
Friday, September 16, 2011
Focus III on Poop
When I was being potty trained it was really easy for me, so easy that I don't even remember it, which means it couldn't have been that insurmountable of an obstacle. I must have been drawn to the porcelain naturally, consequently, I still am, hmm.
Cooper has been in the midst of potty training for the last twoish weeks and he has been a champ when it comes to onesies (the act peeing in the toilet, not the popular baby clothing). He even sleeps through his naps and the night without wetting the bed, pretty awesome. Twosies thus far have been an issue though. By issue I mean he went numero dos in his underwear and as I was cleaning that up he squatted again and pooped on the floor, while 4 of my best friends were chatting with me on Google+, awesome.
I started thinking about the change that Cooper is trying to make. For two and a half years this kid has done his business in what he was wearing and continued on his way as if nothing were wrong, because in his mind, there wasn't. Now he is at a point where he has to change his entire way of thinking. It isn't just the act of going to the bathroom in the toilet, it is the act of recognizing that what he is doing is no longer acceptable and he needs to change that habit.
I read this verse this morning and the thought of focusing has ripped me to pieces lately:
"Romans 8:5
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."
When we focus it isn't just that we need to know what we are doing and the direction we are headed, but we need to make sure our thinking is changing from the flesh to the Spirit. We need to make sure our focus is on the Spirit and what He has for us, not what we wish we had ourselves.
That's when I thought about the change Cooper is making into self-sufficiency, and obviously we have a ways to go before we can wash our hands of helping him in the bathroom or even dressing him for that matter, but he is on his way to life change because he is recognizing that the old way of doing things is no longer okay, their is a new better way to do his business.
We need to focus on the new, better way of doing our business, focusing our minds and our sights on the Spirit, not on the flesh.
What is something you have had trouble focusing on because it was difficult to attain?
Mine is staying in decent shape. We will talk about that tomorrow.
I started thinking about the change that Cooper is trying to make. For two and a half years this kid has done his business in what he was wearing and continued on his way as if nothing were wrong, because in his mind, there wasn't. Now he is at a point where he has to change his entire way of thinking. It isn't just the act of going to the bathroom in the toilet, it is the act of recognizing that what he is doing is no longer acceptable and he needs to change that habit.
I read this verse this morning and the thought of focusing has ripped me to pieces lately:
"Romans 8:5
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit."
When we focus it isn't just that we need to know what we are doing and the direction we are headed, but we need to make sure our thinking is changing from the flesh to the Spirit. We need to make sure our focus is on the Spirit and what He has for us, not what we wish we had ourselves.
That's when I thought about the change Cooper is making into self-sufficiency, and obviously we have a ways to go before we can wash our hands of helping him in the bathroom or even dressing him for that matter, but he is on his way to life change because he is recognizing that the old way of doing things is no longer okay, their is a new better way to do his business.
We need to focus on the new, better way of doing our business, focusing our minds and our sights on the Spirit, not on the flesh.
What is something you have had trouble focusing on because it was difficult to attain?
Mine is staying in decent shape. We will talk about that tomorrow.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Micah Turned One
We had Micah boy's first birthday party here about a month ago and Sarah was a champ and did just about everything herself. With some great last minute help from my Mom, her husband Loyd and Sarah's parents the party was great. I thought I would share a few pictures from the festivities which was an All-American Baseball theme.
It was a great party overall and Sarah was a champ completing this party after her first week back to school in a new grade. We love our Micah boy and feel so blessed by those who are a part of his life both near and far away.
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| Papa Loyd |
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| Juniper, Cooper, and my cousin Becky |
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| Sarah's best friend Lissa Sander |
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| My friends Denver and Corey (Lissa's husband) |
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| Sarah's Mom Susan |
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| My favorite moment when Sarah's grandpa Dick tried to give Micah some of his Dr. Pepper |
 
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Monday, August 15, 2011
I am Dad, Hear Me Roar
I am a fan of being busy. I like having things to do and a time frame to do them in. I am a big fan of all things crazy fast, except Nascar, I hate Nascar. Starting today though, I am a stay-at-home dad for three days a week. Three days a week I get to read books before nap time, change diapers that have exploded out the side, and have Cheerios as one of my main food groups.
I have been so swamped with life over the past year that I haven't had a chance to inhale and enjoy the blessings that God has given us. Between work and school I feel like I haven't had the opportunity to just be with my kids. Do I see them? Yup, all the time. And I enjoy them when I am with them and eat my meals with them and kiss them goodnight. But it has all been so fast paced that I don't get the opportunity to enjoy the kisses and meals and night time prayers.
Today, I get that chance. Today starts that opportunity for me and frankly I am ecstatic.
The reason I get to stay home is because my wife is going back to work full time. She, for the past year has been my support staff, around the house, with the boys, with meals, with life, she has supported me in every facet. Now I get to return the favor. I want to go shopping for food and cook meals and make her lunch and clean floors. Did I just get a bunch of husband points for saying all of that? Yup.
In summary, I get to stay home and be Dad. I am worried about keeping up with two very mobile and always hungry children. And I am amped to be husband to Sarah and support her in whatever needs she may have.
Cheers.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Traditioooooon. Tradition.
I love Christmas. I have always loved Christmas and so far this year I love Christmas just as much as I have loved Christmas in the years past (you can tell by the amount of times I have used the word Christmas. Christmas!).
Like most families mine has a lot of traditions that are associated with this time of year, Christmas eve in particular. We go to church, we go to a Chinese restaurant (kind of like A Christmas Story except without the mispronunciation of la la la la la), and we all get matching pajamas. It is a good thing. Sarah and I have started talking about what traditions we should have every year and so far this is what we have.
1. Get a tree
2. Decorate the tree
3. Be with family
4. Unwrap gifts
We want Christmas to be a special time full of wonder and excitement but we also want the meaning of Christmas to resonate louder than the commercial side of the holiday. We want spiritual depth much like the makers of "Tickle Me Elmo" did in 1996 or Matchbox and "Stinky the Garbage Truck" do this year.
I have kicked the idea around of writing from the different viewpoints of those who were at the manger but when thinking from the point of view of a donkey, Eeyore's voice wouldn't get out of my head.
What are some fun and deepening traditions you have with your family every year? What things are you excited to try this year?
Like most families mine has a lot of traditions that are associated with this time of year, Christmas eve in particular. We go to church, we go to a Chinese restaurant (kind of like A Christmas Story except without the mispronunciation of la la la la la), and we all get matching pajamas. It is a good thing. Sarah and I have started talking about what traditions we should have every year and so far this is what we have.
1. Get a tree
2. Decorate the tree
3. Be with family
4. Unwrap gifts
We want Christmas to be a special time full of wonder and excitement but we also want the meaning of Christmas to resonate louder than the commercial side of the holiday. We want spiritual depth much like the makers of "Tickle Me Elmo" did in 1996 or Matchbox and "Stinky the Garbage Truck" do this year.
I have kicked the idea around of writing from the different viewpoints of those who were at the manger but when thinking from the point of view of a donkey, Eeyore's voice wouldn't get out of my head.
What are some fun and deepening traditions you have with your family every year? What things are you excited to try this year?
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