Eyes On The Prize

The Prize

In the chaos of organizing and packing every blooming thing in sight, we have been agonizing over the myriad of choices invovled with a new house.  It would definately be easier just to take what is already there, but it has been fun to choose everything.   I am very pleased with the builder's prices because their upgrade options are so much more reasonable than Ivory and so many Ivory upgrades are just standards-- like oil-rubbed bronze hardware!!! Since the building market is usually slow in the winter-- and even slower this winter, the sub-contractors will be easier to schedule and hopefully there won't be too much lag time.  We're going to be ultra fiscally responsible to pad that nest egg for the next few months.  It really helps me to know the specifics of what I'm giving up eating out for-- for example, just a couple extra cook-at-home nights will pay for one of the many fantastic can lights I will enjoy a few months from now.    I went to Target with the girls Friday night.  A great pair of boots called out to me, but I think I'll take the $35 and put it towards my blinds fund instead.  

The Eyes

Mine were overflowing over everything today.  Jeff was released from the bishopric and for some reason that I don't understand, it makes me so sad.  I guess I think of the blessings that we get and take for granted from that service-- now no longer.  It makes me appreciate Jeff so much because I know that it isn't always easy to be an absentee dad and it's really hard on him not to be with our kids-- boy count my blessings on that.  I guess now he will have a little time to build boys and cuddle our girl, which he has been missing a lot.  I hope that all the sacrifice made a difference for people in the ward.

Mainly the whole release makes the thought of leaving the 15th ward real, and that makes me sad.  After the long stint in the amazing 204th, I never expected to gel with a "real" ward- but this has been great.  I will really miss everyone even though I won't live further away than I do now.  I guess it's out of the comfort zone for real since next week will be our last.  We are still trying to decide whether to jump right into the 6th or slip into the 11th until the house it built.  I feel really blessed that we ever even moved down here because I was so attached to NE Provo that I would have never considered this area unless I had moved here and loved everyone and everything so much.  The only downside is that there's not much of a view of my favorite mountain from these parts....

....And a place to live.

My awesome racquetball buddy had offered weeks ago to let us stay in the basement of their new house.  I blew the idea off as a nice offer but not real.  But, as the situation looked bleaker and bleaker, she got more persistant and we have struck a bargain.  We are going to live in their basement until our house is built.  We will pay a tiny rent and share their kitchen.  Just in case you gasped there, I am not worried.  My friend is unbelievably accomodating and laid back and I love her optimistic personality, so we will be just great.  I can't believe that I actually know people who are willing to sacrifice their own space and surround sound theater for a friend.  We are really going to appreciate it.  We will be in the same area, which cuts down on added transportation costs as I shuttle people to and from school and work.