On the Move

Our mommy cat, Butterscotch, can't decide where she wants her kittens.  As I mentioned before, she had them in the flower bed in front of the house.  A few days after I found them, she moved them about 5 feet, but still in the flower bed.  A few days after that, she moved them to the flower bed beside the shed in the back yard.  The end of last week, she moved them to the back patio.  Once she moved them there, I let the kiddos start picking them up.  Apparently, Butterscotch did not like that because she then moved them under the pool cover that I had draped over the fence.  She left them there until today, when she moved them back to the patio!

We'll see how long they stay there!

Until next time...

Flashback Friday

It's been a while since I have done Monday Memories, but it struck me today that a year ago today we made a HUGE announcement to our blogging friends.

Do you remember?

It's hard to believe a year has passed since we told everyone that we were selling our house and were moving back to Indiana.  It has been an amazing year filled with many challenges and even more blessings.  We are so thankful we made this decision, and we are truly grateful to be "back home again, in Indiana."

Until next time...

Wordful Wednesday

Be warned: There are a lot of pictures and words in this post...I'm going to try and catch you up to what we have been doing.

We received the keys to the house on June 5th!  On Monday, June 6, the kiddos and I spent the day at the house cleaning before the movers arrived with all the boxes.  Since we didn't have any furniture, we ate a picnic style lunch in the kitchen!

The kiddos took their first naps in their new rooms

Bright and early Tuesday morning, June 7, Ma-maw and Aunt Lisa showed up to help with kid crowd control.  They also brought a trailer-load of our things (deep freeze and lawn mowers)  Gram and Pa arrived mid-afternoon to help as well, and brought a trailer-load of furniture.  The movers got a late start on Tuesday and didn't arrive until 11:30-ish (they were to be at the house between 8:30 and 10).  They then had trouble trying to get the truck and trailer in the driveway.  There was a power line coming to the house hanging too low over the drive, so they just parked the truck on the road!

Then came ALL the boxes!  This is what my house looked like on Wednesday, June 8 after everyone had left (including Dallas who spent a few days with Gram and Pa so Momma could get some boxes unpacked).

Reba loved helping in the kitchen

This is the family room/dining room

Here is our front room

The master bedroom

Reba's room

Dallas' room

Thursday afternoon, I was able to get Reba to nap in her crib in her room!

Our weekend was full of activity, as Gram, Pa, and Aunt Josie brought Dallas back to us on Friday evening.  After Doug got home from work we all headed out to watch the Evansville Otters take on the Joliet Slammers.  The Otters lost, but it was still a fun evening.  Check out some of the history of Bosse Field (a lot of A League of Their Own was filmed there).

Saturday morning, Pa, Doug, Dallas and I headed to the Classic Iron Tractor Show at the fairgrounds in Evansville.  We then came home to spend the afternoon playing and working on various projects.  Ma-maw, Pa-paw, and Aunt Lisa also came down Saturday evening (with a 2nd trailer load of our things).  They too helped us with some various projects around the house!

Sunday morning, we were back to work on more projects!  Ma-maw, Pa-paw, and Aunt Lisa took off early in the afternoon.  Gram, Pa, and Aunt Josie took off about mid-afternoon.  Doug headed for Iowa (Williamsburg of all places) for a safety training meeting on Monday.  I headed north with the kiddos early in the evening to spend the night at Ma-maw and Pa-paw's.  After lunch with Ma-maw and Pa-paw on Monday, I took the kiddos to Gram and Pa's so that I could attend the 82nd Indiana FFA State Convention!

My state FFA officer team celebrated our 10 year anniversary this summer.  Thankfully, all but one of us were able to make it back for the special event.

L-R: Rajean (Robertson) Bergman, Treasurer; Erin Menchhofer, Southern Region Vice-President; Justin Moneyheffer, Sentinel; Kyle Kohlhagen, Reporter; Liza Moore, Northern Region Vice-President; Kim (Hall) Stockment, President.  (Karissa (Hedrick) Moar, Secretary, was unable to make it from Australia where she lives with her family)

Tuesday morning, I picked up the kiddos and headed back home!  Doug's flight back to Evansville arrived about noon on Tuesday.  That brings us up to date.  Needless to say, I still have a lot of boxes sitting around, but we are slowly making progress.

Until next time...

Fun Friday Fotos

Welcome home Bergman family, welcome home.

 Reba in her new room

 Dallas saying, "Look at my room!"

 The cat we inherited...

 Momma trying out the rope swing

 Lord, please bless our home.

Until next time...

Test

Just testing out the Internet connection in the new house!

We got the keys last night around 6:30.  We stayed until almost 9 o'clock letting the kiddos run around the yard and all through the house!  Needless to say, they were very excited.

The movers are coming tomorrow with all our boxes.  I'm here with the kiddos today doing a little cleaning before we make a mess with the boxes.  This morning the Internet tech came and got us online, and the delivery men from Lowes brought our new fridge.

The kiddos are taking their first naps in their new rooms, so I had better get back to work...pictures to come later (I forgot my camera cord at the apartment)!

Until next time...

Oh, Happy Day!

Hallelujah!

Rejoice!

Celebrate!

Jump for Joy!

Blessed!

Jubilated!

Kick up your heels!

Live it up!

Cheer!

Tickled pink!

Elated!

Overjoyed!

Whoop!

Success!

Winning!

Glorify!

Give Thanks!

Blissful!

Glad!

Glee!

Delighted!

Enthusiastic!

Thrilled!

Happy dance!

Amazed!

Overcome!

All words to describe our feelings today...we closed on the house at 4 o'clock this afternoon!  We are hoping to move in on June 6th!

Oh, Happy Day!

Until next time...

Wordless Wednesday - Moving

Until next time...

We're still here...

I hope I still have a few followers after my week plus absence.  I traveled to Iowa last Tuesday morning so I could be there bright and early Wednesday morning when the packers/movers arrived!  That's right - Wednesday we started packing the house!  The moving company sent two workers to pack and load all of our crap things.  They started about 8:30 each morning and worked until 6 something Wednesday night, 7 something Thursday night, and pulled out of the drive at 5:05 p.m. on Friday...done.  I forgot to take my camera (I accidentally sent it in the kiddos bag to my parents house on Monday night), but I found an old disposable camera at the house that I took some pictures with.  I'm waiting to get it developed, so I don't know how they turned out...

I left the Iowa house for the last time a little before 6 p.m. on Friday.  The closing is today.  We're going to miss it a lot, but it is a house, we are taking our home with us.

Until next time...

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow...

Doug and I are excited to share news on the house selling front!

On March 17th, we received not one, but TWO, offers for our house in Iowa!  Call it "luck of the Irish" - if you will ;o)

We, of course, accepted one of the offers, and things are progressing smoothly.  We are set to close on the house April 18th.  We have since made an offer on a house in Indiana, and the sellers accepted it!  We are set to close on that house April 29th.

Now, some might think this was a very quick offer after selling our house, but the house we are buying was the very first house we looked at back in October!  Yes, it has been on the market the entire time.  Each and every other house we were somewhat interested in these past five months sold a few days after we viewed them, but not the house we were wishing for all along.  God does have a hand in all of this!

Please keep us in your prayers over the next few weeks that things continue to go according to God's plan, and that the closings on both houses goes as smoothly as possible!

Until next time...

Burying St. Joseph - Round Two

So, yesterday, I was picking up the leaves in my yard (with the riding mower and bagger, of course) when I noticed something strange where I had buried St. Joseph a few weeks ago.  I got off the mower to investigate.

Yes, someone something had dug him up!  St. Joseph was gone.  Needless to say, I was very upset.  I looked around the sign just in case he stayed close, but I didn't find him.  Later, I went on the other side of the driveway to pick up more leaves, and as I was going around a rock...guess what who I found!  That's right - St. Joseph!

Today, I dug a deeper hole, and put him back in.  Let's hope he stays.

Until next time...
Make sure to check out the Wordless Wednesday post below...that's right, 2 in 1 day!

Nothing too Blog Worthy

It has been pretty low key around here lately.  The kiddos and I returned to Iowa Monday afternoon after having spent about 10 days in Indiana.  We first traveled to Evansville to spend the weekend with Doug.  We then headed up to Shelby County to see the grandparents.  I also spent a morning at the National FFA Convention as a judge for the ag sales contest.  Then, Reba and I headed back to Evansville to do some house hunting with Doug.  Dallas stayed with Gram and Pa Bergman - we didn't think he would be very cooperative house hunting.  Unfortunately, we didn't have great luck in our search of a new home...but it will come.  Saturday afternoon, Doug, Reba and I headed back to Shelby County for a party at some friends'.  Then, it was a peaceful, quiet Sunday with my parents before heading our separate ways.

Thankfully, the kiddos did pretty well on the car trip.  I was pretty nervous about taking them by myself.  I was never "scared" traveling with just Dallas, but now with two - one potty training and the other still nursing - it was a different story!  Needless to say, the what-should-have-been 7 hour trip to Evansville took 9.5 hours!  They did good until hour 7 of the trip, and then they both started crying at the same time...and I was almost in tears too.  So, after another pit stop...we were back on the road with dry eyes, dry pants, and full bellies.  Thankfully, the trip back to Indiana only took 8 hours.  The kiddos slept for a good majority of that trip and we had the DVD players working :o)

In selling news...we haven't had any bids on our house.  It has been two weeks, and we have had two showings.  Just keep your fingers crossed, and say your prayers that the right buyer will come along quickly.

Until next time...

Saint Joseph

The for sale sign is in the front yard!
(Yes, I actually cried when I went to take this picture)

Since we are wishing for a fast sell, I decided to get the help of Saint Joseph, husband of Mary.

Why Saint Joseph?  The tradition has been traced to Saint Teresa of Avila who prayed that Saint Joseph would intercede to obtain land for Christian converts, and encourged her Discalced Carmelite nuns to bury Saint Joseph medals as a symbol of devotion, consecrating the ground in Joseph's name. Remember, also, that Joseph was a man who knew about moving on a moment's notice (e.g., the flight to Egypt), and providing for a home for his family. He also knows what it's like to have housing trouble (remember the manger? and being turned away from the inns?), and so is likely to be sympathetic to people with trouble getting or leaving a home.

The instructions say to bury Saint Joseph upside down, facing the road, and close to the for sale sign.  So, that's what Dallas and I did this morning.

The most important part of this is to pray.  Dallas and I said a short prayer this morning, and if you would like to pray with us - anything from the heart will do, or you can join us in the prayer we will be saying:

O, Saint Joseph,
you who taught our Lord the carpenter's trade, and saw to it that he was always properly housed, hear my earnest plea.

I want you to help me now as you helped your foster-child Jesus, and as you have helped many others in the matter of housing.

I wish to sell this house quickly, easily, and profitably and I implore you to grant my wish by bringing me a good buyer, one who is eager, compliant, and honest, and by letting nothing impede the rapid conclusion of the sale.

Dear Saint Joseph,
I know you would do this for me out of the goodness of your heart and in your own good time, but my need is very great now and so I must make you hurry on my behalf.

Saint Joseph,
I am going to place you in a difficult position  with your head in darkness and you will suffer as our Lord suffered, until this house is sold.

Saint Joseph, I swear before the cross and God Almighty,
that I will redeem you and you will receive my gratitude and a place of honour in my new home.

Amen.

Until next time...

For Sale!

I am excited to announce that our house is officially for sale!  The realtor came by this morning, took pictures, and measured the rooms.  We went through the paper work, and I signed away.  If you know anyone interested in a few acres in Williamsburg, IA...direct them to this link.  Of course, you can check it out yourselves, too.  I don't think my house has looked this good in a long time ever!

Until next time...

Wordless Wednesday...

packing...

Until next time...

Stairwell Makeover

As I mentioned in my previous post, we have been working on lots of projects around the house. I would say the biggest project that we...umm, I...took on was repainting the stairwell. The stairwell had pink walls (to match that lovely pink carpet). I had some left over paints that I mixed together to create a light brown for the walls and ceiling. I also re-painted the trim and doors. I am debating whether to paint the small area below the white molding coming down the stairs. It is still pink, and I'm thinking about painting it white. The pictures on the left are the before and the ones on the right are the after.

Until next time...

Moving/Selling Update (and what we've been doin')

I am sorry for not blogging recently. We have been extremely busy in this house. I thought I would give you an update/run-down of what's been going on around here.

• Thursday evening, Gram and Pa Bergman arrived to watch the kiddos for the weekend while Doug and I worked around the house
• Friday, Doug took off work, as it was going to be the only nice day to work outside
• On Friday, I took Reba to the hospital for her complete blood cell count (blood draw). Unfortunately, they drew the blood too slowly the first time and they weren't able to get an accurate count; therefore, they had to draw it again. Poor girl cried and cried...and there wasn't anything I could do help her until it was over. (The doctor's office called Monday afternoon with the results: her hemoglobin level was higher [it was 8.2 at the office on Wed., and it was 11.5 on Friday], but it was still below what they wanted it. Dr. Boelter talked with the pharmacist and worked up a special vitamin supplement to boost Reba's iron levels. They also suggested she eat more meat...which I just started her on this last week.)
• Also, on Friday, I went to get my driver's license renewed. They expired on my birthday this year (July 30!) Luckily, there is a 60 day grace period, so I didn't have to take the written test again.
• Once I got home around noon, Doug had already sprayed off the house and porch with the pressure washer. He was opening the paint to start on the porch. We were able to get the storm windows and most of the porch painted before we had to stop to get ready for Doug's going-away party at work. Bob and Connie also washed and painted the decorative corner pieces on the porch for us. I tell you what, it looks like a brand new porch now!
• Friday night was the party at Fireside Winery. It was a beautiful evening to sit outside, eat supper, and drink a few glasses (or bottles) of wine :) while listening to the live music. Our dear friend, Gema, also surprised us by driving up from St. Louis for the party!
• Saturday morning was a little slow going, but we were able to accomplish a few things. I painted the stairwell (that was a huge task!) Doug and Bob painted the trim for the bathroom.
• I ran out of paint for the stairwell (I had combined left over paint, and thought the gallon would get it, but it didn't), and we needed a few pieces of trim to finish the bathroom; therefore, Doug and I made a trip to Coralville, to Lowes. We were able to match my "custom" paint and find all the pieces we needed.
• Sunday morning started with church and then we stopped for breakfast on the way home.
  Doug and his parents worked on taking down my barn quilt once we were home from church. Luckily, the rain let up for a little bit and they were able to get it done successfully.
• I decided to paint the closet in Reba's bedroom. There was a stain from an old leak in the roof. I got the first coat of primer on, and then Doug and I started on hanging the trim for the bathroom. We were able to get the bathroom finished just in time to watch the Colts!
• Monday morning, I did the flight of the bumble bee cleaning the house because the first of 4 home inspections was to start at 10 am! These inspections are needed in order for us to be able to participate in the home buyout program with Monsanto.
• The first inspection was a general house inspection. I was also able to schedule 2 of the other inspections for Monday late morning (the septic inspection and the structural inspection). As of now, we know that we "failed" the septic inspection, so we are working on lining up someone to come put in a new system for us.
• Before the inspectors arrived, Bob and I were able to get the bushes trimmed up in front of the house. Those poor things hadn't had a trim in almost 2 years!
• Doug's parents left around 11 Monday morning, after the final inspector had left. We were so thankful that they were able to come out and entertain the kiddos while Doug and I worked - there's no way we would have been able to get done what we did if they hadn't been here.
• Monday afternoon, while the kiddos napped, I was able to put another coat of paint on the walls of Reba's closet. Monday evening, once Doug got home, I was able to finish painting the porch.
• Tuesday morning, the 4th inspector, the pest guy, came - completing our first round of inspections!
• Tuesday after lunch, Doug and I (and the kiddos) went and picked up my car from the mechanic. We decided to have Lily fixed so that I can have the car to drive while Doug can take the truck to Indiana to start work (he won't be getting a company vehicle with the new job).
• Tuesday afternoon, while the kiddos napped (again), I was able to put the 3rd and final coat of paint on Reba's closet! Once Doug got home from work, I started painting the trim and doors in the stairwell. I was able to get one coat done before everyone went to bed.
• That brings us to Wednesday...we took it easy this morning. This afternoon, there was another going-away party at the plant (the party Friday evening was just for Doug's group, today's was for the entire plant). I took the kiddos in for this party since they didn't go Friday night.
• I hope to finish the last coat of paint on the stairwell trim tomorrow, as well as get some grocery shopping done.
• Doug leaves on Saturday for Evansville, and begins work on Monday morning - not really looking for that.
• Of course, in all of this mess, Dallas is working on learning to use the potty like a big boy. We have had a couple really successful days, and a few not so good days, but we are getting there. I hope that we can be somewhat established with it before moving. We are also getting ready to move Dallas into a big boy bed! Let's hope that goes smoothly, and he is adjusted before moving.
  

Well, that's our life recently. I am trying my best to keep up on everyone's blogs, but I apologize if I'm not commenting as much as I used to...

Until next time...

Oodles to Share

OK...I think I am about caught up with posts. Make sure you scroll down to check out all my updates. I put them in "reverse" order, so you should read about our latest adventures as they occurred. It starts with the Iowa State Fair and ends with the Kentucky State Fair. I also have my pictures downloaded from Labor Day weekend, so I will be sharing them soon.

I also have one last bit of exciting information to share with the blogging world...
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drumroll please...
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We are moving!

Yes, we are getting ready to put our house up for sale, and we are moving to the Evansville, IN area.

Doug has taken a new job with Monsanto at the Evansville location. They are wanting him to start the last week of September (yes, that's coming up very quickly). As for the kids and I, we will more than likely be staying here in Iowa for a short time - working on selling the house and what not.

So look forward to more updates as we start this next journey.

Until next time...