Eight Ways to Stay Busy

This . . .

. . . is me getting ready to run TWO MILES NONSTOP. This is BIG stuff. (No really, I'm in the picture. You can see my shoulder somewhere near those cute, cute girls in pink.)

And this . . .

. . . is a very excited group of girls on a quick and fun little road trip. We were invited to a sneak preview of "Wicked," which will be coming this direction next year. (I'm submitting a group order. Email me if you want in.) The t-shirts say "defy gravity" on the back. Get it?


This here . . .
. . . was decorated by me! BIG thanks to K2 and KW for the awesome fondant class!


This . . .
. . . is NOT a hyperactive hamster going crazy in her food dish, but that's what I thought the sound was as the glass slowly cracked into a bizillion pieces after a weed whacker kicked up a rogue rock.



Now THIS . . .
. . . is just one little example of how much we LOVE our newest neighbors!

One of my favorite conversations since moving day:
My 14yo: Hey mom, does E really need to knock when she comes over? Can't she just walk in?
Me: Well, E, I certainly wouldn't mind, but you might see someone in their underwear.
E: Oh, yeah, um . . .
Me: You know, it would teach them a good lesson, but it would be at your expense.
E: Yeah. No. I'm good.

And just so you know, if coming home late at night and finding this . . .
. . . waiting for you doesn't melt your heart into a puddle, I don't know what will.

And finally, this . . .
. . . was the kids' April 1st after-school snack. (Caramel/Tootsie roll bacon, white chocolate/reeces pieces eggs, and frosting/whopper/jam/cinnamon roll spaghetti.) (April Fools! You're headed for a diabetic coma!) I promise the "spaghetti sauce" looked much more like strawberry jam in real life, and much less like a blood clot. Gross.

Love/Hate Relationship

Now that I am in the middle of “the move” I have learned I have such a love/hate relationship with moving. Let me break it down for you:

Love:
Getting rid of stuff

Decluttering

Packing with some dear friends (I’ve learned some great things!)

Emptying and discarding contents of boxes that haven’t been touched for 6 years!

I had to call to change phone/Internet/satellite and was able to shop around and save $48 a month!

Found 3 missing library books that hat hit the either I find them today or go pay for them point!

Completely organizing the garage before we move in!

Hanging out with the kids while we work

Hate:
Finding mouse droppings

The constant switch of thoughts-I’ve done so much to I’ve got so much more to do

The thoughts that this will never end and we will never be in our new house.
How moving for us is really just one more thing to add to our busy lives. I still have a million things to do and must add packing and moving to my to-do list.
Now that I'm moving and have cleared out my garage, I can finally park my car in there. Why couldn't I have done this years ago?


I'm also grateful that moving has given me the distraction of the realization I have two dear and great friends (and their husbands and kids) that are moving either out of the city or out of the state. If I stop to think about it long enough it is downright depressing. These are those kinds of friends that come along once in a life time and can never be replaced. One dear friends daughter bore her testimony on Sunday and it brought tears to my eyes that while I've got to meet this incredible girl and her family I won't get her hugs at church anymore or see her on a regular basis. So I am grateful I've kept myself busy so I don't have to think about it.

Three cheers to "the move." I'm starting to see the end in sight!

Yeah, yeah, I know I said I was going to do this six months ago.

You're so surprised, aren't you?

I finally pulled all the boxes of clothing out of the kids' closet, and bagged up everything that everyone has outgrown.

I did it with a knot in my stomach and a little lump in my throat, but I'm glad it's done, and I've already found new homes for all of it.


This, by the way, is the best system I've come up with for storing clothes for the next kid in line. And I've tried MANY systems.

I donated it to a *local charity

After 10 minutes of navigating exasperating phone menus and holding:

Customer Service Representative: Thank you for calling Virgin Mobile. What is your Virgin Mobile number?

Me: No, I don't have one.

CSR: What?

Me: I ordered a phone from you over 7 weeks ago. The order didn't go through, and I called a few days later and canceled it, but I received a phone in the mail three days ago, and I'd like to return it to you.

CSR: So, do you need an address to send it to?

Me: Well, normally, you would give me an RMA number.

CSR: A what?

Me: Usually, in a case like this, you'll email me a UPS label with a Return Merchandise Authorization Number on it.

CSR: Do you have an account number?

Me: No, I don't have an account with you. Would you like an order number?

CSR: Yes. (repeats order number back) Please hold while I research this.

10 minutes later:

CSR: I apologize for the wait. Our system is slow. Can you continue to hold?

Me: Yes, but while I was waiting I checked with Paypal, and the payment never went through, so you were never paid for this phone.

CSR: You didn't pay for it?

Me: The payment I authorized was never completed by Virgin Mobile and has now expired.

CSR: Please hold.

10 minutes later:

CSR: Ok, you can return the phone, but because you've had it longer than 30 days, you cannot receive a refund.

Me: ?

Me: I received the phone three days ago, but I don't need a refund, because it was never paid for. I just need to know if you want it back.

CSR: It wasn't paid for?

Me: No.

CSR: How can I help you?

Me: I think it will just be easier if I keep the phone. Is that ok with you?

CSR: Um . . . yes. Can I help you with anything else?

Me: No, thank you.



*Children's Advocacy Center - I really hope this is a favor to them, and not a headache waiting to happen.