I'm a little behind on blogging/posting/video-ing.....no surprise there. Hope you can still enjoy! Remember to pause the blog music player to the right of this post.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
When You Are My Age
This Christmas for Kaela's 10th birthday, I got her a book called "Just Mom and Me" from the American Girl line. (See last year's post "Girl Talk" for a similar story.) This book has a variety of short activities for girls and their moms to do together--so far the activities we've done are comparing a list of likes/dislikes, hiding surprise coupons around the house ("free 15 minute neck massage"), and interviewing specific questions. Tonight Kaela chose a questionnaire "When You Are My Age" where Kaela asked me a list of questions about when I was 10, and I asked her questions about when she'll be 35. Daddy, of course, can't stand to be left out of the fun, so he comes in and hears the answers too. Tonight was both entertaining (Kaela giggling non-stop) as well as enlightening.
Kaela's interview questions for her mom "When you were my age...."
What you spent your allowance on: blue creme soda and Reese's peanut butter cups
Stuffed animal or doll you couldn't sleep without: Flower Patch dolls
Pet you dreamed of having: dog
Best friend: my cousin Heather
Food your parents made you eat: brussel sprouts at Thanksgiving
Best school subject: reading and spelling
Worst school subject: geography (Kaela didn't know how to spell it so we agreed on social studies)
Least favorite chore: folding the whites...too many socks
Funkiest fashion you followed: side ponytails
Most embarrassing moment: pretending to kiss a boy during the school play
Mommy's interview questions for Kaela "When you are my age...."
Where you will live: Canada....but I guess if I have to stay in America then at least Washington
Job you will have: doctor who works in a hospital, not a doctor's office
House rule you'll make: no putting stickers on the wall
House rule you'll break: no drawing on the walls....just in the bedroom will be ok
Pets you will have: two cats
Number of children you'd like to have: one. Ok maybe two. No I think twin girls.
What you would name a daughter: Amanda and McKenzie
Advice you'd give her: always ask for help
Allowance you'd pay her: three dollars a week (mom note: this is three times what Kaela makes now)
How you'd make her earn it: cleaning the whole house....cuz it will be three dollars!
I asked Kaela if I could keep the interview sheets tonight and give them back to her in the morning. She replied, "Why, are you going to blog about it?"
Kaela's interview questions for her mom "When you were my age...."
What you spent your allowance on: blue creme soda and Reese's peanut butter cups
Stuffed animal or doll you couldn't sleep without: Flower Patch dolls
Pet you dreamed of having: dog
Best friend: my cousin Heather
Food your parents made you eat: brussel sprouts at Thanksgiving
Best school subject: reading and spelling
Worst school subject: geography (Kaela didn't know how to spell it so we agreed on social studies)
Least favorite chore: folding the whites...too many socks
Funkiest fashion you followed: side ponytails
Most embarrassing moment: pretending to kiss a boy during the school play
Mommy's interview questions for Kaela "When you are my age...."
Where you will live: Canada....but I guess if I have to stay in America then at least Washington
Job you will have: doctor who works in a hospital, not a doctor's office
House rule you'll make: no putting stickers on the wall
House rule you'll break: no drawing on the walls....just in the bedroom will be ok
Pets you will have: two cats
Number of children you'd like to have: one. Ok maybe two. No I think twin girls.
What you would name a daughter: Amanda and McKenzie
Advice you'd give her: always ask for help
Allowance you'd pay her: three dollars a week (mom note: this is three times what Kaela makes now)
How you'd make her earn it: cleaning the whole house....cuz it will be three dollars!
I asked Kaela if I could keep the interview sheets tonight and give them back to her in the morning. She replied, "Why, are you going to blog about it?"
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
9.99
Sweet Kaela, in less than four days you will be TEN YEARS OLD! That means double digits! But for today, you are 9.99 years old and I plan to savor these last hours of your first decade of life.
The night you were born was special in many ways. As the world was celebrating the birth of Jesus, we were also celebrating the birth of YOU! You were born exactly on your due date, on Christmas morning at 3:40am, and we were the only people in the entire birth center having a baby that night. You are so special to share your birthday with Jesus!
When you turned 1 we had a big celebration with all our friends and family. You got to have your very own cake, and you learned what it feels like to squish frosting all over! (And then you took a bath!)
When you turned 2 you helped put ornaments on the tree, and you put them all on one branch. We had your birthday party at our house, but you were so overwhelmed with all the people and you hid in the play room and played with your old toys. So Mommy and Daddy opened all your presents with our friends, and you were happy in another room! For your birthday picture, this is what you would do when we said "SMILE!"
When you turned 3 you started showing your girly side--you LOVED pink, and you played with dolls all the time. Baby Graeson was born a month before your birthday and you were such a good big sister! You helped Mommy when I was tired or feeding the baby, and you played with him when he was awake. When you turned 3 1/2 we started the tradition of your half-birthday party on June 25.
When you turned 4 you liked to be silly and playful. You would push Graeson around inside a little toy grocery cart. You also had a doctor kit with a stethoscope, syringe, and silly red glasses! This was also the year you asked Jesus into your heart after we had been reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe book together. What an important event!
When you turned 5 you got a new bedroom! You chose pink butterflies and you helped paste them onto your walls. You felt very special to have a new room! You started kindergarten this year which meant you were at school every day instead of just a few mornings. I remember thinking we would have to share you with the rest of the world.
When you turned 6 you were a big sister again, and you helped take care of Baby Maezie. You were old enough to hold her by yourself, and even to feed her a bottle. You were also losing teeth every month! Since you were losing teeth at the same time Maezie was getting teeth, we would use her teething gel on your loose tooth in order to get it out. You were so happy whenever another tooth would come out!
When you turned 7 it seemed almost overnight you weren't a baby anymore. Maybe it was because your front teeth finally grew in and made you look older. Maybe it was because you were getting so much more confident in yourself. You started to be interested in nail polish, and glittery chapstick, and pretend makeup. And of course you loved to wear dresses and hair ribbons.
When you turned 8 you started to grow from little girl to big girl. You were the tallest in your class and you grew so much this year! We started having "girl talk" on the couch and on the bed, and we would talk about our days together. On the night of your school Christmas program, it snowed and snowed and snowed! A lot of kids didn't make it to the program, and the next day school was cancelled due to snow.
When you turned 9 you just kept growing and growing! You always did very well in school, and you really started developing a love of reading and learning. You had lots of friends at school because you were very easy going and caring about other people.
When you turned 9.99 you are definitely not a little girl any more. You got your ears pierced for your half-birthday, and you are responsible enough to take care of your very own kitty. You did a really good job when we moved to Bend and you had to make new friends at a new school. You were very patient when you had to share a room with Maezie for a few months, and you were waiting and waiting to get a cat.
I'm so proud of the BIG girl that you are! You are such a joy to Mommy and Daddy and you are a good big sister to Graeson and Maezie. We are SO HAPPY you are part of our family and we love you so much! I can't wait to see what the next 10 years will bring. But.....could you just stay 9.99 forever?
The night you were born was special in many ways. As the world was celebrating the birth of Jesus, we were also celebrating the birth of YOU! You were born exactly on your due date, on Christmas morning at 3:40am, and we were the only people in the entire birth center having a baby that night. You are so special to share your birthday with Jesus!
When you turned 1 we had a big celebration with all our friends and family. You got to have your very own cake, and you learned what it feels like to squish frosting all over! (And then you took a bath!)
When you turned 2 you helped put ornaments on the tree, and you put them all on one branch. We had your birthday party at our house, but you were so overwhelmed with all the people and you hid in the play room and played with your old toys. So Mommy and Daddy opened all your presents with our friends, and you were happy in another room! For your birthday picture, this is what you would do when we said "SMILE!"
When you turned 3 you started showing your girly side--you LOVED pink, and you played with dolls all the time. Baby Graeson was born a month before your birthday and you were such a good big sister! You helped Mommy when I was tired or feeding the baby, and you played with him when he was awake. When you turned 3 1/2 we started the tradition of your half-birthday party on June 25.
When you turned 4 you liked to be silly and playful. You would push Graeson around inside a little toy grocery cart. You also had a doctor kit with a stethoscope, syringe, and silly red glasses! This was also the year you asked Jesus into your heart after we had been reading The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe book together. What an important event!
When you turned 5 you got a new bedroom! You chose pink butterflies and you helped paste them onto your walls. You felt very special to have a new room! You started kindergarten this year which meant you were at school every day instead of just a few mornings. I remember thinking we would have to share you with the rest of the world.
When you turned 6 you were a big sister again, and you helped take care of Baby Maezie. You were old enough to hold her by yourself, and even to feed her a bottle. You were also losing teeth every month! Since you were losing teeth at the same time Maezie was getting teeth, we would use her teething gel on your loose tooth in order to get it out. You were so happy whenever another tooth would come out!
When you turned 7 it seemed almost overnight you weren't a baby anymore. Maybe it was because your front teeth finally grew in and made you look older. Maybe it was because you were getting so much more confident in yourself. You started to be interested in nail polish, and glittery chapstick, and pretend makeup. And of course you loved to wear dresses and hair ribbons.
When you turned 8 you started to grow from little girl to big girl. You were the tallest in your class and you grew so much this year! We started having "girl talk" on the couch and on the bed, and we would talk about our days together. On the night of your school Christmas program, it snowed and snowed and snowed! A lot of kids didn't make it to the program, and the next day school was cancelled due to snow.
When you turned 9 you just kept growing and growing! You always did very well in school, and you really started developing a love of reading and learning. You had lots of friends at school because you were very easy going and caring about other people.
When you turned 9.99 you are definitely not a little girl any more. You got your ears pierced for your half-birthday, and you are responsible enough to take care of your very own kitty. You did a really good job when we moved to Bend and you had to make new friends at a new school. You were very patient when you had to share a room with Maezie for a few months, and you were waiting and waiting to get a cat.
I'm so proud of the BIG girl that you are! You are such a joy to Mommy and Daddy and you are a good big sister to Graeson and Maezie. We are SO HAPPY you are part of our family and we love you so much! I can't wait to see what the next 10 years will bring. But.....could you just stay 9.99 forever?
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Merry Christmas From Bend
Merry Christmas from Bend!
Last year at this time, we had no idea that major changes were just around the corner! Our life was calm, comfortable, and conventional—we knew every street, store, and stoplight. We were predictable, planned, and purposeful. But….God had other plans in mind!
I had felt a gentle calling to expand my hospice career, and in early Spring I received an undeniable message that my work in Klamath Falls was needed elsewhere. By May, I had been hired at Partners In Care hospice in Bend. We notified our family and friends, had a giant garage sale, packed up 8 years of accumulated belongings, and moved three hours away….all in less than three weeks.
Initially we stayed in our RV trailer at my dad’s house for the first couple of weeks. Though it was an hour commute to work, the slow-paced country life was a nice transition—and the kids thought “camping” was great! Soon we found a rental house in town and were able to spend the summer evenings exploring the many walking paths, parks, and hikes. Now, after a long and grueling process, we finally have our own house! We also have found a new church, doctor, dentist, grocery store, post office….and our new favorite: Costco!
The kids have all adjusted quite well. Kaela and Graeson are at the same school—they love their teachers who both happen to be Beaver fans! Kaela is in gymnastics and Graeson started taekwondo this year. Maezie is in a small church preschool three mornings a week and she really likes it as well. Bryan is staying home full-time now and during those mornings when all three kids are in school, he hikes up Pilot Butte and spends time on the mountain. He hopes to get involved with our new church’s high school group soon. I am enjoying my job and it is a perfect fit for me—but I do get impatient about the learning process and would like to know everything NOW!
The actual transition of moving was not easy—lots of goodbyes, many changes, and occasionally getting lost. But we love our new town and especially our new house! Since we’re now in “central” Oregon, most anywhere we visit is only a couple of hours away. Make sure you change our address so we can keep up with all of your happenings as well!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
As the Williams World Turns
Here’s the latest from “As the Williams World Turns” soap opera…..
Bend house—we finally have one! Well, we will have in three weeks. After FOUR house deals fell through (including this one) a total miracle revived it and we are in escrow! We are scheduled for closing on Oct 31, then moving….again….oh joy. But then we’ll be done moving! The house is only about 5 years old and is in great shape. It passed inspection with flying colors, and is in a great neighborhood with quiet streets for the kids to play.
Klamath house—we have renters finally! We had it for sale all summer with NO OFFERS, so we put it up for rent last month. We are using a property management company in Klamath which is much easier since we are out-of-town owners. So we took it off the real estate market for now, and we’ll try again at some point in the future.
Jill’s job—going well! As always with management jobs, the work is never done, the piles are always growing, and the crisis is always just around the corner. But it’s a great company and it’s a perfect fit for me. (And my boss thinks I’m fabulous!) I’m building relationships with my direct staff and with the rest of the management team….and I’m no longer getting lost in Bend!
Bryan and kids—loving Bend! Kaela and Graeson are at the same school and doing very well. Maezie is at a church preschool a block from our house and she loves it. Bryan enjoys staying home full time, and during the three mornings a week when all three kids are in school, he hikes up Pilot Butte in the mornings and enjoys some quiet times.
Stay tuned for our next episode!
Bend house—we finally have one! Well, we will have in three weeks. After FOUR house deals fell through (including this one) a total miracle revived it and we are in escrow! We are scheduled for closing on Oct 31, then moving….again….oh joy. But then we’ll be done moving! The house is only about 5 years old and is in great shape. It passed inspection with flying colors, and is in a great neighborhood with quiet streets for the kids to play.
Klamath house—we have renters finally! We had it for sale all summer with NO OFFERS, so we put it up for rent last month. We are using a property management company in Klamath which is much easier since we are out-of-town owners. So we took it off the real estate market for now, and we’ll try again at some point in the future.
Jill’s job—going well! As always with management jobs, the work is never done, the piles are always growing, and the crisis is always just around the corner. But it’s a great company and it’s a perfect fit for me. (And my boss thinks I’m fabulous!) I’m building relationships with my direct staff and with the rest of the management team….and I’m no longer getting lost in Bend!
Bryan and kids—loving Bend! Kaela and Graeson are at the same school and doing very well. Maezie is at a church preschool a block from our house and she loves it. Bryan enjoys staying home full time, and during the three mornings a week when all three kids are in school, he hikes up Pilot Butte in the mornings and enjoys some quiet times.
Stay tuned for our next episode!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Sharp Family Easter
Don't forget to pause the blog music player to the right before you press play on the video....
Monday, August 15, 2011
Bend Fun Stuff--first 10 things
With the exception of 4 years at college, Bryan and I lived in Klamath our entire lives. Yet new friends would move to town and they had done WAY more Klamath fun stuff than we ever did! Somehow when you live in one place, you just ignore all the touristy stuff and end up staying in your own little routine. So with the move to Bend, we decided that we were going to be those new people in town and make a conscious effort to explore our new town. So I looked up about a million websites (click on the beige links in this blog), bought a book called Bend, Overall (I highly recommend for anyone living in or visiting Bend!), and sought recommendations from my new co-workers. Here's our first 10 list so far:
#1: 4th of July pet parade--TONS OF KIDS!! And pets of all kinds....the only rule was no cats or rabbits. We saw tiny dogs, huge dogs, tiny-dogs-who-thought-they-were-huge-dogs, sheep, cows, chickens, snakes, and hundreds of kids on bikes! Maybe next year, we'll decide to be in the parade ourselves!
#2: Pine Nursery Park Trail--our first exploration into the hundreds of trails and paths that are in Bend. We walked/ran/strollered on the paved path, saw a fishing pond (noted for future fun stuff!), learned about lava rocks, and played on a school playground. We also discovered a gigantic softball park....and mom had a bit of high school nostalgia of her "good ole days".....
#3: Regal movie theater--$1 movies! Bryan and the kids have enjoyed numerous summer movies for the fabulous deal of one dollar! This particular theater has two showings a week with specific G-rated movies, then has two new movies the following week. Kaela was particularly excited to watch the American Girl movie since she has read many of the books.
#4: Deschutes Public Library--Bend library has multiple branches, one of which is only a few streets away. Each kid was excited to get their own library card, then the children's librarian made necklaces to hold the cards. Maezie got to attend the preschool pajama party and had a great time! Graeson loves finding Star Wars books (which gives Mom and Dad a whole new galactic vocabulary!) And Kaela has had her nose in about 5 books a week!
#5: Deschutes River trail--the Deschutes River flows right through the middle of Bend. And there are hundreds of different trails ranging from easy strolling to more difficult hiking. Bend parks and recreation keeps all the trails very well maintained. We have been taking family walks in the evening....there is nothing better than a cool evening walk/hike and hearing the sounds of the river and breathing the moist river air! Oh and of course collecting sticks, pine cones, and rocks.
#6: Pilot Butte--this is one of the landmarks of Bend itself, a 480 foot butte right in the middle of town. At the top is of course a spectacular view of Bend, as well as the ability to see dozens of the Cascade Mountains. Some very wise person created a plaque at the top which is a 360-degree map of all the surrounding mountains, buttes, volcanoes, and rocks. Obviously they were not aware of Mt Graeson!
#7: Madras county fair--our first experience with a different fair other than the Tulelake Fair. Let's just say, it wasn't the best investment in entertainment money from the parents' perspective--only a few rides, mediocre food, and run-of-the-mill exhibits. But we got bracelets so the kids could go on unlimited rides and they had a blast!
#8: PS Ogden scenic lookout--walking on a bridge over a 300 foot canyon. It truly can't be explained in words, but my mommy-radar was on high alert and it was all I could do to let the kids take a look! The sign in the parking lot said "Many dogs have died here! Put your dog back in the vehicle!" (Yes, it had a guard rail and fence. But still!)
#9: LaPine State Park camping--ok, I have to admit, this was already scheduled long before we moved to Bend. But our annual camping with the Patterson family just happened to be in the Bend area! Last year's camping at this park was in the snow, so we thought we'd try August this time and it was much better! And our drive home was only 30 minutes! (Oops, I didn't take any actual pictures! But many videos to come later...)
#10: Old Mill trail--yet another branch of the Deschutes river trail, but this one goes past one of the busiest sections of town. We happened to go on a night when a major country music star was performing in the outdoor amphitheatre, and people had their lawn chairs set up for miles! The Old Mill District has tons of shopping and restaurants, and a lot of people! There are many ways to float down the river--tubing, kayaks, stand up paddle boards--some people even anchored their water tube in the middle of the river and were eating a pizza listening to the concert!
All of our Klamath-ites say that Bend is a great area.....we wholeheartedly agree! We'd love to show you around our new town!
#1: 4th of July pet parade--TONS OF KIDS!! And pets of all kinds....the only rule was no cats or rabbits. We saw tiny dogs, huge dogs, tiny-dogs-who-thought-they-were-huge-dogs, sheep, cows, chickens, snakes, and hundreds of kids on bikes! Maybe next year, we'll decide to be in the parade ourselves!
#2: Pine Nursery Park Trail--our first exploration into the hundreds of trails and paths that are in Bend. We walked/ran/strollered on the paved path, saw a fishing pond (noted for future fun stuff!), learned about lava rocks, and played on a school playground. We also discovered a gigantic softball park....and mom had a bit of high school nostalgia of her "good ole days".....
#3: Regal movie theater--$1 movies! Bryan and the kids have enjoyed numerous summer movies for the fabulous deal of one dollar! This particular theater has two showings a week with specific G-rated movies, then has two new movies the following week. Kaela was particularly excited to watch the American Girl movie since she has read many of the books.
#4: Deschutes Public Library--Bend library has multiple branches, one of which is only a few streets away. Each kid was excited to get their own library card, then the children's librarian made necklaces to hold the cards. Maezie got to attend the preschool pajama party and had a great time! Graeson loves finding Star Wars books (which gives Mom and Dad a whole new galactic vocabulary!) And Kaela has had her nose in about 5 books a week!
#5: Deschutes River trail--the Deschutes River flows right through the middle of Bend. And there are hundreds of different trails ranging from easy strolling to more difficult hiking. Bend parks and recreation keeps all the trails very well maintained. We have been taking family walks in the evening....there is nothing better than a cool evening walk/hike and hearing the sounds of the river and breathing the moist river air! Oh and of course collecting sticks, pine cones, and rocks.
#6: Pilot Butte--this is one of the landmarks of Bend itself, a 480 foot butte right in the middle of town. At the top is of course a spectacular view of Bend, as well as the ability to see dozens of the Cascade Mountains. Some very wise person created a plaque at the top which is a 360-degree map of all the surrounding mountains, buttes, volcanoes, and rocks. Obviously they were not aware of Mt Graeson!
#7: Madras county fair--our first experience with a different fair other than the Tulelake Fair. Let's just say, it wasn't the best investment in entertainment money from the parents' perspective--only a few rides, mediocre food, and run-of-the-mill exhibits. But we got bracelets so the kids could go on unlimited rides and they had a blast!
#8: PS Ogden scenic lookout--walking on a bridge over a 300 foot canyon. It truly can't be explained in words, but my mommy-radar was on high alert and it was all I could do to let the kids take a look! The sign in the parking lot said "Many dogs have died here! Put your dog back in the vehicle!" (Yes, it had a guard rail and fence. But still!)
#9: LaPine State Park camping--ok, I have to admit, this was already scheduled long before we moved to Bend. But our annual camping with the Patterson family just happened to be in the Bend area! Last year's camping at this park was in the snow, so we thought we'd try August this time and it was much better! And our drive home was only 30 minutes! (Oops, I didn't take any actual pictures! But many videos to come later...)
#10: Old Mill trail--yet another branch of the Deschutes river trail, but this one goes past one of the busiest sections of town. We happened to go on a night when a major country music star was performing in the outdoor amphitheatre, and people had their lawn chairs set up for miles! The Old Mill District has tons of shopping and restaurants, and a lot of people! There are many ways to float down the river--tubing, kayaks, stand up paddle boards--some people even anchored their water tube in the middle of the river and were eating a pizza listening to the concert!
All of our Klamath-ites say that Bend is a great area.....we wholeheartedly agree! We'd love to show you around our new town!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Jan.Feb.Mar 2011
Fun times in the Williams family! The crazy jumping toddler is the CUTEST!
PS. Be sure to pause the blog music player (to the right) in order to hear the video music.
PS. Be sure to pause the blog music player (to the right) in order to hear the video music.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Moving update
Moving Part One
Three weeks ago we packed up all our belongings, loaded up the moving truck, and moved everything into a storage unit in Bend. We had previously had a giant garage sale and downsized quite a bit, but the truck as well as the storage unit were packed right up to the door! Our house went on the market, and we had several interested lookers before we even left! Then we spent a couple of days at my dad's house outside of Bend just relaxing. Much needed after a very hectic and sleep-deprived two weeks prior! We then headed back to Klamath so Bryan could work, we could fulfill some appointments, and we could clean the empty house.
Moving Part Two
Two weeks ago we loaded all the remaining odds and ends into our trailer, said goodbye to the house, and moved to our temporary location--staying in our RV trailer at my dad's. Brothers Oregon, 40 miles east of Bend, is the picture of "the middle of nowhere". We probably doubled the population when we rolled in. There's no internet (dial up doesn't count!), so our electronic communications are via our phones. But we quickly discovered some of the many benefits of Bend (#1--Costco!) and even met two neighbor kids in Brothers. The next day, I started my new job! So far, it's been going great--although I'd like orientation to move a little faster--and Bryan and the kids are handling the slow-paced country life pretty well.
Moving Part Three
Presently, we have made the decision to move into a rental house. The good news is we do in fact qualify to buy a new house, even though our old house hasn't sold yet. We have found a house that we really like, so we will start the process this week. The bad news is that nearly all the houses for sale are short sales. If you are like me, you may not understand all the complications of a short sale, but there's nothing "short" about it. The process could take two months, or it could take eight months. And it's not guaranteed that our offer would even be accepted. So, with that in mind, and the need to be settled by the time school starts, we felt it was wise to move into a rental house while we wait. Hopefully, that will happen this week!
Moving Part Four
The future phase of moving will happen in a few months when we have finished the buying process. As of this writing, we have no idea when that will actually occur. We are hoping it will at least be before Christmas, but that's no guarantee either. In the meantime, our rental house is less than a mile from my work, and we'll no longer be driving 80 miles a day! AND....we'll have internet!
Thanks to all of you for your help, even what may seem small or insignificant. We appreciate all of you for your support and prayer through this transition!
Three weeks ago we packed up all our belongings, loaded up the moving truck, and moved everything into a storage unit in Bend. We had previously had a giant garage sale and downsized quite a bit, but the truck as well as the storage unit were packed right up to the door! Our house went on the market, and we had several interested lookers before we even left! Then we spent a couple of days at my dad's house outside of Bend just relaxing. Much needed after a very hectic and sleep-deprived two weeks prior! We then headed back to Klamath so Bryan could work, we could fulfill some appointments, and we could clean the empty house.
Moving Part Two
Two weeks ago we loaded all the remaining odds and ends into our trailer, said goodbye to the house, and moved to our temporary location--staying in our RV trailer at my dad's. Brothers Oregon, 40 miles east of Bend, is the picture of "the middle of nowhere". We probably doubled the population when we rolled in. There's no internet (dial up doesn't count!), so our electronic communications are via our phones. But we quickly discovered some of the many benefits of Bend (#1--Costco!) and even met two neighbor kids in Brothers. The next day, I started my new job! So far, it's been going great--although I'd like orientation to move a little faster--and Bryan and the kids are handling the slow-paced country life pretty well.
Moving Part Three
Presently, we have made the decision to move into a rental house. The good news is we do in fact qualify to buy a new house, even though our old house hasn't sold yet. We have found a house that we really like, so we will start the process this week. The bad news is that nearly all the houses for sale are short sales. If you are like me, you may not understand all the complications of a short sale, but there's nothing "short" about it. The process could take two months, or it could take eight months. And it's not guaranteed that our offer would even be accepted. So, with that in mind, and the need to be settled by the time school starts, we felt it was wise to move into a rental house while we wait. Hopefully, that will happen this week!
Moving Part Four
The future phase of moving will happen in a few months when we have finished the buying process. As of this writing, we have no idea when that will actually occur. We are hoping it will at least be before Christmas, but that's no guarantee either. In the meantime, our rental house is less than a mile from my work, and we'll no longer be driving 80 miles a day! AND....we'll have internet!
Thanks to all of you for your help, even what may seem small or insignificant. We appreciate all of you for your support and prayer through this transition!
Monday, June 6, 2011
The Williams family has an announcement
The Williams family has an announcement! (No, not pregnant…..)
I (Jill) have accepted a job at the hospice in Bend, Oregon so…..WE’RE MOVING! The hospice is called Partners In Care and they have several divisions: hospice, home health, hospice house, and transitions. I will be the Patient Care Coordinator of the hospice division. It’s a great opportunity for me, and it seems to be a perfect match. I have seen their hospice in the past and have admired them from afar, having no idea I would ever leave my current hospice. We’ve also visited the Bend area several times and have felt it’s a really great place. So it’s a good move on all levels!
This has been a journey of obedience to God’s direction, and in so doing we have already experienced His abundant blessings on our family.…and we know there is more yet to come! Bryan and I both have been learning a lot about God’s faithful plan for us, and we are “confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” Philippians 1:6
Right now, we need some serious prayer!
My new job starts on June 27, so we will be moving during the week prior…..which is less than three weeks! We will keep our current cell phones, and will let you know when we have a permanent address. And if you’d like to come help us out during the next two weeks, we’ll take it!
· Bryan to complete the multiple fix-it projects that are needed before we put the house on the market in two weeks.
· Jill to pack, sort, clean, and prepare for an open house garage sale in less than 5 days….while still working full time.
· Jill completing the final days/weeks of work at Klamath Hospice and the many details of finishing critical projects and training co-workers to fill the absence.
· Kaela, Graeson, and Maezie to keep their child-like excitement about the new adventure.
· A buyer for our house….quickly. We KNOW God will sell our house, even in this bad economy, even this house which is in no way ready to sell. But we can’t even pursue a new house until our house is completely sold.
· The transition of moving our belongings to storage while we camp out in our RV for a few weeks to get settled in the new town, and possibly pursue a rental house.
· Most of all….that we would be a witness of God’s faithfulness and His reign in our lives, to all we encounter throughout this whirlwind transition.
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