The Big Move

So here I am living in Minnesota again. The move went very smoothly. Jeff and I spent the beginning of the week getting all packed up. Wednesday evening, we had 12-15 people from Cornerstone Church help us get everything loaded into the U-Haul. We spent the night on an air mattress at the empty house and finished cleaning and signing papers before we pulled out on Thursday morning. Thursday night about 10 people from River's Edge Church helped us to unload on this end.

I'm focusing on getting the kitchen in order first since I need to be able to fix meals. I have it just about done except for the box that has my pots and pans, crock pot, and toaster; that would be the box that we can't find. It's in the storage unit someplace, but even after digging some tonight we still couldn't find it. I'll have to live without it until we can get back in the storage unit and spend several hours dragging everything out and then re-stacking it all.

I'm sure some of you are wondering how I did with saying goodbye and leaving Zach, Andrea, and the kids behind. I could have gotten pretty emotional the last week or two, but I just keep trying not to think about it. The last two days have been pretty busy with moving and unpacking, but I know that at some point I will have to deal with my feelings. I can tell you right now that I will miss them like crazy!

My Hair Cut

Okay, it's not really a cut, but a trim. I had my mom cut a couple of inches off the ends of my hair yesterday when she was visiting. I haven't had it cut or even trimmed up in more than 2 years. At first I just didn't want to cut any length off. I was very happy to have my hair long after not having hair. But for the last few months, I've known that it needed trimmed up; the ends were really starting to be uneven and ragged. Then I kept thinking how busy I was and that I didn't have time.

The truth is, I just couldn't bear to cut my hair even though it was looking bad. I guess being bald for so long during chemo really affected my thoughts about my hair. (I'm just happy to have some no matter how bad it looks!) Yes, my hair is different today than before cancer. It used to be very thick and now it isn't. It came back very curly, but now the curl is gone and it just has a lot of body, which is similar to before cancer.

I must admit that it looks much better now. I should have had it trimmed a long time ago.

My Baby and His Baby

This is a picture of my oldest son, Zach, and his youngest daughter, Khloe. Khloe is 3 1/2 months old and as you can see, she is very healthy! There is no one to blame for her chubbiness except for Zach's side of the family. Both Zach and Josh (especially Josh) were very plump when they were babies. Apparently, Zach passed that trait on to Khloe. She is a very happy baby that adores her big brother and sister. She recently learned to roll from her back to her front and within a few day was able to roll on to her back again. She is so cuddly and fun to play with. I love her so much!

Zach has been working overnights at Woodward Academy for the last 15 months or so. It has been tough on him and the family for him to work those hours. Trying to sleep during the day with kids running around playing in the next room has left him sleep deprived more time than he can remember. A few weeks ago he got the call he has been anxiously waiting for: He has been moved to the evening shift! Last night was his first day on the new shift. I think he is going to like his new assignment.

Free Things on Craigslist

The other day I was telling Jeff that I wish that I could get a sandbox for Bryce and Hailey. They live in a duplex where they have some yard space and I thought it would be fun for them this summer. Later that night, Jeff was looking on craigslist at the items that are for free (something he regularly does) and there it was: a Step-One Crab Sandbox for free. Twenty-four hours later, we were the proud owner of a little red sandbox - one that would have cost about $70 brand new.

Jeff brought it down with him when he came on Sunday. We got it set up for the kids with 300 lbs. of sand and some sand toys. They are so excited. Bryce went to preschool and told his teacher and friends all about his new sandbox. Hailey was barefooted the first day and when I put her in the sandbox, she screamed when her feet touched the sand and then she refused to let her feet get in it again. By the second day, she would touch her feet to the sand, pull them out, then jump up and down giggling. It won't be long before they are getting totally covered in sand!