Final Post

And so what I've learned is this.....

If I had never lived in a camper for 3 weeks I would never have fallen quite so deeply in love with our current home. You see, our house in Waverly was about 1100 sq/ft. Not tiny but not large. The layout was horrendous though for a family. So in my searching for houses, when we thought we would be buying, I was only looking for a certain "house". Our current house was on the market then, very in our price range. I remember not even looking at it because the 2 car garage takes up half the basement. Since moving in however (we are renting) I have completely fallen in love with it! The layout is PERFECT! There is more storage than I have EVER seen in a house this size! It fits us so well! I had even prayed for 2 toilet HOLES! :) and there is just that...a toilet in the middle of the laundry room in the basement! HAHAHAHAHA!! Size doesn't seem terribly important anymore...after the camper :). 
I've noticed some changes in myself also. I am blessed enough to currently be able to spend most of my time at home with my boys. This is a huge blessing after working for Jacks first 4 years of life! We live in a little town in Iowa, about 20 minutes from the nearest Walmart. So I've learned to plan my shopping better and have noticed a huge decrease in the amount of money I spend. I've noticed that the life of wealth and big, nice houses, nice expensive clothes, second story, real table cloth restaurants :)  aren't as appealing as they once were. I see them differently now...almost synonymous with working way too many hours, never spending time with your family, having to fight continually to keep up with the Jones and not having time to enjoy the simple parts of life. 
I don't know if any of this makes any sense to anyone else or not but I feel a bit like I am finally coming into my 33 year old self. :) And I am quite happy and content and rather comfortable with it! 
And so I end this blog on living a Simpler Life by wishing you the same...find contentment in your life wherever that may be. May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you, and give you peace....
Gina Bee  

Honestly....

So it seems that the title of this blog, Life Simplified, isn't so appropriate any more. At least not for most things. I suppose, yes, this Beldin family is still temporarily living with less. We've now moved all of our belongs to a storage unit in Nevada until at least the end of October.(..more on that in a minute.) So we are still living with a limited amount of "stuff". I've tried to not bring too many more clothes or things to our new "home". So technically we are still living simply. But speaking of our new "home" have I mentioned that we are now living with my parents in their house? They bought a house on the north side of Maxwell that is perfect for them...at least perfect for JUST them. :) Don't get me wrong. I am SO THANKFUL to have a roof over my head (that's high enough so I don't wack my head every night crawling into bed) and a real kitchen. I am also incredibly grateful to my parents for sharing their space. But I think any time you put this many generations of one family under one roof there will be times...well lets just say that there have been days when living in the camper looks like a pleasant alternative. There does seem to be an end in sight though: We, quite by accident actually, found a house to rent in Maxwell! The location is perfect. It has been on the market (the size is a bit small so we hadn't really thought too much about it on the purchase side) for a while now and the owners haven't been able to sell. In a small town, word gets around and Waaaa Laaa! They need a renter and we need a house. As soon as we sign up someone to rent ours we're golden. :) We had several people look last weekend and hope to have it signed on the dotted line this weekend. Due to the current owners time line we won't be able to move into OUR rental until the end of October. But still, I can actually see the light...
Life actually isn't slower as I had hoped though....Since I am no longer working full time I was, naivly, thinking my life would slow a bit. WRONG! It's just as cram packed as ever. Add in applesauce making with Mom and Jackson, Little Lambs for Jack (did you know they have Pathfinder programs for 4 y/o's now!? btw if you're not an Adventist you won't understand that :)) Preschool, the days I do work, and trading kid watching with my friends, well you get my drift.
But I am happy here in my new/old home state! It's an amazingly gorgeous fall season. (I am severly jealous of my parents! They are going up to Deluth, MN for the next couple days to see the trees and take a day trip on a train!) And still through everything I am finding my nitch and thanking God for my blessings...
till next time
Gina Bee

Changes

Sept 16, 2012

After 3 weeks of living in the camper, our living arrangements changed again. (goodbye songs sung to the happy camper and no guarantee's that Mommy will ever camp again....) Really, it wasn't bad at all. Yes, there were definitely times of "closeness" :). But all in all our little camper adventure really was an adventure. Jackson, especially loved camping! (well and living in Alan's yard for a built in playmate) The camper had everything we REALLY needed and even some amenities. We've live through 4 weeks of no TV! (besides Jackson's occasional Thomas or Veggitales) We were dry and warm (or cool depending), had running water, a flush toilet, shower and tub and the great out of doors to entertain.
Now we're on to another part of our adventure. Because our house in Waverly has not sold, we have moved in with my parents. They purchased a 3 bedroom house in Maxwell and moved in last Sunday. We Beldin's live in the two bedrooms and bath on one end of the house while my parents have definitely FILLED the rest! (I think this house is about 1/3rd the size of their previous home!) Our first week residing together as an extended family hasn't been too bad. I know there is trepidation on both sides. My father and I tend to butt heads quite a bit, so I am working on minding my tongue. And of course putting small children in the mix, there are always multiple people ready to instruct and discipline....which isn't bad.....just when all the people try to do it at the same time. Tends to confuse the little ones.
A new development has shown it's smiling face also! Through the grapevine in Maxwell, we found out that one of the houses for sale in town could possibly be up for rent. We met with the owner and looked through the house. It would work perfectly!! And the rent is the same as our current mortgage which we know we can financially handle. So this week a "FOR RENT" sign will appear in our Waverly yard with the hopes that it will quickly be filled. If all goes as planned we will move into a HOUSE!!!! the end of October. Finally I feel like I can see a light! One of the hardest parts for me all along this adventure has been the complete unknown of when it would end. No proverbial light at the end of the tunnel....no end in sight....I think that wore on me more than anything else. 
Since our internet service is still a bit complicated, I am over at Mandy's using her wireless. My list of things to find and do while connected to the great world wide web :) is rather long. So I'll end this post on a very happy note:
Soon,  we will again be living in a house by ourselves!!!

A brighter Gina Bee

Confessions

I must confess that while we are very blessed....Iam tired of doll house sized amenities....does that make me a complex person instead of more simplified? I know, I know...what would going to bed be without tiptoing through an 8 inch wide space to my bed and smacking my head on the cupboard above our bed every night? And just in case you wondered, no, clean or dirty laundry does not fit anywhere in a camper very well...especially not in the "living" area, unless you wanna just walk on it. I miss a REAL kitchen even though I have a mini sized everything (well except a dishwasher...I don't count as mini sized :).
Here's a visual image to make you laugh. I was taking the boys over to Mom and Dad's this afternoon. It was after nap time but the boys were a DISASTER! I had to make 3 trips back and forth to the van. The boys just drug along after me...both howling to beat the band. Back and forth, back and forth. I even tried howling right along with them....they just got louder. Fail.... so I gave up and laughed. What else could I do?? I did ask Mandy if she wanted to trade kids....she said no. She could probably hear them from the house.
Well, since my things to write about are pretty dull tonight, I'll just quit for now. Nothing new on housing as of now. Finding that my faith is straining some as my prayers seem to fall on deaf ears....even though I KNOW this to be untrue.
Nighty night,
gina bee

Simplified

Sept. 2, 2012, Sunday

There has been so much going on this last week and I haven't had time to write until today. So I'll recap some of the high points....ok, and some of the low points too.
This week actually felt alot better over all. It felt like we were getting into a bit of a routine. I worked Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday so Josh and I didn't see each other til Thursday again. The time seemed to go faster this time though. I spent Thursday just doing normal Mommy things. Cleaning, entertaining the kids, spending some times with the hubby. It felt really good! Josh and I were sitting under the awning around lunchtime on Thursday just chatting and watching the boys. We realized that we haven't watched TV in 2 weeks! Josh never hooked up the High Def. receiver thingy. I guess the thought had crossed my mind but I really didn't have time to watch anything anyway. Jackson watches some VeggieTales or Thomas. But that's about it for TV time. It's been a really nice reprieve. I think that's why it feels like Josh and I have actually talked more even though we see each other less! Hmmm....must have been a little sad the very small amount of time we've actually been spending communicating.
We spend a LOT of time outside, mostly because the camper is so small but also because it's hard to contain little boys. Even though it's been hot Jackson especially LOVES it outside and LOVES having a constant playmate with Alan right next door!
It looks like this may be our 3rd and final week of camper living. My parents have closed on their new house in Maxwell and have offered to let us move in with them til things get all sorted out. There are good and bad sides to that. It's with some trepidation that we move in. But with only 1 more house showing in the last month, there isn't much change in sight with the selling of our house.
We headed back to Lincoln again this weekend. With it being the holiday weekend, Josh's mom came down to Lincoln to see us kids. Honestly, it's a lot harder for me to come back to our house here than I thought it would be. There's a lot of strange emotions. And practically, all of my staples in the kitchen are in the camper...I found that out at 7am on Sabbath morning while trying to fix Sabbath dinner. That was quickly followed by an early trip to WalMart with my early riser, Owen.  Sabbath seems to always be a rough day for this Mommy and this one was no exception. The day held lots of tears...and that was before we left for church! But the weekend improved and today (Sunday) was lots of fun. All of us spent most of the day in Omaha doing some shopping and enjoying some of the unique parts of Omaha. We found the built in slides in downtown! We had a blast on those! (some pics on facebook).
This next week will include lots of helping at Nana and Papa's house. I only work a half day on Thursday and a half day on Saturday. So this week will be time to be a stay at "home" Mommy and do some budget planning.
Ta Ta for now,
Gina Bee

Another Sabbath

August 25, 2012

I needed Sabbath this week. In all honesty, I had yet to shed a tear with all the stress I felt like I was hauling around. By the time we made it to our "weekend home" in Waverly, I lost it. I laid on the couch and bawled my eyes out. Owen patted my arm, Jack tried to climb all over me and Josh tried to get Jack to understand that sometimes you just need to let stress out. Hard for little kids to understand I guess. The boys are really giving us a run for our money the last couple of days. It really takes both of us to keep things on the ground, so to speak. Josh made an astute comment this morning on the way to church. He said, "I told the guys at work I'd be hard pressed to ever get my wife to go camping again." Hmmmmm....thinking we might as well sell the camper when we're done with this little adventure and no, don't ever plan on me camping again...

 I took Jack to his SS (made poor Josh go with Owen cause I couldn't handle running after him like a banshie for an hour!). Jack acted like a pro! When it came time for the story, the teacher started by asking if anyone had ever been camping. As Jackson's hand went up, I slipped off my chair like a pile of jello mumbling something about you HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!! (ok so I stayed on my chair but barely!) Thank the Lord for some really good friends at church who helped boost me up today! Janell, you were amazing and the Lord sent you to me today!!! Taryn, I am so glad I make you laugh! Darla, just keep telling me that the Lord has a plan.

I am sitting at Barnes and Noble right now for a brief respite from my boys but I don't want to leave them to climbing Daddy like a tree for too long! So, we'll load up what we forgot on the last trip and head back to "home" for week #2 tomorrow. This will be the last week of Josh and I not seeing each other for 4 days. My schedule will be light and quite varied for the next few weeks until my co-worker has her baby (due Sept. 22). Thank you for your prayers and thoughts!
Gina Bee

1 week in

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Well, it's been 1 week since we parked our home away from home in Maxwell. And since we're not mincing words, it's been a bit rough...but maybe not as rough as I thought??? My job went very well this week! I am already drawing blood and running lab tests as well as taking xrays. I really like the group of people I work with! The only down side to all that is that the clinic is in Waukee which takes me 45 min, at least, of driving each way.
The other other major rough part is that I haven't laid my eyes on Josh since Sunday night. We've talked on the phone every day and the boys get to see him every day though. Really they get the same amount of Daddy time as they did before, just in the middle of the day and lunchtime. I'll finally get to see him today. (Yippee!) I don't work again til Monday and tonight is Josh's last work night this week. 
This morning and tmw morning Iam watching all four kids (Mandy and Ronald's 2 also) until the daddy's wake up about 11am. Tonight is my dad's retirement party in Pella at the Country Club. So the boys and I will head down when Daddy goes to work. I am SO excited that my dad is finally retiring!!!
In some ways, it's easier today then in the beginning. But I know I still have lots to learn. I have to remember a big list of things when we go to Lincoln this weekend. I need warmer clothes for the boys and I have to put some of the 15 blankets that I took out, back into the camper. :) So much for trying to bring less. There are some things that I brought that we haven't used....like our bicycles. Haven't had much time for those.
Hmmm....smelling a not so nice smell oozing from Owen so must go for now. My access to internet is a bit limited now as the wireless from the house doesn't reach the camper. So if posts are a little further apart you know why.
Tatttttaaaa for now
1 week in
Gina Bee