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
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Thursday, August 23, 2012
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
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
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Sabbath thanksgivings
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Today seemed pretty normal considering this would be something we would do with our friends on the weekend. We went to church in Ankeny. The sermon was on words and since I rarely get to enjoy sermons due to small over active children, it was a luxury! But since it's Sabbath I was reminded again to consider my blessings instead of my misfortunes. Our home away from home has running water, even hot water!, an indoor toilet, air conditioning (although we don't need it now), heat, comfortable places to sleep and a working fridge/freezer to keep our food in. Really, more could we ask for!? There are so many less fortunate people. Today I did thank God for my blessings! Especially for my happy children who had more than enough to keep them happy and occupied and for good friends!
Speaking of air conditioning, it's been 9000 degrees for so long at home that I forgot it might get cooler soon! And in my simplifying I took out most of the extra blankets and only brought 1 pair of jeans/sweatshirt each for the boys and I. Well the heat finally broke. :) It got down to 50 last night. We got out an extra blanket for Jackson, and put a pair of footy jammies on Owie. We did bring a little space heater that has come in handy in the night and first thing in the morning. Then we leave everything open during the day and it's been quite pleasant even though we are fighting flies! (on a funny note, I put up one of those old fashioned sticky fly traps...I think Josh has been stuck to it more than the flies!!! HAHAHAHA). But my list of things to get when we go back to Lincoln next weekend is growing!
I ask for your prayers once again as Josh and I both will begin our new jobs on Monday. We are both nervous but Josh more so than me cause I've been working a "conventional" job at all hours for years now. But this is a big change for him, not only in what he'll be doing but in hours; he will be working four 10's, from 3:45pm to 2am Monday thru Thursday.
(while listening to James Taylor's Fire and Rain)
a thankful
Gina Bee
Friday, August 17, 2012
Another day....
Many apologies for the despairing sound coming from my last post. But after all, I am an honest person who doesn't believe in beating around the bush. What you see/read is what you get. And while we're at being honest....lets just say that our 1st night would probably be counted as a fail...at least if you're counting moments of actual sleep. I didn't get too many....apparently neither did the rest of my family if you consider the melt downs today. (me??? meltdown???? no!!) (Yes, I guess I still have some sense of humor.) Our wonderful hosts have a german shepherd named Molly (she and Ralphie are having a marvelous time). However Molly decided to park under our camper last night and bark... a lot. Add to that, a little Owie who hasn't been feeling very well and a cold Jackson (at least that's what Josh thinks was the trouble) and you don't get much shut eye. Praying that tonight will be better. Otherwise Daddy might drop an extremely crabby Mommy at the side of the road.
There definitely are 2 little people LOVING this entire thing! Alan and Jackson (yes, we call them Alan Jackson too :) spent the entire day riding Alan's little gator and four wheelers all over the yard. I really think the two of them could do that for days at a time! Only once or twice did we have to remind them to NOT RUN EACH OTHER OVER!! (yes, Jack ran poor Alan over "He was trying to stop me Mommy and I wanted to keep going!) and WATCH WHERE YOU ARE GOING!! (as Jack runs into a tree).
I finished all the things I needed to for starting Orientation on Monday and timed my drive time for work. It takes me a good 45 minutes to get from Maxwell (home) to Waukee where I'll be working. Yikes. Will be finding more books on tape from the library...or maybe I'll take up a foreign language. Oh well, it's a nice change of job (I know, everyone thinks I'll be bored out of my gourd.) And I'm covering part of someones maternity leave so it's not even a permanent schedule.
I will try to get pictures posted tomorrow of our home. Oh, you should have seen Owen dancing tonight! We put on Veggie Tales for an extremely tired Jackson and Owen decided it was good dancing music! Words just don't do it justice!
Keep praying for us as we have NOTHING happening on our house in Waverly. Makes this whole adventure seem even more daunting when there isn't an end in sight. Thank you for taking the time to read my little blog and I hope it brings you at least a chuckle...
Off to a hopefully restful Sabbath (our church day if you don't know, is Saturday)
Gina Bee
oh, btw, my Mr. Fix It fixed the fridge and after thinking we would need a WHOLE NEW TOILET!!! fixed it too!! wooohoo
There definitely are 2 little people LOVING this entire thing! Alan and Jackson (yes, we call them Alan Jackson too :) spent the entire day riding Alan's little gator and four wheelers all over the yard. I really think the two of them could do that for days at a time! Only once or twice did we have to remind them to NOT RUN EACH OTHER OVER!! (yes, Jack ran poor Alan over "He was trying to stop me Mommy and I wanted to keep going!) and WATCH WHERE YOU ARE GOING!! (as Jack runs into a tree).
I finished all the things I needed to for starting Orientation on Monday and timed my drive time for work. It takes me a good 45 minutes to get from Maxwell (home) to Waukee where I'll be working. Yikes. Will be finding more books on tape from the library...or maybe I'll take up a foreign language. Oh well, it's a nice change of job (I know, everyone thinks I'll be bored out of my gourd.) And I'm covering part of someones maternity leave so it's not even a permanent schedule.
I will try to get pictures posted tomorrow of our home. Oh, you should have seen Owen dancing tonight! We put on Veggie Tales for an extremely tired Jackson and Owen decided it was good dancing music! Words just don't do it justice!
Keep praying for us as we have NOTHING happening on our house in Waverly. Makes this whole adventure seem even more daunting when there isn't an end in sight. Thank you for taking the time to read my little blog and I hope it brings you at least a chuckle...
Off to a hopefully restful Sabbath (our church day if you don't know, is Saturday)
Gina Bee
oh, btw, my Mr. Fix It fixed the fridge and after thinking we would need a WHOLE NEW TOILET!!! fixed it too!! wooohoo
Thursday, August 16, 2012
today
Thursday, August....???? can't remember
To be completely honest, today has been hazardous to my health and my sanity. The boys and I were staying "with" my parents. (in quotes because they are in a camper for a few more days too.) Owen woke up with a runny nose yesterday and now has a cough to go with it. Josh got left later than expected from Lincoln with our new "home". So I stayed with Mom through the boys nap time and then headed up to Maxwell. Unbeknownst to me (Josh thought he told me) he had to drop of the camper and head directly back into Des Moines to pick up a car. Long story but by the time I got here, there was no one here. The electricity was hooked up but that was it. By the time Josh got back we figured out that the fridge in the camper wasn't working. The freezer was but no fridge...then Josh flushed the toilet. Apparently it is shooting water at you.... What a way to kick off our adventure. We ended up at IHOP for supper and made a quick run into Walmart for ice for the cooler among other things. No point in getting all our groceries til we figure out where we're going to put them.
I guess it could have been a lot worse. But I seem to have spent most of the day feeling like a very tired, beat up bird who can't find a place to land. So at this point, the safest thing to do is go to bed...so off I go.
a very crabby, tired
Gina Bee
To be completely honest, today has been hazardous to my health and my sanity. The boys and I were staying "with" my parents. (in quotes because they are in a camper for a few more days too.) Owen woke up with a runny nose yesterday and now has a cough to go with it. Josh got left later than expected from Lincoln with our new "home". So I stayed with Mom through the boys nap time and then headed up to Maxwell. Unbeknownst to me (Josh thought he told me) he had to drop of the camper and head directly back into Des Moines to pick up a car. Long story but by the time I got here, there was no one here. The electricity was hooked up but that was it. By the time Josh got back we figured out that the fridge in the camper wasn't working. The freezer was but no fridge...then Josh flushed the toilet. Apparently it is shooting water at you.... What a way to kick off our adventure. We ended up at IHOP for supper and made a quick run into Walmart for ice for the cooler among other things. No point in getting all our groceries til we figure out where we're going to put them.
I guess it could have been a lot worse. But I seem to have spent most of the day feeling like a very tired, beat up bird who can't find a place to land. So at this point, the safest thing to do is go to bed...so off I go.
a very crabby, tired
Gina Bee
Monday, August 13, 2012
Getting closer....
Monday, August 13, 2012
More changes...but that seems to be par for the course. It looks like the boys and I will be going over a day early (Tuesday) in order to go to the Iowa State Fair on Wednesday with my Mom. Josh says going to the fair isn't a very good reason to rearrange so many things. Obviously, he didn't grow up in Iowa with the BEST STATE FAIR EVER!! :) (sorry couldn't help myself)
Now to be completely fair, I have to respond to a comment on facebook about this whole thing. Kate, dear, I laughed out loud when I read your comment about being calm, cool and collected etc.! Josh snorted....you should have seen me the day before I started this!! Didn't Jon tell you that you could cut the air with a knife while he was here??? Yeah, not so cool or collected.... :) But that was very sweet of you!! So currently I think I've only had 5 fits of stress.........
But back to our little life...so Josh will drive over with our "home" on Thursday. Then we will plant ourselves. Not sure how else to put it. Today I think I made 50 trips back and forth between house and camper and Josh made at least 30. But it's starting to seem more complete. In an effort to increase our comfort we traded out our camper mattress for the AMAZING mattress from our spare room. So that bed is now made and awaiting pillows. The kitchen is mostly stocked with the basics although I'm waiting until the plant to go grocery shopping. (We've been using stuff up the last couple of days.) Tonight, I got both boys clothes and all of mine sorted...several times....and ready to be smashed in somewhere. :) The stacks looked fairly big so I kept sorting stuff out. I'll try to get a picture of the "pile" posted tmw.
Also, I have to get the house mostly cleaned up for any potential buyers to come look at. (So come on over and line up at the door!!!" Josh will have to load the fridge (yikes!) and some last minute things before he comes over. But unless I get him a list made it might be a little sketchy. He does pretty good but he also comes from the line of thought that includes, "if you didn't bring it, we know where WalMart is." Keep having to remind myself that we're not going into the Sahara with no stores for 100 miles. :)
On a slightly sad note, the Olympics are now over. I LOVE the Olympics! But at least now I can get a few more things done between 7 and 11pm! ;) Bedtime has now arrived so off I go. It's getting harder to sleep at night as it seems like my brain is working overtime. Might have to do some reading to get in the sleepy "mood".
T-2 (I think, but it's getting harder to know)
Gina-Bee
More changes...but that seems to be par for the course. It looks like the boys and I will be going over a day early (Tuesday) in order to go to the Iowa State Fair on Wednesday with my Mom. Josh says going to the fair isn't a very good reason to rearrange so many things. Obviously, he didn't grow up in Iowa with the BEST STATE FAIR EVER!! :) (sorry couldn't help myself)
Now to be completely fair, I have to respond to a comment on facebook about this whole thing. Kate, dear, I laughed out loud when I read your comment about being calm, cool and collected etc.! Josh snorted....you should have seen me the day before I started this!! Didn't Jon tell you that you could cut the air with a knife while he was here??? Yeah, not so cool or collected.... :) But that was very sweet of you!! So currently I think I've only had 5 fits of stress.........
But back to our little life...so Josh will drive over with our "home" on Thursday. Then we will plant ourselves. Not sure how else to put it. Today I think I made 50 trips back and forth between house and camper and Josh made at least 30. But it's starting to seem more complete. In an effort to increase our comfort we traded out our camper mattress for the AMAZING mattress from our spare room. So that bed is now made and awaiting pillows. The kitchen is mostly stocked with the basics although I'm waiting until the plant to go grocery shopping. (We've been using stuff up the last couple of days.) Tonight, I got both boys clothes and all of mine sorted...several times....and ready to be smashed in somewhere. :) The stacks looked fairly big so I kept sorting stuff out. I'll try to get a picture of the "pile" posted tmw.
Also, I have to get the house mostly cleaned up for any potential buyers to come look at. (So come on over and line up at the door!!!" Josh will have to load the fridge (yikes!) and some last minute things before he comes over. But unless I get him a list made it might be a little sketchy. He does pretty good but he also comes from the line of thought that includes, "if you didn't bring it, we know where WalMart is." Keep having to remind myself that we're not going into the Sahara with no stores for 100 miles. :)
On a slightly sad note, the Olympics are now over. I LOVE the Olympics! But at least now I can get a few more things done between 7 and 11pm! ;) Bedtime has now arrived so off I go. It's getting harder to sleep at night as it seems like my brain is working overtime. Might have to do some reading to get in the sleepy "mood".
T-2 (I think, but it's getting harder to know)
Gina-Bee
Friday, August 10, 2012
The Beginning
August 10, 2012
So being inspired by a friend who did a similar very inspiring blog (thank you Kendra!) and out of necessity (stress can kill you don't you know!) I decided to focus on living a simpler life and write a blog about it. I've often wondered about what life would be like without so much 'stuff'. It's so easy to fall into the "poor me" mind set and forget that as American's we are some of the wealthiest people in the world. I want to remember exactly how blessed my family is. So we'll be packing only the necessities into our camper and we'll focus on living life simplified! I hope that you enjoy my little ramblings and perhaps you will also see your blessings in a different light.
T - 4 (you know, take off minus 4 days?)
nighty night
Gina-bee
"Just consider it a modern version of 'walk to school uphill both ways, in the snow, barefoot.' It's an adventure! Just keep thinking of it as an ADVENTURE!" - my friend JeffOur adventure will begin in 4 days when we move into 30 foot camper for an unidentified period of time. "We" is my husband, Josh, myself, Jackson 4 y/o, Owen 1 1/2 y/o, and Ralphie our Shitzu. How did we get here you ask? Here's the nutshell version: We currently live in an 1100 sq/ft house in Waverly, Nebraska. But we've excepted jobs outside of Des Moines, Iowa. Our home has yet to sell (note the positivity oozing from this statement) and until that happens we are at a bit of a standstill on housing. Today was my last day working for St. Elizabeth. Josh and I both begin our new jobs on Monday, Aug. 20th. Therefore, on Wednesday, the 14th, we will be moving into our 30 ft, 1979 goose neck, travel trailer. We are blessed enough to have friends who will be letting us park on their country property right next door to them.
So being inspired by a friend who did a similar very inspiring blog (thank you Kendra!) and out of necessity (stress can kill you don't you know!) I decided to focus on living a simpler life and write a blog about it. I've often wondered about what life would be like without so much 'stuff'. It's so easy to fall into the "poor me" mind set and forget that as American's we are some of the wealthiest people in the world. I want to remember exactly how blessed my family is. So we'll be packing only the necessities into our camper and we'll focus on living life simplified! I hope that you enjoy my little ramblings and perhaps you will also see your blessings in a different light.
T - 4 (you know, take off minus 4 days?)
nighty night
Gina-bee
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