Short post

OK so it is almost time to cook dinner -- but then everytime I go to post it is almost time to do something and I put it off again. When last I wrote, I believe that J & L were coming for the weekend. We had a wonderful time with them. They seemed to like the house and loved our view. We are settling in well in Cleveland, TN. Mark had a Kairos weekend two weeks ago and Barbershop contest this past weekend. He wasn't thrilled with their performance at contest and we talked about what the first place choruses have that a small chorus from a small town does not and I think he was more content after our talk. I am busy, busy, busy. M, W and F I go to the YMCA for water exercise. Tues I do the arthritis exercise tape with the group at church and then Thursday morning I volunteer at the Library checking in books. I work with the prayer shawl ministry making things out of yarn for other people and for our up coming craft show that I couldn't interest my kids or kid-in-laws in. Monday night is handbells, Tuesday night Mark has barbershop, Wednesday night is WOW (Wednesday at Wesley) and choir. Once a month I go to Newcomers, Healthy Women, Spice of Life at church, and we both go to Emmaus gatherings. When did I have time to work? I'm still reading, doing puzzles, and cross stitching. The blanket for baby is almost done but since I rammed the needle into my thumb the other day I've had to slow down a bit. People tell me she won't be traumatized for life if it is not done for her arrival but still.....
Pork Chops, Baked potatoes and veggies are calling me to the kitchen to be cooked so I'll sign off for now.

Company This Weekend

It has been almost 4 years since we have had company at our house. Jack and Linda are coming on Saturday. We are so excited! Jack spent the week at Space Camp in Huntsville, AL so I'm sure we will hear all about it. The upstairs is finished (more or less -- we are still waiting for kitchen appliances). But there are still alot of boxes in the lower level. (Dad's level -- are we surprised?)
We went to an estate auction on Labor Day and the heirs broke into a fist fight. That was exciting. I got a very small table at a garage sale to use as a telephone table in the kitchen. I also got a desk for the family computer at the Habitat for Humanity Store. I'm really happy with the desk. It is big enough to have the monitor far enough away and has drawers for things needed at the computer. It was brand new but had a couple of rubbed places on it for $35. What a deal. It does weigh a ton but Dad and I got it in the house an inch at a time.
We are making plans for Christmas in Denver and a quick trip at baby time in October. Dad will still have some leave left so we are considering a Thanksgiving cruise to Mexico and points South.
We finally made up our minds that this one particular oven could be made to work in the space available in the kitchen. I went in to Lowe's to order it and the company (GE) had stopped making that model. And it only took us 6 weeks to make up our minds... go figure. Anyway I came home and started looking on line. I found a place that said they could get it so I ordered it. When I got an e-mail saying it was backordered I figured that was it. We would have to wait for the new model to come out and then start measuring all over again. Well, a week later they said it had shipped. So now we are anxiously waiting for that to arrive. Our cooktop was ordered from Lowe's and should be in about Sept. 17th. (Can't wait) Since we will be installing the microwave on a shelf above the single oven, (rather than built-in) we went ahead and bought a microwave. I have been using it every meal and loving it. Nothing like cooking on a hot plate for 2 months to make you appreciate the small things in life.
I'm reading the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for book club and loving it. Also reading the Quilt Apprentice (the first in the Elm Creek Quilt series) and enjoying it as well. I did something the other day that I rarely do. I re-read a book. I wanted to continue the Landover series and couldn't figure out where I left off so I re-read Magic Kingdom for Sale -- Sold by Terry Brooks now I can go on to Black Unicorn.

OK, so I'm thinking "My daughter hasn't posted recently" Then I realized that I haven't posted either. At least not since before the move. We are settling in in TN. I'm down to 7 boxes upstairs. Most of those are the open -- look in -- close variety. We are going to re-do half of our kitchen. I have an appointment on Wed with Lowe's to see what they can do for us. I want a full size oven -- we have the narrow kind that only takes a small cookie sheet now. Also a microwave (you don't realize how much you use one until you don't have one) And a cook top. I've been cooking on a hot plate for a month and I'm tired of it.

Last Saturday we did about half of the TN portion of the Route 127 garage sale which covers 4 states. Dad bought some tables to use in the garage and we saw some great scenery. I'm starting to get involved. I joined the YMCA and go to the arthritis water exercise class 3 times a week. Some parts of me feel better and some hurt more but it will be beneficial in the end. I've also joined a craft group at church that makes prayer shawls and right now is concentrating on making items for a craft sale in November. Mark is singing Barbershop and seems to be enjoying it. We went to our first Emmaus Gathering the other night and he was immediately invited to join the prison ministry team for their next walk at the end of September. We will be going to our first choir rehersal on Wed evening.

So as you can see we are fitting in and trying to find our niches. I've applied to volunteer at the library but so far they haven't contacted me. It is interesting to know that Levy is not the only one that has trouble getting their volunteer applications processed.

I finished Mary Jane Clark's "It Only Takes a Moment" this morning. Marie there is a series you should add to your Amazon want list if you haven't read them already. Well, take care all the I will try to become a more regular poster.

Under Contract

The link the other day didn't work. It went to the entire spread sheet and unless you knew the MLS number or the price it was a pain in the but to try to figure out which one it was. This is the link for the visual tour until they take it down.There was a snafu on the offer paperwork and Mark got real tight jawed about it but Satan will not triumph -- We feel this is where God is leading us. When Mark was at Barbershop the other night he met a friend of his from Albuquerque who lives here now. Truly amazing. Enjoy the pictures. (providing I posted it correctly and it works) Oh Fudge I did it exactly like I learned and the link is not showing up. You can just cut and paste. http://www.visualtour.com/shownp.asp?sk=13&t=1667831 OK so now it works -- I give up.

House Offer Made

After the commercials, the suspense music builds.... We chose House number one. The smallest, the least expensive but the one with the
best views.
http://rcar.p3.fnismls.com/publink/default.aspx?GUID=357289e9-cada-41bb-96fb-8cb122358817&Report=Yes
I don't know if that link will work for you. But it is at 245 Bartlett Circle NE in Cleveland, TN. We have made an offer and are waiting for a response. Stay tuned.

House decision Pending

So we have looked at 21 houses in the last 2.5 days. We have narrowed it down to 3. So which will it be the smallest house (2711 Sq ft) in the newer subdivision with the great views but the maybe scary driveway and a triple garage? Or the 3600 square foot house built in 1974 on the golf course? Or the 3300 square foot house all on one level with the great kitchen, the sun room, the billard room complete with pool table and the great porch with large jacuzi? I feel like I am on househunters. I wish I could just wait for the commerical to be over and find out what we picked. We are seeing all 3 of them again in the morning. Stay tuned.

Book Opinion -- "Crucial Conversations"

Elizabeth, this post is for you. While I was at the Florida Library Association Conference in Orlando last week I finished reading Crucial Conversations: Tools for talking when stakes are high. This book was recommended by Jill and I did enjoy it. The premise is that when it really counts we tend to let our emotions get in the way of important conversations. I read another book (OK so the memory isn't what it used to be -- I don't remember which one) that talked about the short time between action and reaction and how we can use that moment to choose our behavior. This book uses that moment and the moments during the conversation to recognize that: this is a crucial conversation, what is our own behavior, to recognize behaviors in others and WHAT to do about those behaviors. It includes a self test to see what areas the reader is weakest in -- what behaviors we are most likely to employ. Do we use flight or fight (and the different techniques for each) -- how can we change that in ourselves and in others. I really liked the last chapter which recognized that this was alot of information at one time and made suggestions for application and change one piece at a time. The book is full of examples from the work place and from personal relationships as well. Did I identify some of my own behaviors and some of Mark's? You bet. When Mark and I go househunting next week, we will be having several "crucial conversations" Having read this book, I believe that our discussions will be more productive with less stress. Time will tell.