it's not quite what you think. if you are thinking WOW, that was fast, well it was. We still don't close on our house until the end of Aug. and don't plan to move in until Sept 8, however we have had a bit of a hiccup in our plans...
on friday Peter took the day off as he left for camp with the middle schoolers sat morning. his mom asked him to clean out the dryer duck and when he attempted he found a major leak from the hot water heater, that apparently had started some time ago. He also found mold, rotted floors, etc.
well, all this to say, Rita has been forced to get some major repairs done on the home, including removing hot water heater and furnace, replacing water heater, replacing plumbing, replacing floor boards, replacing flooring, and replacing part of a wall. Of course, this is the least amount of work required, it could be much more. So Friday night, we packed up as her water heater was offically broken at that time. We had planned spend the evening at his brother Chris's home for supper. Instead, we packed up our entire lives and moved in with Chris and his girlfriend Emily's home (which they have only lived in for 3 1/2 weeks!) They have been so generous to take us and thank God they have a very large home! The boys have a room, Micaiah has a room, and we have a room! We are so grateful for their generosity and willingness to take in our family of 5 and dog, and act like it's no big deal!
so here we are, now in Sugar Grove. The kids are excited to be here, Bailey loves it (they have a 2 year old puppy who loves to play as much as Bailey) and it is working out really well, though we miss being with grandma every day.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
random pics
Here's what happens now that we get to spend more time with Uncle Chris! the boys thought it was the coolest thing ever!
the inspiration: Elijah asked Chris if he could have a mustache like Papa :o)
as we began packing the car, we noticed Bailey did not want to be left behind !
the last hoo rah with our neighbors!
the inspiration: Elijah asked Chris if he could have a mustache like Papa :o)
as we began packing the car, we noticed Bailey did not want to be left behind !
the last hoo rah with our neighbors!
fyi: the down low on the MOVE
so in a nut shell, here it goes...
being in Chicago area has been something we always thought was is the forecast. Being as most of our family is in this area, or close to it. We could never move to Wisconsin, it is just too darn cold, I am already dreading Chicago winters again. So this was our predicted destination at some point in time. My sister Amy, who currently resides in Australia is due back in the Chicago area for permanent residency around 2009/2010. We thought for sure by then we would head back to this area.
When my dad passed away, a year ago this June, I told Peter I was ready to move back to Chicago. I felt so close to my dad and really enjoyed our relationship as well as his relationship with my kids, but I knew in the back of my head that it could have only been more had we lived closer. A few months later, at the end of August, Peter's dad was diagnosed with stage 4 bone cancer. This diagnosis along with several trips to his home in Batavia over the next 6 months until his passing confirmed a desire in both of our hearts to be back in this area.
The rest is history, grandma's had been to visit us in Cincinnati still, even together at times, but not nearly as often. The relationships we had longed for as well as desired for our children, and our priority of family, made it clear to us that it was time to move on from Cincinnati and find something in the Chicago area.
Peter began searching for a job. During all of this time, Peter had really began to have a passion and a desire to work more on family ministry, rather than just focusing on students. He wants to get parents involved in the spiritual upbringing of their children, train and equip them to be who God wants them to be as parents, so that these student will also grow into who God wants them to be. Horizon (our church in Cinti) was moving in another direction and just beginning their building campaign. It seemed the time for us to move had come.
We have landed in Elgin IL. Well, not quite yet. We are staying with Peter's mom in Batavia until we close on our home, August 30. We found a wonderful church, Christ Community Church , in St. Charles Illinois. We met at this church almost 14 years ago, when we were both in high school. It is a Bible believing, growing, and community reaching church. It is a church we would choose to go to even if Peter did not work there, and we are excited about it! We even know a handful of people from back in the good old days :o) We will be living 4.4 miles from the church, 10 miles from Faith Christian School, an excellent school we feel so privaledged to be able to send Caleb to, 13.7 miles to grandma's. We are excited to be able to hang out with Peter's sister Amy and her children as well as his brother Chris and his girlfriend.
I will post pics of our new home soon!
that's a rap!
(YEAH I FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO PUT A LINK IN MY BLOG!!! I'M A LITTLE BEHIND!)
being in Chicago area has been something we always thought was is the forecast. Being as most of our family is in this area, or close to it. We could never move to Wisconsin, it is just too darn cold, I am already dreading Chicago winters again. So this was our predicted destination at some point in time. My sister Amy, who currently resides in Australia is due back in the Chicago area for permanent residency around 2009/2010. We thought for sure by then we would head back to this area.
When my dad passed away, a year ago this June, I told Peter I was ready to move back to Chicago. I felt so close to my dad and really enjoyed our relationship as well as his relationship with my kids, but I knew in the back of my head that it could have only been more had we lived closer. A few months later, at the end of August, Peter's dad was diagnosed with stage 4 bone cancer. This diagnosis along with several trips to his home in Batavia over the next 6 months until his passing confirmed a desire in both of our hearts to be back in this area.
The rest is history, grandma's had been to visit us in Cincinnati still, even together at times, but not nearly as often. The relationships we had longed for as well as desired for our children, and our priority of family, made it clear to us that it was time to move on from Cincinnati and find something in the Chicago area.
Peter began searching for a job. During all of this time, Peter had really began to have a passion and a desire to work more on family ministry, rather than just focusing on students. He wants to get parents involved in the spiritual upbringing of their children, train and equip them to be who God wants them to be as parents, so that these student will also grow into who God wants them to be. Horizon (our church in Cinti) was moving in another direction and just beginning their building campaign. It seemed the time for us to move had come.
We have landed in Elgin IL. Well, not quite yet. We are staying with Peter's mom in Batavia until we close on our home, August 30. We found a wonderful church, Christ Community Church , in St. Charles Illinois. We met at this church almost 14 years ago, when we were both in high school. It is a Bible believing, growing, and community reaching church. It is a church we would choose to go to even if Peter did not work there, and we are excited about it! We even know a handful of people from back in the good old days :o) We will be living 4.4 miles from the church, 10 miles from Faith Christian School, an excellent school we feel so privaledged to be able to send Caleb to, 13.7 miles to grandma's. We are excited to be able to hang out with Peter's sister Amy and her children as well as his brother Chris and his girlfriend.
I will post pics of our new home soon!
that's a rap!
(YEAH I FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO PUT A LINK IN MY BLOG!!! I'M A LITTLE BEHIND!)
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
our new HOME
it's blue, it's in Chicago! (that's how Caleb describes it)
backyard. It is an english basement, half underground. The bottom windows are actually the basment.
(we went in today for the inspection and showed the kids)
family room
living room
kitchen
backyard. It is an english basement, half underground. The bottom windows are actually the basment.
(we went in today for the inspection and showed the kids)
family room
living room
kitchen
more pics of our new home
dining room
master bedroom
upstairs hallway, all of the light switches are at Micaiah's height! she was exstatic!
I forgot to take pictures of the beautifully finished basement. Guess you will have to wait until Sept.
master bedroom
upstairs hallway, all of the light switches are at Micaiah's height! she was exstatic!
I forgot to take pictures of the beautifully finished basement. Guess you will have to wait until Sept.
Monday, August 06, 2007
yipeeeeeee
a reason to celebrate!!!! I just paid off our car loan! NO MORE CAR PAYMENTS!! and Peter's college debt!!!!!
this is probably personal information I am not suppose to blog about, but I was soooo excited to have all of that debt gone!
this is probably personal information I am not suppose to blog about, but I was soooo excited to have all of that debt gone!
Saturday, August 04, 2007
i love you daddy
Life has been a little crazy lately. Once I did not spread my dad's ashes after I received them, I knew I would find the right time to do it. I thought maybe on the anniversary of his heart attack, or his death. Things got crazy and although he was constantly on my mind, the timing did not work out. Then on my birthday I decided it was time, well of course, with the move and all things are still crazy, but on July 30 I finally had the honor of spreading his ashes. I thought about the moment and what we would do, what it would be like, and where. Things weren't quite as I imgained, but never the less, perfect.
We drove down to Lake Isabella, just 10 minutes from our home in Cincinnati. Dad had taken us fishing there, Caleb learned to hook a worm, and Elijah was just a baby. On the way, I turned on Shania Twain, and I turned it up loud. Elijah said, Mommy is this Papa's favorite. I said, yep it is! It was about 80 degrees and beautifully sunny. We got there and talked to the boys about how Grandpa Sutton had a special spot we could go to and remember him and this was going to be a special spot where we could remember Papa. We remembered back to the day we had been fishing there. Then we asked the boys to tell us some of their favorite things they did with Papa. Caleb said, bunnies and cows and that's it. As I began to think to myself, well that was brief but that's okay i guess, Caleb continued, and trains, and the barn, and on and on he went. I smiled so big to hear him remember. Then it was Elijah's turn. He was just 2 when Papa died and didn't have anything to say. I cried and them reminded him about going to Papa'a cookie store. He said, yeah I went to Papa's cookie store. And of course we let Micaiah listen in as we try to share with her the memories she will never have. It was hard, but it was good. Then we thought we would spread the ashes and well, my dad always had his way of making things more difficult then they needed to be and so he continued. The ashes had solidified a bit and were somewhat difficult to get out. Finally after about 5 minutes they were all out. While we were putting them in the lake, Caleb through a huge rock in the water and I got a big splash, a baptism of sorts I guess? We ended with a prayer, so grateful for the memories and relationship we had with Papa. And to top it off, the moment ended with finding a dead fish washed up to the shore. It was over a foot long and the boys were so fascinated with the dead fish.
So, as I said, not exactly glamourous, but wonderful.
We drove down to Lake Isabella, just 10 minutes from our home in Cincinnati. Dad had taken us fishing there, Caleb learned to hook a worm, and Elijah was just a baby. On the way, I turned on Shania Twain, and I turned it up loud. Elijah said, Mommy is this Papa's favorite. I said, yep it is! It was about 80 degrees and beautifully sunny. We got there and talked to the boys about how Grandpa Sutton had a special spot we could go to and remember him and this was going to be a special spot where we could remember Papa. We remembered back to the day we had been fishing there. Then we asked the boys to tell us some of their favorite things they did with Papa. Caleb said, bunnies and cows and that's it. As I began to think to myself, well that was brief but that's okay i guess, Caleb continued, and trains, and the barn, and on and on he went. I smiled so big to hear him remember. Then it was Elijah's turn. He was just 2 when Papa died and didn't have anything to say. I cried and them reminded him about going to Papa'a cookie store. He said, yeah I went to Papa's cookie store. And of course we let Micaiah listen in as we try to share with her the memories she will never have. It was hard, but it was good. Then we thought we would spread the ashes and well, my dad always had his way of making things more difficult then they needed to be and so he continued. The ashes had solidified a bit and were somewhat difficult to get out. Finally after about 5 minutes they were all out. While we were putting them in the lake, Caleb through a huge rock in the water and I got a big splash, a baptism of sorts I guess? We ended with a prayer, so grateful for the memories and relationship we had with Papa. And to top it off, the moment ended with finding a dead fish washed up to the shore. It was over a foot long and the boys were so fascinated with the dead fish.
So, as I said, not exactly glamourous, but wonderful.
Friday, August 03, 2007
oh my goodness...
it has been a whole month since I have blogged!! well, we have been a bit busy, shall I say.
June 17, we resigned from Horizon community Church in Cincinnati, and had our first attempt at an open house
June 21, house officially on the market
June 26, offer on house
July 7-9 we interviewed for a few perspective jobs in the Chicago area
July 15, accepted a job at Christ Community Church
July 16, put an offer on a house in Elgin IL
Aug 1, closed on our home in Cincinnati and moved to Batavia until the closing on our home in Elgin at the end of this month!
It has been very exciting and very crazy!
Just a few blessings:
*We sold our home buy owner in just a days, really
*We found a job in the Chicago area, very close to famliy and Peter is soooo excited about it, doing middle school ministry and focusing on families
*We found a church we absolutely love!!! This is the church we met at in high school!
*We found a home, a beautiful home, larger and less expensive then what we had been looking at (it is a foreclosure)
*Caleb will be attending kindergarten at Faith Christian School, we are exstatic to be able to send him here!
*Elijah will be able to play soccer (we weren't sure we could find a program for 3 year olds here and he is so looking forward to playing)
*We have found a commmunity that is more diverse and we are excited to have a little more latin around than just our sweet little Micaiah
AND as we have said our many good byes to Cincincinnati we have received more and more blessings.
*our couples small group, celebrated our job change with our traditional Guiness cake (this is amazing) and created a travel box for the kiddos on the road trip as well as a gift card to IKEA
*some friends planned a girl's nite out and a guy's nite out, we all had a blast.
*we spent almost everyday hanging out with friends and packed the house up in 2 1/2 weeks inbetween social events
*our neighborhood friends, planned an amazing night out as our last hooo-rah. (unfortunately, I got sick and spent the evening throwing up in my friend Tony and Jen's bed all night), however everyone else enjoyed the night out! thanks for the bed again guys, it was much better than sleeping in my empty house :o) they also made the most amazing digital photo scrapbook with lots of pictures of us hanging out with our neighbors over the past 5 years! IT was AWESOME!! Maybe I can try to figure out how to blog it?
we miss Cincinnati and everyone we left behind, but we are so very grateful to be HOME!
June 17, we resigned from Horizon community Church in Cincinnati, and had our first attempt at an open house
June 21, house officially on the market
June 26, offer on house
July 7-9 we interviewed for a few perspective jobs in the Chicago area
July 15, accepted a job at Christ Community Church
July 16, put an offer on a house in Elgin IL
Aug 1, closed on our home in Cincinnati and moved to Batavia until the closing on our home in Elgin at the end of this month!
It has been very exciting and very crazy!
Just a few blessings:
*We sold our home buy owner in just a days, really
*We found a job in the Chicago area, very close to famliy and Peter is soooo excited about it, doing middle school ministry and focusing on families
*We found a church we absolutely love!!! This is the church we met at in high school!
*We found a home, a beautiful home, larger and less expensive then what we had been looking at (it is a foreclosure)
*Caleb will be attending kindergarten at Faith Christian School, we are exstatic to be able to send him here!
*Elijah will be able to play soccer (we weren't sure we could find a program for 3 year olds here and he is so looking forward to playing)
*We have found a commmunity that is more diverse and we are excited to have a little more latin around than just our sweet little Micaiah
AND as we have said our many good byes to Cincincinnati we have received more and more blessings.
*our couples small group, celebrated our job change with our traditional Guiness cake (this is amazing) and created a travel box for the kiddos on the road trip as well as a gift card to IKEA
*some friends planned a girl's nite out and a guy's nite out, we all had a blast.
*we spent almost everyday hanging out with friends and packed the house up in 2 1/2 weeks inbetween social events
*our neighborhood friends, planned an amazing night out as our last hooo-rah. (unfortunately, I got sick and spent the evening throwing up in my friend Tony and Jen's bed all night), however everyone else enjoyed the night out! thanks for the bed again guys, it was much better than sleeping in my empty house :o) they also made the most amazing digital photo scrapbook with lots of pictures of us hanging out with our neighbors over the past 5 years! IT was AWESOME!! Maybe I can try to figure out how to blog it?
we miss Cincinnati and everyone we left behind, but we are so very grateful to be HOME!
our zoo
of course, we have already taken a trip to the Brookfield Zoo! Always known as, Grandma's zoo. The kids don't quite understand that is our zoo now!
The Brookfield Zoo has a sting ray "petting" exhibit! the kids all touched stingrays! It was amazing!
here we all are, except me of course :o)
my boys watching the elephants, this one was spraying himself down, it was 95 degrees outside! I wish he would have sprayed us, well...maybe not!
not so sure what Micaiah was saying?
The Brookfield Zoo has a sting ray "petting" exhibit! the kids all touched stingrays! It was amazing!
here we all are, except me of course :o)
my boys watching the elephants, this one was spraying himself down, it was 95 degrees outside! I wish he would have sprayed us, well...maybe not!
not so sure what Micaiah was saying?
more zoo pics!
watching the dolphin show
hanging out with the goats! we got to brush them and Elijah gave them all hugs! One of them didn't like it to much and bucked Elijah, luckily he did not have a horn!
hanging out with the goats! we got to brush them and Elijah gave them all hugs! One of them didn't like it to much and bucked Elijah, luckily he did not have a horn!
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