Week 34, The Storm Before The Calm?

Even though my kids aren't old enough to be in school just yet, I feel like part of me still operates on a traditional school calendar.  The last couple of weeks in August are always a big "gear up" time for me.  Maybe part of it this year really is that I am aware I only have 2 more years until Tommy will be in school.  In any event, we found ourselves discussing lots of decisions this week.  I am a planner--for better or worse.  I don't operate well when things are left hanging or up in the air.  So, this week it seemed a little chaotic as we were trying to make some major decisions that will hopefully create a sense of calmness into the future.

Probably at the top of the list has been to move or not to move.  And, if we do try to move, what is our price  limit?  This topic has been an ongoing one in our house for a couple of years now.  We really like our house, and we got a phenomenal price for it 5 years ago.  We only have 10 more years left on our mortgage, and the house is plenty large for our family.  The cons would be that it is far away from both our church and Davey's work, and it has a very small backyard.  As I'm sure it is in most families, I had previously wanted to move up to bigger and better things, while Davey was very content in staying here and paying our home off!  So, I decided that I would just see what it would cost to build a very reasonable "dream home".  I sent my favorite floor plan to my friend Bob Donalson, a local contractor, to see what it would look like to build this dream house of mine.  Shocking...utterly shocking!!  This house is literally 300 square feet bigger than our current home.  Granted, the lot would be better and there would be an unfinished basement, but the low-end estimate was over $200,000 MORE than our current home!  I ran some numbers anyway, and in the end, we just could not bring ourselves to add years and/or significant money to our current mortgage.  Like I said, we do like our house, and we feel like we've made it a very nice home for our family.  As Davey has said numerous times, "It's not about the house, it's about the people and environment inside of the house."  I married a wise man :)  So, for now, our plan is to stay here, and potentially build a retaining wall in the back to create a small backyard.  There is also a small chance of us trying to move within Fuquay for a better lot, but not spending any more than our current house.  The flexibility that decision will allow us into the future is invaluable to us.  Our goal is to have no house payment at all by the time Tommy enters Middle School!  Okay, that's one decision down!

The next decision was centered around how best to prepare the boys for future schooling.  We cannot currently afford any type of daycare or MMO program, so I wanted to try to create a similar environment here.  I did quite a bit of research this week, and I'm happy to say that I think we are well on our way to a pretty awesome little "preschool" playroom space--you'll get to see the finished product and hear updates on how it's going next blog!  I am a huge believer in letting kids be kids, particularly before they start school. Of course,  I want them to be prepared to start school when the time comes, but I also don't want them to miss out on just being kids and playing!  That said, both boys seem to be really enjoying learning lately, so I definitely want to cultivate that in a fun way.  Anyway, you'll likely see more pictures and/or updates on what the boys are doing and learning during "school time"--can you believe Tommy called it that all on his own?!

Sorry for the lack of pictures this week.  I was so busy trying to prepare things, that I forgot it a couple of times.  Couple that with the fact that when I finally did remember it when we went to the park, it ran out of batteries after these couple of pictures!

Don't judge me!  They're wearing their PJ's because we were trying to beat the rain!!

My little captive doesn't seem too distressed by his prison :)

After several weeks of missing therapy due to vacation, illness, and the fact that we've had to move to every other week because we're running out of sessions for 2012, Tommy was finally able to go back this week!!  Mrs. Emily was proud of the progress he had made over the past month, and now we're really focusing on some more fine motor items, namely writing/coloring!  We're now fairly certain that the big guy is actually left handed, despite the fact that he throws right handed!  But, really--doesn't Tommy just seem like a leftie?!  Oh yeah, a huge development (to me only I'm sure haha)--Tommy ate homemade whole wheat banana blueberry and whole wheat zucchini muffins this week--waaaahooooo!!!  Anyway, after therapy was my favorite of all Wednesdays--you got it--the double dip!!  I dropped the boys off with Goggi, Grandpapa, and Grandmama and headed home to start planning that preschool!  By the time we picked them up from Grandma's house later on that evening, the plan was set!  Thanks again to both sets of Grandparents for all of the times you help us out--we definitely appreciate every second!

On that same celebratory note, a very Happy Anniversary to my parents, Tom and Linda Hayes on Friday.  They finally carved out some time for themselves and went on a dinner date to celebrate 38 years together (I think?)!  Friday was also my friend Marcia's birthday--I'm not giving a number out on this one though!  I was so thankful to be able to celebrate with her on Sunday after church.  We went to Mellow Mushroom, and it was AMAZING!!  I got this pizza with steak, mushrooms, artichokes, feta, and kalamata olives.  It might not sound like a great combo, but it was unbelievable!!  Now, Sunday was actually my "sister" Laura's birthday! I know, ANOTHER party weekend :)  We all did our traditional Hayes dinner celebration on Saturday night, and Laura came over Sunday night for our weekly 'Drop Dead Diva' viewing!  Despite the horrid fact that Kim Kardashian made another appearanace on the show, it was a good birthday episode.  The next episode is the Season Finale--NOOOOOOOO!!!!   Check out these sweet pics from Aunt LoLo's birthday dinner!

Laura and Mom in festive spirits!

This was so adorable..Tommy wanted to surprise Granddaddy when he got home from work!

"SURPRISE!!"...so precious <3

Putting the birthday girl to work!!

Uncle NoNo is a happy camper for LoLo's birthday :)

Aunt LoLo's selection for her birthday cake--Nutter Butter Banana Pudding--YUMMM!!

Hey, whose birthday is it, anyway?!

Aunt LoLo couldn't resist sharing her big moment with  Tommy!
Also, I LOVE Laura's chic "blowing out candles look"--bahahahaha!!

HOOOORAYYY!!  Good times were had by all :)

So, Life Lesson #9:  Priorities

In this day and age (I sound so old don't I??), there are so many decisions to be made.  We live in a culture of opportunity, and with opportunity comes choice.  It can be both a blessing and a curse.  Because while it is nice to have options, I believe that it becomes harder to prioritize as your options increase.  It is a very thin line.  I can't tell you how many times I've heard people after coming back from a mission trip to a third world country say, "They didn't have anything, but they all seemed genuinely happy and at peace."  At the other end of the spectrum, you hear this quite a bit too, "They had more money and things than anyone could ever want or use, but they weren't happy and lived a lonely life."  Here's my theory--you truly cannot have it all.  You have to figure out your priorities and then make your choices accordingly.  Sacrifices have to be made somewhere, so make sure you are mindfully choosing what you are willing to go without.  My advice is to choose relationships--relationship with God, relationship with family, relationship with friends, and building new relationships through service.  All of these things take time, and time is quite precious.  There are many adversaries that compete with relationships, but none more so than wealth.  Money is not inherently bad.  It is just super difficult to not fall in love with it and become greedy and covetous.  The book of Ecclesiastes, thought to have been written by King Solomon--the richest and wisest man ever to live, does a much better job of discussing what has true meaning in this life than I ever could.  And, even though he was the richest man in the world, riches did not make the cut:  "Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.  This too is meaningless.  As goods increase, so do those who consume them.  And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them?  The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep."  If Solomon's words are not enough to convince you, here it is from the mouth of Jesus, "You cannot serve both God and money....what people value highly is detestable in God's sight."  This is a world that puts wealth, status, and fame at the top of its priority list.  Be different--value God, and value people. Make your choices such that you will have ample time and energy to devote to building relationships.